Low Carb Lifestyle

[BigFloyd]

It's true that traditional medicine and nutritionists do recommend this low fat/low animal product approach.

but the research is proven, and shown that it is not the key to optimal health at all.

That old "food pyramid" and a sedentary lifestyle was a smooth pathway to adult-onset (type II) diabetes (aka, chronic insulin resistance), was it not?

It's hard to commit to a real lifestyle change, but that's what it takes. Changing eating habits (abandoning "junk" carbs and excess starches, eating more protein, healthy fats, veggies, etc) plus pursuing regular sustained (45min+) exercise 3-4 times a week is a tough go, but it really will reward you over time.

There's a book that I re-read every so often to remind myself (at 52) why I even bother trying to live healthy. If you're over 40, it's a must-read. It's well-written (and humorous) in a way that you won't want to put it down. http://www.amazon.com/Younger-Next-Year-Strong-Beyond/dp/076114773X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366338749&sr=8-1&keywords=younger+next+year. It has a pretty insightful chapter on alcohol consumption to boot.

There's no magic pill. Like Yooper said, you've got to gain knowledge and put it to use. One of the keys for me was finding a type of exercise I really enjoy (as I hate going to the gym). That used to be karate training and competing until my joints said no more. Now it's cycling. It takes several hours a week on either the road bike or mountain bike for me to maintain a healthy weight and get a good lab report at check-up time. I started off in 2004 (at 265lbs) doing 1-1/2 to 2 mile slow-pace rides around the neighborhood, slowly improving over months and years. Weather permitting, it's now 80-100 miles/week (at 225lbs) in club group rides. The current me could easily out-do the me of 10-15 years ago without really breathing hard.

I still enjoy 1-2 beers per day, usually spaced out in smaller (4-6oz) servings (a nice side benefit of kegging) to reduce the insulin over-reaction.

 

[Schemy]

I'm by no means going to use the eating lifestyle as the end all. In the past on a low fat/complex carbs diet I used to work out 1-1.5 hours daily, and it did nothing. I was always hungry, and I ate accordingly. I'm formulating some workout plans based on suggestions by my doctor.

This will be a complete lifestye change. I have done my research, I wanted opinions here because of our shared hobby. I have to tackle my weight issues in my own method. All the research makes sense to me, and I am going to go after it.

I appreciate all the healthy debate here, it was good to read the varying opinions and know it was all in the best interest of the questions posed.

 

[DougK]

I will bow out of this discussion as of now, as due to being a moderator of this forum I don't want to overstep my bounds with off-topic discussion about this. I will just say that everyone should do their own research.

Please don't. Your contributions thus far have been enlightening.

 

[ShootsNRoots]

Here's some factual, good information on the low carb diets:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet

More research is necessary, but pointing people to marketing gigs and websites selling fools gold poised with the knowledge of ones own trial and error does little to inform and increase awareness of these types of diets.

 

[norsk]

And that is exactly where we totally disagree. Added fats and oils are good, and natural- not those "transfats" and industrial seed oils- but natural fats like tallow are very good for you.

It's true that traditional medicine and nutritionists do recommend this low fat/low animal product approach.

Actually... I am aware of few "traditional medicine and nutritionists " who advocate the starch centered, no animal products, no added fats and oils way of eating... though as the facts and studies come in, more are jumping on board. Eat as you wish... probably a good idea to do all the research and make an informative determination...

I've had several patients scheduled for various heart surgeries and numerous Type 2 diabetics stop taking meds and reversing their troubles within weeks of following the above WOE. And by the research, they are not alone....

Bad for me as we have several hundred olive trees that we used to process for oil. Can't make money off of something that is harmful so now we use it to make lotions and soaps instead...

 

[Schemy]

Update: So I went back to my doctor today for a 3 mo follow up. I am down 16 lbs (probably closer to 20 as I weighed with my shoes on this time) since this initial thread was started.

I am following Paleo/Slow Carb/Low Carb about 75-80% of the time. I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel. Now I need to start pushing it at the gym. I am hoping to drop another 30 by my next follow up in October.

Thanks all for the advice and support.

 

[bumstigedy]

I'm paleo too. Beer is my only cheat. I have been using clarity ferm lately as we'll to cut down on the gluten. I started low carb, but upping my carb intake as I workout hard just about every day.