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Low-carb diets

Anna Richardson- is this low carb?

88 replies

peachypips · 21/08/2013 17:18

Hi,
I started AR's body blitz diet two and a half weeks ago and I am really enjoying it. I lost weight on WW before but counting points/calories really depressed me and I can't do it long term.

My question is:

Is this diet low-carb and is this why it works? She has 5 rules:

  1. No sugar
  2. No wheat
  3. No alcohol
  4. Limited dairy
  5. No carbs after 6pm


So, for example, today I had porridge with nuts for breakfast, mixed baby salad leaves with tomatoes, olives, prosciutto and avo, a ryvita with humous and then I will have bolognese with shredded cabbage instead of pasta.

Is this low carbing? If not, can I do it and still get the benefits others on the bootcamp are getting? I am losing weight fairly quickly, I am enjoying it and I know I can sustain it long term.

Cheers
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Cocoaone · 21/08/2013 18:17

It's lower carb, but you can still be eating quite a lot of carbs if she allows porridge and rice etc over breakfast and lunch.

As long as you're getting results and your happy, there's no reason to change!

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peachypips · 21/08/2013 18:37

Thank you! I have not been eating carbs at lunchtime apart from one ryvita every now and then. Not much fruit either other then berries.

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Cocoaone · 21/08/2013 18:59

Have you tried the app My Fitness Pal? You can plug in your daily food and it will tell you how many g of carbs etc you've had in a day (and calories) Very useful!

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peachypips · 21/08/2013 19:49

I have tried it, but it started to make me obsess about food again. What I hate about WW is that it makes you think about food more and reinforces my food issues. This new WOE means I don't have to think about it!
I wonder if in a few weeks I may take the next step and cut the rest of the carbs out.

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KinkyDorito · 22/08/2013 12:35

Sounds like The Food Doctor diet to me which is low GI too; basing meals around protein rather than carb to avoid insulin spikes, no carbs on an evening.

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KinkyDorito · 22/08/2013 12:35

By carbs I mean grains/starches, not veg.

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peachypips · 22/08/2013 16:57

Yes it is low GI- I have Patrick Holford's book on GL eating, the updated version of GI. Very interesting.
I have a mood disorder which responds badly to insulin spikes and sugar fluctuations, and I never realised how much starchy carbs/grains impacted on my sugar levels. I have not felt hungry and yet am eating a lot less calories. Marvellous!

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prissyenglisharriviste · 28/08/2013 05:00

How are you getting on, pips? I just started Anna Richardson yesterday, so I'd love to hear how you're getting on!

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peachypips · 29/08/2013 19:11

Hurray!!!! I've finally found someone on the same diet as me!!! Yyaayy! Sorry. Am very excited.
Going really well. Today is the first time I have slipped up in four weeks- I've lost 9 pounds! Just ate fish and chips and angel delight for pudding though- whoops. Am at my parents hence retro meal.
Do you fancy supporting each other? We could weigh in and post if you fancy.

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MrsHoolie · 29/08/2013 22:16

Hello,I started this diet two weeks ago....can this be OUR thread?!
I love it so far.
I have done low carb before but always desperately missed my porridge for breakfast and this diet is much more sustainable long term for me.
I'm pleased to find this thread as I had a look through the forums and couldn't find any about this.
I cooked the creamy chicken curry tonight,OMG it was gorgeous. DP had it with rice and I just had it on its own which was fine.

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MrsHoolie · 29/08/2013 22:50

I have lost 7lb. I am 12st 11lb at the moment an would like go be 10st something!I'm 5ft 9 btw.

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BIWI · 29/08/2013 23:16

You are eating lower carb, but not low carb:

So, for example, today I had porridge with nuts for breakfast, mixed baby salad leaves with tomatoes, olives, prosciutto and avo, a ryvita with humous and then I will have bolognese with shredded cabbage instead of pasta.

Porridge and nuts will be high in carbs

Ryvita and hummous will be high in carbs

Good that you aren't eating the pasta, but your day is still fairly high in carbs.

Having said that, I have no idea about the Anna Richardson plan, so it may well be in keeping with what she is advising!

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prissyenglisharriviste · 30/08/2013 01:12

Anna Richardson is lower carbs (no wheat) and no carbs after 6pm, BIWI. Essentially she has 5 rules (as in the op).

Yes - that'd be good, pips! I'm doing it as I'm thinking of paleo long term, but I'm not brave enough to go the whole hog yet... So I thought I'd commit to two weeks and see how it goes! Started on Monday and have lost just over 2lbs, which I guess is about right.

I started at 162 lbs (about 11 stone 6?) but was 12 stone 2 this time last year. I'm also a midget at 5'2", so have a whack to lose.

MFP makes me crazy. I'm just using it to track weight at the mo, the food diary thing is no use to me at all. I can't deal in grams and whatnot - life is too short to count rice grains.

You are both doing really well! I'm very keen to see what happens - I've never followed an actual diet before, just eaten less and exercised more, so we'll see! Usually I get heavier straight away, (the muscle/fat thing) but this time I haven't - as I haven't added in exercise yet... So it's all new to actually see pretty much instant results!

We are on holiday next week as well (including a wedding) so I'm sure I'll break the rules a wee bit (even if just for a glass of champagne!) but I'm determined to get it done now.

MrsH, so you lost bang on the 7lbs in the plan. V impressive! Were you the same, pips?

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78bunion · 30/08/2013 09:22

I eat paleo (and at the moment low carb to lose weight) and in my view any diet which cuts out processed foods is going to make you feel a lot better and healthier. If you want to lose weight however I find that high fat, low carb works best.

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peachypips · 01/09/2013 16:30

Our very own thread- sounds great. Does that mean I have to think up something witty as the thread title?!

I lost 7lb in the first two weeks too. Bit static this week as I pigged out in the week as away.

I am also 5ft 2- I started at 11st 10 and am now 11st 2. You are very similar to me prissy . My aim is to be 9st 7 by Christmas- eek! Just over a stone and a half.

I too feel that this is sustainable for me- I have been having the muesli from the AR book for breakfast. Yum.

I have never been this determined and feel this is the 'change of lifestyle' I have wanted rather than a stupid diet.

Shall we weigh in on Fridays? What do you think?

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prissyenglisharriviste · 01/09/2013 19:24

Fridays sounds good to me, but I won't be doing it this week, as we don't get home until Sunday night - so I'll weigh in on Monday morning!

We are flying tonight, so I'm madly packing - have got rid of kids to friend's house for a couple of hours and trying to get organised. We moved house a month ago, but haven't had any time off work, so the house is still in that boxes and crap everywhere state. (We live in Canada so it's only lunchtime, but we're flying back to UK tonight).

I don't feel I'm organised on the diet yet either - I'm at the point where I need to do a shop and try some different recipes, but have been deliberately not doing it as I know I'll be leaving stuff to spoil. So, I'm going to try to stick to it whilst we're away (except for the wedding) and hopefully can get myself more together when we're back!

Will probably pop in to moan this week (about restaurant cooking!) but if you have any ideas how to do this when you are not in control of the kitchen, I'm all ears!!!

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prissyenglisharriviste · 01/09/2013 19:25

9 stone 7 by Christmas - I'll probably aim for similar, but would be chuffed with 10 stone (or just below) if I'm honest...

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peachypips · 01/09/2013 20:37

My S and BIL live in Canada- in Port Coquitlam. Where are you? They have just been here for two weeks and are now back in Canada.

Only tip I can give is to try and stick to the rules but forget quantities. I asked for no potatoes with my main, ate no bread etc. Had a gin and slim to drink.

Tbh I would be happy with 10st too, but would love to get to 9.7!!

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MrsHoolie · 06/09/2013 08:36

12st 10 today and started at 13st 5.

Feel thinner but still a long way to go.

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peachypips · 06/09/2013 17:35

Well done Hoolie !!! I have stayed the same this week so starting the gym on Tues. Hopefully that will help.

So 11st 2lb today.

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prissyenglisharriviste · 09/09/2013 15:49

Oops. Am back to 11.6. Last week was a nightmare in terms of eating anything like I needed to. I lasted two days but it was literally ridiculous - we stayed in a b&b, so couldn't store or prepare anything, and was literally served carbs everywhere we went. Even the wedding reception was (literally) hog roast in a bun, couscous, and roast potatoes, followed by ice cream and chocolate cake. That was pretty much the story of my week, including (battered) fish and chips, pizza, and a selection of pastries for breakfast.
It was interesting though, as it gave me a really keen insight into exactly how it made me feel - as I'd been absolutely mindful the previous week, and had no wheat, dairy, alcohol etc, it was amazing to notice quite how instantly ropy it made me feel.
So, I'm back on the wagon today, and should have no issues now - am going to do a massive supermarket shop today to fill the fridge with decent stuff, and then there'll be no excuses. I lost 3 pounds that first week (and then put it all back on in a week - scary!) so I know I can do it, and that this works. So, not really disheartened, as I knew it was going to be an issue. Hey ho!

Good luck with the gym tomorrow, mrshoolie!

We live in southern alberta, in the Rockies, pips. It's wall to wall Olympians, crazy place. Am v excited about being lighter for ski season, though ;-)

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peachypips · 09/09/2013 18:43

Man you lucky thing. Would give anything to be near a skiing place!! I love it so much. We went to Whistler last time we were in Canada. I think holidays are fair game for eating shite. You are right though about how crap it makes you feel- particularly wheat for me. I can put on 3 pounds in a day!

I just had the creamy curry and it is DELICIOUS. I cooked the peppers and squash separately though- roasted them in the oven and then added them at the end. Added to the richness of the taste if I do say so myself. I used a really mild curry paste so that the kids could have it and they really enjoyed it.

Going for the lamb tagine thing for tomorrow. Very excited about my gym induction- I've just been told I have tendon issues so running and cycling aren't going to be able to be my main source of exercise any more. Sad
.

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prissyenglisharriviste · 09/09/2013 19:51

That's a pita. I used to run a lot - need to get back to it. I took boot camp classes (a spin/ core mix) a couple of times a week last year, but it doesn't fit in with work now, so I'm not sure what to do. We have a pool and gym at work, but I do have a membership at our rec centre as well, so not sure if I can really justify another membership (it's peanuts really, but still peanuts I could be using for groceries...)

Mm. Am going to leaf through and select a something for dinner, now. You've made me hungry!

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peachypips · 09/09/2013 20:25

Gyms are mega expensive aren't they? I am doing Curves which is a female-only gym and is a kind of circuit style. Supposed to be great for toning and cardio also.

It's £30 a month though so it better be worth it! Enjoy your dinner- the curry really is great!

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MrsHoolie · 09/09/2013 21:56

Hi ladies.
I can't afford the gym,plus not enough child free time to get to one til my youngest is at school.
I'm clinging to the belief that weight loss is 80% why you eat!Having said that I really want to get into doing weights. I did loads of weights before I had kids and although I'd only lost a stone my body looked much better.
I have made the curry twice and it was so delicious. I'm also having those rye crispbread with peanut butter and a couple of boiled eggs for lunch/tea if I can't be arsed to cook.

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