Looking for a list of safe foods for a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)

[Gary Edstr]

I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of foods
that are generally safe for a person like me with GIRD. I
would also like to find a list of foods to stay away from.

I have been learning through trial and error what foods I can
and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.

For the most part, I have been using the brute force approach.
Since I am normally only bothered by GIRD in my sleep, I make
lunch my big meal of the day and then eat little or nothing in
the evening. But it is difficult to stick to the regiment all
of the time. I would like to know what is safe to snack on in
the evening. I take Prevacid when I can't avoid an evening
meal, such as when eating at a friends house, but like to stay
away from Prevacid whenever possible due to the cost. And even
Prevacid is not always 100% effective.

Thanks, Gary

--
Note: Please remove "NOSPAM" from my email address in
order to reply.

[Dr. S. Gee]

DATE: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 01:38:07 GMT TO: Gary Edstrom FROM: Dr.
S. Geek, Ph.D. SUBJECT: "Looking for a list of safe foods for
a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)." NG:
sci.med.nutrition
==========

>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I can
>and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
>bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.

Ha, ... Hah, Ha!

Some folk don't classify potato chips as food.
--
Another we know next to nothing about nutrition moment brought
to you by Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D.

Science is all about knowing less and less about more and
more.

[Furpaw]

Gary Edstrom wrote:
> I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of
> foods that are generally safe for a person like me with
> GIRD. I would also like to find a list of foods to stay
> away from.
>
> I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
> can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
> extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
> bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>
> For the most part, I have been using the brute force
> approach. Since I am normally only bothered by GIRD in my
> sleep, I make lunch my big meal of the day and then eat
> little or nothing in the evening. But it is difficult to
> stick to the regiment all of the time. I would like to know
> what is safe to snack on in the evening. I take Prevacid
> when I can't avoid an evening meal, such as when eating at a
> friends house, but like to stay away from Prevacid whenever
> possible due to the cost. And even Prevacid is not always
> 100% effective.

Hi, Gary -

You'll be more successful when searching the web for
information if you search on GERD or "Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease" which is what it's normally called.

Here's one link, but there are many others.
http://www.sts.org/doc/4119#8

You should also avoid alcohol, spicy food, caffeine,
fatty foods.

You might be interested to know that the generic for
Prilosec, Omeprazole, is now available. It should be a bit
cheaper than Prevacid.

Here's something to ask your doctor - is Prevacid as effective
if you skip doses? If you don't eat much or at all in the
evening, would it be useful for you to take a drug such as
Tagamet or Zantac, if you aren't taking Prevacid? I don't know
the answers here, but your doc should.

Hope this helps -

FurPaw

[tonyr]

>==========
>
>>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
>>can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>>extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
>>bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>
>Ha, ... Hah, Ha!
>
>Some folk don't classify potato chips as food.
>
Interestingly the Fat content of the Potato chips and the
Chocolate will induce the closing of the stomach valve and the
food will remain in the upper digestive system for a
relatively long time. Caffiene is a rather unhealthy
biochemical in general terms and i'm sure it has rather fast
absorbtion rates through the digestive walls. They are three
highly processed foods all often providing very inbalanced
nutrient profiles. As a broad condition you should eat
simplier foods or more nutritious foods. I have a principle i
picked up along the way that goes "send one item into the
digestion to fuel the digestion of th item you want" So if i
want to digest protien then i chuck in a maller amount of
carbohydrate a bit earlier to provide the initial fuel for the
digestion of the Protein.

[Dr. S. Gee]

DATE: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 02:53:14 GMT TO: Gary Edstrom FROM: Dr.
S. Geek, Ph.D. SUBJECT: "Re: Looking for a list of safe foods
for a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)." NG:
sci.med.nutrition
==========

>>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
>>can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>>extensive.

Click on this hyperlink http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&nu-
m=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&btnG=Google+Search&-
as_epq=Gastroesophageal+Reflux+Disease&as_oq=food+diet&as_eq=-
&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt-
=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off
--
Another we know next to nothing about nutrition moment brought
to you by Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D.

Science is all about knowing less and less about more and
more.

[Pbeyer]

Gary Edstrom wrote:

> I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of
> foods that are generally safe for a person like me with
> GIRD. I would also like to find a list of foods to stay
> away from.
>
> I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
> can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
> extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
> bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>
> For the most part, I have been using the brute force
> approach. Since I am normally only bothered by GIRD in my
> sleep, I make lunch my big meal of the day and then eat
> little or nothing in the evening. But it is difficult to
> stick to the regiment all of the time. I would like to know
> what is safe to snack on in the evening. I take Prevacid
> when I can't avoid an evening meal, such as when eating at a
> friends house, but like to stay away from Prevacid whenever
> possible due to the cost. And even Prevacid is not always
> 100% effective.
>
> Thanks, Gary
>
> Hi Gary-- yes, the esophageal reflux is a real problem-- you
> were wise to reduce the volume of food in the evening
> hours-- that's probably the most effective methods to avoid
> symptoms of GERD. See the recommendations made at NIDDK--
> they will have recs for heartburn/reflux as well as for
> other GI disorders.

The prevacid type med (proton pump inhibitor) is so far the
most effective category and appears to be the safest type for
chronic use. It will certainly reduce acid secretion but it
will not stop the reflux into the esophagus. What comes up
from the stomach will certainly be less caustic. Measures
listed at the site will help reduce reflux, too. Pete

[Sandy]

On Mon, 06 Jan 2003 01:38:07 GMT, Gary Edstrom
<gedstrom@NOSPAMpacbell.net> wrote:

>I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of foods
>that are generally safe for a person like me with GIRD. I
>would also like to find a list of foods to stay away from.

Is this the same as oesophageal reflux? Don't you mean GERD?
(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) What about losec?

>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I can
>and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
>bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>
>For the most part, I have been using the brute force
>approach. Since I am normally only bothered by GIRD in my
>sleep, I make lunch my big meal of the day and then eat
>little or nothing in the evening. But it is difficult to
>stick to the regiment all of the time. I would like to know
>what is safe to snack on in the evening. I take Prevacid when
>I can't avoid an evening meal, such as when eating at a
>friends house, but like to stay away from Prevacid whenever
>possible due to the cost. And even Prevacid is not always
>100% effective.

Sounds like prevacid is a proton-pump inhibitor like losec.
Must be used according to directions. Seems eminently
effective.

Sandy

[Sandy]

On Sun, 05 Jan 2003 21:53:17 -0500, FurPaw
<furpawnews@comcast.net> wrote:

>Gary Edstrom wrote:
>> I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of
>> foods that are generally safe for a person like me with
>> GIRD. I would also like to find a list of foods to stay
>> away from.
>>
>> I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
>> can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>> extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be
>> especially bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>>
>> For the most part, I have been using the brute force
>> approach. Since I am normally only bothered by GIRD in my
>> sleep, I make lunch my big meal of the day and then eat
>> little or nothing in the evening. But it is difficult to
>> stick to the regiment all of the time. I would like to know
>> what is safe to snack on in the evening. I take Prevacid
>> when I can't avoid an evening meal, such as when eating at
>> a friends house, but like to stay away from Prevacid
>> whenever possible due to the cost. And even Prevacid is not
>> always 100% effective.
>
>Hi, Gary -
>
>You'll be more successful when searching the web for
>information if you search on GERD or "Gastroesophageal Reflux
>Disease" which is what it's normally called.
>
>Here's one link, but there are many others.
>http://www.sts.org/doc/4119#8
>
>You should also avoid alcohol, spicy food, caffeine,
>fatty foods.
>
>You might be interested to know that the generic for
>Prilosec, Omeprazole, is now available. It should be a bit
>cheaper than Prevacid.
>
>Here's something to ask your doctor - is Prevacid as
>effective if you skip doses? If you don't eat much or at all
>in the evening, would it be useful for you to take a drug
>such as Tagamet or Zantac, if you aren't taking Prevacid? I
>don't know the answers here, but your doc should.
>
>Hope this helps -
>
>FurPaw

Good post, thanks FurPaw

Sandy

[Sandy]

On Mon, 06 Jan 2003 02:53:14 GMT, "Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D."
<SGeek@hotmail.com> wrote:

>DATE: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 01:38:07 GMT TO: Gary Edstrom FROM:
>Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D. SUBJECT: "Looking for a list of safe foods
>for a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)."
>NG: sci.med.nutrition
>==========
>
>>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
>>can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>>extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be especially
>>bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>
>Ha, ... Hah, Ha!
>
>Some folk don't classify potato chips as food.

Especially ignorant flap jaws like you. Do potato chips have
any nutritive value? I'll give you a clue -- energy!

Sandy

[Sandy]

On Mon, 06 Jan 2003 05:16:56 GMT, tonyr@yahoo.com wrote:

>
>>==========
>>
>>>I have been learning through trial and error what foods I
>>>can and can't handle, but would like to make my list more
>>>extensive. Potato chips in the evening seem to be
>>>especially bad for me, as is chocolate and caffeine.
>>
>>Ha, ... Hah, Ha!
>>
>>Some folk don't classify potato chips as food.
>>
>Interestingly the Fat content of the Potato chips and the
>Chocolate will induce the closing of the stomach valve and
>the food will remain in the upper digestive system for a
>relatively long time. Caffiene is a rather unhealthy
>biochemical in general terms and i'm sure it has rather fast
>absorbtion rates through the digestive walls. They are three
>highly processed foods all often providing very inbalanced
>nutrient profiles. As a broad condition you should eat
>simplier foods or more nutritious foods. I have a principle i
>picked up along the way that goes "send one item into the
>digestion to fuel the digestion of th item you want" So if i
>want to digest protien then i chuck in a maller amount of
>carbohydrate a bit earlier to provide the initial fuel for
>the digestion of the Protein.

Hooley, Dooley, a whole bunch of sigs in one bolus :)

Sandy

[Eric Bohlm]

Sandy <3@2.1> wrote in
news:o1il1vs14r07f21t7tcb0u37vnjqsc1hc9@4ax.com:

> Do potato chips have any nutritive value? I'll give you a
> clue -- energy!

There's a rather bizarre notion, seldom directly articulated
but apparently influencing people's writing, here in the US
that the "purpose" of eating is mostly to consume vitamins.
I've actually seen people propose that food-purchase
assistance for the poor be dropped and replaced with supplies
of vitamin pills. Journalists routinely contrast "calories"
with "nutrients." Pizza is widely regarded as a "junk food"
because it isn't "nutritious." Fruit juice is regarded as
something that kids need to drink a lot more of.

I think our Puritan heritage has led us to distinguish between
foods that "taste good" and "are good for you," with this
distinction being mutually exclusive. I suspect that's also
why we're so prone to believing that weight control or other
aspects of health can be achieved through taboos on certain
categories of foods: some believe that fat needs to be
demonized, others believe that carbs need to be demonized
(nobody seriously demonizes protein; in fact it's the only
macronutrient that journalists put into the "nutrients" column
rather than the "calories" column).

[Dr. S. Gee]

DATE: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 12:29:26 GMT TO: Sandy FROM: Dr. S.
Geek, Ph.D. SUBJECT: "Re: Looking for a list of safe foods for
a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)." NG:
sci.med.nutrition
==========

>Especially ignorant flap jaws like you. Do potato chips have
>any nutritive value? I'll give you a clue -- energy!

The typical smn answer!

Boy/Girl are you an Arse!
--
Another we know next to nothing about nutrition moment brought
to you by Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D.

Science is all about knowing less and less about more and
more.

[Sandy]

On Tue, 07 Jan 2003 22:22:13 GMT, "Dr. S. Geek, Ph.D."
<SGeek@hotmail.com> wrote:

>DATE: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 12:29:26 GMT TO: Sandy FROM: Dr. S.
>Geek, Ph.D. SUBJECT: "Re: Looking for a list of safe foods
>for a person with GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Diease)."
>NG: sci.med.nutrition
>==========
>
>>Especially ignorant flap jaws like you. Do potato chips have
>>any nutritive value? I'll give you a clue -- energy!
>
>The typical smn answer!

I don't know why you stick around. We discuss nutrition
rationally. You would be better off in a flonk.flonk.flonk
group, No?

>Boy/Girl are you an Arse!

Yeah, embarrassing you by reflecting your own stupid comments
is soooo easy.

Sandy

[Sandy]

On 7 Jan 2003 15:30:36 GMT, Eric Bohlman
<ebohlman@omsdev.com> wrote:

>Sandy <3@2.1> wrote in
>news:o1il1vs14r07f21t7tcb0u37vnjqsc1hc9@4ax.com:
>
>> Do potato chips have any nutritive value? I'll give you a
>> clue -- energy!
>
>There's a rather bizarre notion, seldom directly articulated
>but apparently influencing people's writing, here in the US
>that the "purpose" of eating is mostly to consume vitamins.
>I've actually seen people propose that food-purchase
>assistance for the poor be dropped and replaced with supplies
>of vitamin pills. Journalists routinely contrast "calories"
>with "nutrients." Pizza is widely regarded as a "junk food"
>because it isn't "nutritious." Fruit juice is regarded as
>something that kids need to drink a lot more of.
>
>I think our Puritan heritage has led us to distinguish
>between foods that "taste good" and "are good for you," with
>this distinction being mutually exclusive. I suspect that's
>also why we're so prone to believing that weight control or
>other aspects of health can be achieved through taboos on
>certain categories of foods: some believe that fat needs to
>be demonized, others believe that carbs need to be demonized
>(nobody seriously demonizes protein; in fact it's the only
>macronutrient that journalists put into the "nutrients"
>column rather than the "calories" column).

Wait til the nephrologists want some publicity, and protein
will be demonised. Most Western folks get plenty.

Sandy

[Rita]

On Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:44:44 GMT, Sandy <3@2.1> wrote:

>On 7 Jan 2003 15:30:36 GMT, Eric Bohlman
><ebohlman@omsdev.com> wrote:
>
>>Sandy <3@2.1> wrote in
>>news:o1il1vs14r07f21t7tcb0u37vnjqsc1hc9@4ax.com:
>>
>>> Do potato chips have any nutritive value? I'll give you a
>>> clue -- energy!
>>
>>There's a rather bizarre notion, seldom directly articulated
>>but apparently influencing people's writing, here in the US
>>that the "purpose" of eating is mostly to consume vitamins.
>>I've actually seen people propose that food-purchase
>>assistance for the poor be dropped and replaced with
>>supplies of vitamin pills. Journalists routinely contrast
>>"calories" with "nutrients." Pizza is widely regarded as a
>>"junk food" because it isn't "nutritious." Fruit juice is
>>regarded as something that kids need to drink a lot more of.
>>
>>I think our Puritan heritage has led us to distinguish
>>between foods that "taste good" and "are good for you," with
>>this distinction being mutually exclusive. I suspect that's
>>also why we're so prone to believing that weight control or
>>other aspects of health can be achieved through taboos on
>>certain categories of foods: some believe that fat needs to
>>be demonized, others believe that carbs need to be demonized
>>(nobody seriously demonizes protein; in fact it's the only
>>macronutrient that journalists put into the "nutrients"
>>column rather than the "calories" column).
>
>Wait til the nephrologists want some publicity, and protein
>will be demonised. Most Western folks get plenty.
>
Heh, Heh. I have found a way to avoid this argument. For fun,
I've been using Fitday to keep track of what I eat and the
nutritional content thereof, and have found my diet appears to
be evenly divided between protein, carbs and fats (mostly
unsaturated).

It appears neither Dr. Atkins or Dean Ornish would have
anything to do with me, which is just as well, all things
considered. Seems however, on this mix I neither gain nor lose
weight, and feel good.

[Gym Bob]

Pantaloc kills those problems but they don't want to give it
to you because it is expensive.

stop eating after 6 PM never lie down after eating stop eating
glutens...wheat, potatoes, oats and most grains...try it for a
week stop eating chocolate, coffee, tea (not just the
caffiene) drink 8 oz of warm water in the mornings and bang
down on your heels (or going for a walk) try the Blood Type
Diet www.dadamo.com eat some good fiber everyday to reduce
back pressure (not wheat/oat bran)

get your substitute in place, fruit, rice products, pure rye
bread, spelt bread, meats

Usually spelled "GERD" gastro esophagial reflux disorder
(where I come from....my mom)

Good luck......it's a bitch but you have to find out!

"Gary Edstrom" <gedstrom@NOSPAMpacbell.net> wrote in message
news:r3nh1v04lpth3fjsis9jif0g3fg2kpubfc@4ax.com...
> I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of
> foods that are generally safe for a person like me with
> GIRD. I would also like to find a list of foods to stay
> away from.

[Sandy]

On Wed, 8 Jan 2003 21:53:00 -0500, "Gym Bob"
<none@spammy.com> wrote:

>Pantaloc kills those problems but they don't want to give it
>to you because it is expensive.
>
>stop eating after 6 PM never lie down after eating stop
>eating glutens...wheat, potatoes, oats and most grains...try
>it for a week stop eating chocolate, coffee, tea (not just
>the caffiene) drink 8 oz of warm water in the mornings and
>bang down on your heels (or going for a walk) try the Blood
>Type Diet www.dadamo.com eat some good fiber everyday to
>reduce back pressure (not wheat/oat bran)
>
>get your substitute in place, fruit, rice products, pure
>rye bread,

Rye is very closely related to wheat.

spelt
>bread, meats
>
>Usually spelled "GERD" gastro esophagial reflux disorder
>(where I come from....my mom)
>
>Good luck......it's a bitch but you have to find out!
>
>
>"Gary Edstrom" <gedstrom@NOSPAMpacbell.net> wrote in message
>news:r3nh1v04lpth3fjsis9jif0g3fg2kpubfc@4ax.com...
>> I've been looking over the web trying to find a list of
>> foods that are generally safe for a person like me with
>> GIRD. I would also like to find a list of foods to stay
>> away from.
>
>

Sandy

[Sandy]

On Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:44:01 GMT, Rita
<spamcatcher@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:44:44 GMT, Sandy <3@2.1> wrote:
>
>>On 7 Jan 2003 15:30:36 GMT, Eric Bohlman
>><ebohlman@omsdev.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Sandy <3@2.1> wrote in
>>>news:o1il1vs14r07f21t7tcb0u37vnjqsc1hc9@4ax.com:
>>>
>>>> Do potato chips have any nutritive value? I'll give you a
>>>> clue -- energy!
>>>
>>>There's a rather bizarre notion, seldom directly
>>>articulated but apparently influencing people's writing,
>>>here in the US that the "purpose" of eating is mostly to
>>>consume vitamins. I've actually seen people propose that
>>>food-purchase assistance for the poor be dropped and
>>>replaced with supplies of vitamin pills. Journalists
>>>routinely contrast "calories" with "nutrients." Pizza is
>>>widely regarded as a "junk food" because it isn't
>>>"nutritious." Fruit juice is regarded as something that
>>>kids need to drink a lot more of.
>>>
>>>I think our Puritan heritage has led us to distinguish
>>>between foods that "taste good" and "are good for you,"
>>>with this distinction being mutually exclusive. I suspect
>>>that's also why we're so prone to believing that weight
>>>control or other aspects of health can be achieved through
>>>taboos on certain categories of foods: some believe that
>>>fat needs to be demonized, others believe that carbs need
>>>to be demonized (nobody seriously demonizes protein; in
>>>fact it's the only macronutrient that journalists put into
>>>the "nutrients" column rather than the "calories" column).
>>
>>Wait til the nephrologists want some publicity, and protein
>>will be demonised. Most Western folks get plenty.
>>
>Heh, Heh. I have found a way to avoid this argument. For fun,
>I've been using Fitday to keep track of what I eat and the
>nutritional content thereof, and have found my diet appears
>to be evenly divided between protein, carbs and fats (mostly
>unsaturated).
>
>It appears neither Dr. Atkins or Dean Ornish would have
>anything to do with me, which is just as well, all things
>considered. Seems however, on this mix I neither gain nor
>lose weight, and feel good.

Sounds fine to me, Rita, but it is the calories you consume,
and not the macronutrient ratio that keeps your weight
constant. But if this mix satisfies you, then there is a
psychological effect, arguably the most important.

Sandy

[Rita]

On Thu, 09 Jan 2003 14:24:49 GMT, Sandy <3@2.1> wrote:

>On Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:44:01 GMT, Rita
><spamcatcher@nyc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:44:44 GMT, Sandy <3@2.1> wrote:
>>
>>>On 7 Jan 2003 15:30:36 GMT, Eric Bohlman
>>><ebohlman@omsdev.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Sandy <3@2.1> wrote in
>>>>news:o1il1vs14r07f21t7tcb0u37vnjqsc1hc9@4ax.com:
>>>>
>>>>> Do potato chips have any nutritive value? I'll give you
>>>>> a clue -- energy!
>>>>
>>>>There's a rather bizarre notion, seldom directly
>>>>articulated but apparently influencing people's writing,
>>>>here in the US that the "purpose" of eating is mostly to
>>>>consume vitamins. I've actually seen people propose that
>>>>food-purchase assistance for the poor be dropped and
>>>>replaced with supplies of vitamin pills. Journalists
>>>>routinely contrast "calories" with "nutrients." Pizza is
>>>>widely regarded as a "junk food" because it isn't
>>>>"nutritious." Fruit juice is regarded as something that
>>>>kids need to drink a lot more of.
>>>>
>>>>I think our Puritan heritage has led us to distinguish
>>>>between foods that "taste good" and "are good for you,"
>>>>with this distinction being mutually exclusive. I suspect
>>>>that's also why we're so prone to believing that weight
>>>>control or other aspects of health can be achieved through
>>>>taboos on certain categories of foods: some believe that
>>>>fat needs to be demonized, others believe that carbs need
>>>>to be demonized (nobody seriously demonizes protein; in
>>>>fact it's the only macronutrient that journalists put into
>>>>the "nutrients" column rather than the "calories" column).
>>>
>>>Wait til the nephrologists want some publicity, and protein
>>>will be demonised. Most Western folks get plenty.
>>>
>>Heh, Heh. I have found a way to avoid this argument. For
>>fun, I've been using Fitday to keep track of what I eat and
>>the nutritional content thereof, and have found my diet
>>appears to be evenly divided between protein, carbs and fats
>>(mostly unsaturated).
>>
>>It appears neither Dr. Atkins or Dean Ornish would have
>>anything to do with me, which is just as well, all things
>>considered. Seems however, on this mix I neither gain nor
>>lose weight, and feel good.
>
>Sounds fine to me, Rita, but it is the calories you consume,
>and not the macronutrient ratio that keeps your weight
>constant. But if this mix satisfies you, then there is a
>psychological effect, arguably the most important.
>
You are correct -- what seems to happen with me is that eating
this way, I do consume the appropriate number of calories to
maintain my weight -- on average. I've been keeping track.
Perhaps it is that with this mix, I don't want to consume more
than I should? I always stop eating when I am no longer
hungry, which frequently results with scraping some food that
was on my plate into the garbage. Perhaps a 1/3, 1/3, 13/
balance between protein, carbs and good fats works to keep me
from wanting to eat more than I need?

I have been using Fitday to chart my eating patterns over time
-- just did it to see how this worked and then got interested.
Also to see just what vitamins and minerals my diet might be
lacking. I found an estimate of calories I need each day to
maintain weight based on my age, weight, height and activity
level to be 1700. And it is almost eerie that I found that on
weekly average that is the number I seem to consume. Some days
more, some days less, but it averages out.

I am adding more exercise to my life on an ongoing basis, so I
expect this also will affect calories needed. I never paid
much attention to calories before nor did I figure out the
balance between protein, carbs and fats except very rough and
inaccurate guesses. But now that I have made exercise an
integral part of my life, I have started fiddling around with
this stuff -- self-absorbed some may say, but it is
interesting.