ObesityHelp

DISCLAIMER: I am experimenting with low-carb, mid-protein, mid-fat ratios in eating.  I am not doing a zero carb diet.  I am experimenting with ketosis but more importantly, trying to balance my internal hormones, which i firmly believe have played a huge role in my ill health and fatness.  My focus right now is more on balanced eating and less on maintaining a ketogenic diet, although I probably still am.  If you are voraciously opposed to ketogenic diets or low-carb living, you are entitled to your opinion, but unless you have actual research evidence to support your views, please don't expect me to toss my own out the window.  I'm ALWAYS open to rational debate.

IMPORTANT: I DO NOT think low-carb eating is necessarilly good or right for everyone and I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR IT.  I do think that my health was better in the years i stayed away from sugar and flour, and i think i am carb-sensitive. Whether it's genetic or from years of yo-yo dieting is anyone's guess.  I'm posting what I learn, what I think, and what i experience for the benefit of others to learn, think, and make their own inquiries and decisions, if they are so inclined.

So:

My goal for myself is around 25-50 grams of carbs a day, but if i go over i don't freak.  My goal for my husband is around 100 both because he's a bigger person with a lot more muscle and because he has a very physical job.  Roughly 15 grams of carbs per meal for me, 15-30 for him. 

As we progress, depending on the results, i will adjust these amounts.  We are not controlling fat or protein consumed except to try to meet our minimum protein requirements and we are currently working on getting protein, carbs, and fats at every meal, never just one.  The only exception is my protein shake.

For those who may be interested, i'm going to write a little about my low-carb experiment to date, and i'm actually going to write a little about my DH, who is on board as he has a little extra weight around the middle he struggles with.

For the last week I replaced his usual bread with a low-carb equivalent, one of my few concessions to non-whole-foods (the other being splenda, for now).  I eliminated pasta for the week, which is very unusual for us, and replaced it with spaghetti squash.  I have been cooking a lot of protein and using a LOT of oils and fats in our diet, as well as a lot of non-starchy vegetables.  Whole food proteins have ranged from a roast chicken to beef tips to locally made italian sausages.  We have been using commercial spaghetti sauce (Ragu), which has a small to middlin amount of sugar in it, i didn't actually read the grams on the label.  He had a bagel one day for breakfast.  We switched to higher fiber, high-ish protein, mid-lowish carb cereals - he's taking special K high-protein to work, I'm eating an organic whole-grain twig-type cereal in small amounts a couple of times during the week.  Continuing to supplement protein as usual, for me about 1 scoop a day. He has Boars Head lunch meat for lunch, hoping to find a more chemical-free solution for him soon. 

We both have been taking probiotics every day.

So.  in a nutshell, i've lost 1.5 pounds in the 4 days since i last weighed.  He looks like he may have lost some weight.  He has, more importantly, had 1) much improved sleep - no more early morning wakenings 2) much reduced symptoms of IBS which plague him like hell.  (IBS for those who aren't familiar is Irritable Bowel Syndrome - he goes to the bathroom (poo) constantly, experiences cramps and intestinal upset)

Then, last night, after we both worked out, in a moment of weakness justified by a perceived need to carb-load, i chose to indulge us in a loaf of focaccio bread with dinner, followed up with some popcorn.  And, he forgot to take his probiotic. 

These were the results:

1) I was hungry ALL night, even though i'd eaten adequately and had relatively small amounts of bread and popcorn.  my sleep was very restless.

2) DH was up all night.  he woke up 3-4 times and got up at 5:30am (on a saturday).  His IBS has been killing him.

could it be a coincidence?  it certainly could.  however, considering that pasta and bread have been staples in our house up until this last week, and this last week was the FIRST time in many years DH has put together more than a day or two of good sleep and freedom from IBS, i'm inclined to think it is not. 

It is true that he also failed to take his probiotic and that might have caused or contributed to his problems also.  He was taking the probiotic the week before, however, and still suffered some of these symptoms, although his IBS had improved, his sleep had not.

MORE WILL BE REVEALED!  i will post an update on our situation when and if enough has developed to make it worthwhile.  i also plan to post a synopsis of my most recent read on Diana Schwarzbein's theories, she makes a reasonably compelling argument for the inclusion of carbs in the diet, but she does not cite or justify her assertions against ketosis and on reading the current clinical research I do not believe she relates correct information.  However her general philosphy of promoting physiogical balance is hard to dispute.  Anyway as they say about good intentions... we will see if i can get it together to do this.