High protein / Low carb

Started by naleta, September 04, 2014, 04:51:54 AM

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naleta

I am a Type II diabetic. Two years ago, I wasn't happy with the way my morning blood sugar readings were starting to trend upward. I even had a few readings that were 145 or over. (Normal is 90 to 110). I found a book titled Why We Get Fat (and what to do about it), written by Gary Taubes. In it, he explained that it wasn't how many calories we ate but what kind of calories.  The Food Pyramid is exactly the opposite of how we ought to be eating for best health and weight management.  Eat lots of protein and fats, with few carbs, from fresh vegetables.  I found that the easiest way for me to go low carb was by cutting out grains. I stopped eating anything with wheat in it and cut way back on corn, rice and potatoes. I ate lots of eggs and nuts along with meat and searched the Internet for low carb recipes which led me to the Primal/Paleo bloggers too.

In my first 3 months of eating very strictly low carb, I lost 20 pounds without fighting for every ounce off. And without feeling deprived after the cravings for pasta went away.  For the previous 10 years, I had been trying to lose weight by counting calories in and exercise out. It was a constant struggle and I would fight my way down to under 225 pounds, get tired of the battle and slide back up to about 230.   

After about 6 months of eating low carb, I was down to 200 pounds, and had gone from wearing size 20-22 clothes to size 18. My morning blood sugars were back to normal, and when there was an occasional spike, it was in the 130-135 range, not over 140. I had even cut back on one of my diabetes pills. I held steady at around 200 (much better than 225-230) for another 6 months without working out, just my normal activities at work and home. When I saw my diabetes doctor last spring, he had me stop taking the pill that I had cut back on, leaving me only taking Metformin. Since then, I have lost another 5 pounds and now all my size 16 jeans are comfortably loose.

My doctor told me that if I wanted to indulge in rice or potatoes, to be sure to have plenty of fat with them, like butter and sour cream on a baked potato, or to mix nuts in with the rice. So far, I am still doing well. I started the high protein / low carb lifestyle to help my diabetes, and the weight loss has been a wonderful side effect.

quiller

This diet was something she was doing for herself, but I got into it by so many omelets (and other dishes) she says she PARTLY adopted for me from that regime. (And no, I have no idea what the FULL regime entails.) What happened over about 18 months was a permanent loss of 80 pounds. (Women have a point: men lose weight faster and easier.)

It isn't all dreary stuff going on here. She's got an outstanding blueberry muffin which she adapted from a bread recipe, which I think you'll like a lot.

sensualblighter

Hey there, Can anyone suggest me a good high protein diet? Because i hardly know about diet. I never followed a diet and now i am attending gym, i actually need your help guys. Right now i am focusing on eggs and meat. I got advised from my gym trainer but his thoughts didn't convinced me. So anyone?

Thank you. Have a nice day..

Solar

#3
Quote from: sensualblighter on October 16, 2014, 04:51:48 AM
Hey there, Can anyone suggest me a good high protein diet? Because i hardly know about diet. I never followed a diet and now i am attending gym, i actually need your help guys. Right now i am focusing on eggs and meat. I got advised from my gym trainer but his thoughts didn't convinced me. So anyone?

Thank you. Have a nice day..
I used to own a chain of gyms and have an understanding of what you're trying to achieve.
For starters, the body requires a half a gram of protein per body pound, so if you're working on creating more muscle mass, increase protein above supportive levels. (chicken breast, roughly 100 grams of protein)
You can find measurements of protein in food by simply searching google.

But keep in mind, any excess will turn into fat for later usage unless you burn it off, so balance is the key, and that includes all foods.
Avoid the 3 meals a day BS, eat before you're hungry, graze all day long, keep healthy food with you all day long, it'l keep your glucose levels consistent.

One other point, a balanced diet, refer to the 1950s or later food pyramid, because the current one today is based on liberal ideas that everyone is fat and incapable of feeding themselves.
The early food pyramid explains portions of healthy food, but toss a Twinkie into the mix, and you disrupt the body's ability to digest the food, focusing on the Twinkie and allowing the rest of the meal to be tossed out as waste or stored fat, eat salad/fiber/roughage last, so the body will focus on the protein first, eat slow.

For a better understanding of diet, which I trademarked it's meaning as DIET, "Did I Eat That?" in a DIET book I wrote back in the 80s.
Buy a copy of the Nutrition Almanac, you'll discover that supplements are worthless, pure hype, the modern day snake oil, a way of making you part with your hard earned money.
The body cannot be forced to absorb something it does not need, such as an increase in vitamins, to do so, is poison which damages cells, leading to cancers, and no, antioxidants will not offset that, it too is just another hype to get you to buy anything labeled "increased antioxidants" for your health.

But back to the book, definitely buy it, even a 30 year old copy is still up to date, because basic nutrition will never change, only fad diets.

Good luck.

http://www.amazon.com/Nutrition-Almanac-John-Kirschmann/dp/0071436588
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Solars Toy

Naleta - Great job.  As you point out sometimes it takes drastic measures to make a change.  Or at least drastic in others eyes. 

I too made a choice a few months ago to get healthier.  I read the the book - The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Challenge by Mark Sisson (Marks Daily Apple).  With a Primal diet you give up all carbs - the obvious ones and the not so obvious such as potatoes, rice, beans, etc.  Since I was trying to determine any possible food allergies this was a great starting point.  Did people think I was crazy - yep.  Everyone except for my oldest daughter who is celiac - she understood.  I reached my goal back in September after 4 months.  I have added back in some carbs such as corn tortillas, sweet potatoes and beans on occasion.  I feel great and Solar tells me I look good and that is all that truly matters in my world.

So my suggestion to sensualblighter is to check out Mark's Daily Apple website and check into the Primal Blueprint.

Toy 
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.

naleta

I agree that Mark's Daily Apple is a great website with lots of recipes, and advice on how to change from the 'traditional American diet' to a high protein lifestyle.

Solars Toy

Quote from: naleta on November 02, 2014, 07:03:03 PM
I agree that Mark's Daily Apple is a great website with lots of recipes, and advice on how to change from the 'traditional American diet' to a high protein lifestyle.

Have you read any of his books?  As with most "diets" there is always a little tweak for me.  I haven't given up the dairy.   :blink: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.

Elfie

Love all this goodness, so glad you have found something that works and you like it, bravo on that.  :thumbsup:
Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Blaise Pascal

sensualblighter

The low carb, real food based diet involves eating natural, unprocessed foods with a low carbohydrate content.
There is a lot of scientific evidence that this type of diet is the best option for people who want to lose weight, optimize health and lower the risk of disease.

Solars Toy

Quote from: Solars Toy on November 03, 2014, 05:24:21 AM
Have you read any of his books?  As with most "diets" there is always a little tweak for me.  I haven't given up the dairy.   :blink: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I finally gave up the dairy.  I had been weaning myself off my whole milk in my coffee to a coconut milk creamer and then about a month ago gave up my yogurt.  It was very obvious within a few days it made a difference.  When I reintroduced yogurt back for a a couple of days all my issues came back.   :sad:

I am thinking it is the lactose so will pick up some Lactaid pills and try again.   

Toy
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.