9 lbs gone in 3 weeks with High Carb diet!

lydia1959

17 years ago

I've struggled with my weight most of my life, but the past 5 years have been really hard due to a diagnosis of Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism. Anyone that is hypo knows your metabolism slows down and it becomes next to impossible to lose weight. I tried low carb, low GI, low calorie, the Blood Type diet, the Hibernation diet, etc. A couple months ago in desperation I even had the 'ear staples' put in!

I had read some good reviews about Olga Raz's "Bread For Life" diet and decided to give it a try. Got the book used on Amazon.com for about $5.00. Started the diet the 2nd of Feb. and in a week I had lost 4 1/2 lbs! 2nd week 2 1/2 lbs, and the last week 2 more lbs.

Here's a little more about the diet. Women should eat 8 to 12 pieces of light whole grain bread (men get 15), eat every 3 to 4 hours, take 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil daily, meat 3 to 4 times a week (eat no bread in that meal), 1 piece of fruit or a low fat yogurt daily. Low fat cottage cheese is okay as well as small amounts of lower fat cheeses. No sugar. Unlimited vegetables (except for corn and potatoes). You can eat your bread as sandwiches, but are limited to only a thin slice of meat, thin slice of spread (mustard, low fat mayo, etc.), then as many vegetables as you like. Tuna is okay as well. The second phase of the diet (after 1 or 2 weeks on phase 1) you can begin substituting items for your bread... you can now eat potatoes, pasta, rice, crackers, etc. You can drink most any thing that is calorie free (including coffee, diet soda) and occasionally alcohol.

The pros of this diet are: You eat often, there is no calorie counting, easy to eat out, it seems to work well. I have not exercised, although the diet is said to work better if you do.

Cons are: You will get tired of so much bread the first week, but then you can move to phase 2 which is easier. I also had a mild headache off and on the first 2 weeks.

I know there are a lot of low carb advocates here, but I never had much success with low carb diets. I'd lose a couple lbs. the first week... then not lose any. I'm not a big meat eater anyhow... so the high carb lifestyle suits me better.

Can I stay on this plan the rest of my life? I don't know. I like to think I can. I have about 50 lbs. to lose.

If you want to try this diet, I suggest you buy the book (or borrow from your local library). A lot of the websites describing it are inaccurate.

I'd love to hear any other successes with this diet.

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Comments (12)

okinawan
17 years ago
This sounds very intriguing.... are you hungry and are you supplementing with exercise?

How about water intake?

Also, can you make your own bread or are you using store-bought bread?

Sounds like I might need the book!
lydia1959
Original Author
17 years ago
I do get hungry occasionally... but I wouldn't if I'd fill up more on the unlimited vegetables. I have not exercised.

I've always drank a huge amount of fluids (probably a gallon and a half daily), so I am still doing that. I think the diet call for 8 to 10 glasses of non-caloric fluids a day.

You could make your own bread I guess, but it needs to be low calorie. I buy the light whole grain breads, but have also bought a loaf of Panera's Sourdough and that didn't seem to slow down the weight loss.

I've already lost an additional lb. this week... bringing me up to 10 pounds gone!

I don't really understand why this works, but it does!
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okinawan
17 years ago
Well, again..it sounds fascinating. I need to take a peek at it. I have not found anything motivating and have been in such a rut. I read online about it and it seems that it seems to work for a lot of people....
wannabeeslimagain
17 years ago
HI Lydia,

Thanks for the great tip. I have ordered the book and am very excited about your results. I have always found diets that severely limited bread intake never worked well for me.

I am inspired by your weight loss considering you also have thyroid problems. (I am recovering from a total hysterectomy and have gained 24lbs in 3months I am also in surgical menopause, and was very despondent because I thought I just couldnt lose weight).

I will keep you all posted on my progress because trust me, if I can lose weight, anyone can.
masdel
17 years ago
linda,just wandering if you are still losing weight on this diet? thanks
lydia1959
Original Author
17 years ago
I've lost 13 lbs. now and it's been just 5 weeks. It's going good.
lydia1959
Original Author
17 years ago
Wannabeslimagain - have you started the diet yet? Results??

I am down 18 lbs. now, the weight loss is definately slowing down some, but I have been overdoing it on the breads.. not always choosing the light version or just eating too much of it. I'm in the middle of some big home projects right now.. so once that is over I'll focus more on following the diet a bit better.
harold14370
17 years ago
Hi, spam bots. I think your diet is a crock.
lydia1959
Original Author
17 years ago
Harold, how am I making money on someone else's book??

I may not post here a lot, but put my user name in the search box here and you will see I have been a member of GW for years. I mostly post at the Kitchen Table. Please do your research instead of making assumptions.
harold14370
17 years ago
I apologize. Thought you were a bot.
lydia1959
Original Author
17 years ago
22 lbs. gone now (in 3 months). The last 2 weeks I've started losing again, doubt I will reach my goal of 45 lbs. by my August birthday (the big 50).. but I'll be at a better weight than I was. Maybe by Christmas?

Anybody else try this diet yet?
helencolby
17 years ago
No, and I doubt that I will. I am finding that with my low metabolic rate, if I simply eat small portions (normal) and walk every day and not vegetate, then the weight comes off. I do count calories, and it works for me. I have dropped 29.8 lbs. in 4 months. And with eating anything I want to in moderation, it suits me very well.

Helen

9 lbs gone in 3 weeks with High Carb diet!

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okinawan

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9 lbs gone in 3 weeks with High Carb diet!

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okinawan

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