Hello,

I need to lost weight and my friend has lost a lot of weight through the no carb rule, i.e. no carbs after 4pm which I've always thought of ridiculous before however seeing how much happier and healthier she is, I'm beginning to think there might be something in it. I need to lose weight for health reasons and I do eat healthily but I do eat a lot of carbs for tea. I go to the gym 10 times week and do class split by cardiovascular/weights/yoga type classes and I?ve lost no weight since I?ve started doing this 3 years ago. However there seems to be various rules on what is classed as a carb and what to avoid after 4pm:-

I think the list should include:-

Bread

Cakes

Pasties

Biscuits

Rice ?all types including brown

Cream Crackers

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Swedes

Squash

Pumpkin

Parsnips

However I?ve also been advise to avoid carrots, chickpeas, cauliflower but I thought these were vegetable and a pulse?

What do you all thing and I would appreciate any help because if I don?t lost the weight, I can?t have the operation I need.

And have I missed out any carbs?

Thanks

Em

Cauliflower is veg, low in fat, low in carbs and in the same group as cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale etc... high in vit c, supposed to fight cancer, high in fibre.... can't see any reason to avoid this... eating more of it would seem a better idea...

Steve

If want to loose weight, avoid snacking carbs at least 2-3 hours before sleep, if you consume carbs at night it results in increase of insulin which in turn hinders the release of human growth hormone (HGH)from the pituitary gland.

This results in deceleration of burning of fat at night, which ends around your waist. Point to note here is that the maximum release of growth hormone is during night time during deep sleep. For more info go here www.hghsupplementsinfo.co.uk. I know URLs are not allowed by Mamta, but still it is good knowledge.

have a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index

it lays out all you will need to know about which carbs are good, and which to avoid.

I can't help but think that for someone who says they go to the gym 10 times a week, you are not telling us the whole story. And would the 'operation' be cosmetic surgery, by any chance? To refuse you this type of surgery, you would be 3 stone overweight, or more, and anyone going to the gym AND exercising 10 times a week cannot be 3 stone over weight. If you are, there is something else wrong.

Thanks for you messages, and I'll look at the link.

With regards to the gym, I have never put on weight, I just don't lose it and even though I eat well those two vices of cheese and booze aren't helping either.

The op is for my back so while the doctors can see I'm fit and toned, I'm carrying weight which I need to lose some before my op. I just need to lose a couple of stone so I'm fighting fit for the op.

then the booze is the problem. The body uses the alcohol as the first source of energy, only when this has been used (or metabolised) will it use the carbs as a source of energy.

If you really want to have this op, then you will give up the booze. Up to you.

Interesting discussion, just at the right time for me. I have never been too overweight, but had gained over a stone and a half over the last 15 years. I find most diets very tedious, because I am no good at counting calories or stopping any particular food groups completely.

Then I watched a diet programme on BBC Horizon called Fast, eat and live longer. Things seemed to click into place. Apart from reducing Hypertension, cholesterol and blood sugar, this diet meant that I will have to diet only 2 days a week, eating normally rest of the time. I decided to try it and lost 5 1/2 kg in approximately 7 weeks. i have put back 1/2 a kg because I am not on it for the last 2 weeks, but intend to start again next week. It is a healthy option. I will recommend anyone trying to loose weight to watch this on bbciplayer or YouTube.

Thanks Mamta, that sounds like a very good idea, I've only done this since Monday so I can't report how's it going as my gym scales don't work probably so I'm going by my clothes but thought I would wait a couple of weeks.

There was a point where I drank beer every night for over 8 years, and even though I was drinking between 4-6 tins a night, I never put on too much weight, but stayed at a reasonable weight and ate pretty much what I wanted to. However, I became bored of the alcohol about 9 months ago I just stopped. I haven't had the slightest desire for it since...but, since I quit drinking alcohol the weight has just dropped off me. I can eat what I want and as much of it as I want, and I still don't put on any weight. :-) The only downside to it is I have since become a bit of an insomniac and require very little sleep to function now. Maybe I have been genetically modified lol.

I'm certainly no expert, but I would suggest you stop the booze first.

GMO Sid

It's working I think! But only my second week but my stomach (where I carry the extra weight) seems smaller, I'm going to continue for a month and try and find some scales to weigh myself. I don't own scales and I won't be buying any either.

Sid, that is interesting about the beer as my boyfriend used to drink vodka and sugar filled mixers (Cranberry juice etc ) and he stopped drinking vodka and mixers and turned to beer and the weight dropped off him. He also stopped drinking wine and more weight fell off him.

I think it's all down the genes as well.

Good luck Em.