Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
From: Avalos (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 20 Apr 2000 14:25:52 -0500
Amy:
I try to shoot for 60... BUT I don't sweat it too much... SERIOUSLY! I am a
disaster at that kind of thing.... I think of the menu/food for the day
before I start thinking carb numbers... then I plan it out as though it
would be a regular meal for non-low carbers, and I adjust things for me.
That way my husband/guests can eat with no pain! Most of my recipes have
been conducive to this, since the majority of the carbs always come from
sides like pasta, rice, potatoes, corn, peas... And the small amount of
flavorings that I use, like Thai curry paste or fish sauce, don't make much
of a difference in carbs when the meal is divided into portions. For me,
flavor and texture are making up for the lack of rice, etc.
What I generally do is eyeball my portions (I always serve portions that
permit me to see my plate in between, with no food close to the edges... oh
gosh, I sound neurotic! Actually, it's an old rule of my mother's that I
dug out of memory).... and one thing I CAN do is to keep track of the types
of foods/liquids that I am consuming.... otherwise, for me, it gets too
complicated, and that has always been my downfall with diets.... once you
stop measuring, poof! gain gain gain!
Also, keeping things general makes it easier for me when we go out to
eat.... I have less difficulty making menu choices or asking for
substitutions... So now, for example, I specifically ask that sides like
potatoes, carrots, corn, bread, pasta are left off of my plate and I ask for
beans or cauliflower or broccoli or even a small salad instead. Most food
establishments are very accommodating. I also am getting a kick out of my
husband's reaction to this... He gets a kick out of the left overs from my
plate that make their way to his stomach!
oh well. I don't know what will work for you. I've seen lots of people do
really well & be able to measure & add & stick to limits that way. Often I
wish I could! < sigh >
Clara
-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Crowe [mailto:anonymous@obgyn.net
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 3:04 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
Subject: Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
Neat Site, Clara - What amount of Carbs do you limit yourself to a day??
"Avalos, Clara" wrote:
> Amy:
>
> I read in a later post that your appointment went well.. I am truly glad
to
> know this!
>
> In answer to your question about sites, I found the info at
> http://www.ncenter.com/carbcharts... This one was the easiest for me, since it
> lists all kinds of foods, even prepared foods/meals...
>
> Let me know how it goes!
>
> Clara
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amy Crowe [mailto:amy.crowe@trism.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 10:07 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> Subject: Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
>
> Hi Clara - I have printed this message and I think I may go look for
> nutritional
> values as you did...Any sites that you know off hand???
>
> Anyway - My dr. apt is in an hour, so we will see I guess...
>
> "Avalos, Clara" wrote:
>
> > Hi Amy, how are you? I've been reading the posts sporadically this week
> > (work has suddenly become crazy); I thought I saw one from you regarding
a
> > doctor's appointment... Did you go? Any news?
> >
> > In answer to your question, yes, I have lost some weight... it's kind of
> > weird. I mean, it's not at all like losing weight with diet pills or on
> one
> > of those fad diets (I tried so many of them!). It's just a few pounds a
> > week (like two or three), but that is without any exercise at all. I'm
a
> > bit of a workaholic, and I have difficulty finding time to exercise...
> With
> > that said, I am also noticing that I am not as fatigued as I was before
> > taking the metformin. My body just feels "better"....
> >
> > The low carb diet really isn't hard to do. I am not actually following
any
> > one program, like Atkins or Zone or Sugar Busters. I just pulled down a
> > bunch of nutritional charts off the web where all sorts of foods are
> > classified by group/type, & listed with all their individual nutritional
> > values, picked the ones from each group that were the lowest in carbs,
and
> > ignored completely the high-carb groups, and decided that these foods
> would
> > be the staples of our diet. In addition to the meat/fish/chicken/eggs/
> that
> > I cook, I make rice or pasta or potatoes for my husband. I just don't
eat
> > them. For each meal I also prepare a dish of some kind of vegetables
that
> > are low in carbs, either raw or cooked. And I go nuts with the
> > seasonings/different cooking techniques/ethnic flavors... So one night
it
> is
> > Indian style meat with cauliflower, another night it is Thai curry
chicken
> > and green beans, another night it is Mexican chipotle grilled salmon
with
> > steamed swiss chard in lemon-garlic-olive oil sauce, another it is Greek
> > seasoned ground lamb burgers with green beans cooked with fresh tomato
and
> > olive oil.... I've always made these foods, I just always ate the
> > rice/pasta/potatoes or included high-carb veggies that I now skip.
> >
> > In addition to the above examples, I am eating moderate amounts of some
> > other veggies and a few fruits, to get my vitamins.... And I've actually
> > been drinking more water without even forcing myself to do so.. (I think
> > this might be metformin related, too, since I am noticing that my skin
has
> > gotten really dry and itchy since I started taking the metformin.... I
> > wonder if anyone can tell me if Metformin has a dehydrating effect.)
> >
> > Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed... And I am going to start
scaling
> > back at work so that I can make time to exercise again. I have a
feeling
> > that now that I am taking metformin, it will not be so hard to shed the
> > pounds.. I will definitely let you know how it goes!
> >
> > I've been reading your posts, and I know how you have been feeling,
> between
> > the weight & the other symptoms and how they affect your whole life...
> > Sometimes when I read your posts, it's as though you have written what I
> > think or feel.... You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Take
care!
> >
> > Clara
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Amy Crowe [mailto:amy.crowe@trism.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 9:19 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > Subject: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> >
> > Clara - Have you lost weight??
> >
> > "Avalos, Clara" wrote:
> >
> > > Cyrilla:
> > >
> > > I am low carbing, in addition to taking Met & Spironolactone, and
while
> > I'm
> > > not having problems with the low-carb style diet, the killer is always
> my
> > > crazy sweet tooth.... Especially for all things chocolate.
> > >
> > > I don't completely cut out chocolate... I would go crazy if I tried.
> So,
> > > instead of making sweets the spontaneous treat that they always used
to
> > be,
> > > now every other day I will have 1 small piece of chocolate candy after
> > > dinner. Since I am limited to this, I splurge and buy the "good
stuff"
> > > (Belgian chocolate or something equally scrumptious), and that makes
it
> > > worthwhile. Other times, when I am going nuts, I will make a cup of
> chai
> > > (that tea-like drink that they now sell at Starbuck's & coffee & tea
> shops
> > > everywhere). I sweeten it with Equal, and that does the trick...
> > >
> > > The key to my sweet intake is, whenever I know I am going to have
> > chocolate,
> > > I cut out some other food with higher carbs in it, to kind of balance
> > > things. It's not scientific by any means, but it seems to work well
for
> > me.
> > >
> > > Clara
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Cynthia Moller [mailto:cyrilla@ix.netcom.com]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 10:47 PM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > > Subject: Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> > >
> > > Darn, you mean its all those yummy carbs and not the hormones!!!
> > >
> > > What do people who are lo-carbing it do when they have a real strong
> sweet
> > > tooth?
> > >
> > > Thanks for sharing, its great to know that I have some support.
> > >
> > > Cyrilla
> > >
>> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Kathy <jkmaxson@noble.cioe.com>
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > > <pcos-medication@forum.obgyn.net>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 6:28 PM
> > > Subject: Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> > >
> > > > I was first diagnosed about 14 years ago, and was also told that it
> was
> > > > no big deal. The answer was BCP. I wanted to have a baby, so I was
> > > > given Provera and Clomid. I also have 2 "Clomid" babies that I
thank
> > > > God for everyday. Especially now since I know how PCOS affects
> > > > fertility! I went along with the "no big deal" theory for quite a
> while
> > > > until my GYN told me that it was not good for me to go without
> periods.
> > > > (I never have a period unless it is drug-induced.) Personally, I
never
> > > > thought it was a problem!! But, after he pointed out all of the bad
> > > > things that can happen, I decided to do something. He put me on
> Provera
> > > > for a period each month, and that was that. Once I got hooked up to
> the
> > > > internet, I did my own research, and I was so suprised to find out
> that
> > > > all of the other symptoms I had were related to my not having
periods!
> > > > My facial hair, my weight gain, my depression. The bad part is
> finding
> > > > all of this info., and not being able to find a doctor who
understands
> > > > any of it!
> > > >
> > > > I am going to see Dr. Glueck from the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati
> > > > next week, and I am really hopeful. He is a leader in the insulin
> > > > connection to PCOS, and I really hope that he can help. I know of
one
> > > > person who has seen him, and she told me that he was very
> understanding.
> > > > Right now I am on 1500mg of Met. per day, and I haven't had a
period
> > > > since February.
> > > >
> > > > About the anger - I do have some days when I can just fly into a
rage.
> > I
> > > > notice that it is usually after a binge of sugar or carbs. I really
> had
> > > > emotional ups and downs on Clomid.
> > > >
> > > > Glad to have you on board! Kathy
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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