Summer, could your pregnancy be affecting you BGL?? I keep track of mine in the AM periodically and have the occasional spike up to the 130's but most time >100. So mine is not so critical as yours but due to my genetics (mother and father both TypeIIs) I keep close tabs on it.

Re: Apple Cider Vinegar I drink a capful of Braggs in a mug of hot green tea and a little orange DaVinci. Not too bad.

Rave
232/178/130
57yo. 5'2"
Started Atkins 6/1/02

Rave,

Yep. That's *exactly* what's going on.
I have to see a *maternity-endocrinologist* on Tuesday for further testing and to make sure the baby is not getting too big...

Y'know, when I was diagnosed with type II (a little over 2 years ago), I immediately went on strict Atkins and *reversed* the diagnosis. I have been able to keep everything under control without meds or extreme measures for 2 years -- until now.
But I have faith that this will all work out.
I am eating a very low glycemic diet (NON KETOGENIC, however!) and my husband and I have been walking 3 miles/day, 4x/week now for 2 weeks. That and the vinegar seem to be helping so I will just remain hopeful for a good report on Tuesday.

Mmmm, that tea sounds yummy! I will try making it with raspberry leaf tea instead of green tea (my favorite). Thanks for the idea!
Summer

Summer,
I do not have any knowledge of how diabtes effects pregnancy. So far you are the sole source of my info! I have read many of your posts and have much admiration for your success in controlling the diabetes and I take a lot of encouragement from them.



Rave
232/178/130
57yo. 5'2"
Started Atkins 6/1/02

How long have you been doing the ACV Rave? What have been your observations?

Summer, how are you doing?

I've made a couple of observations over the past few days.

We've been terribly busy and I wasn't able to take my ACV for a few meals one day. Boy, I didn't feel as well! The other observation is, that I do much better when I take it at least a few minutes before a meal, rather than along with the meal. My appetite is much more in line when I do it 5 to 10 minutes before, up to 1/2 hour.

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

I just found an even better site with more information and specific remedies for ACV

Therapeutic uses of apple cider vinegar

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

I thought I'd paste in a quote from the site I listed above:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>It helps in the case of overweight people or people who have cellulitis by destroying excess fat in cells, whether or not it is combined with a diet. 2 tablespoons, 2 or 3 times a day, will promote progressive weight loss <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In light of that, I'm increasing my dosage. I'm a little uncertain, yet, as to how I'm going to break it up, but I'm going to shoot for about 6 tablespoons total.

I'll keep you posted

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

Sharron,

After reading all the info and comments provided I decided to give it a try as well. I agree about the energy boost. The other day after going for my morning walk I was sitting in a chair and I had that nervous energy I use to feel and felt like I could go on for hours. I take mine with Stevia drops and it is great tasting to me. My husband likes his with honey. I also agree about being a appetite supressant. My husband commented that he has slept better the past several nights. After a big meal I felt less bloated and it seemed my food digested faster. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.

Donnis

Donnis,

That is great!

I've noticed better sleep as well. I have taken 1 T at bedtime for the past 2 days and have slept great!

Report:
I did 5.5 T yesterday. *blech* Last night at church I was burping it

Obviously, it was too much. I gagged when trying to take 2 T at a time as it suggested.

So

I'm going to try it 1 T to 1/2 T at a time today. I was taking 1/2 T the first 10 days or so and was doing really well.

I've not been in ketosis since about last Saturday. Sure, I notice the appetite benefit of the vinegar without the ketosis, but with it, it is intensified! Lord willing, I'll be able to be back into ketosis by late morning.

I have not noticed a decrease in pounds yet, but neither have I gained. That is pretty amazing considering I've done nothing but sit here with my foot in the air for the past 2 weeks!

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

Sharon, that truly is remarkable!
As for the amount, I am sticking with the Braggs' recommendation of 2 tsp. in water 3-4 times a day. That seems to be working for me.
I tried *once* to do a whole tablespoon and suffered the vinegar burps you mentioned.
Not very pleasant!

I have to tell y'all: my energy has definitely increased! Dh and I are walking 3 miles EVERY NIGHT!
And I'm at a full 6 months now!! Normally, by this stage of pregnancy, I have to force myself to do anything. We had to miss our walk Tuesday night due to circumstances beyond our control and I was actually MISSING IT!

I think I have convinced dh as well... He caught a cold over the weekend and I have not. I feel GREAT. He said he thinks he needs to try this *vinegar stuff*
LOL
Summer

WOW you guys have inspired me to give this a try. Next time I run out I am swinging by my HFS and get a bottle of Organic ACV. I think mine carries Hain. (maybe Spectrum too) I have always heard about the benefits of ACV ( I use reg grocery store kind in my cooking but have never done it medicinally.) I kept thinking while reading these posts about Kambucha. If you let is sit a long time, it tastes just like ACV and has a lot of the good stuff as in Kefir. I used to grow Kambucha 'shrooms and make the tea, but eventually killed mine. I have a friend that gave me a mommy shroom. Don't know if she still has any (she moved kinda far away, but still in Illinois) I e-mailed her about Kefir to see if she wanted any grains. I haven't heard back from her about getting together. If she has 'shrooms, I'll get one from her and get a crop going. If any of you would be interested in one, I'm sure we can arrange things. (that is if she still has it)

I am definitely going to give the ACV a try. I think I could stomach it if I mix it with stevia and some sort of tea. Sounds kinda yummy actually.

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Really, Barb, it isn't nasty at all.

A few years ago, my chiro tried to get me to do this, but I used reg. ACV, not the organic. It was disgusting (I wish the green sick face from my IM would work in here! ) I managed to take it twice and that was it!!!!

This actually tastes pleasantly fruity to me. I'm sure it would be pretty good with water and stevia. I'm giving it to my 5 year old to boost her immune system -- she's my weakest of the 3 -- and she really likes it. I'm giving her 1 teaspoon ACV, 1 teaspoon honey and about 1/2 cup hot water. She sips on it all morning and is seeming to derive benefit from it.

Yes, I read a bit about kombucha on Dom's site, but didnt' really understand what it was.

Re: Kefir. I'm disgusted. With my foot out of commission, my poor kefir babies have been sitting in their brew in the fridge ever since I hurt myself I want to get them out again, but I'm not yet ready to care for them!

OK, here's my results from yesterday:
I took -
1 T upon rising
1/2 T before bfast, lunch and dinner
and
1 T at bedtime

It seemed to work out fine. Worked out to 3 1/2 T for the day.

I'm back in ketosis again, so I'm hoping to experience that extreme measure of control and decreased appetite that I had up until coming out of ketosis over the weekend.

Oh, and I've noticed that my skin is definitely smoother. My eyebrows are also fuller, but I started on the EFAs again just before this, so I'm not sure which thing is contributing to that.

Eyebrows fuller = increased thyroid and adrenal function, which is a very good thing for me

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

WOW with al those wonderful benefits, how could one NOT do this.

As for Kombucha, It's much on the same order of Kefir but the growing medium is different and it yields a clear, brownish liquid that looks like ACV. You use regular sugar to feed it, and it of course uses up those sugars and converts everything to good nutrients. The "mother" is a flat, pancakeish shaped "mushroom" (actually a fungal colony) which floats atop the liquid. The cycle time is 2 weeks (if I remember correctly). You pour off the liquid, take out the "mother" and leave the "baby", which peel apart from each other. You start a new batch with another batch of BLACK tea (cooled) and sugar (can't remember the proportions, but there's lots of info on the internet) and put the "baby" back in. The mother can be passed along to someone else to start their own batch. It is full of B vitamins and other nutrients and make you feel like you have all the energy in the world. It tastes much like ACV when left to ferment longer and creates a bubbly effervescence. It requires all glass and plastic equipment also, like Kefir. If I ever get any going again, I will have 'shrooms to pass along. I will try to find a really good website about it and pass it along.

I'm running out to Curves today and will stop at the HFS to get some organic ACV and try this out.

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

what I'd really like to do is get my own vinegar growing!

I've got plenty of apples and the organic vinegar for starter, but I've also got a foot I need to keep elevated. I really want to do it though!

Well, I went and bought a bottle of Tree Of Life Organic ACV. It was on sale for $2.99 for a 32 oz. bottle. The Hain was a 16 oz. bottle for $2.99 so I opted for the bigger bottle. so I spiked my water bottle with Stevia and ACV when I got home and slugged it down. It's kinda good!!! Then my DD called and asked me to bring her some lunch, so I made chicken salad and brought her a sandwich.....then when I got home I started cleaning up my mess from making Christmas presents. Been going on full speed since. Is it the Vinegar??? hmmmmmm, perhaps so. If that's what this does, sign me up!!!! Don't feel like I'm on speed, but like the pink bunny, I feel like I can keep going and going and going.......... Pretty COOL!!!! And if it gets me out of this stall I'm in, I'll be a real happy camper!!!!

Sharron, that sounds ambitious, making your own ACV. With nice Washington apples, I'll bet you'd do good with that!!!

Sharron, here's a good link with pics. http://www.kombu.de/anleit-e.htm

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

[This message was edited by Barb Keith on 12-19-03 at 12:58 PM.]

[This message was edited by Barb Keith on 12-19-03 at 01:03 PM.]

Wow, Barb, that is terrific!!!

Unfortunately, that link didn't work for me

I can't say anything about breaking a stall, but it sure has kept me from gaining while I've been sitting here with my foot in the air! Normally, my appetite would have been out of control and I would have gained. This has been a real triumph for me. (happy tears!)

Did you happen to read that last link I posted? I was amazed at the various things ACV has traditionally been used to treat! My sis has bad arthritis, and it is supposed to help with that. It is also said to help lower cholesterol, as well. Purdy nifty stuff, I say, for a bunch of rotten apples!

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2