The FastDay Forum

I forgot to add that if you need a reminder of my overall weight loss journey, that is detailed in this post which was the very first post which I submitted to this forum back on 24 September 2013. You can therefore see that I have gained quite a bit of experience of adopting some form of health regime even before I started this WOE and although that was my pre-5:2 regime was mainly based on counting calories, I eventually found that I didn't need to count the calories so much because I was getting a much better idea all the time, of how many calories I was consuming on each day.

What made that method so difficult was the fact that I was only weighing myself every week, and didn't have that weapon of daily weigh-ins that I have now, whereby I can now adjust things on a daily basis according to how my weight is trending at that time. Having said that now, I might not even need to set an actual numerical limit for my carb intake or count the grams of carbs that I eat per day because if I feel more bloated than normal, I know that it is because I have over-done either my carb or salt intake on that day. That will usually also be shown on the scales where that will often also result in a large gain of water weight. If on the other hand I have maintained my weight from the previous day or even lost a bit of weight, I know that both my carb and salt intake have been fine for that day. That doesn't means that others won't say that the same carb intake isn't a low one for them. However, that level of carb intake will have been fine for me on that day, with that being backed by the number on the scales and that is enough for me.

[wildmissus]

I also didn't get past the first sentence but that aside I have found this very interesting as I have been giving serious thought to going low carb in the new year. Having tried the Dukan Attack (protein only) for 3 days and lost a massive 5lbs I know I would lose weight on low carb. The only problem is I didn't like eating that way and I like carbs.

For me and my body I think I need to try and take in the correct carbs. I need to vastly reduce my sugar intake. My grain intake these days is mostly via wholgrains rather than refined which I'm happy about. Swapping chocolate for almonds is quite simple solution. I'll no doubt still have chocolate (I'm only human after all) but try and have it once a week rather than 3 times a day. I guess it will be trial and error to see what my body is happy with.

Anthony Colpo has a very good balanced view on diet, he might be a foulmouthed Aussie on occasions when somebody riles him but he has done low-carb to the point of ketosis and all the way to high carb, with a view to maintaining athletic performance. To some extent he is Peter Attia's dark other half but they both demand respect in my book. His 'The Great Cholesterol Con' is a great piece off well-researched work, and he trains people for performance for money. His, and Attia's, argument is that low-carb works OK up to the point where it cannot supply the fuel for either high output for athletic performance or restock lost glycogen supplies quickly enough to avoid muscle wastage/damage.

Attia uses carbs to replace energy used in training, Colpo just uses sensible amounts of quality carbs in his regular diet. My best running/cycling performances this summer were after I had lost all my excess fat but had started to carbo-load the day before an athletic challenge. Not that I can compare myself with the other two any more! I would venture that low-carb is very successful for the less-active amongst us, and OK for moderate, irregular, activities but I have had very 'flat' days where I have not recovered properly from the last activity, and maybe even lost a bit of muscle mass in the summer along with the fat...

I lost the first stone on my journey in May eating nothing BUT carbs really, doing Slimming World's "green" days every day.... before I discovered 5:2 and the science of nutrition. BUT when I cut refined carbs out.... WOW did I feel so much better! The bloating and sluggish-ness went within 5 days and gradually my moods have levelled out. I'm calmer, happier and I feel energetic and a lot more healthy these days. I didn't realise the effect they were having on me and I prefer a dietary intake with a much lower carb content these days. If I eat too many now I get too many uncomfortable symptoms.....

Hi@creakypete I thought 'the great cholesterol con' was written by Malcolm Kendrick, or are there 2 books with the same, or similar title?

Ballerina x

I know how I feel on high/normal carb. And I knows how I feel on low carb.It's the latter every time cos I can't stand the drowsiness, sluggishness, fuzzy thinking, etc.

I love starchy carbohydrates, but after recently discovering that I had high levels of fasting blood glucose I have drastically reduced my carboydrate intake. I feel lighter and more energetic and my glucose levels are coming under control. I do miss potatoes and pasta, but, for me, a low carbohydrate approach to nutrition is about health and well-being. There really was no argument, when considering long term health. I will occasionally allow myself to indulge, but generally I need to restrict carbohydrates for survival's sake.

I love starchy carbohydrates, but after recently discovering that I had high levels of fasting blood glucose I have drastically reduced my carboydrate intake. I feel lighter and more energetic and my glucose levels are coming under control. I do miss potatoes and pasta, but, for me, a low carbohydrate approach to nutrition is about health and well-being. There really was no argument, when considering long term health. I will occasionally allow myself to indulge, but generally I need to restrict carbohydrates for survival's sake.

Absolutely agree and same here - and since I discovered I could give up bread without falling into a decline AND since I discovered the wonders of cauliflower rice and other carby substitutes I find it really easy. As some may have read I fell off the wagon a week or so ago and had a (I think) massive weight gain which I'm now trying to lose. I'm sure carbs (ie the complex sort) are fine for loads of people - but not me nowadays and I am not finding low carb eating restrictive at all. And I don't get that muzzy head I used to get after meals either

@ballerina: There are indeed two books with the identical title. I read their reviews and chose to buy Colpo's despite his occasionally abrasive personality (as evinced by his website content) and was very impressed. I do follow Malcolm Kendrick's web writings closely as well but have not read his book.

Great thread with lots of interesting input. I have just had a few days where I did eat some bread and my energy levels have improved. Have been cutting down carbs mainly wheat products and potatoes. Seems like I need to work on what is my most satisfactory level to give me energy I need.

There are those of us who only have to look at a refined carb and our insulin levels go sky high and we store fat! That is why I defend low carb and I am getting slim from that way of eating.I feel very envious of those of you who can eat lots of refined carbs and stay slim but I can't do that. I found the article John put a link to quite 'shocking' in the way of language..there's no need for it.We all have our personal reasons for eating the way we do and I know what my body prefers now.
There are two books that I value as 'good' advice (without being emotive) and they are 'The Fast Diet' and also 'The Diet Delusion' by Gary Taubes and there's enough science in those two books to keep me happy about what I am doing and it goes without saying also the advice I get here from certain prominent members.
As far as I am concerned there is no right or wrong way...it's a matter of what YOUR body needs and it takes a while to find that out.
Just had to get that off my chest because I hate bad language and it made my blood boil a bit!

@ballerina: There are indeed two books with the identical title. I read their reviews and chose to buy Colpo's despite his occasionally abrasive personality (as evinced by his website content) and was very impressed. I do follow Malcolm Kendrick's web writings closely as well but have not read his book.

...........................

Ah! That explains a lot and now I know that neither of us is losing it, mind, that is I can highly recommend Dr Kendrick's book, very well written with his lovely sense of humour coming through loud and clear. Hope you had a great birthday xx

Ballerina x

The one thing that boat-rockers do consistently is ensure that your ship hasn't run aground.

After a sense of despair at my descent into sugar gluttony - here's todays menu

Buttery scrambled eggs, mushrooms, ham for breakfast
Avocado, artichoke hearts, lettuce, tomato, bacon bits and dressing for lunch
Pork chop, roasted onion, cauli cheese for dinner (with some lovely Merlot)
Almonds for nibbles while I cooked.

LC bliss !

Great thread with lots of interesting input. I have just had a few days where I did eat some bread and my energy levels have improved. Have been cutting down carbs mainly wheat products and potatoes. Seems like I need to work on what is my most satisfactory level to give me energy I need.

That's why I think Carorees advice makes such sense - we're all different and what suits one won't suit someone else so you need to work out your own level of carbs thst you can manage.