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Re: LOW SUGAR/CARB DIET
From: Sandy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 7 Feb 2003 10:36:13 -0600 (CST)
At Thu, 6 Feb 2003, anonymous wrote:
>
>At Wed, 13 Sep 2000, Ruth wrote:
>>
>>CAN ANYONE TELL ME OF ANY GOOD DIETS - TRIED EVERYTHING. I KEEP SEEING
>>PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT LOW SUGUAR OR CARB DIETS/AITKEN DIET BUT I HAVE
>>NEVER HEARD OF THEM.
>> COULD ANYONE GIVE ME SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THEM
>>I HAVE PCOS AND HAVE PUT ON WEIGHT SO QUICKLY AND GETTING V. FED UP
>>ABOUT IT.
>>
>>--
>>RUTH SPILLER
>>
>Ruth,
About a year ago I was diagnosed with PCOS. I hadn't had my period for
over two years. I am 30 years old and haven't had any children but
would like to have children. I went to two different Endocronologists
that basically told me the same thing. PCOS is related to insulin
resistance which can cause weigh gain. Over the last few years I put on
over 50 lbs. I gained most of the weight in my waist area. Which I am
told is common. The first doctor I went to put me on Glucophage (sp?).
I really didn't like the way it may me feel but I was told that it would
help me loose weight. So I tried it for a couple months and finally
gave up. Then I went to the second doctor and he basically told me to
lose weight and that would help the PCOS. Well, after months of
frustration I got on the Atkins Diet website. Type in Atkins as the
search keyword. My husband and I decided that we would start low-carb
dieting. (It helps to have some support and you're less likely to
cheat). We gave ourselves a start date. I made sure that the "bad"
foods were out of the house and bought the staples to start the diet. I
don't keep anything in the house that is not allowed on the diet. I
have been doing a somewhat modified version of Atkins. I don't like all
the "fat". And we eat lots of fresh fruits, vegs, nuts. I feel it's
better to lose the weight steadily and learn a way of eating that is for
life then to "crash" diet. Over the last two months (even with the
holidays) I have lost 22 lbs. I am starting to get my hour-glass figure
back again :). I had to go by new clothes. My husband has also lost
about 20 lbs. and he's not even insulin resistant. We basically have
cut-out any "refined" products. NO SUGAR. I've been using Splenda
brand sweetener (sold in Stop and Shop - in a yellow box). This tastes
wonderful. I personally hate Equal, Sweet and Low, etc. You can also
bake with Splenda. Initially, (for the first month)we did not eat any
bread and still are very restricted on what we have. A slice of "bran"
bread once in awhile. We still are not eating potatoes, rice, High-carb
vegs, etc. We haven't really missed these foods though. I still make a
nice dinner and instead of a side-dish we have extra vegs. We love
broccolli. I was also a soda drinker. I stopped drinking soda unless
it's diet. I've been drinking lots of water. Fruit 2 O (sweetended
with splenda and flavored) is very good. I have found there are lots of
soy products (chips, cookies, etc.) that are very good. Most of these
items are very expensive. I have found a few recipes that are good to
make at home if we want a special treat. Also, there are online stores
that sell only low-carb products and websites that have low-carb
recipes. I type in keyword "low-carb recipes" and all sorts of things
come up. If you type in http://www.pcos.com this website talks about low-carb
diets and PCOS. Sorry, I'm being so long winded but I would recommend
trying this way of eating. I am very pleased with the results.
Initially, you may not like the taste of some of the products but they
do begin to taste better. And remember, it doesn't hurt to pamper
yourself once in awhile. Although, the side effects (bloating, etc.)of
eating the high-carb products may not be worth it. You feel so much
better when on the diet. We go out to eat alot and most restaurants
will prepare something special or I just ask them not to include the
potatoe/side dish. I usually get extra vegs. which are usually very
good anyway. Please let me know if you would like any further advise.
Good luck.
Sandy
>
Ruth,
>
>I have no idea what PCOS is, but I have sucessfully incorporated the
>Aitken's diet into my lifestyle with good results. There is a book on
>it in paper-back form that you should purchase that will explain things
>and how to do the whole bit safely. It might be at your library.
>
>Basically, if I get a bit heavy I go onto it and knock off 30 pounds
>over two weeks.
>
>Women seem to do about 1/2 of that. My wife is a happy user of the plan
>and feels at her best when on it. When we vacation, travel, or do
>family events, we go off the diet for a day or two with no adverse
>effects. Sometimes (like Christmas time) we are off it for way too long
>and our scale tells us about it.
>
>Lately we have gotten defensive and gone on the diet in October and been
>ready for the holidays by pre-losing weight. The result, a guiltless
>and no weight gain holiday season because we lost 20 pounds before the
>eating began. Nothing to lose afterwards. But we always return to low
>carb diet for stomach comfort reasons.
>
>It's hard to stay on Aitkens but after two weeks I then graduate to "The
>Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" by the Doctors Heller (also available in
>paper-back). That keeps me going awhile longer. Now about 45 pounds
>under where I started, I cheat a bit. When the holidays do me in, it's
>back to Aitkens Diet for an overhaul and then back to "The Carbohydrate
>Addicts Diet," for maintenance. A bit yo-yo dieting I guess but in the
>aggregate it's okay.
>
>So, if I am tempted by a piece of cheesecake I have it provided that it
>has graham cracker and butter base (my favorite). I am a bread junkie
>and that is the hardest part for me. I never met a piece of bread that
>I didn't like unless it was stale. What's worse, I love to bake bread
>and rolls.
>
>I notice that each time I go back onto Aitkens it's with lower fat
>content by my own choice. I have a preference for the salads and the
>soups and the flavor combinations that make up this diet but not
>necessarily all of the fat content.
>
>That makes it even better. On the Aitken's Diet I always experience
>less stomach problems. "The digester is happier," so to speak.
>
>Why not? All the stuff that causes fermentation is dampened down
>radically in the Aitkens Diet. no sugar, no carbs, no yeast. So what's
>to start boiling down there anyhow?
>
>Tonight I had a salad with chopped ham, light mayo, and pickles, with
>Western Dressing and sliced cukes. For the main course I had a ham and
>shrimp stew with garlic, tomato, chopped celery and carrots. Diet jello
>with whipped topping and a glass of Rose wine finished the meal. I feel
>full. This will carry me to breakfast when I'll have two eggs and a
>couple of pieces of Canadian Bacon. I'll also have about 4 oz of OJ and
>mix it together with a can of Diet 7 Up, plus I'll have a cup of black
>coffee about ten am. This is more of a maintenance meal on Aitken's.
>The first two weeks of Aitkens, "induction," is a no carbs experience.
>It can be done okay but it feels wierd at first. You are not hungry and
>your blood sugar is stable.
>
>Many need a full lunch, I did at first, but now I just opt for a cup of
>low fat, low sodium chicken stock and an orange for lunch (again, this
>is maintenance). I might add a couple of low sodium Ritz crackers with
>peanut butter too. I don't know where the low sodium is coming from but
>you sense a lot of salt in your foods when you go on this diet and I
>felt a need to cut back on salt after awhile.
>
>My docs are thrilled with all of the cholestoral and LDL and
>Trigliceride and blood pressure numbers. When I am on that diet the
>bottom falls out of the numbers. They say: "I don't know what your
>doing - but keep it up."
>
>So, get the books, consult with your doc, (especially where PCOS is
>concerned whatever that is), and go at it evenly and without a
>compulsive attitude. You are in control of your fork and knife and your
>life. Enjoy the results. Become a creative cook too and see what new
>flavor sensations you can invent. I've become a great cook since I
>started on this diet.
>
>My wife prefers for me to be the evening cook but she likes to get her
>own breakfast and lunch. We eat out often and we have learned how to do
>it wisely. The books address this subject. My grandchildren think I'm
>Emeril Lagasse. I think it's becasue I put a lot of emphasis on "style"
>when cooking for them. They are not used to the idea of an hors'derve
>time before the meal and dessert: "california style," while watching
>evening TV. To them it's quaint and they go along with it and indulge
>the "old folks."
>
>Basically we have the salad, meat, soup broth, and a glass of wine when
>we dine out. If we have a highball we have it with diet soda. I have
>even found lo-cal gin at the local liquor store. We skip dessert and we
>have no sugar (diet) jello or pudding served with whipped cream topping
>in front of our gas fireplace when we return home. This way we know for
>sure that it's been made "right."
>
>Maybe you have to cook for a crew. If this is true, then do not let the
>word "diet," exit your lips in public. If you must say that word, go
>outside and whisper it into the wind. Just start cooking and serving
>the new way and ask the crew to help you with their favorite flavor
>ideas. Put an emphasis on the "style" aspect of cooking and srving.
>Make sure the dishes and platter look really great. They will go along
>with it. If they crave junk food they can get it away from home anyhow.
>Not your problem then, it's theirs.
>
>Enjoy the weight loss and congratulate yourself that you have a plan
>that you can invoke after being "naughty." Life is good. Carbs are bad.
>
>Best Regards,
>Paul
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