Dramatic Changes in Just Days

[isisrose]

I just want to start off to say that I am new to PP, but not completely the knowledge of it. My twin had been trying to get me to do it for years. I thought she was eating all wrong.

For many years now I have been eating a 100% natural diet, but low fat. My belief was that fat was the devil and sugar was ok as long as it was natural. It was also my belief only food is food, chemicals and frankenstein creations are not food.

What did I get for my efforts? Overweight with time (no matter how much I exercised), diabetes type II (of course it started with pre and then I went harder at work to eat right--yea right!:(), fibromyalgia and colitus.

I'll start off with the worse part for me: fibromyalgia! It was a total b! in my life for several years. I remember one particularly bad year when I would go weeks without sleep and even contemplate things like cutting off my limbs. The only thing that kept from that was thinking about phantom limbs. I just thought I would still have the pain but no longer have my limbs :eek:. Didn't seem like an answer. It is amazing the things you will contemplate after weeks of no sleep. I even contemplated suicide more than once...what kept ringing in my head "a permenant solution to a temporary problem." That was a phrase a friend of mine had used earlier to someone threatening suicide.

During the good times I would sleep but would have to spend at least 12 hours in bed just to accumulate 3 hours of sleep. It would go like this lay in bed for 3 hours, fall asleep for a half hour, wake up for 2 - 4 hours, fall back to sleep for a half hour, wake up again for several hours and on and on through the night. So even my good nights weren't that good. I lived like this for several years now. At night was when I felt my most pain. During the day I just kept going (and dealt with it) but when I relaxed man the pain. I remember someone suggesting I go on disability and my reply was "maybe some day that day will come but today is not that day."

It has been about a week since I sort of started PP, my doctor suggest that or Atkins--she is a drug as a last resort kind of doctor and that is why I like her :D! I read both books and pretty much went with PP, though a little Atkins thrown in because that is working for me.

My doctor suggest no fruits not even berries for the first few weeks until my BS is better controlled, because of the fructose. I think I will actually go a bit longer and wait until I have normal BS for several weeks and then see how fructose will work for me.

The other suggestion by her, even if I choose PP over Atkins to limit to no more than 20 grams of carbs a day after the fiber is subtracted for the first several weeks to lower my BS without resorting to drugs--so far so good. My BS dropped by 50 points.

It is now day 3 of fully on plan (completed both books) and this is how I am working it:

No forbidden foods other than fruits for now (though reading about leaky gut and my conditions think grains are forbidden for me too).

20 Grams ECC--will increase shortly, almost all from veggies

110 grams minimum protein per day.

When I started this I couldn't really stop working out as that is crucial to my BS going down and I couldn't really up my carbs so for now my fat is a bit higher than it will probably stay. That is purely for energy otherwise I can't really work out. So I make sure I get a good amount of that before a workout and I'm good to go. I'm not really so much concerned right now about my weight (I'm a size 12 and if that takes longer to go down, well alright). I don't consider my BMI a good indicator as I have a lot of muscle.

When I do up my carbs I will not do it in a big jump, so a little Atkinseque I guess...5 gram increases. The only reason I am concerned about this is because of BS spikes. Could be ok to go from one phase of PP to the next, but then could be too drastic and cause me to spike. My opinion better safe than sorry.

Other than these few tweaks it is PP over Atkins. I do like the science behind it.

Results so far:

BS down 50 points.

Colitus...for the first time in years no daytime/travelers diarreah or going 12 times a day. No stomach discomfort.

Fibromyalgia...sleeping better, at least for a few hours at a time not just a half hour at a time. Takes me about 9 hours now to get about 5 hours sleep. That is an improvement and I am hopeful it will continue. Right now I'm getting more sleep than I did in my best nights before. Also hurting a lot less too! It amazes me how much I do hurt. I only realize it because at times I don't for a change and then I do and man it is like a ton of bricks :( and they all fall on me!!!!!

What has changed in my diet:

Sugar is the devil and fat is ok as long as it is natural. Also more protein.

What hasn't changed:

Chemicals and Frankenstein creations are not food and the body still won't recognize them as such.

[mcsblues]

Good story - sorry should probably say great - but you will have to excuse some of us old timers - we do see amazing stories all the time so it is hard not to just accept them as just another LC story after a while - which of course we shouldn't.

A couple of things;

1. Don't push the exercise too hard while your body is adjusting to using fat for its main source of energy. Exercise is good for you - but the diet part is much more important as far as controlling blood sugars - and the myriad of other health benefits that low carb brings - some of which you are already experiencing.

2. Particularly as a diabetic don't assume you are going to be able to add a great deal of carbs over and above induction/intervention levels and still maintain good BS control. I would recommend, if you don't already do so, some fairly extensive home testing for a few months at least - not just fasting levels. This is a great way to see how rapidly your BS numbers will respond to your new way of life, and also it will allow you to see how you respond to foods you might be considering adding soon. Whatever you do, do not rely on the 'glycemic index' - as strangely enough those who are insulin resistant/diabetic respond differently than healthy test subjects the index is derived from (the pushers of the GI seem to struggle with this!).

3. Natural fat is a good starting point, but try to limit the amount of polyunsaturated vegetable oils you consume - no matter how natural - we get too much omega 6 fats as it is, and especially if you are prone to inflammatory conditions, that is the last thing you need more of.

4. Frankenfoods - yep, with you on that - another reason to stick with PP rather than what has become of the Atkins group.

5. Fruits - yes you need to be wary of fructose (another reason the GI is junk!) - but most fruits have plenty of glucose as well - some have more glucose than fructose - so all in all it is a similar situation to plain sugar (50/50 glucose:fructose) with a few vitamins we can get elsewhere anyway.

HTH

[Mitra]

Welcome, and thank you for sharing your story.

The only thing I'd add to what Malcolm has said is a recommendation that you read The Diabetes Solution by Dr Richard Bernstein - you can read some of the chapters on-line at his diabetes-book (http://www.diabetes-book.com/) site.

[isisrose]

Thanks Malcolm! Good points.

That is why I only plan to increase (when the time comes) by 5 ECC a day for at least a week at a time just to see how far I can go. I'm guessing (but accept this as just a guess for now because time will tell) if I'm lucky maybe 40 - 50 (if I'm truly lucky) ECC a day. Can I live with that? Yes I can.

As far as oils, I only cook with butter. I just don't like heating other oils (including EVOO). This includes in baked goods too, I just melt the butter down. EVOO I will add cold to some veggies or salad, and make it a base for some salad dressings, but I never heat it. As the Eades pointed out I am trying for more Omega 3. I love fish so that shouldn't be too hard.

Most of my exercising is fast walking and with the fibro is actually a necessity. I think that all the walking was/is the only reason I was able to keep going. I expect to speed it up a bit more now that I don't hurt as much. But I need to still walk an hour a day, gotta keep those joints and muscles moving. Some days I make it just more leisurely but I have to get it in, when I don't I get really stiff--so even a leisurely walk is a huge help. I do plan to add some other things down the road when my body is ready. For a long time it was all I could do without feeling like my limbs weren't going to fall off, and still get some heart pumping activity. I also do a little bit of stretching each day...again for pretty much the same reason it helps me feel more limber and less stiff. This too is something I feel a daily need for, even if it is more gentler on some days.

As far as fruits, berries are my favorite and the best carb value so if I can tolerate them (I will test with about a 1/4 cup) I will add them back occasionally (more as a treat) and eat them with a bit of fat and protein which should help. If I don't tolerate them, I just simply don't eat them until if and when I do if ever.

I agree the GI is junk, I used to follow it. My theory is simply this it may be low on the GI but carbs are still carbs and sooner or later they come a calling whether it's all at once or a cumulative effect later on...they come a calling. My science may be off but it makes sense to me.

[isisrose]

Welcome, and thank you for sharing your story.

The only thing I'd add to what Malcolm has said is a recommendation that you read The Diabetes Solution by Dr Richard Bernstein - you can read some of the chapters on-line at his diabetes-book (http://www.diabetes-book.com/) site.

Thanks Mitra, I've seen this book mentioned and was planning to read it. Your link will be a huge help until I get the book.

[Mitra]

As far as oils, I only cook with butter. I just don't like heating other oils (including EVOO). This includes in baked goods too, I just melt the butter down.

I make clarified butter and use that or lard or beef dripping for any high temperature cooking. If it's fairly low temperature, then I'll just use a knob of butter, but I do find it useful to have some clarified butter around - it means that if your piece of meat or whatever doesn't fill the pan, any butter around the edges is a lot less likely to burn. I also tend to use a spoonful of it for any recipe that asks for melted butter - at this time of year it's practically liquid at room temperature, so saves me having to melt a Tbsp or so for the recipe.

[mcsblues]

Bernstein is a good idea, as is PPLP when you get a chance - the more you know about how this works the better!

I don't think there has been a poll for a while but I doubt many of the non diabetic maintainers would go beyond 40 - 50 ecc - apart from the occasional splurge.

It will probably take you a while to get your head around the fat thing (it did for me) - but unprocessed, lard, dripping. coconut oil ... all good - although butter is also great - do you clarify it for higher temp cooking?

Oh and if you want to really impress your doctor, a detailed food diary along with the resultant blood sugars would really do the job!:) (great record for you as well)

[mcsblues]

As you can see, if you stick around here too long you will start to think the same things too!:p

[isisrose]

Bernstein is a good idea, as is PPLP when you get a chance - the more you know about how this works the better!

I don't think there has been a poll for a while but I doubt many of the non diabetic maintainers would go beyond 40 - 50 ecc - apart from the occasional splurge.

It will probably take you a while to get your head around the fat thing (it did for me) - but unprocessed, lard, dripping. coconut oil ... all good - although butter is also great - do you clarify it for higher temp cooking?

Oh and if you want to really impress your doctor, a detailed food diary along with the resultant blood sugars would really do the job!:) (great record for you as well)

I'm not too worried about the fat right now (total reversal of my LF days) as long as it is natural. I, for now while my body is adjusting, add a small fat snack before my fast walk. E.G. an ounce of nuts or cream cheese, just an ounce, as it gives me the energy and I don't get light headed. In time I'm sure when my body adjusts I won't have to. But for now I need the exercise (or my knees will make me regret it for days) and I need the energy and don't particularly like the lightheaded space cadet feeling. So a small fat boost does the trick. When I don't need that, I won't. If I stall, or have problems I will re-think and tweak but for now seems to be working. I know it isn't a long time, but so far so good.

Yes, I do clarify for cooking at higher temps.

I'm currently using fitday to record everything. My doc is very much on the LC wagon as she really hates prescribing meds.

[Frank Hagan]

It sounds like you are doing great! Its amazing to see results so quickly. The improvement in colitis symptoms doesn't surprise me as I had a similar thing "fixed" right away.

I hit a fatigue wall about two weeks in, so be prepared for that. It only lasts a couple of days, but I was really tired, and I needed a lot of rest. Luckily, I had remembered that it was in PP, and looked it up. Hopefully by that time your fibromyalgia symptoms will be reduced significantly so you can take the rest!

[amdawson]

hey, keep us posted on fibromayalgia relief progress. we're all familiar with relief from GERD, improvement of lipids, etc...but relief from fibro is a new one to me. i know a couple of sufferers, so let us know if you continue to experience improvement or not. to me, it sounds a bit of a stretch, but who knows, maybe they are tied together.

[isisrose]

Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis related condition and the Eades discuss arthritis in relation to "leaky gut" from grains and so I don't think of this as a stretch at all. It could very well be from the fact that I am not eating any grains right now that I am experience less difficulty.

I am already experiencing much less pain and problems and look forward to the possibility of none!

[isisrose]

Just wanted to update that my fasting BS is now down to 130. YAY

[SandyHanson]

Just wanted to update that my fasting BS is now down to 130. YAY

Congrats on that, Isis. It took me way longer than that to get my blood sugar to reduce significantly, but it finally happened.

[isisrose]

Congrats on that, Isis. It took me way longer than that to get my blood sugar to reduce significantly, but it finally happened.

The important thing is that it happened! We all have different bodies. Also I started off with a fast and then continued to work out (walking) even when I didn't really want to. I think those were two huge contributing factors.

[isisrose]

Just wanted to give an update, I had been dealing with a few crisis situations in my life and haven't been around much. I did however stay true to plan even when tempted to eat things that weren't good. Stress did cause my blood sugar to make a small rise and eating the wrong things would have just added to that and so I managed not to. My BS is going back down again at a steady pace and is now pretty much in pre-diabetic range and stable (though still going down).

I have also added resistance to my work out, specifically The Slow Burn routine every 5 days. In between I do yoga which also works out to every 5 days. I did slow burn yesterday evening and will do Yoga on Tuesday. Thursday I will do slow burn again and yoga on Sunday etc.... I think this gives my muscles good strength training and stretching without over doing it and good rest periods in between. I still walk about 30 - 60 minutes a day at a leisurely pace (mostly during work to get to meetings and other buildings in the agency).

I just also want to say the Slow Burn is amazing!!!!!

[gitfiddle]

Just wanted to give an update, I had been dealing with a few crisis situations in my life and haven't been around much. I did however stay true to plan even when tempted to eat things that weren't good. Stress did cause my blood sugar to make a small rise and eating the wrong things would have just added to that and so I managed not to. My BS is going back down again at a steady pace and is now pretty much in pre-diabetic range and stable (though still going down).That is terrific news, Rose. I have also experienced stress being a factor in raising fbs from time to time. I'm glad you're back on an even keel.

I have also added resistance to my work out, specifically The Slow Burn routine every 5 days. In between I do yoga which also works out to every 5 days. I did slow burn yesterday evening and will do Yoga on Tuesday. Thursday I will do slow burn again and yoga on Sunday etc.... I think this gives my muscles good strength training and stretching without over doing it and good rest periods in between. I still walk about 30 - 60 minutes a day at a leisurely pace (mostly during work to get to meetings and other buildings in the agency).Wow! Are you sleeping better, too?

[isisrose]

That is terrific news, Rose. I have also experienced stress being a factor in raising fbs from time to time. I'm glad you're back on an even keel.

Wow! Are you sleeping better, too?

Sleeping much better indeed, especially on the nights I did the slow burn--that is one heck of a work out!!!!