Tom and Giselle's "diet"

[dashofsunshine]

I eat pretty similar to this, although I do eat cheese. And coffee! But I eat very low carb (no simple carbs at all), no sugar (except for an occasional treat), high protein and lots of vegetables. We don't keep bread, pasta, or rice of any kind in the house and haven't for over a year.

I was over 300 lbs and morbidly obese, so changing...was difficult. But I've really learned how to cook and prepare things to make them delicious. Herbs (especially fresh) and spices are everything in this house. Seasoning your food and enhancing the flavors with herbs makes SO MUCH difference.

 

[disney4us2002]

Yes, bread and ice cream taste disgusting.....

They may make you feel terrible, but I do not believe for a nanosecond that they taste disgusting.....

Carry on.

 

[Planogirl]

Yes, bread and ice cream taste disgusting.....

They may make you feel terrible, but I do not believe for a nanosecond that they taste disgusting.....

Carry on.

Ice cream has never made me feel bad and it has never tasted bad. It always works for me which is why I avoid it. Bread not so much.

I feel best when I eat lean meat, veggies and fruit and limited nuts and dairy. It's not a diet but a lifestyle that I should adhere to. However I had rice tonight which was a mistake. But everyone has to eat in a way that works for them.

 

[DisneyOma]

I don't eat mammals, but I do eat carbs. I've got low cholesterol, low blood pressure, on the low end of the healthy weight for my height. My exercise is walking 2-3 miles a day for work, mainly following students in hallways It's interesting how our bodies can adapt/survive so many different ways!

 

[Christine]

I don't eat mammals, but I do eat carbs. I've got low cholesterol, low blood pressure, on the low end of the healthy weight for my height. My exercise is walking 2-3 miles a day for work, mainly following students in hallways It's interesting how our bodies can adapt/survive so many different ways!

True. We all have evolved from ancestors who were all over the world and could have had drastically different diets, so I think what works for some bodies, doesn't necessarily work for others.

For me, age is a big thing. I spent most of my life with no weight problems. Even through all my thyroid troubles (cancer, removal, no meds), weight was never an issue for me. Then, enter menopause. For the first time in my life, I do not have a flat stomach. I'm picking up weight VERY easily and hanging on to it. Losing it has been a struggle but I did really well last year with getting rid of simple carbs versus just say reducing calories even though there *might* be simple carbs. It seems that 1700 calories a day works for me but only with more protein and veggies, less refined foods.

 

[Allison]

How are they not real about food as compared to Chrissy Tiegen? That is the way they live their life.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

A professional athlete has a special diet???

Color me shocked!!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

This actually sounds really good.

"So, 80 percent of what they eat is vegetables," Campbell said. "[I buy] the freshest vegetables. If it’s not organic, I don’t use it. And whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, millet, beans. The other 20 percent is lean meats: grass-fed organic steak, duck every now and then, and chicken. As for fish, I mostly cook wild salmon.

Except there is no actual data to back up that organic vegetables are any better nutrition wise than traditional vegetables. But, it's their money.

And the "no nightshades" thing is a little crazy.

 

[okeydokey]

I admit I'm pretty picky when it comes to what I want my food to taste like. It just never measures up to what a professional chef makes. I'm betting the Brady's food tastes like "restaurant" food for every meal. I've already done the bouillon/broth quinoa thing. It just doesn't do it for me when I'm making it at home. I mean, I'll eat it but I can't say it's anything I want to stick with. However, professionally done by someone with skill would definitely make me stick with it better.

I suspect that those "healthy" foods prepared by professionals actually have a good bit of not-healthy in them. Veggies in restaurants are often bathed in butter or fat and are not actually as healthy as you think.

 

[TAX GUY]

True. We all have evolved from ancestors who were all over the world and could have had drastically different diets, so I think what works for some bodies, doesn't necessarily work for others.

For me, age is a big thing. I spent most of my life with no weight problems. Even through all my thyroid troubles (cancer, removal, no meds), weight was never an issue for me. Then, enter menopause. For the first time in my life, I do not have a flat stomach. I'm picking up weight VERY easily and hanging on to it. Losing it has been a struggle but I did really well last year with getting rid of simple carbs versus just say reducing calories even though there *might* be simple carbs. It seems that 1700 calories a day works for me but only with more protein and veggies, less refined foods.

This is where we are too. As my wife and I get a little older, its becoming more difficult to keep some of the pounds off. We have adjusted our diets to what seems to be working for us, without a drastic life altering change. For my wife, its more of WHAT she is eating (and she's menopausal). She is now reducing her red meat intake, all "white" carbs (like potatoes and white rice). She now more focused on lean meats (chicken, white fish but will have salmon too, etc) and fresh veggies. We avoid cooking with butters and try to use a little olive oil. I'm focusing on the "what" as well but also portion size. My biggest issue was having LOTS of whatever we were having. Two FULL plates at dinner, a decent sized lunch (more like a normal dinner size) and usually something small for breakfast. Add to that some sort of snack (usually nuts or other small quick snacks). More often than not I would top all that off with a small bowl of ice cream at night. One would think with all of that, I would be obese. Luckily for me, I'm not however I'm not at a healthy weight. I could stand to lose a good 20 pounds, and am currently working on that now.

We have made these "diet" changes to better improve our current and future health. What worked for us before doesn't seem to be working for us now. Our bodies change with time and we need to adjust as we move along. Not every change will work for everyone. The more one gets to know their own body and how it reacts, the better they can feel. If someone decides to make those adjustments, great. If they decide not to, that's great too. We all do what's best for US. Good luck to those who attempt at change and kudos to those that don't want/need to.

 

[porschegrl]

I suspect that those "healthy" foods prepared by professionals actually have a good bit of not-healthy in them. Veggies in restaurants are often bathed in butter or fat and are not actually as healthy as you think.

Often, but not always. This thread made me think of Seasons 52 and the delicious quinoa salad they have there. They include calorie counts on their menu, and the total for their "winter vegetarian tasting" entrée of quinoa-citrus salad, soft taco, seasonal vegetables, cedar-roasted tofu, and fruit salsa is 440 calories.

 

[porschegrl]

And the "no nightshades" thing is a little crazy.

I think this is part and parcel of a macrobiotic diet (and may be a factor in other diets as well, for all I know).

 

[Christine]

I suspect that those "healthy" foods prepared by professionals actually have a good bit of not-healthy in them. Veggies in restaurants are often bathed in butter or fat and are not actually as healthy as you think.

No, I am fully aware of that. I don't fool myself to think that a good veggie at a local chain restaurant is healthy. I've had some "health food" prepared by a spa-type chef and they just used juices, herbs, multiple other veggies for flavoring, and it's delicious.

 

[Minnesota!]

That's where I kind of disagree. A lot of the foods mentioned in the article, I've eaten and tried to cook at home. Many of the healthy grains (quinoa, amaranth, etc,) just taste really awful to me. However, I've also had some prepared by a talented cook who just has the skill levels I don't to make much of these taste good and still keep it healthy. I really don't have the time or patience to work on that. Unfortunately, some unhealthy foods taste pretty good without much effort so, there's where my problem lies when I'm in a crunch for time OR a crunch for the desire to cook and make it good.

This is where a personal chef would work for me.

I love, love, love to cook and experiment a lot. I can see how people who don't enjoy it as much could not enjoy the food as much, too. Fwiw, stirring some pesto into cooked quinoa is fantastic!

 

[aprilchem]

I actually eat a very similar diet, just no animal products. I do include nightshade tomatoes. It was tough to give up bread but I've finally mastered it. Maybe it isn't for everyone, but there is no need to criticize Tom and Gisele for eating in a healthy manner. White quinoa tastes like rice and can be flavored. I lost my taste for simple carbs, sugar and other unhealthy foods but do really enjoy my fruits!

I eat pretty similar to this, although I do eat cheese. And coffee! But I eat very low carb (no simple carbs at all), no sugar (except for an occasional treat), high protein and lots of vegetables. We don't keep bread, pasta, or rice of any kind in the house and haven't for over a year.

I was over 300 lbs and morbidly obese, so changing...was difficult. But I've really learned how to cook and prepare things to make them delicious. Herbs (especially fresh) and spices are everything in this house. Seasoning your food and enhancing the flavors with herbs makes SO MUCH difference.

Me too - I eat very similarly to them, except I don't eat any grains at all. I don't eat fruit, and I don't eat duck (not sure how their chef qualifies that as a lean meat?). But I do drink coffee, and I eat dairy. I do it because it's the diet recommended to manage severe PCOS (which I have).

And I totally agree that once you cut those foods out of your life you lose your taste for them. Things that don't taste sweet to others taste very sweet to me - I was commenting to my DH the other day how sweet the unflavored yogurt was that I was eating and he thought it tasted sour. And white bread? I cannot do it now - it just makes me feel sick.

And FTR, I have no personal chef, am not rich, and do all my own cooking.

 

[deedeetoo]

I wish I had a personal chef to cook the right foods for me.

I actually wish I could just have a week of a good menu so that I could see how it really works. I will admit that I eat horribly. When I read the description of what he doesn't eat, and then read some of your posts about what you don't eat, I am left wondering "what do you eat then?" Seriously, I would say about 90% of the food that I eat is on the do not eat list. I pretty much live on carbs and with an occasional small piece of meat thrown in. I've never been much of a fan of meat. I am having a hard time even understanding how you would put together a meal without all these things on the do not eat list.

 

[mom2rtk]

My only concern would be for their children. I hope their chef knows about the nutritional requirements of young children. They need a good deal more fat than adults for proper development.

I avoid simple carbs as much as possible and honestly after a month or so they don't taste good. Bread and ice cream taste disgusting to me now.

Don't kid yourself. They're cleaning out the ho ho and Twinkie cabinet when they visit their friends' houses.

 

[mom2rtk]

I could probably stick to a diet like this too.... if I could distract myself with a new sports car or designer bag every time I wanted a snack.

 

[disney4us2002]

Don't kid yourself. They're cleaning out the ho ho and Twinkie cabinet when they visit their friends' houses.

Funny you said this. It is exactly what happens when my bil, who is very health conscious and thin, visits us. He always goes right for the snack shelf of my cabinet and asks if I have any Little Debbies cuz his wife will not let him eat any at home. Cracks me up every time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Funny you said this. It is exactly what happens when my bil, who is very health conscious and thin, visits us. He always goes right for the snack shelf of my cabinet and asks if I have any Little Debbies cuz his wife will not let him eat any at home. Cracks me up every time.

My kids had a couple friends from one family with very strict diet rules at their house. It didn't take long to figure out we had to lock up all the snacks before they came over. Not because I was enforcing the mom's diet rules. But because we needed to have snacks left when they went home.