Cutting carbs for two days 'better than calorie counting all
KEEP_ON_RUNNING
Posts: 5
Not sure if I would give this a go or not?
Following a strict diet for just two days of the week is a far more effective way to lose weight than trying to calorie count all the time, researchers claim.
They found that women who stuck to fruit, vegetables and lean meat for two days a week while being allowed to eat as much as they liked on the other days lost nearly twice as much weight than those who were dieting constantly.
Researchers at the University Hospital in South Manchester put 115 women volunteers on one of three diets.
The first involved sticking to just 650 calories a day for two days of the week, including cutting out carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes and all fatty foods.
For the other five days they could eat as much as they liked, although they were encouraged to stick to healthy foods.
Women on the second diet were also banned from carbohydrates for two days of the week but they did not have a specific calorie limit.
They could also eat as much as they wanted the rest of the week.
The third group followed a standard weight-loss diet which involved sticking to about 1,500 calories every day and avoiding high-fat foods and alcohol.
After three months the women on either of the two-day diets had lost an average of nine pounds (four kilos) – nearly twice as much as those on the full-time diet, who lost just five pounds (2.4 kilos).
Dr Michelle Harvie, of the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre at the hospital, said there seemed to be a ‘carry over effect’ on the two-day diet, meaning the benefits continued on the days when the women ate normally.
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She also said women seemed to continue eating healthily even on the five days when there were no restrictions.
Dr Harvie, who presented her findings at the Breast Cancer Symposium conference in San Antonio, Texas added: ‘What we found was that they naturally ate less.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html#ixzz1g2UOHYkR
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html
Following a strict diet for just two days of the week is a far more effective way to lose weight than trying to calorie count all the time, researchers claim.
They found that women who stuck to fruit, vegetables and lean meat for two days a week while being allowed to eat as much as they liked on the other days lost nearly twice as much weight than those who were dieting constantly.
Researchers at the University Hospital in South Manchester put 115 women volunteers on one of three diets.
The first involved sticking to just 650 calories a day for two days of the week, including cutting out carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes and all fatty foods.
For the other five days they could eat as much as they liked, although they were encouraged to stick to healthy foods.
Women on the second diet were also banned from carbohydrates for two days of the week but they did not have a specific calorie limit.
They could also eat as much as they wanted the rest of the week.
The third group followed a standard weight-loss diet which involved sticking to about 1,500 calories every day and avoiding high-fat foods and alcohol.
After three months the women on either of the two-day diets had lost an average of nine pounds (four kilos) – nearly twice as much as those on the full-time diet, who lost just five pounds (2.4 kilos).
Dr Michelle Harvie, of the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre at the hospital, said there seemed to be a ‘carry over effect’ on the two-day diet, meaning the benefits continued on the days when the women ate normally.
More...
Just three MINUTES of exercise a week could prevent diabetes, say scientists
Running marathons 'could permanently damage the heart'
She also said women seemed to continue eating healthily even on the five days when there were no restrictions.
Dr Harvie, who presented her findings at the Breast Cancer Symposium conference in San Antonio, Texas added: ‘What we found was that they naturally ate less.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html#ixzz1g2UOHYkR
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2071903/Strict-diet-days-better-calorie-counting-week.html
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Anything that comes from the daily mail has already got my scepticism running rampant tbh.
I hardly think that cutting carbs for 2 days will make up for 5 days of eating what you want. The minute you tell people they can eat what they want, they will normally go balls to the wall. Cutting carbs for 2 days, then eating 5,000 calories for the other 5 days will not result in weight loss...0 -
I think this is the key to the whole thing. If doing this makes you eat less during the rest of the week, then sure you will lose weight. It's a bit of a gimmick but it doesn't seem harmful.She also said women seemed to continue eating healthily even on the five days when there were no restrictions.
Dr Harvie, who presented her findings at the Breast Cancer Symposium conference in San Antonio, Texas added: ‘What we found was that they naturally ate less.’0 -
The Daily Mail also said OJ Simpson confessed to Oprah.0
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Even if the benefit of the doubt is given, this is one unreplicated study telling people what they want to hear (that you don't have to work at good health). Until there are two independent replications of this result I would totally ignore it...and I'd probably check the primary source literature to see if it's actually been published in the only scientific media that matters...namely a refereed journal.0
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I already do this. 1 limit meat 2 days a week and then limit carbs 2 days a week..but I dont pig out on the other days.0
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I think it's a ridiculous method.0
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Most diets which are not patently moronic work because they share fundamental similarities. Primarily they have the dieter eating at a calorie deficit either consciously (calorie counting) or spontaneously (Atkins, Paelo, this study...) On a secondary point they usually involve a higher protein intake.
What is also abundantly clear is that you cannot separate the psychological aspects of dieting from the physiological. For a diet to achieve long term success it must cater to both.
Some people don't cope well with calorie counting as it does not suit their personality. It creates constant anxiety, feelings of deprivation which for many people leads to binging, "unconscious" eating and general poor dietary adherence. Therefore they are far better off using a strategy such as this one which eases those psychological concerns (yet still catering to the physiological reality of needing a calorie deficit.)
Personally, I think these types of looser strategies are better for most people. However given some people have no real concept of portion size or control they do better starting off with calorie counting and then transitioning rather than jumping in feet first.
Never underestimate the power of the mind in successful dieting.0 -
TL;DR0
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Daily mail= daily fail. Unless you are willing to keep the no carbs thing for the rest of you life, you will pile the pounds back on xx0
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The first involved sticking to just 650 calories a day for two days of the week, including cutting out carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes and all fatty foods.
This Seems kinda sketch to me.... I mean, I am not really a master of nutrition, but It seems like if you are at 650 calories, with not carbs or fat, you're going to struggle....not healthy....0 -
I was just calorie counting from june (including carbs) and it took me the first 4 months nearly to lose 9lbs... then I read something about people wiht thyroid probs also having probs with nuts and wheat (i already have a nut allergy) so i went wheat free and lowered other carbs in general and lost 18lbs in 3 months!
I do have a treat meal but its only one a week most weeks of the month, though TOTM is a challenge with cravings and I do tend to eat few more carbs but I switched to gluten free bread so I can still have toast, pitta breads with salads in and I still lose that week (besides the water weight)... i don't think I would if I only stayed low carb 2 days and ate what I wanted the other 5!0 -
I think it's a ridiculous method.
Sidesteal has spoken. QFT.0 -
The total "study" had 115 volunteers.....statistical problem #1. The women VOLUNTEERED, meaning they were already trying to lose weight or at least willing to try.....statistical problem #2. It doesn't say how long the study lasted or if there was follow-up to see how much weight each group gained back....statistical problem #3.
Anyway, I think in part it may have worked because the women had some freedom to choose what they were eating most of the time and being very restrictive only a short period of time. All three plans were called "DIETS"....hence the problem. If you feel free to splurge every once in a while and don't think I can only eat 650 calories a day for the rest of my life, well chances are, over time you will make better choices and be less inclined to binge eat and eat crap.0 -
If you feel free to splurge every once in a while and don't think I can only eat 650 calories a day for the rest of my life, well chances are, over time you will make better choices and be less inclined to binge eat and eat crap.
Exactly. It relieves the feeling of deprivation on a psychological basis. Human beings aren't very good at dealing with those kinds of emotions.
If you consider many successful dieting methods they include some component of flexibility over a rigid, "all or nothing" mindset. Diet breaks, cheat meals, calorie cycling all are ways to relieve the psychological stress of dieting in the main (although they have some physiological benefits as well.)0 -
Hence why we say "don't diet, make a lifestyle change."
Eat what you want, in moderation, therefore avoiding the cravings.0 -
Hence why we say "don't diet, make a lifestyle change."
Eat what you want, in moderation, therefore avoiding the cravings.
Precisely. It has success built into it as it caters to both the physiological and psychological.0 -
Mmmmmmmmm ... yes and no. I can see it not working for everyone.0
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Yup, that's how studies on humans work. You can't force people to be in a study; they have to agree it (i.e. volunteer). Participants were randomly assigned to which group they were put in, though. The women didn't get to chose which of the diets they followed.The total "study" had 115 volunteers.....statistical problem #1. The women VOLUNTEERED, meaning they were already trying to lose weight or at least willing to try.....0 -
The Daily Mail isn't the only place who has picked up this story. I just saw it in Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208184651.htm). It hasn't been published yet because, according to that article, the author JUST presented it at a conference (apparently the conference is still going on). Findings are typically presented at conferences, where they can be discussed, before being published in a journal. At least that is how it works in my field and most scientific fields that I have experience with (cancer research not being one).
The fact that this seems to be a brand-spanking-new finding also might explain why no information has been given about follow-up -- because the follow-up has yet to take place.0 -
If only ate 650 calories per day 2 days a week, I would not have the energy to workout those days or at least a day or 2 after. That would seriously mess up my plans. No thank you.
Not to mention I would be a hungry, cranky B which would be awful for my husband and kids.0 -
I found eating much less one day and normal eating the next day works best for me. I don't feel deprived, I only go without for one day at any given time...on the days I can eat more, I generally still eat less than I formerly did.
Here's some info for anyone who thinks it sounds like them:
l
http://www.johnsonupdaydowndaydiet.com
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3668-dayon-dayoff-diet-boosts-health0
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