Lack of family support

by | Jan 16, 2013 | Weight Loss | 0 comments

Another one of my comment to a post over at fattoskinny.net about weight loss and family support

 

Siltz said:

Have any of you ever experienced a lack of family support in regard to your low carb/low sugar lifestyle?  I’m getting a lot of resistance from my wife about adopting this lifestyle.  She is convinced that portion control and exercise is the only answer to weight loss and is convinced that this is not a healthy way to live.  I’ve heard many comments on us cooking two different meals, one for me and one for her and the kids.  She often comments on the high cost of things associated with low sugar eating, like almond flower.  Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

My response:

A lack of family support is probably one of the most common problems that people on any diet find. The reasons for that are many and complicated but one of the most common is: We as humans seem to have a natural resistance to change. Change makes us feel uncomfortable and when that change is going on in the lives of people closest to us, the level of discomfort is often even higher.

Rather than go into the whys and wherefores of this, I think it maybe more fruitful just to cover actions that we can take when we’re faced with this type of situation. Without making a big song and dance about it , we need to assure those around us that we are doing what we’re doing in order to have a better quality and longer life so that you can spend more quality time with them; whether that’s your children, your other half or any other person who cares for you in any meaningful way. Offering that type of assurance will short-circuit many of the fears that those closest to us may have about the consequences of our changing.

I’ll give you an extreme example; a story that was related to me from a source I know I can trust was concerning a middle aged couple. He has had a health scare and decided that the best thing he could do for himself and everybody he cared about was to put his health in order. So after getting some good advice, he started on a low carb diet and increased his amount of daily exercise. Ten weeks after starting his new healthy lifestyle, he was looking, one has to say, like a new man to the point that his wife’s friends started to comment to her how good he was looking. Initially, she just accepted this with pride and was slightly flattered that they noticed but unfortunately an innocent comment from one of her friends, which I think honestly was misconstrued, as they said “Gosh! He looks like a new man! Perhaps he’s looking for a new woman”. While initially, this was received with a highly amused laugh started to prey on her mind to the point that she became concerned that her husband of twenty-something years was planning to leave her for somebody else. It took quite a bit of assurance from the husband for her to understand that the only new woman he would like in his life is the one he has always had but maybe just a bit fitter than she was now.

Fortunately the outcome from this little tale was a happy one. She couldn’t deny how much better her husband was, how much more funny he had become  to be with, having more energy, more stamina and the greater inclination to do the same things that they used to do when they we’re younger and fitter. She was as encouraged to follow something very similar and the last I heard, they were still together but living interesting and active lives.

As far as costs go, well, mdanziger has said , whilst the short term cost may seem a little bit higher than eating garbage, the long term gains of better health, fewer visits to the doctors seems a much more sound investment to me.

Hope that helps,

Mark

Loratab

by | Jan 16, 2013 | Exercise, Low carb diet, Weight Loss | 0 comments

Another copy of a post I have commented to at Jimmy Moore’s on weight loss

 

Nenicho asked:

This may be a dumb question, but could loratabs keep you from losing wt on the low carb diet. I have fibromyalgia, two herniated discs, which I refuse to have operated on until I lose wt. My doctor insists that I go on an anti depressant for my fibromyalgia, which always makes me want to gorge. I’ve been on five in the last year. I take myself off them, go back to doctor for three month check up and he puts me on another one. I can barely move with out the loratabs. I also have mild case of arthritus, which runs in family and isn’t that bad, but the fibromyalgia kills me with muscle aches and pains. I’ve lost three inches in height in the past three years. I’m on LCHF diet. I don’t like meat except in very small amounts, so it seemed the best diet for me. I can eat egg salad, and tuna salad on lettuce and be satisfied. But my wt has not moved but one pound in a month. I’m 120 pounds overwt and feel crappy. I’ve fallen in the last month two times due to pain in ankles. Really, I’m not a hypocondriac. My dr makes me come in every three months to monitor me. I’m 67. What to do?????

 

My answer:

Hi Nenicho,

I’m going to jump straight in and tackle this one from the top down. It seems to me like your doctor is far more interested in treating the symptoms than getting to the cause of what could be your problem; that is the cause of the fibromyalgia. 

The fact that you’re overweight and that you suffer with mild arthritis and that your condition is further complicated through the use of drugs that totally interfere with the way the body is supposed to work, reminded me of the work of Dr. John Lowe. Dr. Lowe specializes in thyroid disease, which he has proven is one of the main causes of fibromyalgia.

The great thing is, he has shown that, and I’m reading from the website here: Eating a nutritious diet (a low-sugar, low-grain, mainly raw organic diet is optimally nutritious and anti-inflammatory) He also has shown that exercising will help normalizing hormones is crucial and strangely enough, avoiding medications because virtually, all medications creates further imbalances which lead to side effects and further deterioration of health. 

Rather than bang on about it here I’m going to give you the link to one of the friendliest reports I found on his work which is on Dr. Mercola’s website (Here is the link). It’s a 4-part series and I think you’ll find it very interesting because he has come up with a treatment for it which he calls ” Integrated Metabolic Therapy” that’s simply there for getting patients free from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

So even though the present may not be too rosy, the work of this well respected doctor does show great promise for your condition.

Hope that helps,

Mark

No appetite for two days

by | Jan 16, 2013 | Low carb diet, Questions about low carb | 0 comments

Here is a copy of the recent post at Jimmy Moore’s where I have commented on regarding ketosis

 

From Chicago Dave:

Hello, I’ve been on LC since January 4th. I have been doing great so far. I’m regularly losing enough weight that my clothes are now starting to become baggy. 6 pounds in 8 days. That was two days ago.

I was getting hungry like clockwork, I’d eat just enough, I’d be satisfied until the next meal. But for two days I haven’t had an appetite. I have still eaten, but when I try to eat a meal of even small portions, I feel really full.

An example of a typical meal:
5 oz. beef w/ cheese
2 cups broccoli w/ cheese
12 oz. water

Any ideas?

 

My response:

Hi Chicago Dave,

Strangely enough, you’re not the first person I’ve heard this from in the last week or so. Sounds to me like ketosis has kicked in for you which simply, as you probably know, is when the body starts using its own stored fat to get energy from.

One of the good advantages of that is the fact that we don’t feel hungry when that first starts and that can go on for a number of days so enjoy it because this is the time when you will have probably one of the highest fat loss rates you will ever experience on your low carb journey.

Now the great thing is that while you are not wanting to eat so much or eat anything at all, your stomach will be shrinking,  that when you do start to eat again, you will be satisfied with even smaller portions. 

Providing you associate that hunger with good quality low carb fare, you’ll give yourself an advantage. So enjoy this time and take full advantage of it.

Hope that helps,

Mark

Haven’t been hungry for 3 days ??

by | Jan 16, 2013 | Low carb diet, Weight Loss | 0 comments

Below is a copy of the post where I have commented on about ketosis

 

Myers728:

The last 3 days I haven’t been hungry. The idea of eating something small even when I am not hungry makes me sick. I force myself to eat something small to get some food in. I don’t want to complain b/c I would rather not be hungry then hungry all the time. What is happening?

 

Me:

Hi Myers728,

Yes it definitely sounds like you’re in ketosis. What you’re experiencing is in effect a typical fasting response where the body will start looking elsewhere for energy in order to keep itself going. As the others have said, it won’t last forever but it will for many people, be the one time in their low carb journey, do they experience the highest amount of fat loss that they’re ever going to experience.

Also, during this time, the physical size of your stomach will shrink so that does mean when you start eating again, the size of portions that you need to satisfy  yourself will be very small. Now there can be a temptation once you got the munchies; just to think, “Oh, I’ll make up for what I haven’t been eating over the last how ever many days”. Well, I would counsel you try and regulate how much you eat to take full advantage of your new small stomach simply because the longer that you can be satisfied with small quantities, the longer you will experience a period of either unusual fat loss.

Do remember, however, to make sure that you eat enough fat in order to satisfy the body’s need for energy.

Hope that helps,

Mark

2 Questions

by | Jan 16, 2013 | Low carb diet | 0 comments

Here is the copy of the post at forum.lowcarber.org where I have commented on regarding nuts and water retention

 

minalc asked:

I have a couple of questions:

1. Why is it considered bad to eat so many nuts/why can nuts stall you? I have macadamia nuts and they seem pretty safe. They have a lot of fat (23g) and only 2 net carbs. This seems pretty good imo, especially since I’m struggling to consume fat (I tend to get more protein than fat)

2. Is it possible to retain A LOT (AND I MEAN A LOT) of water? I’ve been on Atkins for almost three weeks now and I’ve only lost 3 lbs according to the scale. But everyone around me (and including myself) have noticed that I lost weight. I’ve also noticed that although I drink a lot, I tend to pee less than pre-atkins (sorry, had to go there xD)

Thanks for the help!

 

My answer:

Hi minalc,

The thing about nuts is that so many people tend to clump them all together not realizing how much difference there is between various types of nuts. Macadamia nuts are relatively safe. They are amongst those in the lower range of carb content but they have  3 times as many carbs as say, walnuts or pecans; both of which I adore by the way.

The nuts to stay away from are chestnuts as they have one of the highest carb content of all nuts and seeds. The other thing to watch with nuts as JEY100 says, is they are just way to easy to overeat. So with all nuts or any of those picky-type foods, it’s best to measure out a sensible amount at the beginning of the day and then put the rest of the packet away out of sight and hopefully out of mind.

If you’re struggling to consume fat, then really you shouldn’t look to nuts to increase your fat intake.  It’s far better to go to animal fat which you can get obviously in the form of cheese, and it’s worth mentioning, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of varieties of cheese which incidentally will also  help with your water retention. That’s simply because in general, animal fats being water soluble, will carry water out of your body as part of your digestive process.

As for water retention, my first question would be, are you drinking enough? The body naturally holds on to water if it senses what could be termed as a water shortage. I also noticed that you said you decided to quit caffeine and drink less cola. Quite frankly, the caffeine is not so much of a problem as the cola is. If it’s a diet cola then you’re drinking all the problems that come with artificial sweeteners and if it’s not diet cola, then the amount of sugar you will be consuming will be more than enough to sabotage any of the good work you’re doing through having changed your diet. JEY100 makes a good point about asking if you feel bloated, with puffy ankles, etc.  As she quite rightly says, a low carb diet will often produce a diuretic effect for most people.

The last point I’ll leave you with is that you seem to be only measuring your weight which when you consider how a low carb diet works on our bodies, then this is probably one of the  poorest indicators of fat loss. In fact your friends, as you have said, have noticed that you’ve lost weight, so there is obviously something going on. The only way that you will be able to monitor that is through actually measuring your body typically; and as a minimum, you want to measure around your neck, around your bust, around your stomach, around your butt and around each of your thighs. Do the same a week later and see how much you’ve lost both in each area and when you add up those measurements per each week then compare the total number of inches you have lost. This will be particularly more noticeable if you have in any way increased the amount of activity that you do because while you may be losing fat, you may at the same time be increasing muscle. But of course that fat loss will be hidden unless you’ve got the measurements to prove it’s happening.

On the whole, the fact that you’ve had a 3-lbs fat loss and your friends have noticed that you are looking thinner, for me, is extremely positive and I am pleased that you’ve got both the weight loss and other people can see the visual improvement.

Simply by taking notice of the few pointers that we’ve given you, I’m sure that you will continue to lose that unwanted fat and gain that longed-for fitness and health.

Hope that helps,

Mark