Ever heard of the Montignac Method?

I am new to calorie-count and greatly appreciate the numerous ressources offered here. I also recently decided to work on reducing my weight by lowering my daily calorie intake and it works.

A friend recently loaned me a book written by a certain Doctor Montignac whose "method" for attaining weight-loss is quite contrary to reducing calories.

I live in Québec (Canada) where this French Doctor Montignac has gathered quite a following. One can find "Montignac" breads and other food items in most grocery stores.

I've started reading his book (in French) but I'm skeptical when the author states such a negative opinion of calorie-counting, affirming that our choices of food-combinations, based on a fuzzy concept of how food is metabolized in our body, is more important than calories. He talks of the Glucemic Index (GI) and one of his big "no-no's" is mixing High GI foods and meats in the same meal. On the other hand, he recommends high intakes of olive oil and veggies.

I will stick with calorie-counting for now but I was wondering if anyone frequenting this forum ever heard of the guy and his "un-orthodox" approach to weight-loss?

There will always be someone opposed to calorie counting.  However, what is the ONE weight loss plan that has worked and survived the test of time?  In 30 years, do you think people will still be on Atkins?  I doubt it.  Counting Calories is proven to work and has been around forever.

Seriously...Diet & Exercise.  It's like peanut butter & jelly, chips & salsa, Tango & Cash!!!  They belong together.

I dont know.  I dont even consider any other plans now.  Calorie counting has worked well, it's free, and I can always come back to it.  Also, I've learned SO much about nutrition while counting! 

(my love letter to C-C)

I guess it could make sense (I don't know enough about the science of food and digestion to really agree), but realistically, if that diet does work, it will be because you will still be reducing the total caloric value of foods you are eating.

If you pig out on the correct combination of food... I'm willing to bet good money that you're still going to gain weight, or not lose weight or generally not improve your health.

That being said, I think if something really speaks to you, there are ways of incorporating those ideas into what you're already doing... which might actually work for you.

Wow I went to the Dr.'s site and it turns out I haven't lost weight, I've gained it!:

Traditional dietetics claim that the only way to lose unwanted pounds and regain your ideal weight is to eat less and exercise more. This despite the fact that all studies carried out over the past 20 years have not only demonstrated that not only does this method fail to produce the expected weight loss, but the application of these principals has actually increased the average level of obesity.

I think some people are opposed to calorie counting because they assume people keeping track of calories only pay attention to that, and not the actual nutritional quality of the food.  

What's great about calorie counting, aside from what's already been mentioned, is the freedom of having no 'forbidden' foods or having to stick to some complicated meal regime.  

Calorie counting is definitive. When practiced with the right nutritional knowledge that improves the overall food you eat, it's the easiest way to succeed.

You can count calories no matter what other 'program' you decide to try. I have cut all but the smallest portions of starches and sugars and it seems to be working for me.

I haven't heard of that Dr. but I have heard of food combining.

I can see the appeal of it, but I'm not really sure that it's not just another way to make a buck off of people desperate to lose weight.  How many books will we buy before we just start to focus on getting good nutrition and adequate exercise?

He's considering calorie counting as "eating less" and here we all (or most of us) realize by now that it's about eating less but also eating enough.  Otherwise, you can accept that a lot of people mess up their metabolisms, etc.

Montignac was a big hype over here in belgium a couple of years ago (end 90s) - in every store you could find montignac-chocolate, montignac-tomatosauce, ... His book was a bestseller and there was even a word : you could 'montignac' instead of 'diet' ...

a big hype - but not much substance if you ask me ...

i found a good article that looks with some scepsis at his method - it 's in dutch - so i don't think it will help you - but it looks at the "science" his books were based on (they asked his publishers his scientific sources) - and its very weak to say the least ...

so if i were you, i wouldn't start spending my money on montignac-products  ... i think portion control and healthy eating will do the trick better !

What's great about calorie counting, aside from what's already been mentioned, is the freedom of having no 'forbidden' foods or having to stick to some complicated meal regime.  

I agree! This is the reason I am so pumped about this site! I hate diets. This is a way I can loose weight and become more healthy without following a daily diet. All created by someone without my tastebuds. The thing I cant get passed on diets is foods I dont like. I dont like tomatoes but Every diet I have read, all say eat tomatoes!!. There is others but you get the drift!

I have always made my own concoctions of food, and now I still do but swap ingredients so I can make sure my calorie intake is under the limit.

So far so good. I Feal great!

Here at calorie-count I have learned
1.  Not to eat less but I have learned a lifestyle change where I eat healthier foods and make good decisions about what I put in my mouth.  So the same amount of food when healthy adds up to a lower quantity of calories.
2.  Calorie counting is not about restriction, as a matter of fact if I reduce my calories 600 below my daily requirement (which leaves me with 1700 cals for the day) then I find that I have great results.  If I restrict my calories back to 1200 etc then I stop losing weight within weeks because my body thinks that I am trying to "starve" it and hangs onto every calorie I put in my body.
3.  To be healthy you do have to exercise.  I improves muscle tone and circulation.  Lung health.  Mentality.  Exercise is what you want it to be.  Do what you enjoy.  If you enjoy walking then do it.   Running, then do it.  Playing soccer outside with the kids, then do it.  It doesnt have to be some regimented hour at the gym.
4.  Here is my comment about Montignac.  I do agree that a big part of my weight loss solution has been to use lower GI foods but I choose low GI, low fat foods.  I am not overboard.  I am mostly careful about processed refined carbs and sugar.  When I keep my refined carbs and sugar at bay then I find my cravings disappear which makes it that much easier to make good decisions.

Good luck and good health.  Keri

I've learned a lot here too Keri!  The day I decided that this is about more than losing weight is the day my life changed.

Calorie counting is not easy.  I think that's why people latch on to diet plans that promise quick weight loss by using drastic methods and bizarre theories.  You can bet the people who think that stuff up are making mega bucks.