Need diet advice??? Atkins style v. low calorie- have high blood sugars?
Question : Need diet advice??? Atkins style v. low calorie- have high blood sugars?
Howdy… i’m really wanting to get some opinions on what idea is better to lose about 30-40 pounds.
Diabetes runs in the family, and I had gestational diabetes both pregnancies. So I know i’m in the danger zone.
When I did a low carb diet, it was fabulous- lost 50 pounds. But all the red meat and “cave man” eating can raise the blood pressure if not careful. Plus my two kids and husband are constantly whining for carbs. (and growing kids need them anyway)
When I go on low calorie; I feel depraved and end up cheating after a few days.
Is there a happy medium? Suzanne Somers diet had a meat and veggies only or veggies and carbs only idea; but if I have vegetables and rice I want butter!!!
suggestions gratefully appreciated
diabetes and zone diet
Best answer:
Answer by perfectvelvet
Don’t diet; they never work. Just change your lifestyle. Eat healthier foods with smaller portions. Exercise (which does wonders for lowering your blood sugar, not to mention your overall health). You can still eat meat and bread and all that, you just need to do it in moderation. My mom has diabetes, and I’m trying to stop it before it starts in me.
And while this probably sounds like an ad, I absolutely recommend signing up for http://www.sparkpeople.com — I’ve lost 35 pounds since February just following the nutrition guidelines they set out for me and working out 5 days a week. And I NEVER feel deprived because having a healthy lifestyle means not restricting foods from your diet. Do that and you start craving bad foods and eventually binge. I still eat whatever I want, just not as much of it. And it has actually curbed my craving for sweet stuff, which is always a bonus
Instead of using butter, get the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray. Zero calories, just spritz it on your veggies. Or try the Molly McButter sprinkles.
Atkins program raises carbs 5g per day every week. So it may be restrictive the first few weeks but soon you have a much greater variety. Protein should only be at the very most 30% of total calories. Low carb shouldn’t raise blood pressure. Growing kids need a high level of saturated fats for brain development, immune system, hormone production & bones not excess carbs which unbalance hormones.
There is the Zone diet, which is 40:30:30 – carb:protein:fat. The carb addicts diet which is low carb except for 1 hour a day – carbs are allowed as part of a balance meal. I recommend Atkin program to the insulin resistant & true carb addicts because carbs create cravings for more carbs & some people can’t moderate carbs.
Anyone who accumulates over 30# of excess fat is more than likely insulin resistant. Long term ingestion of highly refined carbs “burn out” the insulin receptors on muscle cells, so calories go directly to fat cells, leaving muscle cells screaming for nutrition. Exercise forces muscles to accept glucose out of the bloodstream without the need for insulin.
Most people get obese because their bodies just can’t process carbs any more. They become insulin resistant & carbs go straight to fat cells. As healthy as fruit may be, it just doesn’t promote fat loss. The body won’t release fat stores until the blood stream is free of insulin. In someone insulin resistant, the insulin response is too sensitive & produces too much insulin.
You can lose more body fat eating protein & fat (don’t eat protein alone) than not eating AT ALL. To lose weight fast, eat all you want, but nothing but meat, eggs, healthy oils, mayo, butter & half an avocado a day (for added potassium). Keep the calories high & the fat percentage high, at least 65% of calories. Green vegetables & some cheese will continue weight loss but at a slower pace.
The first 2 weeks eat several cups a day of (mostly) lettuce & celery, cucumbers, radishes, mushrooms, peppers & more variety of vegetables thereafter – add 5 grams per day additional every week (20 grams day first 2 weeks, 25grams 3rd week, 30grams 4th week etc) til you gain weight, then subtract 10grams. That will be your personal carb level (everyone is different & depends on how active you are.)
Start with meat, fats & salads for 2 weeks and then slowly add in more green veg, wk4 fresh cheeses, wk5 nuts & seeds, wk6 berries, wk7 legumes, wk8 other fruits, wk9 starchy veg, wk10 whole grains. You will learn how your body reacts to different foods.
The first week is just water weight but fat is lost thereafter if you keep your calories high enough. Otherwise the body will strip it’s own lean tissue for nutrition. Although that may look great on a scale it will make it MUCH easier to accumulate fat in the future (since all that pesky lean tissue burning up calories will be gone). The body won’t release fat stores if you lower calories below what it needs. It will slow metabolism to compensate & store every spare ounce as fat. If you continue lowering calories, it will continue lowering the set point, til it can survive off nothing & store fat on anything. The body will only release it’s fat stores if it knows there is plenty of nutritious food.
Eating carbs while trying to lose body fat is terribly inefficient. When in glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) you have to lower your calories (which slows your metabolism) & exercise heavily to deplete your glycogen stores before burning body fat.
The core of Atkins program is converting the body from glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) to ketosis (burning fat as fuel). Dietary fat levels need to be at >65% of total calories, if not, the body will still remain in glycolysis by converting 58% of excess protein into glucose (via gluconeogenesis).
It takes minimum of 3 days to convert a body to ketosis, (but only one bite to convert back to glycolysis). People feel sluggish the first week but most feel better than ever thereafter.
Simple carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice) trigger insulin (the ONLY fat storage hormone). The more protein the more the fat burning hormone glucagon is released.
High insulin levels promote inflammation, weight gain, hunger & unbalance other hormones. Controlling insulin levels will balance out other hormones & allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so lean muscle will be gained even without exercise.
Ground flax seed (2-4 Tbsp) 1/4 cup water, artificial sweetener, mix in a raw egg – let sit 10 min. to absorb liquid, put cream cheese in the middle & nuke 2 min. for daily fiber needs.
As long as you have <9grams carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control & shouldn’t gain weight, no matter the calories because insulin, the fat storage hormone is not activated. Many people gain weight on high carb, do low carb to lose weight & then are shocked when they return to high car