Scanbran
Stupid Member
Warning! Rambling musings ahead!
I haven't posted on here for ages, although I've lurked on and off for a bit.
My dieting story is long and pathetic, and for over 20 years I've been yoyo-ing up and down, with the majority of that time UP
- In 1995 I lost 5st with Slimming World and over the next few years put nearly 9st back on
- In 2010, again mainly using Slimming World I lost around 6st, but put 3st back on.
- In 2011, this time using Exante, I lost 3st, but since then I have put on another 4st again.
I have just recently bought six weeks supply of Exante products in an attempt to 'try again', but I have come to the long overdue realisation that without changing my lifestyle completely (in terms of food at least), none of this will ever be sustainable.
When I joined this forum a few years ago, I noticed someone (my apologies if I cannot recall their name) mentioning a good book by Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat...). I bought it and read it and found something of a relevation. Cutting down on carbohydrates was the theory, thereby reducing glucose in the bloodstream, limiting the necessary insulin response, and therefore maintaining a steady blood sugar level throughout the day without storing excess glucose as fat.
It seemed plausible, and actually a perfect way for me to approach things as I had been having difficulty controlling my blood sugar levels (type 2). Still, I couldn't work out how to live without past, rice, potatoes or bread. That's why I never bothered with the Atkins diet, although I knew people who had tremendous success with it.
I looked into things further and bought a couple of books by Barry Groves, who preached a similar theory, but was a little more into eating high fat animal products, cutting out almost all refined carbohydrates with a small amount of complex carbs coming from vegetables, and moderate protein.
Again, I appreciated the reasons he gave, but I just couldn't picture myself eating like that forever, so left it behind. I did incorporate some of it when doing the Exante plan, supplementing my shakes with low carb foods, but that was the extent of it.
So, after struggling to get started with Exante again this time, I noticed Mr Groves' book lying on the shelf, and picked it up out of curiosity. I read the entire thing again, and thought I might give it a go. He is careful to point out that what he recommends is not a diet in terms of 'temporary eating regime to lose weight quickly'. It is a permanent philosophy about eating which does not restrict calories at all, and which promises weight loss (if you are over-weight) at a slow and steady rate, plus extra health benefits. And it is for life.
I would point out at this time that I appreciate lots of people lose weight and maintain weight just fine using more conventional eating plans, and I am no evangelist for the high-fat, low-carb mantra in this book, but what I will say is that so far it is really working for me, and it is controlling my blood sugar very well indeed.
Only time will tell if this is just the latest in a long line of hare-brained ideas, but I really 'feel' good about this one. Not hungry. Reduced cravings for chips, pizza, bread, pasta and even sweets! The benefits so far are very good. Oh, and 'so far' means around three weeks.
In that time I have lost around a stone without really trying, although I know this will level off to around 8-9 lbs per month very soon, which I am totally comfortable with.
So, the Exante is in the bin and a new style of shopping list has been drawn up.
Don't know if this is a diary or a mini-rant/blog, but if anyone is interested at all, I will try to keep updating it as I go along.
:wave_cry:
I haven't posted on here for ages, although I've lurked on and off for a bit.
My dieting story is long and pathetic, and for over 20 years I've been yoyo-ing up and down, with the majority of that time UP
- In 1995 I lost 5st with Slimming World and over the next few years put nearly 9st back on
- In 2010, again mainly using Slimming World I lost around 6st, but put 3st back on.
- In 2011, this time using Exante, I lost 3st, but since then I have put on another 4st again.
I have just recently bought six weeks supply of Exante products in an attempt to 'try again', but I have come to the long overdue realisation that without changing my lifestyle completely (in terms of food at least), none of this will ever be sustainable.
When I joined this forum a few years ago, I noticed someone (my apologies if I cannot recall their name) mentioning a good book by Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat...). I bought it and read it and found something of a relevation. Cutting down on carbohydrates was the theory, thereby reducing glucose in the bloodstream, limiting the necessary insulin response, and therefore maintaining a steady blood sugar level throughout the day without storing excess glucose as fat.
It seemed plausible, and actually a perfect way for me to approach things as I had been having difficulty controlling my blood sugar levels (type 2). Still, I couldn't work out how to live without past, rice, potatoes or bread. That's why I never bothered with the Atkins diet, although I knew people who had tremendous success with it.
I looked into things further and bought a couple of books by Barry Groves, who preached a similar theory, but was a little more into eating high fat animal products, cutting out almost all refined carbohydrates with a small amount of complex carbs coming from vegetables, and moderate protein.
Again, I appreciated the reasons he gave, but I just couldn't picture myself eating like that forever, so left it behind. I did incorporate some of it when doing the Exante plan, supplementing my shakes with low carb foods, but that was the extent of it.
So, after struggling to get started with Exante again this time, I noticed Mr Groves' book lying on the shelf, and picked it up out of curiosity. I read the entire thing again, and thought I might give it a go. He is careful to point out that what he recommends is not a diet in terms of 'temporary eating regime to lose weight quickly'. It is a permanent philosophy about eating which does not restrict calories at all, and which promises weight loss (if you are over-weight) at a slow and steady rate, plus extra health benefits. And it is for life.
I would point out at this time that I appreciate lots of people lose weight and maintain weight just fine using more conventional eating plans, and I am no evangelist for the high-fat, low-carb mantra in this book, but what I will say is that so far it is really working for me, and it is controlling my blood sugar very well indeed.
Only time will tell if this is just the latest in a long line of hare-brained ideas, but I really 'feel' good about this one. Not hungry. Reduced cravings for chips, pizza, bread, pasta and even sweets! The benefits so far are very good. Oh, and 'so far' means around three weeks.
In that time I have lost around a stone without really trying, although I know this will level off to around 8-9 lbs per month very soon, which I am totally comfortable with.
So, the Exante is in the bin and a new style of shopping list has been drawn up.
Don't know if this is a diary or a mini-rant/blog, but if anyone is interested at all, I will try to keep updating it as I go along.
:wave_cry:
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