Need help RE low-carb diet (which one to choose)

[XanaDUer]

Ny SO was just told he needs to go on, even for just a month, a low-carb diet.

I need suggestions about which low-carb diet DUers are on.

We do not like red meat very much. We like salads a lot. We like chicken, and I like seafood.

Can we eat yougurt?

Any suggestions for which diet is the best? (Easy helps, too)

[supernova]

1. There's varying degrees of "low carb"

at least at the beginning. Atkins and South Beach are the most restrictive for the first couple of weeks, only low glycemic veggies like salad greens, pickles, and olives. No pasta, no bread, no rice, no potatoes or corn.

And it's not high protein but adequate protein. You can get that froma variety of meats and tofu, or protein bars for quick meal replacement (check the labels, make sure there is no sugar!)

After the initial induction phase you slowing add carbs back in on a weekly basis. (low glycemic berries, melons, and more veggies). Edit: as you approach your goal weight, the last things to be added back in are legumes and whole grains.

The South Beach Cookbook is supposed to be wonderful.

Anyway, I'd read up on both of them and decide which is best for you. Good Luck!

The real reason to do low carb is to find out how yuor body handles certain carbohydrates and learn to compensate for that. And don't forget to exercise.

I do very well eating Atkins style.

[cally]

2. I find the South Beach Diet very easy and effective

I am eating healthier than I ever have. The first two weeks are pretty restrictive.

[No Mandate Here.]

3. South Beach is by far the best balanced...

Go there, sign up and credit card them, and you get emailed recipes, menues and a lot of support. Better than the book, I think.

[RebelOne]

18. My doctor recommend the South Beach Diet.

I am post-diabetic and he told me to go on the South Beach Diet. Plus, I am a pesco-vegetarian, since I do eat seafoot. My doctor told me to eat lots and lots of salmon.

[nini]

4. find out what the recommended carb intake should be...

then choose from there. If it's low around 20 or so, you should follow Atkins at first. it'll be mostly chicken and small salads at first then.

South Beach allows for more carbs per day

Yogurt wouldn't be good on Atkins as it will probably make you exceed the daily carb intake - I'm not sure about south beach.

But again, it depends on what the doc recommends for a daily carb amount

[supernova]

5. Yogurt is usually restricted initially because

of it's rather high sugar content, even plain yougurt. I was sad about that initially, because I love yogurt. I now restrict myself to occasional tubs of low carb yougurt.

edit: Milk in general is rather high carb. But cheese and cream are OK.

[candy]

7. I dipped veggies in sour cream.

I forgot how good it tasted!!!!

[supernova]

8. I love sour cream!

:9

edit: smilie

[sam sarrha]

11. Make your own out of 1% or 2% milk.. i make a Kieffer culture with 6

different bacteria.. i put in 1/2 to a cup of culture and put the container on a pie plate on top of the refer till the milk jells, if it separates, i use a blinder wand or blender to 're-homogenize' it, this replenishes the bacteria necessary for healthy intestinal 'flora', i drink a half cup with each meal.. and also eat some Flax/oat bran mix with every meal,

I am 56 my BP is 120/70, my cholesterol is right in the middle where the 20 year olds are. I take no medication.. the best revenge to the health care system is good heath.. keep it, if you lose it may not come back.

The low carb fad is just a fad.. if you dint get enough carb intake through the day on a "regular" schedule your seratonin levels will drop and you will "BENG" and get very weird and have mood swings and no one will ask you to parties or want to be around you.. and you will be very unhappy and the diet wont work

what works is varied diet with reasonable portions.. small
snacks between meals to keep up the serotonon levels.. just a Ritz cracker or half and apple between meals.

Exercise is essential, "low carb" is actually a replacement for exercise.. nothing works without exercise.

follow the middle path. when i started meditating i lost 30 pounds because i could see the difference between being hungry and thinking that i just want to eat something.. I just say thinking and go on..

there are some good meditation instruction at www.buddhanet.net in the video section.. meditation isn't Buddhism.. but they use it.

[supernova]

12. It's because of the sugars in the milk

rather than the fat content. I haven't looked at the labels for Kefir, but I'll bet it's the same carb count as for yogurt, which is about 11-12 carbs/serving.

There has been some evidence to sugget that lower/controlled carb works better for younger folks; low fat works better for older folks. I don't know why.

As for mood swings and such, my energy plummeted regularly when I was eating off the FDA food pyramid. I have plenty of energy througout the day now. Heck, I even have a glass of wine in the evening.

Once size does not fit all when it comes to eating regimens. Each individual has to find what works for them.

[emulatorloo]

6. Don't go on a Low Carb Diet!!!! You need good carbs!!!!!!! The Zone. . .

I recommend The Zone.

Dr. Barry Sears.
Original book was Enter the Zone - you can get it anywhere. Library probably has it. . .
Website is http://www.drsears.com

He characterizes it as a moderate carb diet. . .it is lumped in w Low Carb, but it is not.

For protein sources he recommends lean poultry, fish, cottage cheese.

Yogurt is a staple for me. . .I eat about 4 cups a day.

When you first read it, it seems complicated but it is extremely easy. You eat 5 meals a day, (3 meals two snacks) based on your weight, height, activity level. Every meal you eat has to be balanced between protein, carbs, and fat. ((VERY easy to do) You lose about 8lbs a month.

OTOH nothing is forbidden. . .If you want a piece of pie every once in a while, go ahead. . .just need to balance it out w some protein (piece of cheese, turkey, etc:

This has literally changed my life for the better. I never feel deprived, I never have that bad yuck I am on a diet feeling. Actually, I felt physically BETTER after two weeks, and I have tremendous energy. My last physical was much much improved. Send me a message if you want details.

[lazarus]

10. actually

all "low carb" diets become "moderate carb" diets. Atkins included.

[supernova]

13. If I ate the Barry Sears way

I'd weigh 300 lbs.

[emulatorloo]

14. Somehow I doubt it, but whatever works for you!!!!

EOM

[soothsayer]

9. Suzanne Somers lets you have carb-only meals on hers

You can have carbs by themselves (with no fat, no protein) inbetween your no-carb meals.

Thus...I recommend it.

[shingashong]

15. Well, I have been doing the Insulin Resistance Diet

because I have Insulin Resistance (a pre-diabetic condition that is common with women who have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome)). It's a bit like South Beach Diet from what I hear, and not as restrictive as the Atkin's diet. Frankly I'm sick to death about all this low-carb craze, but I do have to watch my carb intake because carbs spike up my insulin production (NOT glucose!).

I'd definitely check out the South Beach Diet. I'm not a real red meat eater either, and I do eat yogurt as long as it's sugar-free. There are carbs in there, but honestly, as long as it's sugar-free and has protein it isn't a problem for me.

With the Insulin Resistance diet, I'm trying to link my carb intake to my protein intake. For example, every 18 grams of carbs I eat, I have to eat 9 grams of carbs with it. Yes, there are limits but not AS limiting as the Atkin's diet.

hope I made sense. :) Let me know if you have any questions!

[Obamarama]

16. Protien Power......

I highly recommend the book Protien Power by Dr. & Dr. Eades (can't remember their first names at the moment!).

It's "low carb" for the first phase. The theory is based on insulin resistance and in each of the next two phases (maintainence is the last stage) you gradually add carbs back into your diet until you start gaining weight again. You back off slightly on the carbs again until you find that zone where you have added carbs back into your diet, but are not gaining weight.

I like it because:

a) I lost 50lbs on it
b) It is only "low carb" for the first phase and part of the second. The goal is not to STAY at low carb, but rather to find that area where you can tolerate carbs to the point where you start gaining weight.
c) If you read the whole book, it really explains HOW we got in the predicament we're in (Americans being overweight and obese as a society) and gives you the scientific background you need to understand the low-carb concept in layman's terms.
d) I found it really easy to follow.

You may find out more at:
http://www.eatprotein.com/
Good luck!

[XanaDUer]

17. Thanks everyone!

I appreciate the information.

maybe these diets are not all bad, since a doctor recommended it in this case. My SO did not ask which one was best , though, as I would have.