I've read Protein Power, the 30 Day book and then I went to the library and saw a

[Molly]

book that says low carb eating makes you GAIN weight!! Urrgh! I've got insulin resistance issues and while reading the books, I was convinced that THIS WOE will work for me. Now, I'm doubting. I did not even get the book, but I am wondering how low carb eating can make you gain weight. I HAVE TO LOSE 50 lbs. so I really need this PP WOE to work. I need to see the bloodwork change.

[Anniesnan]

book that says low carb eating makes you GAIN weight!! Urrgh! I've got insulin resistance issues and while reading the books, I was convinced that THIS WOE will work for me. Now, I'm doubting. I did not even get the book, but I am wondering how low carb eating can make you gain weight. I HAVE TO LOSE 50 lbs. so I really need this PP WOE to work. I need to see the bloodwork change.

Molly,

welcome!
1. PP definitely works.
2. If you look hard enough, you will find books on almost any subject - just because it is in writing, doesn't mean it's true.
3. PP definitely works - just because it's written often doesn't mean it's true, but in this case, it is.

the only time PP doesn't work for me is when I don't follow it:rolleyes:

I read PPLP, then PP. When I read PPLP it was an epiphany. It made so much sense for me. I observed my dog and realized PP worked for him, too.

Good luck.

[gitfiddle]

Molly, by following the Protein Power diet closely, my bloodwork became normal. The blood sugar was the quickest at about three months or less. The cholesterol, triglycerides and the rest came around more gradually. The weight is actually the slowest to move for me. I did lose about seventy pounds in the first year to eighteen months.

I agree with Anniesnan; it works if you work it.

[maxlharris]

Let's do a thought experiment. We're diet authors. We're nutritionists, who've grown up in the world of the low fat/bad fat frame. We've now invested a lot of money getting our degrees, and years giving people advice (like dump fat, eat carbs, do lots of cardio, stay strong). And a year writing the book. Now, there's an alternative frame out there, that says everything we've learned is bad. Fats aren't the problem. Carbs are. Cardio is counter productive. You don't have to be hungry all the time to lose weight.

The first thing we MUST do in our diet book is trash every other diet. Because, in the competitive world of diet literature, everyone wants to be the one true solution. It's like religion that way. So, LC gets tossed under the bus. We probably make some distortions, like it's all bacon and brie, or you don't eat any vegetables on LC (as if it were true and as if there would be w problem with that if it were). And, we've quickly made our case. On to business.

You have to evaluate any change based on the content of the change. So, if PP makes sense to you (it makes sense to a lot of people, and more every day), then go for it. If the actual recommendations of the other book make sense, go for it. I can suggest that PP is one window into the most effective, efficient, fun diet going. A diet where you can eat bacon and brie. And lower your cholesterol while doing so. I like bacon. I like brie. I like some fruits and veggies, and I eat more when I'm on than when I'm on anything else. And I lose weight. The only time I don't lose weight on PP is, like Agnes said, when I'm not on it.

[WakefieldWendy]

Here's my not very scientific thinking about it:

1. You need a certain amount of protein to support your lean body mass. You will die without protein. Some people may disagree with how much, but let's ignore that for now.

2. You need a certain amount of fat to survive. There are diseases of fat deficiency. Again, some people may disagree with how much, but let's ignore that for now.

3. You need a certain amount of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Some will come with the food we eat for protein and fat, and the rest are best obtained through a certain amount of well chosen vegetables and fruits.

So, if you add those things together, you'll have met your basic requirements of macronutrients (protein, fat, carb) and micronutrients. But, you still need more calories to meet energy needs. So where do you get those calories.

The high-carb, low fat people have usually said you should get those extra calories from carbs. Mostly, this seems to be less because they think carbs are good than because they think fat is bad. But the reality is that 100 calories of fat gives the same energy as 100 calories of carbs, save for the metabolic differences.

Now, the high-carb people would say that if you choose the right type of carbs, you'll get fibre which promotes satiety. Also, they'll point out that 1 g of carbs has about 4 calories, and 1 g of fat has about 9 calories. So, from their viewpoint, you get to eat a lot more grams of carbs than fat in getting your 100 calorie serving.

Two problems with this. First, it doesn't appear to be true that satiety is helped by the bulk of the food. So the fact that carbs have fibre and are less calorically dense doesn't actually mean that a 100 calorie serving of carbs is more filling than a 100 calorie serving of fat. Second, there is a metabolic reality, and those carbs are screwing with your insulin and eventually make you more hungry and lower the total number of calories you need to survive (which makes you fat).

In my experience, protein is even better than fat, in that it helps with lean muscle mass, improves metabolic stuff and promotes satiety even more.

Don't believe me. Let me suggest this experiment. Create for yourself dishes that are 1000 calories of mostly carbs, mostly protein, and mostly fat.

A 1000 calorie portion of carbs could be a mountain of spaghetti with a tomato sauce. Can you eat it - you bet your A$$.

A 1000 calorie portion of fat is a little harder, because it mostly comes mixed with protein or carbs. But could you eat 1000 calories of whipped cream - absolutely. Could you eat 1000 calories of juicy steak which is heavily marbled (maybe 30% protein calories and 70% fat calories) - absolutely. Could you eat 1000 calories of bacon (mostly fat) - easily.

Now, a 1000 calorie portion of mostly protein. That's something like 5 cups of diced chicken breast with no skin. You would have a lot of trouble getting that down.

Moral of the story - for equivalent caloric value, protein promotes greater satiety. It improves metabolic stuff. It protects and promotes lean muscle mass.

[Molly]

Thanks for your replies. I'm learning. :-)

Molly

[suzyc14]

[quote=maxlharris;46912]Let's do a thought experiment. We're diet authors. We're nutritionists, who've grown up in the world of the low fat/bad fat frame. We've now invested a lot of money getting our degrees, and years giving people advice (like dump fat, eat carbs, do lots of cardio, stay strong). And a year writing the book. Now, there's an alternative frame out there, that says everything we've learned is bad. Fats aren't the problem. Carbs are. Cardio is counter productive. You don't have to be hungry all the time to lose weight.

Let me tell you, this is where I am right now. I spent a lot of money on a master's degree in nutrition. I will be paying it off another 18 years and am just starting to learn more about low carb and trying to read more. It is hard when you have spent so much money and have learned certain info that you thought was completely backed up by studies. So then when you hear an alternative, you think "no, I know my way of thinking has been proven" Now I am in the middle. I am just trying to absorb all this new info, study more, read more articles and keep an open mind.

[Rhyme'n Reason]

Like most of the others on the board, I've tried every diet known to man. I lost 82 pounds on PP. I had lost significant weight on others as well, but on all of those, I found myself eating tons of carbs (low caloric value) in order to stave off hunger. I found it was impossible the longer I kept at it.

On the other hand, my body responds wonderfully to this WOE. My blood pressure goes down, resulting in less swelling in my feet and ankles. My digestive system works better and I have more energy.

This works for me when I work the plan. If not, it (like every other "diet") will fail.

Ruth