Carbs and weight loss

[scottsickles]

Hi: my wife and i started the program on 3.18.13. We selected a menu that has us at about 90% healthy for our first week. we were encouraged by that. The first day was strange, because we ate way more than we normally eat. Obviously we are eating all healthy food, and really no unhealthy food, but it is still a little weird with the volume of food you eat. My wife gained two pounds on the first day, she is worried about the amount of carbs in the diet, brown rice and cous cous. Does she have any reason for concern? she does not want to continue gaining weight. Is this just a transition period while her body’s metabolism gets jump started? Do other members see weight gain in the beginning? She is not “cheating” and drinking plenty of water. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[Ossie-Sharon]

Hi, Scott. First, I want to assure you and your wife that the menus here are actually low in available carbs – about 40-45% of energy, where the average eating pattern can reach 65%, and diabetics are encouraged to get 50% or less. The foods are not only healthy, but high in fibers that work against the negative issues associated with carbohydrates.
Because there is a lot of fiber and water, for someone who is not used to it, this can lead to initial water retention and bloating – which is not permanent.
A second possibility: has your wife been on diets before? What types? How often and when was the last time? Most weight loss diets create a semi-starvation mode that slows the body’s metabolism and leads to rebound weight gain as soon as one resumes eating normally. The Trim Down Club program is designed not only to avoid that, but to get the body used to normal eating habits that will last a lifetime. If someone’s metabolism has slowed, it will take a bit of time/effort to get it back up. The fastest and most effective method, in addition to eating normal amounts, is to introduce physical activity, even light and even gradually, to the mix – i.e. walking 20+ minutes a day, even if in front of the TV (about the length of a sitcom). If one is already exercising, then introducing a new type of exercise – that will wake up new muscles – may jumpstart the metabolism.

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