SLow starter newbie

[Sunny]

I joined the forum in May but have had some challenges with Atrial -fib and forgot all about joining!!! ;)
I've been doing lo-carb ala P.P. for about 7 years now; lost 60 # and have kept it off since then. However, trying to drop another 10# but it's not happening.... cut way down on the nuts and peanut butter with no difference. I am diabetic (controlled thru diet) my A1C is 5.6 and also have celiac ( allergic to wheat/gluten) so cheating is not an issue. Triglycerides are 86. Recently enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and only ate eggs, a little cheese, meat, fish, veggies, and some fresh fruit.... thought i would lose some weight but no luck. ( MY friends all gained 5 - 10 # with all the treats served every day.)
I'm a pretty young looking/feeling 70 year old so I know my metabolism isn't what it was even 10 years ago.
i've pre-ordered Dr. Mike's new book to see if that will help.

I'm also thinking of doing an all meat diet to see if that would maybe shock my system into losing ; has anyone done that and have any tips?

[PAD]

I have eaten mostly fatty hamburg, some steaks, ham and chicken since October 2008. I do drink some wine and eat some peanuts for less than 20 carbs a day and lost 20 pounds to goal. Then over did the nuts and gained 10 and am now trying eating my meat etc. in a 4 hour eating window every day. Have lost 2 of the 10. I recently started to take a multi vitamin and vitamin D too. I am 62 years old. I would love to lose a roll of fat around my waist!

[Frank Hagan]

I joined the forum in May but have had some challenges with Atrial -fib and forgot all about joining!!! ;)
I've been doing lo-carb ala P.P. for about 7 years now; lost 60 # and have kept it off since then. However, trying to drop another 10# but it's not happening.... cut way down on the nuts and peanut butter with no difference. I am diabetic (controlled thru diet) my A1C is 5.6 and also have celiac ( allergic to wheat/gluten) so cheating is not an issue. Triglycerides are 86. Recently enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and only ate eggs, a little cheese, meat, fish, veggies, and some fresh fruit.... thought i would lose some weight but no luck. ( MY friends all gained 5 - 10 # with all the treats served every day.)
I'm a pretty young looking/feeling 70 year old so I know my metabolism isn't what it was even 10 years ago.
i've pre-ordered Dr. Mike's new book to see if that will help.

I'm also thinking of doing an all meat diet to see if that would maybe shock my system into losing ; has anyone done that and have any tips?

Congratulations on keeping the weight off for so long! You really have conquered the way of eating, and that serves as encouragement for us newbies.

We're cruising again this coming year, so I'm glad to hear you were able to stay on plan. I actually didn't think it would be a problem because the cruise lines are so accommodating, and I'm not really tempted by the "buffet" style food (much prefer the dining room!)

With atrial fib you might want to check with your cardiologist before cutting out all carbs. There's a warning about "abnormal heart rhythms" in the inside of the front of PP. I'm not positive, but I think the problem can be that the diuretic effect of dropping carbs can lead to chemical imbalances with either potassium or magnesium that might lead to problems.

[gitfiddle]

Sunny, do you do any form of exercise with your condition? I think you're on the right track by looking around for ways to mix up your routine. Not gaining on a cruise is reason to celebrate!

On my vacation, I stopped the resistance exercise for ten days, but walked a lot. I'm not sure that was the reason my stall broke, because I probably ate less too. At any rate, I lost ten pounds since July after a long, long wait.

I'm glad you joined us and I hope we can help you with ideas. If your doctor supports low-carb, you might ask about the all-protein diet. I know people have had success with that, but the average doctor would probably turn pale and back away. ;)

[Sunny]

Hi Pad... than for the details on your all meat plan; so.... no cottage cheese, cheese, or 1/2 & 1/2 in your coffee? Gulp.... but if that's what it takes to get the ball rollng.....

Thanks for the tips, Frank.... I have been on low carb since before all the heart stuff happened.... tachycardia, followed by advanced heart failure, and now a-fib; so this is not a shock to my body. I drink "smart Water" which is plain water with added electrolytes & that seems to keep the potassium & magnesium levels normal. The cruise ship chefs (thru the waiters) would alert me which meals were not appropriate for me.... they were great.

Well, Gitfiddle... my exercise is sporadic due to heart failure... when I am strong, I walk; when puny, I stretch. Gary Taubes book says that research doesn't really bear out the idea that exercise helps weight loss, but it seems to help a lot of folks when they stall. We are thinking about getting a recumbent exercise bike so as to ease pressure on knees and feet when walking. My docs try & discourage me about my diet, but they can't argue the numbers , so they have said...." whatever.." I think they are intrigued by my A1C and tryclyceride numbers, but say I must be an exception to the average patient. I'm not intimidated by them anymore, espec. with the back-up of Dr. Eades blogs, books, etc.:cool: Let them turn pale and walk away!!!

[gitfiddle]

Hi Pad... than for the details on your all meat plan; so.... no cottage cheese, cheese, or 1/2 & 1/2 in your coffee? Gulp.... but if that's what it takes to get the ball rollng..... It might, if you're sensitive to dairy. Some folks are. It's not necessarily a life sentence, but I understand it will be a sacrifice. Actually, it's one that I'm not willing to make either. :rolleyes:

The cruise ship chefs (thru the waiters) would alert me which meals were not appropriate for me.... they were great.
That is so cool!
My docs try & discourage me about my diet, but they can't argue the numbers , so they have said...." whatever.." I think they are intrigued by my A1C and tryclyceride numbers, but say I must be an exception to the average patient. I'm not intimidated by them anymore, espec. with the back-up of Dr. Eades blogs, books, etc.:cool: Let them turn pale and walk away!!!My sentiments exactly! My chubby doc never picked on me for being heavy, he'd just tell me to let him know if I ever found a way to manage it. He's delighted with my A1c and my weight, so only pesters me about statins periodically. My answer is always NO. ;)

[Sunny]

So your doc pesters you also about statins, huh? my endocrinologist got so upset with me she fired me!! I told her the statins had given me arm pain and so I stopped and every apt. she would argue with me over my pain level!! Finally she said I needed to find a new doc as it was making her "too nervous" that I wasn't drug compliant and wouldn't take either the statins or the metformin ( I was concerned with the package insert info and impact on my heart).... how is your diabetes on PP?

[MichelleAkers]

So your doc pesters you also about statins, huh? my endocrinologist got so upset with me she fired me!!

Okay, you've got me curious -- as you've been on LC for 7 years now, what are your lipid panel numbers that had the endocrinologist brandishing statins? (And I assume you already know about the low triglycerides making the calculated LDL unreliable.)

-- Michelle

[Sunny]

Hi Michelle.... my numbers were: HDL 85 and LDL 216....
this reflects a time of trying to see if I could get away with Mexican food once in a week and more fruit than I usually eat!!!
and no, did not know about the low triglycerides making the calculated LDL unreliable.... please tell me more!!!!

I didn't think 216 was all that bad considering what I've read about the dangers of too low a cholesterol number.....

[gitfiddle]

So your doc pesters you also about statins, huh? my endocrinologist got so upset with me she fired me!! I told her the statins had given me arm pain and so I stopped and every apt. she would argue with me over my pain level!! Finally she said I needed to find a new doc as it was making her "too nervous" that I wasn't drug compliant and wouldn't take either the statins or the metformin ( I was concerned with the package insert info and impact on my heart).... how is your diabetes on PP?My diabetes does very well on PP. My A1c is 5.6 to 5.9 and I'm working to lower it more.

Dr. Mike explained in Protein Power that lowering insulin with diet performs the same way as a statin drug, but without the terrible side effects and the considerable expense. Read the chapter entitled "Cholesterol Madness".

[Frank Hagan]

Hi Michelle.... my numbers were: HDL 85 and LDL 216....
this reflects a time of trying to see if I could get away with Mexican food once in a week and more fruit than I usually eat!!!
and no, did not know about the low triglycerides making the calculated LDL unreliable.... please tell me more!!!!

I didn't think 216 was all that bad considering what I've read about the dangers of too low a cholesterol number.....

Doctors will sometimes advise statins to lower the LDL to 130 (the dietary guidelines recommend at or below that level). But the formula for calculating LDL is almost always to take the triglycerides and divide by 5. Deduct that number and deduct the HDL number from your total cholesterol and the result is the calculated LDL number.

The problem is that a very high or very low triglyceride number skews the calculation a lot, so if you reduce triglycerides to under 100, the LDL number can be off. Not only that, but the type of LDL you have is important, with one type being non-harmful (and maybe beneficial) and the other being bad ... and LCers usually have the non-harmful kind.

Dr. Eades has a blog post on it at this link (http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/weight-loss/low-carbohydrate-diets-increase-ldl-debunking-the-myth/), and I have one here (http://www.lowcarbage.com/?cat=18). Both have some links to studies in journals that you doctor would probably appreciate.

[Sunny]

WAHOOOO!!!!! :D thanx so much Frank for this info!! I did the calculations and my LDL is 95!!!! My next test should show even more improvement!!
Thanx also for the links to Dr.Eades blog post on the subject and also yours.
I am much encouraged.... I am so glad to have joined this community and to be learning even more info.....

[Sunny]

Hey there, gitfiddle.... I read PP a while back and need to read the newest version..... I remember the cholesterol madness vaguely but not these details so appreciate the reminder. I loved Gary Taubes comments also about the subject and gained even more confidence that I am on the right path; bmy adult kids are vegan/raw foodies and have been concerned about my choices as they don't make "sense" to them as they believe the low fat myths..... but thye are open to the info I funnel their way which I just finished doing with Frank's post and my adjusted LDL number.... love this board!!!!;)

[gitfiddle]

Sunny, I re-read certain parts of the books periodically because I usually get a different perspective on it. It's always worth it.

[Sunny]

Yup!! that IS a good idea.... my book is missing.... hmmm... loaned to a friend, but which one? ah well, library has it and I'll scan it while I a:)m eagerly awaiting the new one about whittling down the middle , which I pre-ordered and expect mid- Sept. (hopefully!)