Pressure to change

[clodagh]

HI all

I wonder can you help me. As most of you know, I have been following SP since the middle of March and have seen about 8lbs of weight loss. I think this is good and it's the first time in years that I have found something that worked for me. I had been doing weight watchers for years with no success and even though the leader has become a friend I know she was looking at me thinking I was telling fibs when I never really lost any weight.

Anyway, now I am coming under pressure from people to give up this WOE as they have been reading horror stories about low carb diets ( probably put about by people who promote low fat diets).

Now I am wondering if what I am doing is healthly enough? It certainly feels healthy to me as I have never eaten ( & enjoyed) so many salads or vegetables before. Also I take Chromium, BComplex and Calcium/Magnesium supplements.

What do you advise I say to all my critics?

thanks Clodagh

[chewie1012]

Clodagh, :) Welcome!

This is what I plan to do and we will see how it works. Most of my life has been a life of hi fat hi carb with no regard to the garbage I have put in my body. My Grandparents ate bacon and eggs every day till they died in there 70's for Him and 89 for her.

I wonder also if what we are doing is good for us or not. We have been so conditioned to eat low fat. The way I am eating now is so much better than the way I was eating before. Way more veggies etc. If I hadn't started this plan I would be a type II diabetic before you know it. So I am going to follow this plan rather strictly with only a little cheating every now and then. Then when I get to my goal weight I am going to go to my Doctor and say check me out. If I have numbers that are too high I will make adjustments.

Most days I eat chicken and fish anyways so I can't lose there. I don't think I am overeating during the week at all. So a good solution would be to tell the nay sayers give me a chance to prove you wrong. Give me one year and if the numbers are bad I will make adjustments. I do think it is important to follow the plan rather closely. If your eating more than normal protein and then cheating regularly than you are setting yourself up for trouble.

[mmoranmic]

Hi Clodagh,
Wow, you've made great progress! I agree with the previous post, I've tried low fat, it doesn't work for me and I see the tide turning (ever so slowly) back to the basics such as Schwarzbein promotes. Her program makes absolute sense to me. I immediately realized that her program was the one for me! Mostly whole, organic, non-damaged food! I tell my friends that I'm following the Schwarzbein Principle and that she's a noted endocrinologist who works with diabetics and with women. That usually shuts them up. I feel so good about it and the results have been so good I really don't feel the need to justify myself. If someone persisted (like my Pritiken friend) I would tell him that I'm glad his diet is working for him and that I support him and I'm sure that he supports my efforts as well.
Good Luck!
Maureen

[Swede]

I tell people I'm not on a low-carb diet, in fact I'm not dieting at all. I'm eating lots of fresh vegetables, good protein, a moderate amount of healthy fat, and a moderate amount of carbohydrates at every meal. My eating is wholesome and well-balanced; I'm just avoiding the excess carbohydrate that I used to enjoy (today I passed up a freshly baked scone!)

Believe me, I understand the lack of support out there in general. I have found that there are always a lot of folks who don't want me (or anything, actually) to change. This is yet another reason these fora are so useful.

Gary

[Maplesugar]

Hi Clodagh
Keep on doin what youare doin!! I started to followSP too felt great and was losing weight. I too had a lot of friends/family telling me it wasn't healthy-including an Aunt who went on to try it herself and has now become a local expert on the subject!She followed SP and is doing great-I listened to everyone and am struggling to get started again.I am reading a really good book which is helping(I am followingSP,but this book is a good read re-low carb,inspiring too)-How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet and Lost Forty Pounds! by Dana Carpender. I gave my book to my mother to read while in Spain this winter.Her cholesterol,triglycerides,blood pressure etc have never been better-she now fully follows SP. Don't listen to the nay sayers.Listen to what feels good to you.

[JudyAH]

Don't let them get you down. Most of these people haven't done the research or bothered to learn what you are actually doing. The are listening to the spin and reteoric from the the low fat side of the room. It is hard to be right sometimes. Listen to your own body and let them eat cake.

[rosarugosa]

I think that Sp is one of the healthiest plans available. I am a 'diet book' junkie :)! I use the library to check them out. I think that people who want to "warn" about "low carb diets" are usually thinking of the induction phase of Atkin's & haven't actually read his books thouroughly (because the induction phase is to get one off to an encouraging start, as many plans have something similar) The fact is weight loss that lasts, takes time.

I have read Sp several times(even went out and *bought* a copy), it is so sensible and I lose weight gradually. It isn't as fast as some perhaps , but I know personally my cholesterol panel has continually improved along with losing weight. I found as I feel better and get a little lighter that I have more energy for exercise,too, which helps and is a must.

Being a 'baby boomer' I remember when Dr.s, mothers,& dietians used to stress eating a balanced diet out of all the food groups for good health.It may not have been healthy in all ways but there was not such widespread obesity either. Of course eliminating refined sugar was not emphasized like Sp. does. Then foods became more processed ~hello trans fats/ margarine is healthier than butter,everything is 'breaded' with refined white flour, etc. Now look at the obesity epedemic!

Maplesugar, I too am a fan of Dana Carpendar's writing. I found her chapter about the "controlled Carb plan"(I believe it is titled?) helpful and helpful with Sp. Also I occasionally use her recipe for the protien drink when I just do not want or have time for a breakfast.

I agree with Swede that you can truthfully say you are not on a diet(as most people think of one). It is a controlled carb plan. I have found the lists in Sp. very helpful for meal planning.

It probably boils down to just doing what works for oneself, as it works others will see it and the good health will be proof. It sounds as though it is working for you. I wish you well.

[Spring]

and her cookbook and I think they are both great. It makes so much sense. I know Atkins is good to start with....it cleans out the insulin and, I think, makes the cells ready to let go of the sugar. After a while though, we need to increase our carbs slowly and I believe that for that phase, SP is the best.

I can do almost anything for a couple of weeks....like induction. It seems to me that Atkins is a little vague on how to add back the carbs in a way that will not put the pounds back on and SP leads you by the hand and explains what our bodies need better. I love the balance that her plan gives.

[lisaf]

Dealing with nay-sayers. Strategies and approaches:

1. "Well it works for me" (stubborn approach)
2. "I can't tolerate carbohydrates, my insulin becomes dangerously high" then start to give them enough details on insulin and physiology to make their eyes glaze over.
3. "I feel fabulous, I look good, I have lots of energy" (goes back to 1 above)
4. If everyone is eating low fat, why are they so fat?
5. Oh, you think this is a diet? I thought I was changing my eating habits...

I could go on. I've been lucky and haven't had much negativity around me. Your other option is to say that you don't care to justify your choice (obviously nicely) and to be honest, you don't need other people to approve of what you are doing to make it okay!

Lisa

[agonycat]

Politely thank them for their concern and hand them a print out of the following:

Establishing Boundries (http://store.yahoo.com/carbsmart/boundaries.html)

Or you could ask them what type and color their underwear is. I mean since they are getting into your personal business they may as well share some of theirs right? :D

[DebPenny]

I'm finding that telling people I just don't eat starches and sugars is much easier for them to grasp than low-carbing, which they instantly think is no-carbing.

;-Deb
:daizy: