Just a quick Question.....

Where are all the CavePeople......am I on my own here, apart from Barb of course??????

Louloo. x

I wouldn't want to tell you what to do, but from my own experience I know I LOVE Atkins, because the dairy products are allowed. Regular milk, of course, is NOT allowed, but cream and 1/2 and 1/2 (don't know if you have anything like this in UK), sour cream, whipped cream, cheeses cream cheese are all allowed. These are the things that make this WOL doable for me. I have seen over and over where Atkins followers are getting GOOD cholesterol results eating this way. If you think doing Atkins would make it easier on you and you would stick to it, then I would say GO FOR IT!!! You can read up on it at the Atkins site. I would advise that you do the 2 week induction period first and then move onto OWL. Who knows, maybe this would jog the weight loss process for you. I can't imagine myself doing a low-fat version of LC. It seems counterproductive. It would be sooooooo limiting. So if you were able to have strawberries and cream, you might not be so tempted to go for the bread. I find that I don't miss bread at all, and I thought that was going to be toughest part, along with no baked potatoes.

As for the Kefir, it does NOT taste like milk. It tastes like yogurt. I love mixing it with artificial sweeteners and a few frozen strawberries or a 1/4 cup of blueberries, YUMMY. You have to start with the "grains" which look like gelatinous little cauliflower florets. Those inoculate the milk with the good bacterias that are so healthy. They eat up the milk sugars, so it is about 4 carbs per cup. I am experimenting with making Kefir cheese too. I'm sure we could send you some dried grains, which would travel fine overseas. Then they have to be re-hydrated with pure, unchlorinated water for 24 hours. You then throw that water out, after straining the grains through a plastic sieve or colander. The grains go back into the glass container you are going to brew in, get covered with milk (about 1 and 1/2 cups) and is left out on the counter for 24 hours. After the 24 hours it is strained, and the cycle starts all over again. It's actually very simple. I keep a glass jar in the frig into which I pour the excess and use at my leisure. I could drink the stuff ALL DAY LONG.

If you are interested, let me know. I just sent out 2 batches of dried grains to 2 people today. I hope they have fun with their "babies."

Hugs,

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Hi Barb,

You have given me sooo much to think about. I have all of the Atkins books, including the new one.

Also the Kefir sounds really interesting. I will have a look at all the posts about it because I know absolutely nothing on the subject.

It is late here, gone 10pm, so I won't write anymore....as I said you have given me much to think about....I am also very disappointed that there are no people following Paleo on the foums.....so thanks very much, I will get back to you when I have done some reading.

Take care,
goodnight, love Louloo. x

No Problem Louloo, Think and read, get it straight in your head, so you can make the best decision for yourself.

Have a nice evening and sweet dreams.

Hugs,

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Hi Barb,

I have been re-reading the Atkins book and I have made up my mind to go back to this WOE.

It has been disappointing for me not to have had many here to help with support on the Paleo plan......except you of course.

I have really enjoyed the fruit intake, but I have missed the dairy and the sugar free things that we can have on Atkins, after induction of course.

So once again I am changing my plan, but I have learnt a lot over the last year and as I have been following LC, after a fashion, I don't think it will be sooo hard for me to come back.

Thanks for all your support. I will of course still be 'talking' with you on Atkins.

Bye to all of you on Paleo.

love Louloo. x

If you think Paleo hasn't been working for you, then by all means, switch to another plan. It's good you are re-reading Atkins.

I am now reading one of Suzanne Somer's books, "Get Skinny, eat fabulous food" She does a combination of LC and proper food combining. A lot of it makes sense and I think I might give it a try. She has her people get rid of all the processed garbagy stuff. She says that fruits are allowed as long as they are eaten on an empty stomach and nothing else is eaten until a half hour later. Then you can do a protein/fats meal after that OR a whole grain, carby meal. I just made some whole wheat bread for my DH last night. I think I am going to have a couple pieces of toast, without butter. She says to not eat fats with carbs. So I am going to top my toast with Bruscetta, an Italian "salsa". I will do this for a few days and then weigh myself and see if anything jogs loose. I have been stalled for a good 2 months. I think this is doable, LC AND Suzanne's program. (I don't know if you know who she is.......an actress here in the States. She was Chrissy on 3's Company, if you've ever seen reruns of her show.) She's absolutely gorgeous and you would never know she's 50 something. She looks like she's 20 something. she calls her program - Somersizing. I'm kind of excited to try this, because I can add back some whole grain breads and pastas. I will keep a close eye on my tape measure, the scale and how I am feeling.

I don't want to confuse you, but perhaps you can have that whole grain toast, but just without butter or any of the fatty spreads. And of course jams and jellies are out too when eating toast. I can see eating the toast with a vegetable based spread. Carbs AND veggies in combination are allowed. Just don't eat proteins and fats along with carbs, and eat fruits alone. (That's her level ONE) Then in her level TWO, one can stray a little bit, but still needs to properly combine most of the time. I'm kinda jazzed about it.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Hi Barb,

I am surprised that you are thinking about trying Suzanne Somer's plan........I read the book a long time ago and I wasn't very impressed at the time, perhaps I aught to re-read it.

I am going to start Atkins on Monday. I have had a terrible week, my mum was rushed into hospital and DH's Mother is ill also, we have been mental trying to sort out both of them.

Needless to say, the LC went out of the window. We spent hours in hospital with my mum on Friday and we grabbed a sandwich when we could and on the way home that night we had fish and chips because we were too worn out to do anything else....the rest of the time I picked at anything, even chocolate, I couldn't stop eating and all my weight has gone back on again. This always happens when I am stressed.

Mum is still in there and it was a bleeding ulcer that caused all the problems. Tomorrow we have to be in the hospital early to learn how she is going to be treated and what happens next.

I haven't had time to visit the Atkins site but by the email I got I think I upset a few people with the report on the uk television program about Atkins.....I apologise to everyone that I upset, I just reported exactly what was said.

It's late here now and I am worn out so I am going to bed.....I will try to visit sometime tomorrow.

Take care,
love Louloo. x

Just read your post Louloo, and I am sorry to hear your mother and mother in law are so ill. Hang in there. Even in stress we make choices and I want to encourage you to make as good of a choice as you can where ever you are at. If you eat fish and chips, eat them in health and just have a goal to do better tomorrow. Don't let the scale dictate your success. Success as I define it is one moment at a time. In my case, it is one day at a time and the hope of doing better tommorrow.

It is funny that today I saw on the news the same information you had presented that you heard in the UK. Maybe you are more on the cutting edge than you think.

Here is hoping that you find satisfaction with your new plan on Monday.

Connie D

Proverbs 15:22
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

Louloo, I too am sorry to here about both mums. How horrid to deal with both things at the same time.


Don't worry about people being upset about what was said about Atkins on TV. They weren't upset with YOU. It's always upsetting to here the garbage they keep spouting on the telly all the time. It gets so old. So don't take it to heart. They aren't mad at you. During this stressful time, do the best you can and by all means, keep yourself and your DH healthy. You are my UK pal.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Dear Connie and Barb,

Thanks soooo much for your support, I am so pleased to hear from you both....you both talk a lot of sence as usual and I will try to eat properly in the future.

The diagnosis on my Mum is the bleeding ulcer, which they can cure and she also had that nasty bug that appears only in the gut, (forgotten the name again) She had a dreadful night, vomitting one end and the trots the other end...all nasty black stuff. She is looking much better today and if she can keep her food down then she will be allowed home tomorrow.

My Mother-in-Law had the visit from the doctor that we had requested and sent the nurse down today to take some blood. If there is no infection then she will increase her pain relief....she is also to get a zimmer frame which should hopefully help her get from room to room a little easier....there is not much else they can do for her. Hopefully this will help a little, she is a lovely lady and I hate seeing her in tears.

I have decided fro the present to eat how I always did eat before I put on all this weight..little and often, just small meals when I am hungry. My appetite has never been very big, I can't eat a lot in one sitting. I have never been over 9 stone (126 pounds) I will be happy to get down to 135, I think that is low enough for now.

Hopefully if I have an operation on my spine I might become more mobile. I have started Pilates again, just 10 minutes at a time, but it really does help ease the stiffness in my poor old bones.

I am going to keep the carbs low, but I will eat toast for breakfast and maybe the odd dish of porridge. (I love porridge)LOL

We had a coupon today for a new spread called PURE, it is completely dairy free and has no carbs. I bought it and it tastes ok, so I am going to replace the butter, which is high in saturated fats with this and see how I go....butter and cheese is hard for me to give up. I will definately cut down the cheese to 1 ounce a day with a few nuts.....I will let you know how I get on.

I can still browse these forums and chip in now and again, can't I? I will miss you all if I don't come and have a chat....I love to listen, watch and join in now and again, LOL

Thank you Connie and Barb for all your support, I wish you all the best with your eating Plans.

Take care,

love Louloo. x

Oh Louloo, my heart goes out to you. Is it h. Pylori you mum has? They can cure that with antibiotics.

I hope you will still pop in to say hi. You don't have to abandon us. We'll still be here for you and if you are still watching your carbs, there's no reason for you to leave us. I really enjoy our chats.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Barb you are such a comfort....I too would miss you and our chats so I will still be popping in regulary.

Yes that is what mum has, H Pylori, plus the burst uncler. She is home now but still feels really unwell. The antiobiotics and all her other drugs are making her very sleepy, so she is content to catch up on her sleep and to stay in and keep warm,

It is freezing cold here. Most of the country has snow, but we are lucky here in the South West, we always seem to miss the worst of the weather. They are saying that we might see some sleet or snow later today, it is certainly cold enough.

I am looking into the South Beach WOE. It is a lot lower in fat than I have been used to but I am reading all I can on the subject and I will see where I go from here when I have all the info.
I am really worried that my cholesterol has climed so much in a year, so this might be my best option to stay with the LC and lower my fat intake.

As they have a forum on here I am sure that we will still be chatting away for a long time to come, LOL

Take care and hopefully I will be 'talking' to you again soon.

love Louloo. x

I'm so sorry to read about your Mom, Looloo. ((((hugs))))



BC
172/108/108--5'2"
Zone since 4/98

I hope Mum is feeling better soon!!!

Maybe SBD would be perfect for you!!! Definitely check out the forum here on that and ask them lots of questions. I don't pop over there much, since I haven't read the book yet. I hope that will become a good fit for you!!

It's been horribly cold here too. Tomorrow's high is supposed to be 4 above 0 Farenheit. I'm not sure what that is Celsius, (since freezing is 32 in Farenheit maybe it's something like -28C) No matter, it's c-c-c-c-cold!!!! The southern states have been getting ice. New York has gotten at least a foot of snow. It's crazy. I really don't like living in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter, LOL.

Talk to you later and TAKE CARE!!!!

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Thanks BC and Barb for your concern over my Mum.

She is still so unwell and I feel so helpless. She has Parkinson's to contend with as well. I am sure that the antibiotics and the drugs to clear up the ulcer are aggravating her system. She only has to take them for 10 days so I am trying to persuade her to have patience.

I haven't yet bought the book for SBD, I'm still debating whether or not to stay with Paleo.....after all, I was doing really well until I started back on the bread. (will I never learn) LOL

I wish that there were others here doing Paleo. I am sure if I had the support of people following this WOE that I would do better.

Barb, you have helped me soo much and I am really grateful, but unless you were following Paleo properly you can't understand fully what I am trying to do. I know that you follow most of the plans on these forums and you know a lot more about it than I ever will......but we used to have several really chatty people following this plan and it was great hearing from them....do you know what I mean? I would hate to upset you.

I am sorry that your weather is sooo bad....our's is really mild compared to that. Trouble is with the UK, everthing comes to a halt when we get freezing weather and snow, we are just not used to the really harsh weather, LOL We did get a smattering of snow last night and it is still lying on frozen ground. Scotland has it really bad but we are told that it is going to rain and become milder soon, thank goodness.

Sooooo.....I am still contemplating Paleo, what do you think??????

Hopefully I will be back properly tomorrow.....I am having a quiet day in, I am quite worn out.

I also phoned to see about my appointment with the Neurosurgeon and I was told that I would be seen within the next 2 weeks, so hopefully then I will know whether I get an operation or not.......don't know what the Mother's are going to do then.

Take care,
love Louloo. x