However, all that's statistical. How has the diet been? Well, easy actually. Simple rules, no need to survive on ryvita and lettuce leaves, and never having to feel hungry have all helped. I've read a number of reports around health, diets, and nutrition whilst I've been doing this diet, and I know that it doesn't fit the pattern of a healthy diet. I know that it is meat (protein) heavy, and that the nutrients from fruit and veg are vital to our health; but, over a short time period, with a specific goal in mind, it has worked wonders for me.
Another statistical break, I have dropped from a 38 inch waist to a 32, and from a 44 inch chest to a 36 / 38 (depending on the jacket). All my clothes are now either medium (slim fit) or small. This factor alone has boosted my self-confidence, and my self-esteem no end. I have, to a large extent, stopped snoring (have to check with the wife as to whether I can have the all-clear yet on that), I don't get out of breath putting my socks on(!), and I have much more energy than I had before the start of the diet.
On the energy front, a lot of commentators on the diet (who haven't done it themselves) expect you to be lethargic, slow, and generally struggling. I have found exactly the opposite. After the initial "attack phase" of the diet (which lasted a week) was over, and I re-added veg into my diet, I started exercising. Just small amounts at the gym, a run, a row, a few sit-ups. Never once did I feel that I was unable to keep to my exercise regime; and after the exercise was over I was quite happy to eat protein and drink water. I never felt a "carb slump". As the diet progressed, and the weight fell away, I have upped my exercise. I am now running between 18 and 26 miles a week, with distances of 6 to 10 miles at a time, and a pace of 7.5 mi/h.
Having done some reading on the subject, the commentators assumptions couldn't be more wrong. They assume that we primarily survive on fruit and veg, when the historical record shows us that meat and fish was the primary food of a stone-age individual, and it was this protein that gave them the energy to run down prey over long distances. Protein may not give you that instant energy hit that you get from carbs (and fat), but the energy it does give you last a lot longer, and goes a lot further.
A few questions have raised themselves during this diet, for example; How can I eat 900 calories a day and still have loads of energy, even if I burn 700+ of them during a run? Obviously this isn't sustainable, but there have been days where I have consistently eaten ~800-900 calories a day for a week, and gone for 2 or 3 6 mile runs burning 700+ calories, and yet haven't suffered any fatigue or desire to eat more. Another one; I know, from hiking trips, that a litre of water weighs a kilo (or 2.2 pounds), so how can I weigh myself, relieve myself, and weigh myself again and see no difference in weight. Whilst I'm not measuring my output, I am assuming it around half a litre which should equate to 1.1 pounds or half a kilo.
Enough on that, although one thing that is obviously apparent is that the diet has made me much more aware of what I'm putting into my body. It is phenomenal the things that have added sugar to them (and the quantities of sugar in things to start with). It's no wonder we are a nation of increasing size, the stuff we eat doesn't really lend itself to a healthy lifestyle. The only way you can go healthy is to make stuff from scratch yourself.
On that front, some tips for the serious carb cutter, Encona hot pepper sauce is all good! Jamie Oliver's brand of cooking sauces have the lowest amount of added sugar (with the Tomato and Chilli sauce having 0 added sugar (there is still some sugar from the tomato obviously)). Waitrose half a rotisserie chicken can give you a hot meal for lunch when the incessant yoghurt, boiled egg and cold chicken gets too much for you.
So, it's worked for me, I would recommend it, and given the chance to do it all over again I wouldn't do anything different. Here's to the final 10 pounds, and the milestone of crossing 4 stone!
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