cmlynn's Journal, 17 March 2014

In my experience, MOST of the "diet" pills (prescribed or otherwise) are purgatives (they block fat absorption). BUT, they are also usually a "Band-aid" and only mask symptoms. When you stop taking them, you gain the weight back.  

Kari29 - that's my concern. I did the HCG diet once and while I lost a bunch of weight, it didn't stay off and tanked my metabolism (probably another reason weight loss is tough for me now). Like I said, I am willing to do the hard work and I've lost about 13 pounds so far, but it's a slooooooooow process. 

Cmlynn, do you calculate your Macros (fat/protein/carbs)? Looking at your diet journal entry for the day, it's not easy to tell what direction you're trying to take your body in...what fuel source are you trying to feed it? Right now, looking at the macros you have logged in for the day, you are high protein (which will turn to sugar in your body if you are lower on carbs and fat). A lot of people don't realize that protein ALSO spikes blood sugar. I am NOT a doctor, nor do I want to necessarily tell you what to do, but after learning about how the body metabolizes the types of calories we put into it, people with a carb intolerance (pre-diabetics, obese and overweight people, people who suffer from IBS, Celiac dz, etc) have to keep their carb intake to a minimum (particularly with regards to any kind of refined sugars, but also grains, starchy vegetables etc) as they are the quickest to spike blood sugar and cause insulin response. The next thing the body will look for if there are no carbs readily available is protein. The fuel source that keeps blood sugar to a minimum is dietary fat (particularly Mono and Poly unsaturated and MCT- medium chain triglycerides, which are found in tropical nuts like coconut and macadamias). It might be something to ask your doctor about. I was never diagnosed pre-diabetic, but can just about guarantee I was headed in that direction as it runs in my family and I am definitely overweight. I noticed a HUGE difference in my energy and have seen rapid weight loss results in just a short amount of time. I started with Atkins on the 1st of March and have lost 14.2 lbs since then. I haven't felt deprived (like I have so many other times while "dieting")and my energy has been through the roof.  

Thanks, kari29. Sometimes even I don't know what direction I'm going :-) For the most part, I've started with trying to keep my calories at about 1200 or so, watching my carbs, fats and sugars. And just the last 10 days or so I've cut out alcohol entirely. I don't hide from myself what I'm eating so when I've strayed, I record it. I have to figure out what good and realistic numbers for carbs should be. I'm not trying to diet for just now, but rather I'm trying to make a change to how I eat and look at food. I may have to look at Atkins ... thanks!  

The science behind metabolism tells us that not only do we need to watch our ratios of fat>protein>carbs, but also how MUCH we take in overall. 1200 calories seems really low to me (unless you're completely sedentary and do nothing other than exist and sleep). I understand there is truth to calories out>calories in, but there cannot be such a deficit as to put your body in "conserve mode" either. That's when your body thinks it's starving and actually shuts down non-essential functions. Anything over a 30% deficit for the day can be extremely dangerous! 

I know you're looking for help (my husband also diabetic and we both have family history). He was on Byetta when it first came out and then a few years later there was a recall and class-action suit! Thank God he only took it a few weeks with no side effects. He was COMMITTED to diet and exercise and that really made the difference in what he was able to do in 6 months without the medication. I sincerely hope that works for you too because we just don't know about these medicines on the market...Boost your daily caloric intake, but lower the fat grams to 50 or fewer and get moving (even low impact like Sit-and-be-Fit). Exhaust every option first, please. 

Best advice: research HOW metabolism works (and the relationship between each of your macros), especially with regard to insulin response. The answers you seek are out there, you just need to put in the work to find them and interpret them. I watched a really informative (yet dry) seminar on the web put on by a team of GP Physicians in Australia called Low Carb Melbourne. If you can get past the dry delivery, there is a LOT of great information in the seminar regarding HOW the body metabolizes the fuel we give it (they even touch on insulin response).  

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback - like I said, this time I am committed to making lifestyle changes and not just stay on the diet cycle. And I got in this position for a lot of reasons - laziness, surgery on a foot, drinking too much, etc, etc. I am not looking for a quick fix and happened to read about this drug and wanted some other thoughts from this group (who by the way I don't know how I could ever live without!). Thanks everyone!