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Low Carb Diets are always on my mind these days. Currently I’m working my way through two fascinating books you’ve probably heard lots about lately. I’m loving them both, but so far I can’t separate truth from wishful thinking about low carb diets. More in a minute.
I’m sure you realize that all diets — particularly “fads” like these low carb diets — are packed with facts, myths, and hopeful promises. You’re probably familiar with the names of a few of the most popular low carb diets: Dr Atkins Diet Revolution, The Zone, and The South Beach Diet. Each is a variation on the notion that a diet rich in carbohydrates makes us fat. You can find hundreds of informative websites, one of the best on About.com.
Why be concerned about diet? Hopefully, better knowledge about nutrition will help us all combat obesity, which has become a ticking time-bomb throughout the country. Let’s read the writing on the wall.
But first, let me tell you a story: About 30 months ago, my doctor said, “Young man, if you want to live a long, comfortable life, you better immediately reduce your blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight. It’ll be easy if you can muster the will to do three simple things.
– First, eat at least four small meals a day, so you never get hungry.
– Second, stop eating and drinking those yummy sugary foods, breads & baked goods, rice, potatoes, alcohol, and pasta.
– Finally, drink lots of water, focus on eating protein, and eat fruits, fat, and dairy in moderation.”
I was persuaded. Over the next year I lost 40 pounds, and in the last 18 months my weight stayed right there, plus or minus three pounds. My blood chemistry is excellent, and as they say, I’m healthy as hell. But I’m SO curious about WHY it all happened. That’s why I’m reading so much about low carb diets.
When I complete studying these two amazing books, I’ll report again, to tell you about what I learned and what I had to unlearn about low carb diets. In the meantime, you might like to glance through these books for yourself. The first, “Why We Get Fat, and What to Do About It”, is written by a highly trained science journalist named Gary Taubes. The second, “The Four Day Body”, is written by an obsessive, inspired problem-solver named Tim Ferris. Both books have been on the New York Times best-sellers list.
For me, the hardest part of keeping to a low carb diet means I’ve had to forgo all those carbohydrate-rich appetizers and desserts at cocktail parties. But I manage, and my band still keeps busy entertaining at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area nearly every day. If we can ever help you, please call us at 408-245-9120.
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I also gave up a LOT of desserts in the past year. I still indulge but at about 15% of the rate of years past. Last year my doctor said that for the first time ever my cholesterol was out of whack. Total was fine but LDL was too high and HDL had dropped. He gave me four months to modify my diet and exercise more to lower it to keep it within the safe range or he wanted to put me on meds. In that time I didn’t exercise any more than I had been walking the dog but I:
1. Gave up almost all desserts
2. Cut out almost all deep friend foods
3. Went completely vegetarian as I’d been on the edge for years eating meat (poultry and fish) only 3-4 meals per week.
4. Began eating brown rice porridge for breakfast each morning (whole grains are complex carbs which lower cholesterol and are completely different than simple carbs found in enriched and highly processed foods)
At the end of four months my levels were perfect. Glad to hear another testimonial that a healthful diet can bring about the desired results.
Thanks, Stacie,
What a titanic compromise for a FOODIE, and I’m glad the sacrifice paid off so nicely. Well, maybe “sacrifice” is the wrong word to describe a smart move toward staying healthy. Still, no matter how long we last, life without red velvet cupcakes could FEEL like 120 years. Cheers to you!
Robbie
Robbie – Nice to read something personal about you. I so agree, there are many fad diets out there, many of which I am convinced are sure to make you fatter or sicker. Your doctor gave the best advice. Especially the drinking alot of water. Also, green tea is excellent. curbs hunger. Must be hard at events you play not to stock up on wedding cakes and goodies. Stay healthy, my friend!
Thanks Laurie,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Thanks for the hint about green tea — I’ll try it. And as far as resisting all those bad carbohydrate-rich goodies at parties, it’s real easy now, once I got past the first few days. Like a new kid working in a candy store, who samples EVERYTHING to excess on his first day, it’s no problem saying “No, thanks” every day afterward.
Robbie
Compliments to you Robbie. Well done for taking the advice of your doctor and successfully implementing it. Not everyone manages quite a large task as that. The great thing is you sound and look happy and healthy and that’s what it’s all about.
Personally I’ve never followed any diets because I have a very fast metabolism and am at the other end of the scale but it does strike me that many of them are not really addressing the true issue. You may totally disagree with me but I feel that when our body is out of balance it’s due to our thought system, some limiting beliefs and when we alter these, things change. The doctor telling you directly like that meant you suddenly valued your life too much to not do it. And so your mindset changed, programming you for success. That’s just my angle on Robbie, but we can agree to disagree.
I think it’s great that you have such perseverence and tenacity in this and I think your efforts hugely pay off. You’re looking great!
Fiona Stolze
Inspired Art and Living
http://fionastolze.wordpress.com
Thanks Fiona,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. And I couldn’t agree with you MORE! At least in this case, once my doctor scared me so I fixed my new attitude in place, my healthier behavior followed. No problem! So I guess you’d say the true issue had been my faulty attitude. Makes sense to me, too.
And congratulations to you, I guess, for having a fast metabolism. Does that mean you think you can eat anything at all, in any quantity, and not jeopardize your good health? Is this a blessing? Just asking…
Robbie
It does mean that I can eat whatever I want. Within a couple of hours most things are gone…good or bad. Not that I am a junk food fan. It does mean having to make sure I keep my blood sugar balanced and stress levels can cause drops in weight which is a whole different ball game. More of that another time. 🙂
Hi Fiona,
Now THAT is amazing! You’re the first person I’ve ever met who can enjoy any quantity of your favorite foods at any time, without any penalty. You still need to eat protein and vitamins every day, right? So long as you keep your blood sugar within bounds, it sounds like you’re holding five aces!
Robbie
Fascinating you should see it that way Robbie but there’s also the little bit about stress levels that I mentioned in the last comment. Definitely stuff for a blog post at some point. Thanks for the pointer. 🙂
Robbie as someone who has struggled with weight my entire life i appreciate any help and suggestions. i think everyone has to fins what works for them, For me I have never been a big eater or a sweet tooth. My problem is an inactive thyroid and an extremely slow metabolism so i really do have to be careful and i tend to skip means a lot which is never a good solution. i also don’t drink water (I never get thirsty) this is a habit I am really trying to break. Thanks for the advice and tips
Julie Labes,…The Fierce over 50 feels much younger point and click junkie loves to travel does not use a jogging stroller and before you ask this is NOT my granddaughter..Woman
Thanks Julie,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Sounds like you’ve been struggling with diet quite a while, and I agree with you: each of us tends to find our own best solution. Half the battle is learning to pay attention in the first place, and you’ve already won that one!
Robbie
I applaud your decision and commitment to eat healthy and maintain a healthy body! My husband went through a similar realization that he had to lose weight and change some of his eating habits, which in turn had an impact on how I shop and cook! I still find it difficult, though, to completely abstain from some of the “comfort foods” that bring me joy — to me, especially being brought up in an Italian household, life is too short not to enjoy, but I know that life will also be longer if you eat correctly! so I am learning to indulge only once in a while and try to stick with the proteins, fruits and veggies and drink LOTS of water. My hubby lost over 20 pounds and I lost 8, and we both feel better, too, so it is definitely worth paying attention to what you eat and drink. It gets harder as we get older, unfortunately! I think it also helps to keep your metabolism engaged with exercise and to keep a positive attitude about your body image. Thank you for sharing your success!
Thanks Donna,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. What a wonderful story you tell! If enough of us set good examples, who knows where it’ll lead…
Robbie
Hi Robbie,
I hear you! In addition to all you stated above, I have learned that my pre-planning was the key! Always having a healthy snack with me (even at a gig). Never letting myself get so hungry that I said “forget it— I’m having Taco Bell!”
Thanks JuliAnn,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Sounds like you’ve come up with a handy strategy there!
Robbie
UGH Robbie – you are brave and determined b/c I have such a hard time giving up carbs! I love them and really try to limit but then it backfires. I know that I have to cut back, and so I am curious to hear your reports on the books! I overcompensate with exercise right now, but all good things must come to an end. Thanks for your truth and positive energy. Rachel
I really related! I’m having to accept that my body doesn’t like carbohydrate dense foods and as I am gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant and already don’t eat sugar I was none too happy to discover this additional fact! But one cannot escape the truth and so I am now enjoying plenty of fresh veggies, protein every few hours and an occasional fruit. Truth be told, I feel better and am happier! Imagine that!
Thanks Susan,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. One way or another, it sounds like you’ve established a wonderful system for healthy eating. Congratulations! Think it was easier to arrive at a healthy eating plan because of your gluten and dairy intolerance? Or did that situation make it more difficult?
Robbie
Both, actually. It’s been easier to stay away from some of the foods that are troublesome but sometimes when I’m with others who are gluten and dairy free who don’t have the same issues and they have gluten free/dairy free goodies, then it can be hard! Sometimes you just can’t win or sometimes I have to learn my limits and just say no, no matter what!
Maybe if we stop calling it “low-carb” diet and started calling it the way we are supposed to eat we won’t feel so deprived. I’m all for the occasional indulgence, but as a culture we’ve moved away from real food with sodas becoming a staple at meals (they were an occasional treat when I was a kid), desserts more than once a day (again, an occasional treat when I was a kid). My indulgence is a nightly glass of wine – carb-loaded, I’m afraid…
Thanks Pat,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. You make an interesting point: that semantic calisthenics might trick us in the desired direction, without leaving us feeling “deprived”. Maybe, no probably. The advertising and marketing industry makes big bucks doing exactly that, for food, clothing, movies, cars, you name it. In fact, we’re encouraged to feel deprived without the stuff they pitch. Has this attitude hit the scrapbook business, too?
Robbie
Hi Robbie ~ last year I was diagnosed with a few health issues. I’ve also spend a lifetime working on my weight. I tried so many of those fad diets and most don’t work & left me feeling yucky. I’ve been working with a dietatician, who is helping me understand my health issues as well as how to eat better to manage it. It may take me longer to lose my extra pounds but that’s ok. I’d rather go the slower route if it means I’ll be healthy and actually keep the weight off. It’s been hard to give up my favorite foods, like chocolate (still mourning that loss) but I know it’s better for me in the long run.
Thanks June,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Like you say, it’s a struggle, but well worth it. Slow and steady wins, and it gets easier the longer you’re with it.
Robbie
Hi Robbie – Congratulations on your weight loss! Amazing!
http://www.ManhattanBeachMomma.Wordpress.com
Thanks Debbie,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. What do you recommend for a low-carb pizza?
Robbie
My approach to eating is to remove as much processed food as possible…which includes those processed carbs that your doctor mentioned. However, I see so much support for eating carbs that are natural…I don’t think I’ll ever remove them.
Looking forward to hearing more about your journey.
Darcie Newton
Discipline for profit, none for jammy zins, triple creme brie or memorable necklaces
http://www.mywealthspa.com
Thanks Darcie,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. That’s a handy idea, to avoid processed foods and stay with natural foods. Dunno what else it accomplishes, but “processing” usually makes the natural food less healthful for us. Maybe it’s for appearance, sweeter flavor, better storage, easier preparation… what else? I keep thinking of all the money made from selling sugary breakfast flakes to kids. Maybe it’s for profit, too?
Robbie
Congratulations on your weight loss. I travel so much it is very difficult to eat right. It takes planning, a good system and will power all of which have room for improvement on my part. I wish it was easy. Jennifer Hudson is looking wonderful after her weight loss. You guys are inspiring.
Lisa Ann Landry
Vibrating positive energy…what are you vibrating
http://www.imagedevelopmentgroup.com/speakers.html
Thanks Lisa,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. I agree with you: eating healthy is a challenge when you’re away from home. But if I can make up my mind to behave myself at lavish cocktail parties, anyone can manage anywhere. It’s a piece of cake! Ooooops.
Robbie
Hi Robbie,
I’ve lost 40 pounds also in the last year and now I don’t diet at all. I do focus on the healthy eating and sometimes still eat junky stuff…just not a lot of it. Or if I do, oh well…worse food to eat is “guilt”. Found that the mindset behind the whole thing made the most difference, mindful eating the second most, drinking a lot of liquids next and then wise eating last…Congrats for your weight loss and celebration of health!
Brandy Mychals
Communications Coach
Creator of Split Second Perceptions
Thanks Brandy,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Good advice for maintaining good health. Sounds like you’ve established a terrific system that works well. I agree: the optimistic mindset is key to healthy eating. Isn’t it key to communication, too?
Robbie
Great work Robbie- Not often someone actually HEARS what their doctor is daying! In the past few months, I’ve gone off wheat, corn and soy and feel much better. I’ve been a eggie since 1971 and if I do eat chicken r fish, it’s grass fed (not meant to eat corn) and wild.
Agriculture is a multi-billion (probably trillion) industry which is out to make money, not make us healthy! Hopefully we will now have a swing back to non-processed foods after several decades of processing our foods for convenience and ease, not health. Some of my favorite little books that we’ve put out at Our Little Books are the Healthy Eating series and Living with Diabetes little books because they deal with healthy eating. Can’t wait to hear your review of Tim’s book!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
Thanks Candace,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Sounds like you’re way ahead of me, when it comes to healthy eating. Congratulations! And I hear you: agriculture and many other big industries (as well as middle-east monarchies) appear to be out to remain in business and make tons of money, whether or not they serve the public good. That impression may not be completely true, but it usually looks that way. No wonder we’re cynical about Wall Street, big government, and all the rest. Got any little books about restoring our faith in Compassion?
Robbie
What sensible advise and I know that’s what works. I am working on all this now – unfortunately I love those cocktails! Thanks for the reminder about water though – I’m off to get a glass right now!
Louise Edington
Facing Fears For Freedom
http://louiseedington.com
Thanks Louise,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Ahhh, if only more people called me sensible! Thank you! I agree: cocktails in moderation can be lovely. See what Dorothy Parker once said about martinis.
Robbie
Robbie are speaking directly to me? 😉 I’m such a carb a holic! I think that in it self proves I should be cutting them out of my diet. I curtail, I resist but they are still here.
Thanks for the inspiration to get my will power back on track!
Yvonne Hall
taming dinnertime chaos
http://www.facebook.com/wildforwildtree
Thanks Yvonne,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. What a great tagline: “Taming Dinnertime Chaos”. What worked for me: Get all that bad carbohydrate-rich food out of the house, and eat at home most of the time. Works for you, too?
Robbie
It sounds like we’ll be enjoying your music and wit for years to come. Happy to hear that!
When you’re finished with these books, I have one to recommend. It’s NOT a diet, although I’ve seen people treat it like one; the author/doctor who wrote it is clear. The book is : CLEAN, by Dr. Alejandro Junger
In it he describes how the inner workings of the body’s chemistry lab works, and how to reduce the over-use of our digestive system.
Thanks Tambra,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. Yes, I plan to be around a long time, and I’ll look at Dr Junger’s book. Sounds interesting, and I’ll get back to you after reading it. What do YOU like about it?
Robbie
What do I like about Clean? Well, there’s what I like about the book; and there’s what I like about the experience of following the guidance the book offers; and mostly, the experience of my body, presence, vitality and energy as result of doing “Clean.”
The shortest answer is: 1) he’s not presenting a diet – altho’ I’m sure in our society, many mistake it for that. 2) it’s so easy to overtax our lives, and to not realize it because it seems “normal.” My experience of my first time of doing Clean is that I had a clearer mind, softer skin, renewed energy, my tastebuds became more sensitive in a way that made good food taste fantastic, and “unhealthy or less-nourishing foods” unappealing. 3) we all clean our houses, our clothes, our hair, but rarely do we realize that our inner system will also benefit greatly from a simple cleaning.
I’m getting ready to do another “round” of it; and so looking forward to reaping the many rewards!
Good for you Robbie! That’s an accomplishment, and not an easy one. I notice one obvious thing missing from what your doctor said (unless you purposely left it out), exercise. I was aware of it mostly because recent conversations with my own doctor about improving my health have also not included exercise. Something we’ve all known for many years is vital to our well being and longevity. And wouldn’t all of our accomplishments be meant sooner and better? Interesting…
Keep up the good work!
Lisa Vitale
http://lisawifemom.wordpress.com
Thanks Lisa,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. You make a good point about exercise and diet, and the jury’s still out on that, as far as I can tell. I’m certainly no expert here, but I’ve found that a good program of exercise keeps me healthy and vigorous. And hungry. So there goes my weight-loss diet, no? What’s your experience?
Robbie
Thanks for sharing your uncarbonated fascination with us! I’m fortunate to have the kind of metabolism that keeps me slim, but I also know that regardless of weight, fewer carbs are better for me. Over the years, I’ve given up pasta, refined sugar, and most grains. I feel better — younger than I did 10 years ago. So weight isn’t the only reason to go low when it comes to carbs!
Thanks Maridel,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. I agree with you — feeling better comes from being healthy.
Robbie
Robbie,
What an unexpected subject! Very timely for the first part of the year. You included some great info. I don’t know that I could survive without carbs completely. Thanks for the suggested reading!
Carrie Hansen
http://www.studio-c-design.blogspot.com
Thanks Carrie,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you found it useful. We probably can’t avoid ALL carbs, but we sure can avoid french fried potatoes and cupcakes. Let me know how you like the books.
Robbie
Great post. Fad diets do come and go but I think Low Carb is here to stay. My doctor says a Low Carb diet can have good effects and he says can help to reduce health issues like high blood pressure along with some other health issues. He puts a lot of his patients on a Low Carb diet.
Congratulations on your success. Do you find you have more energy since being on a low carb diet?