High protein, low carb diet?

[Katybarstool]

Hi Guys

After several years of tough health and lots of medication, I now have a body mass index of 29, so desperately need to lose weight. I felt particularly fat and flabby on our recent trip to Paris, where the ladies were very glamorous and svelte.  So, now I need to decide whether to try a slimming club or to try and shift some of my blubber myself. Someone mentioned a high protein,low carb diet and I wondered if any of you wonderful people had experienced this.

I love most fruit and veg, but cannot eat lentils, beans or other similar things.  I eat meat and most fish. I have IBS and too much fibre cripples me. I also can do some stretching exercises and walk in my lunch time, but cannot swim due to chlorine/chemical sensitivities. I have arthritis in knees, hips hands and feet. I love bread.

I tried joining Tesco ediets, but they wouldn't let me, as I ticked a box to say I have IBS, can you believe that?

Any ideas/comments/suggestions from you wonderful people would be great.

Kathyx

[Linda196]

Hi Kathy, I think you'll find a lot of people with your same concerns, and we do have a thread about weight control at https://sjogrensworld.org/index.php?topic=5230.0

Naturally not all weight concerns are covered, and no specific diets have been discussed yet. The low carb diet has been around for a while, and many people have had good luck with it on the short term. Most nutritionists now say that long term lack of carbs and increase of protein can cause kidney issues, and my thoughts are that when one has an autoimmune disease that may affect the kidneys, it's best not to do anything to "rock the boat". A nutritionally safer approach seems to be reducing carbs somewhat, but using more complex ones ...I realize that the way your IBS presents makes that difficult if not impossible. When I was first diagnosed with IBS, I started "ramping up" my fiber...very slowly increasing the amount I could tolerate, so that now I am very comfortable with a high fiber diet, because at the time of diagnosis, one slice of granary bread or one apple left me in misery. I was checked for any gluten resistance, or any physical bowel problems, and it all came down to irritation.

I have had success (in the past, because right now I'm being very ineffective in the weight area) with a site called Spark People. You can search it out and it will give you a great resource...menu plans, recipes, support, inspiration...and its FREE! One of my favorite parts is that you can use it's sister site to put in a recipe of your own, and it will calculate the nutritional data of a serving.

[Katybarstool]

Hi LInda

Thank you very much for that information. I have been on the Spark website and joined.  I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information there, so I will have to digest it a bit at a time .  However, I'm sure it will help.

In the meantime, I'm going to join our own link for weightloss, as it seems more comfortable to be amongst friends who understand how trying it is to get fit with Sjs.

You are a true hero with all the fantastic advice you offer.

Kathyx 

[Katybarstool]

Hi Carol

Thank you very much for that information.  I had my suspicions that this diet was too good to be true. A few years ago I had an ultrasound because of bowel problems - subsequently diagnosed as IBS. At the ultrasound the technician mentioned something about one of my kidneys but never charted the information, so no one believed when I mentioned this. Anyway, although I have an irritable bladder, I don't have any kidney problems - and I'd like to stay that way.  I think I need top go on a common sense diet and try to exercise a bit more.

Kathyx

[JannaLee]

I'm thinking of you and sending you good "diet" vibes.

For some crazy reason I'm kinda skinny right now.  (probably jinx myself by bragging about this) 

I've been trying to walk at least 3 times a week and I always do it on an empty stomach....well a stomach full of only coffee.  Then I eat about mid morning and one other meal in the late afternoon.  I've been eating yogurt, fruit and granola for the first meal (careful with the granola if it would hurt your tummy) and then anything I want, but small portions, in the afternoon.

[Marymum23]

I did the "adkins" low carb/high protien diet for 1 year and lost 70 lb.  However, this was pre-diagnosis and I really did not feel well enough to exercize.  I lost a bit of muscle mass also.  Unfortunately, I did regain the weight...a combo of factors which included Predinsone, going off the diet altogether and not feeling good.  I am one to self-medicate with food.

Now I am doing water aerobics 3-4 times a week for the last 5 weeks.  This is the first regular exercise I have had in about 15 years.  I feel pain free enough to exercise for the first time in years.  , the more I work out, the less pain I have.  The water is a very forgiving place for my very large and out of shape body to move around.  Although at first I did have quite a few kinks to work out.  A hidden benefit for me is that once in the water, my body is rather well camouflaged. 

good luck with everything,

Mary in LA

[Katybarstool]

Mary, well done on the aquacizes. I would love to swim, but I have bad reactions to the chemicals in the water.

I have tried eating more complex carbs this week - and a little more fruit, but the IBS doesn't like it at all  . I have decided to have more protein and carbs today, to let my tummy settle down again.

Good luck with the fitness regime.

Kathyx

[Rania]

I follow a diet (at least try to  ) wich contains low glycemic food. That is food that make the bloodsugar raise very slowly. Each type of food, has a certain effect on the bloodsugar. Sugar make a quick and spiky rise in the bloodsugar. Vegetables among other doesn't do that. I eat a special bread, made by types of grain that make the bloodsugar stabile.
Following this diet make me loose weight around the waist, and it doesn't make me lack any vitamins or minerals.

I eat food with a low glycemic index and try my best to avoid the other stuff.

Rania 

Some links:

http://www.glycemicindex.com/

http://www.lowglycemicdiet.com/gifoodlist.html

http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/glycemicfoodchart.htm

[Katybarstool]

Hi Rania

Thank you for that information. My biggest problem is that wholegrains really mess with my bowel, so even though I love them, I have to settle for no bread, or just eat white bread. I also adore most fruit and veg, but have to ration it, otherwise I would spend my life in tha bathroom. ONe thing that I could cut down on, is eating the sweeties I buy for my grandchildren. I just cannot resist them, so must try harder.

Kathyx 

[JannaLee]

Me too on the sweets!

If only broccoli tasted like chocolate pie!

[Katybarstool]

Jannalee

HOw about an experiment? Maybe we could coat the brocolli with chocolate and see how it tastes?

Happy munching

Kathyx

[JannaLee]

I'm up for it if you are Kat!

[Joe S.]

I prefer brocolli covered in cheese.

[salsen]

Kathy if swimming is not an option - try biking.  I have an inside exercise bike that I try to get on for 30 minutes, three times a week.  Bikes are great exercise and do not have impact on the knees.  Ellipticals are suppose to be low impact too but I am passing mine on to my daughter as it causes me too much knee stress (both have been replaced).  They are now saying if you can't exercise for a long stretch two or three 10 minute sessions a day have the same effect. 

Linda's eating advise is right on.  My husband, who is diabetic, has been given the same advice.  Some carb but more complex.  I can't tolerate dark wheat bread but can handle the lighter honey wheat.  Oatmeal causes problems but I can tolerate small doses such as in trailmix.  Do a little testing.  You may be able to handle somethings in small doses.

The biggest no no's are all those great white items  -  rice, potatoes, bread!  All the things that south Louisiana is known for  -  I was defiantly born in the wrong state.  The website mentioned is great!  Offers  a lot of good info. 

Good Luck!

[Katybarstool]

Hi Joe

Maybe you could have it covered in cheese, then chocolate - yum yum!

Kathyx