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DebbyH · #1 04-14-2006, 02:57 PM

Where to start? My DH just got bloodwork done and there were several things that the doc's concerned about.

1. High cholesterol (255 total/HDL 52/ LDL 184)
2. High blood sugar 108
3. High blood pressure

Based on what I know (and believe), I think that a LC diet would be best for him to get these numbers looking better. He's concerned about the cholesterol and diabetes (as it runs in his family). He does not need to lose weight, though. Plus, Kaiser is (of course) telling him to eat low fat, more good carbs, less meat... you know the drill.

SO... how do I convince him that LC just might do the trick? What is the best book for him to read? He does love his meat, so that's one help to me.

Also, what LC would be right for him as he does not need to lose weight? Maintenance Atkins? South Beach?

Okay... now for me. If I could convince him to eat LC it would be good for me too. I've been LC (Atkins/Carb Addict's) on and off for 3 years now. I got thrown off again when getting pregnant in 2004. Had the baby in June 2005, and have not been successful in getting back on. I'm still nursing and life is really busy right now, so I've been trying to get back on Carb Addicts with no success.

I had gained almost 20 pounds back after getting to just 10 lbs. above my pre-pregnancy weight when I decided to get back on Carb Addicts. Well, the other day I looked at all my numbers and realized that since the beginning of the year when I tried to get back on Carb Addicts, I've actually GAINED 10 lbs! I was disgusted! (and still am)

Now I'm trying to figure out which direction to go. I'm looking for something that will work for life. Something that I'll be able to adapt with futurer pregnancies/babies. I HAD been thinking... "if I could just get carb addicts to work, that would be the best/easiest". But, I think deep down I don't think carb addicts is going to work for me anymore. I have an inner struggle going on. It always seems like carb addicts is simplest... no counting carbs and I can eat the same way my family eats at dinner. No having to learn how to cook differently. Can use all my old, easy stand-bys (tacos, spaghetti, etc.). Seems to be easier at social functions (can just have your RM at the social function). BUT.... I don't really believe in the science of it, and although I lost 40 lbs. on it originally, I can't seem to stick with it anymore.

I think what I really need to do is to somehow get on Atkins maintenance (at least until Abigail's weaned). Is there a way to do that without counting carbs? How do I make sure I'm getting enough carbs for her, but not too many for me?

I feel like I should know all this, but can't seem to figure it out/get it together right now. I know how wonderful you all are and know that I will get some good responses. Sorry this has been so long, but I needed to get it out. I'm looking for a good solution not just for me this time, but for my whole family.

Thanks so much in advance for your advice/opinions/help.

MaryKay · #2 04-14-2006, 04:21 PM

In your situation, probably the simplest would serve you best. Just give up the breads, pastas, and sugar processed foods.

Enjoy your veggies (no counting), and some fruits (limited) - don't worry about counting the carbs at this point - just don't have the obvious higher carb processed foods.

Perhaps stick to the less fatty proteins (chicken, fish, white meats ) -
Don't worry about it and maybe it will just be more natural, but healthier for you and your children until you can go on a stricter carb limitation when not pregnant or nursing.

I'm not suggesting the low-fat plans, just a better mix since you can't go to the stringent carb limitations.

And enjoy life with your little ones.

Lawbooks · #3 04-14-2006, 05:20 PM

Debby,
It's so good to *see* you again!!!

Ok, your post is rather lengthy and multi-topic so I'm going to address the first part of it now and come back to the rest later when I have a chance to really sit down and reply (I'm on my way out the door)...

YES, this woe could definitely help your dh get those numbers improved! I speak from experience on this as the whole reason why I got serious about LC 4 years ago was because my endocrinologist was not happy about my numbers. He basically gave me 3 months to get everything under control and then he was going to put me on medication (which I did NOT want!).
Now, it's true that I needed (still need!) to lose weight, but I'll get to that in a minute.
After just a few months of eating low-carb, my endo declared me no longer *officially diabetic* (I still have to watch my blood glucose levels!); my fasting was back to NORMAL (80's & 90's). In addition, my cholesterol levels all plummeted and my HDL (good cholesterol) came up. My triglycerides were all within normal range (this is the most important factor, by the way). My blood pressure has always been fine, but it even came down a little.
Now, that said, I don't think I would have stuck with this way of eating until I read 2 books: The Schwarzbein Principle, & The Schwarzbein Principle II, both by Diana Schwarzbein, MD. Her books do the BEST of job of explaining why someone with a family history of these problems NEEDS to eat this way FOR LIFE!
Her books were a REVELATION to me and I found myself getting, literally, ANGRY

at the diabetic/medical community for all the lies and misinformation!

Furthermore, I think your dh should read her books 1) Because she IS a medical doctor (MD) who has caused a serious rethinking of all this misinformation in the medical community. (She is well-renowned and respected among other endocrinologists).
But, 2) & more importantly, he should follow HER version of low-carbing because it does not necessarily focus on LOSING WEIGHT. Her woe focuses on HEALING the body first and then, she says, if you need to lose weight, it will start to naturally come off.

Now, personally, while I think her woe would work, I want something that is going to attack the weight a little faster which is why I follow Atkins, but I think her approach would suit your dh perfectly!
Ok, I've gotta run now, but I'll write more later...
HTH,

Lawbooks · #4 04-17-2006, 01:45 PM

Ok, I Debby, Now for PART II of your question... I sincerely apologize for taking so long, but being Easter weekend and all, I just didn't have a chance to sit down again...

Alright, I know you lost 40 pounds doing Carb Addicts, and I'm in awe of you for that as I could NEVER get it to work for me (too easy to cheat & rationalize & my cravings were always high!). It obviously is not working for you now & I sympathize with your plight as I went through the SAME thing while nursing my *new baby* (Now TWO!!! :crying: ).
I think the best thing for you to do would be to eat Atkins Induction level BUT, with fruit. Unlimited fruit and veggies. Dump the bread & rice & pasta, etc. but do NOT limit the fruit or veggies at all. This would ensure that you are getting enough carbs to protect your baby, but not send you totally off the deep end. I would also start researching the Glycemic Index for which foods are more likely to cause blood sugar spikes (i.e. make you gain weight). For example, a lot of people think Bananas are totally TABOO, but if you can tolerate (I happen to LOVE) green bananas, they are WAY better for you than yellow bananas -- actually pretty low on the GI and don't raise my bg levels hardly at all! Don't get them so green they are like eating a chalky rock, but more green than you would normally eat. I like them when they are *just* starting to turn yellow...
If you familiarize yourself with the GI, you will be able to make healthier choices for you and your baby! But DO make sure that you eat enough of these foods each day to get enough carbs. Don't skimp on the veggies or fruit at all!
Until you wean, I think this is the safest option. I realize it's not a *perfect* plan, but there are reportedly many who have lost weight simply by eating foods low on the glycemic index, so maybe it will work for you!

Get a copy of the Glycemic Index Diet (I think that's the title; too lazy to get up & go find my copy right this second...). Another option would be to follow Schwarzbein with your dh, but that might prove to go the same route as Carb Addicts, so be careful! Actually, the two (GI & Schwarzbein) could be used in combination and would work great, I'd think!
I sincerely hope this helps you; I know you are frustrated!
Hang in there & enjoy this precious time... it goes WAY too fast.
{{{hugs}}},
Summer

DebbyH · #5 04-17-2006, 03:19 PM

Summer,

Thanks for your reply. Being Easter weekend, we were quite busy too, but my mind was sure working overtime on thinking about this (all the while eating pretty HC- yikes!).

I got a copy of Schwarzbein, and my husband has started reading it (but didn't get very far). Don't know if I'm going to be able to convince him to give up his beloved carbs or not. I sure hope so, but we'll see.

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet. Like I said, I've been thinking a lot this weekend. I borrowed my mom's copy of Jonny Bowden's book (the first ever that convinced me sugar was EVIL - of course, I've been under it's evil spell for the past 18 months or so). I also got Atkins for Life from the library.

Somehow I need to make this LC eating a way of life. This has been a struggle for me. I'm very detail oriented and black&white. I have always felt like I'm on a diet and that I need to follow the rules of that diet to the T - no customizing. Somehow I need to make this "just the way I eat", which probably means simple, slightly flexible "rules" and no writing things down.

Until I read your post this morning, I thought I just might try to start at 100 net carbs per day - portioning them out between breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks having a preset number for each (i.e., 25 each for B, L &D and about 12 each for snacks) and then figuring out a few meals that fit and doing it that way. This way I wouldn't feel the need to write down and calculate every bite that goes into my mouth. Then, if I wasn't losing weight, I'd go down 10g/day each week until I started losing weight making sure that I wasn't in ketosis.

I'll probably eat close to the way you're describing, but maybe include almonds (1/4 cup once a day) and maybe some yogurt. I've been trying to figure out how to fit some bread in (lower carb, of course), but maybe that's not a good idea.

When eating the way you described, do you count carbs at all?

With regard to the GI, my mom's been talking to me a bit about that. Atkins for Life does talk a bit about GI and GL, so for now I just might use that as a guideline. Try and keep it simple.

How do you handle all of this LC eating with your family? Do you only have low GI carbs (i.e., bread, pasta) for your kids and husband? Just curious. I know they don't need the junk (none of us do), but I feel like I'm depriving them if I don't have it for them. I probably need to turn this attitude around somehow, too, as they (my children) will be much better off if they develop a taste for the "better" foods.

Well, enough for now. Thanks again for your thoughts/advice. Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do and do it, so I can get out from under this evil, sugar spell.

Bonniejo80 · #6 04-17-2006, 06:40 PM

Debby, If your kids want pasta, make them the whole wheat pasta. I have found that the Harvest brand taste really good. It is still pasta, but better for you. Try to get the kids to eat whole wheat bread. I tried both out on my kids, without them knowing, and they liked it. Even asked for more. ( I have 5 kids at home, so making 2 seperate meals was getting to hard) Just my piece of advice.

DebbyH · #7 04-17-2006, 09:14 PM

Bonnie,
Thanks for the thoughts.

Summer,
One more question... did you lose weight while BF and eating the way you described?

Lawbooks · #8 04-17-2006, 09:57 PM

Yes & no.
YES, I DID lose weight while nursing Raisha -- quite a bit actually, by doing just what I told you. I think I lost about 30 pounds (not including the initial weight drop right after she was born.
Unfortunately, I had a very bad thing happen to me last summer (hit & run by a drunk driver) which was immediately followed by hurricanes Katrina & Rita (I live in Baton Rouge, LA but my dh is employed out of New Orleans). The stress of it all basically sent me into a bit of a depression. I'm not making excuses, but I have struggled really bad since last fall. I didn't get really *recommitted* to this woe until last month, but I'm sorry to say, that I have undone a lot of the progress I made last year.
I'm trying not to focus on the negative.
I still made the choice to eat & I take full responsibility for that... but I have had to deal with a lot of anger, pain, and stress in the past few months and I cannot deny that this has affected me greatly -- more than I'd like to admit.
Good thing I'm married to a Psychiatrist, huh?

DebbyH · #9 04-19-2006, 01:23 AM

Summer,

I'm so sorry to hear of all the bad things that have happened to you and in your life in the past year. I have confidence in you that you can get back on track and stay there. You're in my prayers.

I've taken your advice and tweaked it a bit. Today I had protein, veggies, 3 servings of fruit, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/4 cup almonds, and LOTS of water (almost a gallon). For fun and out of curiosity, I input my food for the day in Diet Power. Near as I can tell, I had 80.5g carbs w/28g fiber for a total net carbs of 52.5. Do you think that's enough while nursing? I know you're not a doctor, so you can't give me medical advice... but, just wondering what your thoughts are. I appreciate your input.

Thanks,
Debby

Lawbooks · #10 04-19-2006, 01:36 PM

Debby,
I think your menu sounds awesome (YAY on the water!) and yes, I can't give you medical advice, but I CAN tell you that I kept my carbs (while nursing) between 50-100 per day and Raisha is as healthy as a horse!

And, it's weird... I don't know if it's because I ate fairly low-carb while pregnant (because of the diabetes) or if it's because that's what she tasted in my milk, but Raisha is DEFINITELY a little carnivore! She will shun a french fry for a piece of hamburger or chicken in a heartbeat. She definitely likes meat, which I think is pretty unusual for a 2 year old!
Hey, a born Low-carber!

Great Job!
Summer

DebbyH · #11 04-19-2006, 07:47 PM

Summer,

That's great Raisha likes meat ('cause a lot of kids don't). So does my Mary, but I was definitely not LC while pregnant or nursing her. She likes veggies too and will even eat cauliflower at breakfast if I'm having some. Who knows?

Felt good yesterday, but woke up feeling tired and drained. Not sure if it's related to the way I ate yesterday or not. Also, this morning I had dropped 1.5 lbs which could be just water weight. But, I'll definitely be keeping an eye on both things and maybe add in a serving of whole grains. Any that you would recommend?

Thanks for your input... and for the pat on the back!

Debby

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Need advice on a few things