 Diet
another day - babyworlders try out the best diets
No, it's not the name of a James Bond dieting film, though that
would be quite amusing… We know how you might be looking to find
a way to lose some extra 'Christmas' weight, so we have selected some
of the most popular diets with babyworld members and given you the low-down
on each, in nice, bite-size chunks (sorry).
The Atkins diet
Spill the beans!
The Atkins diet has caused much controversy in the world of slimming.
Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Renée Zellwegger swear by it
for its fast results but nutritionists condemn it for excluding essential
foods from the diet. The diet claims that you can easily change your metabolism
and lose weight by simply eating foods high in fat while restricting carbohydrate-rich
foods which, according to Dr Atkins, cause overproduction of insulin resulting
in increased hunger and weight gain. The Atkins diet's popularity lies
in the fact that followers are rarely hungry on it and traditional 'bad'
foods, such as burgers, steaks, cheese, cream etc, are allowed - almost
unheard of in a weight-loss plan!
Yum yum!
This diet is fab for people who want to eat protein and fat to their
heart's content. It shows amazing results quicker than other weight-loss
plans, which can be inspiring to people who have had little success with
low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. The diet is fairly easy to follow, with
no complicated meal plans, and eating out needn't be a nightmare.
Yuk yuk!
This diet will not suit you if you like your breads, pastas and rice,
all of which are forbidden fruit. Nutritionists warn that if you restrict
your carbohydrate intake, your body will start relying on fat or muscle
for energy and this, in turn, can cause dehydration. As your body breaks
down stored fat to supply energy, it will create a by-product called ketones,
which are great for suppressing appetite but are bad for causing tiredness,
nausea and bad breath. Finally, the health implications are off-putting.
A diet high in fats, especially saturated ones found in meat, can increase
your risk of heart disease. Also, people with diabetes, heart or kidney
problems should not follow this plan. Not one to have children on because
it restricts an important food group.
I tried it!
Babyworld member Kellie tried Atkins. This is what she thought of it.
'I thought the diet was very hard and restricting and also a bit boring!
After a week, I was sick of eating meat and cheese and the worst thing
was having to cut out chocolate. Changing my weekly food shop was difficult
and also expensive because of all the meat I had to buy. I lost 10lbs
in two weeks and a bit more after that which was good but I wouldn't recommend
this diet to others unless they were happy to try out the recipes and
are not fussy eaters like me!
Weight Watchers
Spill the beans!
Virtually anyone who has ever been on a diet has tried Weight Watchers.
It seems to be as much of an institution as tea in this country - and
chances are either you have tried it or you know someone else who has.
The Weight Watchers plan has traditionally been based on a food exchange
system, whereby each dieter has a daily number of calories which they
can allocate as they see fit to their meals and snacks. This follows in
their new 'Pure Points' programme, where each food item has a number of
points based on its fat, fibre and calorie content. You are given a number
of points you are allowed to consume on a daily basis and you can decide
how you will use them. In this way, no food is forbidden and the plan
encourages people to feel in control of what they eat, not be controlled
by it.
Yum yum!
Weight Watchers gains much of its success and fame through its weekly
group meetings, which are often fun and encouraging. You are also likely
to find a group in your area - they seem to be everywhere in the UK! The
meal plans themselves are based on healthy eating and do not exclude any
major food groups, while 'Pure Points' does not forbid anything as long
as you can fit your treat into your daily points! It should be very family-friendly
because of its emphasis on a balanced diet.
Yuk yuk!
If you want to lose weight fast, Weight Watchers isn't for you. The emphasis
is on gradual weight loss that stays off because it is more about a lifelong
change in eating attitudes and habits. This can put people off and cause
them to either give up or try another diet.
I tried it!
Babyworld members Sue and Nicola have both tried Weight Watchers.
Sue: 'I did Weight Watchers before I found out I was pregnant
at 20 weeks, when I stopped immediately. I liked the diet as I could eat
the foods I enjoyed with no restrictions, as long as I could fit it into
my allotted points. I didn't find it hard to stick to at all mainly because
I could have a chocolate bar or pizza when I really wanted one! It did
involve a lifestyle change of sorts as I had to think about how much I
was eating and weigh my food but I thought it was worth it. When I started
I had around four stone to lose and, within a month, I had lost over half
a stone, despite being pregnant. I would definitely recommend it to others
- it was simple enough to follow and no foods are restricted which is
good.'
Nicola: 'It was a great diet as I could still work around eating
my favourite things by saving points. There is so much food to choose
from, I found it hard to actually fit it all in and never felt hungry!
The diet was generally easy to stick to and the groups give you good morale.
If your own group is a bit lacking, just go to another one! It also works
best if you do stay for the pep talks. Any diet that works needs to involve
a lifestyle change, but WW is easier as you continue eating the same foods
with a few treats. You just adjust how much you eat and, once you have
got the hang of the Points system, it's easy to follow. There are lots
of books to help you and lots of major manufacturers have put points on
their products so you can easily manage with ready meals too. I lost three
stone in six months before falling pregnant, my ten-year-old son lost
a stone and a half and my husband lost a stone. I would definitely recommend
it to others!
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