I want to know what the FA thinks about the low carb diet? Is it good with P90? Is it okay to have a glass of wine with dinner every night, I heard it is good for your heart. How do I raise my metabolism? Can I do it on the carb diet?

I could expand on this but don't really need to, as you can get my idea already. I'm not a big fan.

They can work, however, but are still not a healthy way to sustain your life. If you do choose to go this route, only use a low-carb diet in short cycles and NEVER make it a way of life!

Okay, I'll expand a little:

Now, here is the reason I see why so many people swear by them. Most people, especially women, tend to eat far too many carbs in their diet. I don't know how many times I've had this conversation, which goes something like:

Somebody, usually female (though not always), tells me about this "amazing low carb diet" they are on. They are usually powering down Atkins bars and going on about how the "have eliminated ALL carbs from their diet". A conversation ensues with them lambasting carbs until, finally, we get around to just what they are eating, which, on average in my experience, is around 40% carbs! They don't recognize things, such as alcohol, vegggies, and often even fruit, as carbs. It's even gone as far as rice not being a carb! And some of these people have been "trainers" or in the health care field. It's, like, didn't you even pass 3rd grade nutrition? I funniest guy I ever saw was at a bar, where this meathead was spewing about his no-carb diet over a beer.

"How many of those have you had?" I asked.

"I dunno, 6 maybe."

"And how many nights per week do you drink?"

"Every night."

"And are you aware that beer is almost all carbs other than alcohol, which is like sugar?"

Anyway, you get the idea. If you want to minimize your carbs, minimize starches and bring your ratio down to, maybe, 40% or so. Less than this can help in reducing body fat but is not a healthy and sustainable way to live.

There is an old newsletter article on this, plus a huge post on the boards about a girl that was championing her "60 grams of carbs per day" diet when, upon analyzing what she ate, was actually 42% of her daily calories.

Wine every night may be excessive, though a glass of wine, especially red, here and there is almost certainly a good thing. Remember, it's almost all carbs, plus alcohol, which metabolizes like a simple sugar.

Well the thing about my diet is that it allows you your fruits and vegetables once a day. You have 60 minutes to eat them, it is about insulin release. I have the supplements but, I have a hard time swallowing them. Can I mix them in a low carb shake? Is it essentional for me to take them at all? Also I have read that it is important to eat with in 15 minutes after the work out because your body is still in fat burning mode? I workout on an empty stomach that is good right? Chow

That diet sounds completely koo-koo. I'd recommend going back to some sound eating fundamentals. Not that I'm against weird diets, I've tried them all (almost all, anyway), but that one sounds absurd. In no way can I find any reason that you sound only eat fruits and veggies for one hour a day. It sounds like a joke diet to me (I did, in fact, once do something I made up called the "snake diet" (eat something big then sleep for 2 weeks) where I would only eat for one hour per day. And I'd eat a lot! But I was training for a food challenge (ever see Cool Hand Luke?), which had anbsolutely nothing to do with sound fitness.

Anyway, if you want to make your body more healthy, which should be the aim, then I'd recommend some sound eating practices, which will not only be easier to implement but work over the long haul. Plus, you will get better results over time, no question.

Which supps do you mean? Most are fine taken with a protein drink.

Post workout, you have a window of a couple of hours where your body needs to recharge its glycogen stores and uses calories much better. It is a good idea to eat in this window, I'd say up to one hour is maximal but it is sort of sooner the better. The best things to eat here is a 4 part carb to 1 part protein meal that's not too heavy because it will replenish your depleted blood glycogen and start the muscle resynthesis process.

I am going to do what you said. The thing is that I have been on the diet for so long that I was scared to try this diet. I am going to start today, after my workout a bowl of oatmeal with some raisins! I mean I know about people who do the low carb and still drink beer, I mean if they wanted a buzz at least try some vodka, they'd have a better chance. Wondering about the food diary. I would like to mimic what someone else did so I can get a better picture on how the Tiers work. I been on the carb thing so long I have no idea!

You might also look into the 6-week transitional diet in Best of the Boards. It's not very thorough but it's easy to follow and will start you in the right direction. Fitday is great. You can also reference a lot of fitness and bodybuilding sites where people talk a lot about what they eat.

Thank you so much for the advice! Have a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!