GI DIETERS SUPPORT THREAD - number 2...................

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

As promised, a new thread for those of us following GI.

There's a separate thread for recipes now - thanks to those of you doing the cutting and pasting of recipes .

I've lost 2 lbs this week, so that's goodbye to the 6lbs I put on in my 2 day "breadfest" !

glycemic index food database

I've lost 7lbs altogether this week. I know it sounds silly, but I'm a bit worried at losing so much as I've been eating well, albeit healthily.

Hi

I tihnk its because its seems i have got so much to loose (at least another 4 stone) and because I am v stressed at work at the moment. I don't think the day off thing would work I am not particularly craving things its more aboutt he effort of not picking and choosing low GI options.

Well done Puff I wonder if its beause you lost the 5lbs you put on hols which can only have been mainly fluid and so you've lost that and then some "real" weight loss?

Are there particular times of day that are more difficult than others melbob - just wondering if you can make sure you've got some snacks for those times, whether that would help. Also, do you think you are eating a big enough breakfast - not eating enough then, can cause me problems later in the day.

There have been times where I've given myself a rest and just focused on maintaining my weight for a couple of weeks - this has helped me keep going in the longer term.

You're probably right about the fluid retention - I'll be moaning next week that I've lost nothing!

Yes Puff I don't think you should worry about the 7lbs; I don't know exactly what it is but weight that you put on quickly like on holiday always seems to come off quickly. Like Melbob says I suspect it's not real weight. After all to gain 5lbs in a week you would have to eat approximately 2000 calories a day on top of what you need. It is unlikely you did that (every day at least ).

I do sympathise Melbob. I think to myself if I was really good for e.g. only 5 weeks I might lose 7-10lbs which would take me to my target weight. But even that short amount of time seems to stretch out ahead of me and atm I don't seem to be able to stick well enough to the diet to really lose anything.

Can you find alternatives to pick at? I find a big bowl of grapes is quite good if you are in the mood for popping things in your mouth.

I think it is hard as well to "concentrate" on following a diet when you have a lot else on your mind. Maybe as Puff suggests just maintaining would give you a bit of a break.

I know it sounds really corny but I find watching those type of "you are what you eat" programs or makeover programs (don't know if there are any on at the minute) or even rereading the introduction to one of the GI diet book sometimes helps to motivate me.

Sorry not to come up with anything more constructive. Hang in there.

Thanks for support and advice. Had night off GI on sat and had a takeaway pizza. Still feel uninspired at moment but think if I hang on motivation will comeback.

Eating big breakfast usually porridge and have snakcs handy. Think its something about enormity of weight to loose and what it will mean to be slim. Scary stuff as have been overweight since puberty.

How's it going Melbob?

Hi

Ok stayed the same or lost half a pound if I leant the right way . Did well GI wise today

How 'bout you?

Sounds like you're doing the right thing at the mo melbob - be kind to yourself - the motivation will come back, as long as you stay in control, the odd pizza here and there isn't going to hurt.

Sometimes I have felt overwhelmed by the amount of weight I needed to lose - it can be scary. Also, sometimes I have doubted my resolve and ability to do it. All my weight went on because I comfort ate my way through the grief of my Mum's suicide, and there have been times where I've just thought "I can't do this, I've been through too much, this is too hard".

I've also thought, "the last time I was such and such a weight was when my Mum actually killed herself" - this sounds strange, but for a long time I had a mental block on the idea of returning to a more sensible weight because of this. Don't know if my ramblings here make any sense, but I know my weight and my attitude towards it is quite a complex thing.

Sounds like you are doing well Melbob. I hope you don't feel too fed up.

I stayed the same last week again but not that surprised after my cake fiasco! I also had a take away on Saturday - the first one since April when I started this diet! Not planning to make it a weekly thing though and I have been very good since so hoping I might have lost a bit by Saturday. I feel a bit mean on Dh who is skinny as a rake having dieted with me for the first bit and it seems unfair that he can't have the odd take-away / meal out though he doesn't complain.

Puff I can see why you might think like that. Eating is so tied up with emotions, it's all so complicated. You and Melbob have both done brilliantly sticking with it.

Can I ask a question? On the GI diet do you count the number of calories you have as well. What I mean is do you limit the calories you have but those calories are foods that have the low GI value.

Am I making sense?

Eaney, I don't count calories at all. I do watch portion sizes of eg new potatoes, rice.

Thanks all it really does help knowing I can come to mn and they'll be people here who understand.

The food/emotion connection is so complex but all the slim people I know who don't struggle to keep slim have a much more ambivalent attitude to foood than me. IE they see is as fuel which is occassionally particularly nice.

Eney I used the Helen Foster book as a start which works on 1500 cals per day but its all set out so you don't have to count.

I know what you mean about the view thin people often have towards food, Melbob. But the thing is if someone said to me "you can have an attitude to food where you don't really enjoy it, you just eat it as fuel" I wouldn't accept. I like liking food. I have no problems rejecting crap food and I never eat stuff like MacDonald's and rarely things like chocolate bars. But I hate to feel that there's good quality food out there and I've not tried it and I have to drag myself past a cafe selling homemade cakes or a farm shop selling pates and cheeses .

I agree. the thouhgt of not enjoying food is an anathema

Si how's everyone's weight loss doing> better than mine hopefully!

I lost 2 lbs this week so was pleased with that. I have bought some new scales and realised that they are two pounds above my old ones also so I might not have been stuck on a plateau for quite so long as I thought. I am now finally back to my preholiday weight (on my old scales).

Well done Saker, thats fantastic
Have been thinking about changing my scales too they're not very old but they do swing between weights alot, up to 7lbs

Well done Saker!

Stayed the same this week - despite many trips to the gym - ho hum!

I bought some digital Salter scales (about £40) and they have been really good - accurate to within about half a pound of the ones at my gp's surgery, which I know are spot on.

Stick with it melbob, you'll start losing again when you feel ready .

You'll be gaining muscle, Puff. Seriously you will if you haven't exercised much before. The new scales I've bought measure % fat etc as well. Don't know how accurate it is but presumably it's okay if compared with itself IYSWIM. They were on offer at Argos (weightwatchers ones), if you are thinking of getting some new ones, Melbob.

It's been 5 years since I've done any serious exercise - gaining muscle makes sense Saker - makes me feel better about it !

Seriously though, the gym is making me feel good - more energy etc, plus it's helping my long standing lower back problem, I'm just hoping I can keep it up!

Today is my usual weigh in day, and I have actually lost a pound and a half - hurrah!

brilliant Puff and I still reckon you will have gained some muscle so that means you have probably lost even more

Hi well done Puff and I'm sure Saker is right about muscleg ain. That hapepned to me some years ago when I started exercising. Weigh i tomorrow and have been spot on with GI until today when I had a working lunch and ate a lot of smoked salmon and whole meal bread which was OK from GI but not calorie wise, could kick myself

Stayed the same again [need irritated emoticon]