Low Glycemic Load Eating Plan

SpecialK - could you come and stay at my house for a week or three or four?

I promise to buy all the things you eat... I just need you to motivate me!!!!

I try to stick to a Paleo/Primal type of diet and I find that works for me.  Keeps the weight off, no crazy blood sugar fluctations and I don't really have to count calories, just eat what is on the "diet".  I do eat some dairy and some beans, which are not really Primal, but I find that small amounts are OK for me.  And you do lose the sugar cravings when you stop eating it. And then when you eat a piece of cake or something it is REALLY SWEET!!  One bite and I'm done.

SpecialK - a month after my BMX, my MO told me I needed Arimidex. I smugly assured her that there was no estrogen in my body, since I'd gone through menopause AND a hysterectomy. She kindly pointed out that estrogen was still manufactured in the body after menopause... especially in belly fat.... as I stood there, all 205 pounds of me. I just stared at her and said I'd be back.

What I did was go on a medically-supervised liquid fast. For four months, I had nothing but four protein shakes, one soup, and one protein bar a day. Within three weeks my fibromyalgia was gone.... not because I'd lost weight, but because the diet was gluten-free.

I was never hungry, and I was fine with the regimen of limiting my foods. We were allowed to use herbs and spices to liven up the shakes and soups.

Transition meant learning to re-introduce small portions of really healthy food back into our diets. That took three months.

All in all, I lost 60 pounds and more than 65 inches. I felt healthier than I ever had in my life, and had the energy to exercise like never before. In the beginning I went off a dozen prescription meds, and never went back on them. ALL my lab work returned to normal.

But gradually, life (and Aromatase Inhibitors) got in the way. I've gained back 15 pounds, but I know I can get it off again.

DH is on a very strict Kidney Disease diet. We know how to eat sensibly. We both have tremendous discipline to eat a plant-based, no-red-meat diet.

But somehow the Chips Gnomes sneak in at night... and what can you do?

I am going to look up that book you mentioned!

p.s. If we have anything sweet at all, we serve it in tiny teacups.

blessings and glennie - I am a believer that reducing inflammation, which gluten and lots of other things can cause, is the key.

blessings - you are to be congratulated on the weight loss - my mom did a similar diet years ago and did well.  Love the comment on the tiny teacups, lol!  I find I do better if stuff is not in the house, then I can't eat it!  DH went off the reservation for a couple of months and started bringing stuff home - and he gained back 10 of the 15 he lost - so he is back on the plan and the M&M's are out of the house!

glennie - eliminating gluten has been key for a couple of my friends with hand pain - neither are celiac, but taking gluten away also took their pain away.

I initially cut out all refined carbs and all sugar. It was challenging at first, but after about threemonths, it got so much easier. Now I have eased up a bit, but I still pick veggies over fries, whole grain bread over white etc. It DOES keep my weight amazingly stable (and low) and I just feel better. The hardest thing in the beginning was getting used to eating more food. If you mainly eat veggies, you need to up the volume to get enough calories and feel full

Paleo Diet query: I read that coconut has estrogenic activity and I stopped using its oil etc.

Is there anybody able to expand on this matter? thank you

Cowgal - I did try a low glycemic index diet 2 years ago after reading a book on it by a cardiologist. I didn't follow it religiously but was able to lose about 8 pounds in 2 months, which is pretty good considering my weight is not that high (138 to 130). What I noticed was that I could fit into my clothes that I could only wear when I was as low as 125 pounds. I didn't think possible but it really helped me get rid of fat (which I carry more in the abdomen) than fat and muscle. Earlier in the year I had a very busy work schedule eating at my desk lunch and dinner and ordering from restaurants so I put it back on. Now I am back on it - though not fully - and hoping to go back down to 130. I try not to eat anything with glycemic index higher than 50 (except for my daily desert), and I try to wait 4-5 hours between the 3 meals without snacking. This is key, no snacking, no small and numerous portions. Idea is to eat 3 good meals and not get hungry for 4-5 hours. Last meal should be about 4 hours before you sleep to maximize fat burn during sleep.

I am Mediterranean. I do eat a huge breakfast with this diet, which was a change for me as I typically either just got a starbucks latte or added maybe a banana or a croissant to it before. Now I eat a 2 egg omlette with feta and parsley, more cheese, a tomato, about 8-10 black olives and drink a glass of milk. If I eat this around 7-8 am, I still am not hungry by 1pm and am not craving a big dish of pasta or a giant sandwich for lunch at work. I love carbs so I cannot do without and have been eating bulgur instead of rice next to veggies and/or meat. Lunch and dinner really vary and I just eat whatever I want from the list of foods with 50 or less glycemic index. This diet is very easy to keep up with, is supposed to reduce your insulin resistance if you have fat around belly and crave sweets like me, promote leptin being able to do its job, and lose fat especially around the belly area. You do need to do some light daily exercise at least, the book I read recommended 30 minutes of walking.

I just met with a dietician this week at my radiology center when I went in for my sim, and she also independently recommended this diet for my situation. Everyone is different and there could be a better diet that is more suitable for you. If you have any questions just let me know

Cowgirl, that inflammation sounds like it definitely had a root cause, not just low glycemic. Did you eat anything different than normal. Sometimes when I eat something really salty, I gain a pound or 2. But, not in my knees.

If lactose intolerance runs in the family, it might be that. You can get it later in life, even if you haven't had it before.