Help from my extended family

[angels8]

Ok, I know i should have done this earlier and I can't keep sweeping it under the carpet. I was diagnosed with insulin reisistance 3 years ago and my weight is spiraling out of control. I have NO idea what to do. Now my best friends wedding is in september and my Dr. is also barking at me to drop 30lbs NOW.
He just says Diet and exercise. I do that. I am very active and I don't eat very much but i keep getting bigger.

I am 5'0 and about 155. I know that is a average weight but I am very lightly framed. I was 100-115 until this insulin thing happened.

Do we have any dieticians or trainers in the house???

[crystalbbr]

No dietician or trainer here lol, but for starters...what type of exercise are you doing as far as your fitness program?

I'm sorry this is something you are having to deal with. Insulin-related problems aren't exactly easy to deal with and control.

[snipe]

well basically your doctor is right. put very simply to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you take in. but there are a huge amount of other things to take into consideration. what kind of foods you are eating, what kind of fat, how much protein and the list goes on and on. sticking with a diet is hard, but try to find some cook books to help make it tasty. lol im one to talk. right now i am eating a bag of candy. but then again i already ran today. i would also suggest getting a trainer and start doing some lifting. while muscle does weigh more than fat, it looks better.

[RealPitBull]

What sort of diet are you doing? It's not really about quantity, it's more about quality. Lots of whole grains, raw nuts, raw fruits and veggies, cut back (or eliminate) white flours and sugars. I also suggest adding a high quality green supplement, like spirulina.

I really don't believe in diets, because they are impossible to maintain. And then you end up gaining all the weight back when you come off them. It's all about lifestyle.

[angels8]

Well I have been busting my rump to try to start a meal plan that stick to low carbohydrates/startches and sugars and remains within 1200 cal range. It is just really really really hard when you were raised in an italian household with puerto rican undertones. The food is fab but there is ALOT of frying/breading and PASTA everywhere!! My boyfriend who lives here and cooks 1/2 the time but was raised in a similar style home, Everything is pasta. So breaking that feels insurmountable.
I cannot do anything with a false sugar in it because I have a nasty sensitivity to it and it will cause seizures that mimic epileptic ones. - I am seriously hating genetics at the moment. *Probably TMI* This all stems from PCOS and my Dr is certain if we work on me having a baby then I will return to normal after. Ugghhh I need a new Dr.


Thanks guys for listening to me yelp over here. The information you have given me is awesome.

[RealPitBull]

I know all about the "pasta problem"! I was also raised in an Italian household. Pasta remains my biggest weakness (I could seriously live on it - nothing else, just give me a variety of pasta dishes and I am *good to go*!

What do you mean by "false sugars"? Do you mean artificial sweetners? Those things are DEADLY!!! I stay away from those 100%.

Don't wanna sound pushy or whatever, but seriously, get past that 'carbs are bad' thing! Complex carbs are GOOD for you; pick things with LOTS of fiber. There are so many really good whole/multi-grain pastas on the market. Bella Terra pasta is made with 8 grains and is delish! Also try whole grain breads like Ezekial and French Meadow.

[angels8]

Hmm I will have to look into that. I am not a carbs are bad person, but with the whole diabetic thing starchy carbs are bad (those darn pastas LOL) Hey maybe we should swap receipes sometime. I have a really really good veg lasagna!!!

[RealPitBull]

Well, look into some of that pasta. What about brown rice? There is a good rice pasta by a company called Tinkyada. It cooks up really nice (except for the spaghetti, which for some reason magically comes out mushy and hard at the same time, no matter how I cook it.)

I would love your veg lasagna recipe! But I have to admit, I am not much of a cook or recipe hound (although I want to be!) which is another reason why I make a lot of pasta - it's so easy! LOL

[angels8]

I am not much of a cook either, but it is easy. Do you like eggplant?

[RealPitBull]

Mar 11, 2009 10:19:10 GMT -5 angels8 said:

I am not much of a cook either, but it is easy. Do you like eggplant?

Yes, I like eggplant too. Oh, how I miss my gramma's eggplant parm. *sigh*

[maryellen]

have you had your thyroid checked too? cut out ALL carbs...NO pasta... only have brown rice. NO yellow corn.. green veggies are great to have... tons of water good to have. NO soda, not even diet... non dairy creamer in coffee, it has 0 stuff across the board.. walk walk walk fast.. then jog, then walk, then jog then walk. try to do at least 2 miles a day.. get an epileptical machine, they are awesome for toning and helping lose weight.. i walk 3 miles a day normally with a girl at work on breaks and lunch, i cut out all red meat, all pasta (only once a month i eat it) no potatos of any kind, no white rice, no yellow veggies or carrots, only green veggies, i eat a ton of chicken,pork, fish , turkey and i either grill or bake everything. i use NO oils, no salt, and i lost 10 lbs so far... i have 50 more to go.. eat small meals a day, not 3 large ones.. dont eat after 7pm. if you are hungry eat pretzels.. they are fat free . so is plain popcorn...

[angels8]

Ohhhhh Thank you ME!!!!! I bake or pan sear everything. I am required to drink 1 soda in the AM and no more. This whole insulin resistance thing is screwy, So I am constantly Hypoglycemic. I can't do diet anything due to the phenylenaline so no worries on the diet front. No coffee - I love it but it jitters me. I never thought about my thyroid, I will have that looked at.

I am trying for a better understanding.... so the no potato/white rice/yellow veggies thing, what is that about?

[tank]

I agree with everything Mary said. Whole grains all the way. Whole grain pasta, brown rice, whole grain bread. (and go vegan) okay, okay, I know that isn't logical for everyone. But, I do know that adding healthier fats in your diet helps you lose weight. Try to find raw milk, coconut oil, whole butter (not margarine) I don't know if you drink, but cut down on beer. Try drinking green smoothies for breakfast instead of your normal foods, and if you don't eat breakfast, start. I know sweet potatoes are a really good high calorie (gets you full) healthy non fat food.
I am not a dietitian, but I have been vegan for 10 years and am a health nut and talk to dietitians all the time (both vegetarian and omnivore.)

[angels8]

I am hard core carnivore, just in small amounts - I would rather have quality over quantity. hmmm, I am not sure if I could honestly do that Tank, Everything that is in your post (no offense please) is going the opposite of what I need to start doing. I can't do Whole milk/ raw milk and butter because I am a high risk for heart disease genetically and more so with the onset of the insulin issues. I am thinking that I need to go back to Atlanta to get back with my old Dr who handled these issues better than the current one is. Dr McDaniel was awesome and he wasconstantly monitoring my sugars and adjusting this new guy here in Texas just wants to see me once every 6 months. Ughhh So frustrating.

[tank]

Oh, no offense taken. I personally think milk is disgusting, but everything that I have read from dietitians say to eat that stuff to help your body loose weight. I don't follow that at all. I just eat whole grains, no white sugar/flour etc and beans and vegetables, but then again, I am not trying to loose weight. I just like to eat as healthy as I can.


P.S. I highly doubt that you are a carnivore.

[RealPitBull]

Just throwing this out there, although I understand it's not for everyone - I'm not vegan, although I will choose vegan foods over anything with animal products if possible. I very rarely eat dairy, and think mostly humans shouldn't drink the milk from animals that is meant only for their young (health reasons!). I'm reading a book right now called Skinny Bitch. It's kind of a tough love, pro-vegan book but I think it's got a lot of valuable info in it and stuff to consider as far as what you should and shouldn't put into your body and how you cannot rely on the FDA and USDA to do the right thing. Even if you have no intention of going vegan or even vegetarian, it's got some good tips and tricks in it.

[maryellen]

yellow veggies like corn have alot of sugar and fat in them, if you go to the dr and get a pamplet on eating for high cholesterol it shows what is good food that is low in fat and low in sugar, thats what i follow. dark green stuff is good, light colored stuff isnt, like carrots and corn.. white potatos has alot of starch which turns into sugar when your body processes it, like pasta and white rice...

i dont use butter at all, i use either organic coconut oil or canola oil to cook and i even try to stay away from those as well.

certain fruits too while are natural sugar are still sugar, so you have to watch that too..

instead of eating 3 meals a day, have a half breakfast, then walk briskly for some exercise, then have a snack of like cheese or fruit or nuts, then walk before lunch, then half of lunch, then a snack again, then walk, then half of dinner, then walk again, then have a snack at 7 to fill you up then walk again... you lose more weight on 6 small meals a day then 3..

[tank]

I have read skinny bitch. I think that it is a great book (and funny) about eating right whether or not you want to stop eating meat etc.

[RealPitBull]

I use coconut oil, too. It's really great for cooking! And I couldn't agree more with ME's advice to eat 6 small meals a day. REALLY makes a big difference. I have a habit of not eating all day and then eating a big dinner - bad, bad, bad. I end up ingesting LESS calories when I make sure I have 3 smaller main meals, plus a couple very small or snack-like meals in between the main meals.

[angels8]

ok , I gave it a whirl today, I only made it to 4 small meals.