Where I get on a soapbox only to realize I don't know how to get down

When I was in high school (in the 90's), my parents tried the Montignac Method for weight loss. They loved it. Dad lost tons of weight very quickly. Mom lost a lot, too, but a bit slower. So, when I complained recently to my dad about not losing quickly this time even though I have a lot of weight to lose, he immediately brought up Montignac. After all, it worked for my mom when she was in her early 50's, so surely it should work for me in my late 30's. Mom came into town and brought the book with her. It was published in the mid-90's and (disclaimer) I don't know if there have been later updates or anything. I have read half of it and here's what I think: it's a lot of malarkey sprinkled with facts. But the facts form the basis of the diet, so it seems to work.

For those who don't know and who may be interested, Montignac suggest what is basically a low-carb diet. He focuses on the glycemic index actually, but limits higher glycemic foods to breakfast moistly. So, you can have your whole-grain toast for breakfast, but with no fats at all. Fats can only be eaten with proteins and low-GI foods (veggies). So, it's really Atkins with a high-carb start to your day.

Montignac is not a doctor or scientist; he's a pharmaceutical exec. So, he gets the jargon and probably has some understanding of the science behind digestion, blood sugar, and weight loss, but his exposition and anecdotes make me roll my eyes.

This one takes the prize: Apparently, in the 1940's, the "Indians" of Arizona were facing an epidemic of diabetes after having abandoned their "natural" diet and adopting that of the "pale faces" (seriously-- he uses that phrase in all earnestness). But lucky for them, the federal government made them go back to eating how they should. (How, exactly, did the government do that?) This resulted in diabetes being "completely eradicated". Wouldn't that have been nice? The sad truth is that diabetes continues to be an issue among Native Americans (and, might I add, the entire US population as a whole).

My point is, this guy seems to have stumbled on a great idea which obviously works for weight loss, but his book is filled with absurdities. Still, he seems to be on to something. While there are some strange quirks that don't seem to have any basis in reality (Ex: don't eat fruit after a meal or it will ferment in your stomach. Also, don't drink at all while eating.), this method was a precursor to South Beach, Atkins, and, yes, the Belly Fat Cure. I don't know if the creators of these other diets read Montignac or even had ever heard of him, but they are based on the same concepts. And many, many people have been able to lose weight following them.

Here's my takeaway: Limit your carbs to keep your blood sugar even because crazy blood sugar=no weight loss. Whole grains are always better for you than processed, refined flours and will help in your efforts to lose.

TL;DR: Maybe I should eat food that is better for me.