Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Anyone else follow a Low Carb WOE (way of Eating)? I am starting Carbohydrate Addict's Diet tomorrow...anyone know anything about it?

Message edited 5/5/2003 6:01:25 PM.

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Rachel, I have never heard of this diet, but I'm curious to know what it's about! I am also a Carbohydrate Addict!

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Please, let us know. I'm also a Carb addict.
Pasta is my middle name

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

What It Is

The remarkable success of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet -- by Rachael Heller, MD, and Richard Heller, MD, and first published in 1993 -- led to a handful of best-selling books. Each is based on a single theory: Many overweight people are "carbohydrate addicts." Among these people, biological processes that convert food into energy fail to perform as they are supposed to and, the Hellers say, "for reasons that are not yet clearly understood, sustained high levels of insulin in the blood result." The elevated insulin, according to their theory, makes carbohydrate addicts crave food throughout the day. But a big question -- why does this condition create carbohydrate craving? -- is not answered.

Given the premise, the Hellers claim that this is not a diet for everybody -- only for those with this metabolic imbalance that they call "carbohydrate addiction." However, their "documented research" shows that 75% of overweight adults identify themselves as "carbohydrate addicts," but they maintain that the actual figure may be as high as 85%. Alas, these theories on addiction and the related figures are not founded on scientific research.

The diet is based on the Hellers' own theories about controlling fat-storing insulin in the body. And insulin, they claim, can be controlled by drastically reducing carbohydrate consumption during most of the day.

Reviewed by Gary Vogin, MD, March 18, 2002.

Message edited 5/6/2003 10:31:25 AM.

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

What You Can Eat

For the first two weeks, you eat two small Complimentary Meals daily, consisting of a portion (three to four ounces) of meat, fish, or fowl or two ounces of cheese, and roughly two cups of vegetables or salad. The third meal is your Reward Meal, which can be anything you want, in any quantity -- though it should be nourishing and well balanced. You can have wine or a cocktail or a glass of beer, promise the Hellers. This meal can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But there's a time limit. The Reward Meal -- from cocktail to dessert -- must be consumed within an hour.

After the first two weeks, the regimen splits into several eating plans, depending on how much weight you still want to lose, or on whether you just want to maintain what you've already lost. Some will choose a plan that allows one prescribed snack a day, made up of the same low-carb foods that you eat at the Complimentary Meals. You may never choose carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits, fruit juices, breads, pasta, snack foods, or sweets as your snacks. Never. And these snacks are limited to half the size of a meal.

The book gives an extensive list of food to chose from, which covers five pages, and urges you not to deviate: "If the food is not listed here, don't eat it during your Complimentary Meals or Snacks. ... When in doubt, save the food for your Reward Meal."

Other rules: Drink plenty of water. If you have milk or cream with your coffee, you can have one cup a day the way you like it. Keep to the rules, say the Hellers, and you will improve your metabolism and miraculously lose weight, and all the time you'll feel great.

Reviewed by Gary Vogin, MD, March 18, 2002.

Message edited 5/6/2003 10:31:14 AM.

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

How it Works

The Hellers claim that by restricting carbohydrates drastically during most of the day, the body releases far less insulin than if you had been eating a high-carb diet at each meal. They say that the entire chain of metabolic events is altered: Less insulin is released, less fat is stored, and more fat is burned up. Because the body is releasing less insulin, the brain regulates the appetite better with a release of serotonin, a biochemical that gives that nice, complete feeling of satiety.

The time limit on the Reward Meal, when you are eating and drinking carbs to your heart's content, controls the insulin release, which the Hellers say occurs about one-and-a-quarter to one-and-a-half hours after you begin eating. If you are still polishing off that apple pie, your body will compensate for the initial low release of insulin with a big blast of it. But if you've stopped eating within an hour, "this second phase appears to be kept low," they write.

High insulin in the blood leads to a decrease in the number and activity of receptor sites in the muscles and fatty tissue that absorb insulin and glucose. This is called insulin resistance. Only one carbohydrate-rich meal a day, the Hellers say, lowers insulin production and leads to an increase in receptor sites, which then gobble up the insulin and glucose more quickly, removing it from the blood. This in turn allows the "carbohydrate addict" to feel less intensely hungry throughout the day, have fewer cravings, and lose more weight.

Reviewed by Gary Vogin, MD, March 18, 2002.

Message edited 5/6/2003 10:31:04 AM.

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

Food for Thought

Though popular, this diet does not receive the support of nutrition experts, who have a particularly hard time swallowing the Hellers' claim that most overweight people are "carbohydrate addicts." In addition, the Reward Meal is an aspect of the diet that merely rewards unhealthy eating habits.


Reviewed by Gary Vogin, MD, March 18, 2002.

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

LOL - basically it's 2 restricted meals a day (meaning no carbs) and one "reward" meal a day....but it's not just a pasta free for all at the reward meals. You must eat 1/3 protein, 1/3 bad carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes etc) and 1/3 good carbs (certain vegetables, some starches etc). You must also eat a green salad before the meal. It all has to be consumed within 1 hour (to prevent a second insulin shot from being released in your body). They offer a test to see if you are a carab addict and I scored an 8 out of 10. Not everyone is an addict - a girl here only scored a 4. Try it out at the website....

Bottom line: You are taking in far fewer calories and less carbs than you did before, which is why it works. The "reward" meal encourages balance and moderation...it's not going bananas with burgers, fries and a pound of pasta.

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

Where is the test you are talking about? I'd like to take it... I know for sure I"m an addict, I have to be...

Re: Low Carb WOE - I FOUND SOME INFO!

I follow that WOE... I would suggest that you go to GNC or Vitamin shoppe & stock up on some low-carb treats after your 2nd week... it makes this WOE easier to stay with. Also- netrition.com has great low carb wraps, cookies, even bagels!

I have been following this WOE for about 6 months... of course I have cheated- but so far I have lost 15 lbs and i feel much healthier, my skin looks better and I never feel hungry or slugish.

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Wow. I wish I could limit my carb intake - I rely on it way too much and it's not healthy. What are considered good carbs? Obviously anything I love - bread, pasta, cake, cookies are not good carbs

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

good carbs are those carbs that do not spike your insulin.

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Follow up to Sassy's comment that good carbs are ones that do not spike your insulin - too much insulin causes you to store fat, right Sassy? And I'll take you up on that red wine offer anytime! I would truly love to learn more about this WOE b/c I think it is probably the solution to my problem.....

And good carbs are mainly vegetables. Bad carbs are complex carbs - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc. You should replace them with leafy green veggies, mushrooms, sprouts, lettuce etc. Avoid starches like corn, beans, carrots...thos veggies have sugar too.

Re: Low Carb WOE - Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Let me know.. anytime- I'd be more than willing to help-

You're totally right re: good carbs vs. bad carbs... there are many great articles on www.lowcarbeating.com