Boring You On A Semi-Regular Basis

I promise I won't be writing about this topic every week.  I also promise an update on some Money Town characters tomorrow.

Seriously, I promise.

On the other hand, a lot of you have written to me asking questions about one of my recent posts.  Enough of you, in fact, to make me think I might as well answer you all at one time vs. emailing the same information out several times.

I'm referring to my recent discovery regarding being insulin resistance.

Healthy eating, and health in regard to diet, seems to be a hot issue for many people lately.

Several of you wanted to know what I'm doing regarding the low-carb eating style my doctor informed me I need to adopt.  Initially, I wasn't going to go into details, but like I said ... people are asking - so here goes.

I plan on adopting a low-carb lifestyle for the remainder of my life because blah, blah, blah insulin resistant.  I know, without a doubt, I'll have days when I fall off the wagon and eat things I shouldn't.  I also know, unequivocally, I don't want to add any health problems to the already overwhelming issue of my arm.  I think I have a pretty good attitude, in that, I'm not expecting perfection out of myself, but I have fully accepted and embraced this as a lifestyle change.

In other words, I'm not approaching this as a "diet" to lose weight ... 

For me, it has to be a permanent way of life.

That being said, I would like to get back to a healthy weight as I go through the transition with my eating habits.  

My doctor suggested I try Lindora.  Lindora is a low-carb diet plan.  Lindora has diet centers you can go to.  They also have the option of an online program instead, or an at-home plan.  Because I'm insulin resistant, I opted for checking in at one of their diet centers twice a week.  I did this because it allows me to be monitored by a doctor and my insulin levels, etc. are being checked.

I am, in no way, suggesting Lindora is the right diet/eating plan for you, or anyone else.  However, it seems to be exactly what I need right now based on both my insulin resistance and my desire to get back to my pre-accident weight.  

The first three days on the Lindora plan are pretty much three days of hell.  They are "protein days" with very few carbs and very few calories.  The idea is to get your body into ketosis which is the state when your body begins burning your own fat for energy.  

On the first day of my new eating habits, I was convinced my stomach was eating itself in its desperation for food.  On my second day, I felt horrible.  I guess I was going through carb-withdrawals or something.  I had a horrendous headache and ... ugh!  By the end of day three, my body was officially in ketosis and I felt great.  

And I do mean GREAT!

Lindora has me eating a low carb, low calorie, low fat and high protein very balanced food plan six days a week.  Portions are small, but I'm not feeling hungry.  A positive side effect of being in ketosis is a decrease in appetite.  One day a week, I follow the Lindora guidelines for a "protein day" to keep my body in ketosis.  I'm not taking any diet pills or drugs.

This plan is different from the Atkins diet which so many people are familiar with.  High fat/high calorie foods aren't permitted.  To me, this makes sense.  Calories in have to be less than calories out in order to lose weight, right? 

By the way, I have the metabolism of a snail.  Many people can eat much more, but I have to limit my body to 55-65 healthy carbs a day in order to remain in ketosis.  (Ketone sticks are used to check for ketosis each day.)  I discovered how few carbs my body will tolerate early within my first week on Lindora.  In a way, it sucks.  On the other hand, the positive is, I now know what I need to do.  It's so much easier to accept than banging my head against a wall repeatedly - which is what I've been doing for the last four years.

I have more energy than I've had in years.  I really can't get over it.  I've since learned, being insulin resistant makes many people feel tired a lot of the time.  I don't think I even realized I was lacking in energy until I saw a dramatic, positive, change by cutting out the carbs.  I have energy to burn and I absolutely love feeling this way!  Feeling high-energy is a great incentive for me to keep up with the low-carb lifestyle.

In addition to feeling much better, I'm already seeing a weight loss.

I lost over seven pounds in the first week!  I realize, when a person's body adjusts to a new diet most of the initial weight loss is simply water weight.  Regardless, it feels much better to have seven less pounds on my body.  I hope to continue losing at a rate of one or two pounds per week although I'm sure I'll have weeks where my body plateaus.  

Yes, I'm exercising.  I work out for at least 30 minutes on my elliptical, or walk at least 5 of every 7 days.  This isn't something new for me.  What is new, is my increased energy level and the fact I'm actually *finally* losing weight.  Before, I felt like I was doing everything right, but I got no results.

I'm also skipping alcohol for the time being.  I'm not much of a drinker anyway so it isn't hard for me.  After my accident, I was on pain meds for two and a half years nonstop.  I couldn't mix the (very!) heavy narcotics with alcohol so I stopped drinking.  In recent months, alcohol has been an occasional indulgence.  Yes, I will be able to drink again ... but right now I'm choosing not to.  I want to give my body every advantage in adjusting to my new lifestyle.  Alcohol metabolizes as sugar and slows the metabolism.  My metabolism is plenty slow all on its own.

Maybe after a couple weeks I'll reward myself with a shot of tequila glass of wine?

Speaking of rewards, I decided I would build an incentive program into my weight loss.  I'm still in the planning stages ... but basically, I'm treating myself a little bit for every five pounds lost.  I'm making a list of (non-food) rewards.  Maybe a new pair of costume jewelry earrings, or a pedicure, or two hours at the beach with my camera ... little bonuses to keep me motivated to stay on track.  

To be honest, I thought I would need these rewards to make my transition easier.  Now that I'm actually doing this, I'm finding my increased energy level, and the fact I feel so much better, is probably all the incentive I need.  Nonetheless, I promised myself rewards and who am I to break a promise?

Someone wrote in and asked what types of food I'm eating.  As an example, one night this week I had a chicken breast fillet which I baked with a low-carb teriyaki sauce on it.  I sauteed some fresh spinach and mushrooms with a little onion and garlic as a side dish.  I also had a salad with a low-carb balsamic dressing on it.  Dessert was a small bowl of fresh strawberries from my favorite roadside strawberry stand.  I was not at all hungry and everything really was delicious.

As a side note, the next morning I threw some of the leftover vegetables into an omelette.

By the way, Lindora does offer diet foods for sale but most of them make me gag.  I've opted to teach myself how to stay within their nutritional guidelines using real food.  (The exception being my first three hell protein days.)  

For one thing, real food tastes much better.  It leaves me more satisfied and more likely to stay on track.  For another, I'm in this for the long term.  I need to become accustom to what I can prepare and enjoy on a daily basis.  

Quick fixes aren't what I'm looking for.

A lot of my readers recommended The South Beach Diet.  I've picked up one of their cookbooks and it looks as if some of their recipes are compatible with the Lindora program.  I'll be experimenting with recipes more and more as I become accustom to living on a low-carb diet.

I think that covers most of the questions I've gotten so far.  I love hearing about the experiences you, or your family members, have had so please continue to share your stories.  I find my readers to be such a wealth of information.  I learn so much from your comments and emails!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[mama llama]

I found out five years ago that I'm allergic to soy. Later I found out that I'm "blah-blah-blah-gluten intolerant". What a lifestyle change that has forced on me! If you read labels, there is very little that doesn't have "natural / artificial flavors", "mono-diglycerides", "soy lecithin", "vegetable oil"...the list goes on and on.

I dropped 15 pounds of weight I did NOT need to lose immediately, as all the crap-convenience food was cancelled out of my diet. Now, five years later, I am healthier, hardly ever sick, no more skin breakouts or throat/tongue swelling issues unless I have something that I really am not supposed to have---and I'm generally a much happier person.

Dietary change IS a huge lifestyle change. It's easier to just take a pill, and in a society that loves the easy way out, it can be hard to find empathy or understanding when one can't simply "take a pill" to solve one's maladies.

Best of luck to you, 24. I know how tough this can be--but you are already there once you make the decision for yourself, and for your family.

Be well.

[Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin]

Good grief, there's a lot to respond to here so I'll start by saying I hope that this diet works out, that alcohol is not missed, and that this is not a "quick fix"!

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

I wonder if this is something that happens not infrequently with women over 40?? Or those perpetually 24? I know so many of us who are tired and can't lose weight. I eat very little just to stay even. Did they test you for this as part of a regular exam or did you ask? I'm sorry if you already answered this and I don't remember.
Good Luck; I'm glad you're feeling the wonderful effects of all of your efforts!

[Jan]

I've never heard of this diet plan. I do know I cannot combine low carb with low fat/low calorie - I tried and it was not for me. I was hungry and miserable all the time. So, I'm more or less doing Protein Power - low carb, between 30 and 40 grams of carbs per day in the form of low carb veggies and fruits, adequate amounts of protein and lots of healthy, natural fats. I eat between 1600 and 1800 calories a day and that keeps me happy. And I'm beginning to do some resistance training on my Bowflex - I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm SO glad you're feeling better!

[Kelly]

Wow! It sounds like your getting great results already. Not just dropping pounds but feeling so good and all that energy. I wonder if everyone feels that way on this type of diet or if it is your body responding to getting rid of the carbs it cant normally process. Interesting stuff. I'm intrigued!

[Bob]

Every Other Day Diet is a reliable weight loss system you can count on! It is inexpensive, effective, and even has its own diet generator and more. This is one of the most comprehensive!

[Tami]

The good news is you feel great. Its nice to hear you dont seem to be struggling with this. I am trying to cut my carbs too. Youve inspired me.

[Nancy P]

You just described me to a T. I am always always tired. I haven't been exercising for a while and I know I have to get back to that but even when I was I was tired all the time. I am going to try to give up the carbs too. THANK YOU!

[Andrea (@shutterbitch)]

Has anyone recommended the book Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels? It explains a lot about how our environment and what kinds of foods we eat can affect our internal hormonal balance and what that does to many different processes in our bodies, especially insulin since it's such a big problem with diabetes in our country. I wonder if some of the principles there could be helpful as well. I know there's also a MYM cookbook that might give good recipes as well.

Good for you feeling better! I hope the good feelings continue, and this sounds like a lifestyle change, not a quick fix at all.

[The gold digger]

I have friends who injected themselves with the pee (or the extract of the pee) of pregnant Indian women and then ate just 500 calories a day. They each lost about 40 lbs.

I hate them.

Not really.

I want the pee of pregnant Indian woman.