I ate chips and pasta every day as part of new weight loss hack and shifted 7lbs in a month without fat jabs
CHIPS, chicken fried rice and piles of pasta are usually the first things on the banned list when I start yet another diet...so surely a new eating plan which lets you eat carbs, carbs and more carbs must be too good to be true?
But with my weight nudging 14st and my gut hanging over my jeans, I'm willing to give anything a go - and four weeks later, boy am I glad I did.
According to new research, carbs – traditionally the enemy of dieters – can be healthier if you cook, then cool them, 24 hours before eating.
This simple process changes the structure, turning regular starch into resistant starch, which is harder to digest and results in a more gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream.
The result is fewer blood sugar crashes – so fewer snack cravings – and feeling fuller for longer.
You also burn more calories digesting food, while these starches are better for gut health, too.
As a busy mum struggling to slim down, I was keen to give it the cold carbs diet a go.
My weight has yo-yoed over the years, going between a size 8 and 20.
But while I was able to fuel my gym sessions with carbs in my twenties to lose weight, it was a different story after having my daughter Mia, now three.
Pregnancy aged 40 took a toll on my waistline and I hit 14st.
At only 5ft 1ins, I was classed as morbidly obese, but couldn't shake off more than a couple of pounds here and there, no matter how hard I tried with calorie counting and exercise.
It also led to implications for my health, causing cholesterolosis of the gallbladder, where cholesterol gathers, causing polyps, and a fatty liver.
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Worryingly, this means I have the metabolic age of a 58-year-old.
If I could shift even a stone, it would mean living longer for my daughter.
And if eating cold chips could help, then I'd be more than happy to try it.
But could the cold carbs diet really work? I gave myself a month, eating either lunch or dinner with a cold carb component, to see if I could shift the scales down from my current 14st…
DAY ONE
LIFE with a full-time job and a three-year-old is busy.
By the time I finish bath and bedtime, it's 8.30pm before I sit down for dinner.
Since my daughter loves pasta, I spent the night before batch cooking spaghetti Bolognese with turkey mince for lower fat and more protein.
I put a portion in a plastic container and popped it in the fridge, ready to eat 24 hours later.
Sitting down to cold spag bol, I'm surprised at how tasty it was. I've never really minded cold food, either – morning-after pizza is a favourite.
Technically you can reheat the carbs once they've had a day to cool and change structure, but scientists think that is not quite as effective.
How does the cold carb diet work?
Carbohydrates are one of the three main macronutrient groups that make up a healthy diet, with protein and fat.
Our main source is starchy foods, like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and cereals, which the NHS say should make up just over a third of what you eat, ideally in wholegrain or unrefined form to give you more fibre.
But you can boost the health benefits of carbs by cooking and cooling them for 24 hours before eating.
This simple process changes the structure, making the molecules more tightly packed and turning regular simple starch into resistant starch, a type of fibre found in many plant foods.
This makes it harder to digest, passing through the small intestine into the large one instead and ensuring a more gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream.
The result is less blood sugar crashes, that might see you reaching for snacks, and feeling fuller for longer.
You also burn more calories digesting it and these starches are better for your gut health.
DAY SEVEN
I HAVE survived the first week, helped by the fact I'm only doing one cold carb meal per day.
Having to pre-prep breakfast, lunch AND dinner would be a challenge.
In my job as a publicist, my schedule isn't a typical 9-to-5, so sticking to strict meal times is tricky.
But today I'm working in the office and have brought in lunch – a cold white fusilli pasta salad cooked the previous day with lettuce, cucumber and tomato, but no sauce or dressing, just a little seasoning.
It was surprisingly satisfying.
Normally I'd be snacking on Hula Hoops and roasted peanuts after having a Tesco meal deal.
The scales haven't moved yet, but I'm sticking with it.
DAY 14
HALFWAY through and I'm pleased to say it hasn't been too tough so far.
I'm enjoying eating the cold carbs, but need to add some variety as I'm tired of pasta.
Rice, potatoes and even pulses like chickpeas count, so there are lots of choices. But while I do enjoy cold new potatoes, I'm not sure I'm desperate to reach for cold chips just yet.
My favourite takeaway, Chinese, has been off the menu since I've been trying to lose my post-baby weight, but I decide that chicken fried rice could fit the cold carb bill.
I order some and save it to eat cold 24 hours later.
It was the perfect treat to mark hitting the halfway point.
I've lost 3lbs so far, which is spurring me on to be more active, so I hit the gym for an hour-long cardio session.
DAY 21
My reliance on cold carbs to base a meal on is starting to wear thin.
I'm finding it challenging to come up with interesting dishes using them and eating is becoming dull as a result.
I'm at a catered event with work today, a time I would normally indulge.
I'll admit I go for triple carbs – a bit of macaroni cheese with a few new potatoes and white rice, plus green beans on the side.
But I pack up a portion of leftovers to put in the fridge for tomorrow's dinner.
I weigh myself and I've lost another 1lb this week, motivation to keep going.
DAY 28
My final week is difficult. I'm on a family holiday to Ibiza, booked before I knew about the challenge.
It's tempting to give in and enjoy everything on offer, but I try to stay on track, having fruit and veg-packed smoothies for breakfast and ordering nutritious dinners like grilled chicken with a carb.
However, instead of eating that carb, I just have the vegetables and ask the staff to box the carb up, storing it in my bedroom fridge for next day's lunch.
Yes, that does include chips – and I'm not sorry about it.
And it seems to be working, with another 2lbs shed.
THE VERDICT
I was sceptical about whether this tweak to my carb intake would make a difference.
But I've lost more than half a stone in the last month, taking me down to 13st 6lbs.
My size 20 clothes also feel less tight – I think I can fit into an 18 now.
I've also noticed myself cut back on snacking, presumably because I feel fuller or am more aware of it.
While I need a break from cold carbs for the time being, this experiment has helped kickstart my weight loss.
More importantly, it's shown me that making small changes to my daily routine is easier than I thought – and I don't even mind eating cold chips to do it.
The 5 best exercises to lose weight
By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist
EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to. So how do you find the right workout for you?
As a PT and fitness journalist, I've tried everything.
I've taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates.
Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas!
The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit.
My top five forms of exercise, especially if you're trying to lose weight, are:
Walking
Running
Pilates
High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Strength training
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