help, is low-carb possible?
i've been having health issues lately, i was talking to a nutritionist yesterday at the gym for a few minutes and was asking her about what has been going on. i've gained almost 40 pounds since i was very thin from my anorexia almost 2 years ago, from the binge eating. now that the weather is getting nicer Dean (my parents too) will encourage me to drink alcohol. i don't really mind it, i prefer not to, especially lately because it seems every time i drink, i get sudden pains in my chest and my legs will hurt so bad that they go numb for a few seconds. the pain only lasts less than 10 seconds but it's enough to make me want to stay away from alcohol completely. when i was thin i could drink a Mike's lemonade and feel fine--sleepy but fine.
i told her about the binge eating, the weight gain, she asked what kind of foods i eat-- (PBnJ, bagels, luna bars, popcorn, cookies, crackers, rice, potatoes, pasta, pineapple, apples, and atleast one kitkat every day.. when i binge, like last night, it can get up to 3 kitkats).. she said it sounds like insulin resistance and possibly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. that my liver is having issues with all the sugar and carbs i eat, especially after the weight gain. it's kind of scary to think that drinking a third of a beer could put me in so much pain, and even scarier that it might be because i screwed up my liver by actually EATING now.
i know my diet isn't great, i exercise for atleast an hour every day but it doesnt do much when you're eating 2000 calories of crap every day too. she said i should cut down on my carbs, but i'm starting to wonder if a low carb diet is possible as a vegetarian, because don't low carb diets usually mean high-protein.. meaning just tons of meat and eggs?
i really don't know what to eat anymore. i know fruits and veggies have natural sugars but it's still sugars. and i know i need to lose most of the weight i've gained, but my insulin being so messed up it's really hard to lose it..... aauugh, help!!
i dont think it is a good idea to start restricting your diet agaiin, and certainly not omitting whole groups of foods. im afraid it would be a slippery slope.
It will take time for your body to find its "place". the weight gain will not go on forever...your body is really just adjusting to being fed. you are doing the right thing w/ keeping up sensible exercise. keep it up!! ;)b dont worry about losing pounds right now... you need a chance for your body to recup a bit.
its hard to say if you are eating too much for your body, as i dont know what your portion sizes are, etc. But a diet w/ good carbs is absolutely healthy. choosing whole grain breads, brown rice, wheat pasta, etc will certainly help w/ regulating blood sugar.
and a kit kat each day can definately fit in a healthy plan! in all honesty, in terms of blood sugar response...a candy bar, with fat (get one w/ nuts is even better!) is better than say even a glass of juice, or a piece of candy...those things are just straight sugar and will spike your bs faster than a chocolate bar.
i wouldnt suggest trying to go low carb, but adding protein will also help w/ blood sugar levels and swings w/ insulin.
you can add tofu, seitan, quinoa/ beans/ lentils *which also have carbs* to your meals. if you are lacto-ovo...there are eggs and some dairy (just watch for sugar w/ this as well, you are better off eating high fat dairy rather than low, b/c of dairy's drastic impact on blood sugar/ insulin).
i have never heard that kind of reaction to alcohol before, and its entirely possible that you do have some sort of insulin resistance. however, i would get a second opinon from a medical dr....they can do tests for your insulin levels and response. i wouldnt make drastic changes w/o a real workup.
if the alcohol makes you feel like crap...dont drink it! dont put your health in danger to be polite or make others comfortable. first and foremost you need to take care of yourself, the people around you should recognize and respect this. you have made major strides and its awesome! it will get easier, i promise. keep on the track you are going, surround yourself w/ good support systems...you'll find your balance. ;)b
I don't think you need to go "low carb" but perhaps fewer refined carbohydrates than perhaps you have been eating. You can get really creative with healthy whole grains, legumes, nuts, veggies, fruits, etc. and you don't have to (nor should you) cut out all or most carbs. Your diet should actually consist of about 55-65% carbs, 10-20% protein, and less than 30% fat (correct me if I'm wrong, nutrition experts out there!). But the majority of these carbs shouldn't come from chips, cookies, overprocessed grains, etc. because you aren't getting much nutritive value for the amount of carbohydrates that you're ingesting. But like LA said, don't restrict yourself. As long as you are getting the nutrients you need from your other foods, then having a serving or two of dessert will definitely be fine.
What foods do you really not like (if any) or really do like and maybe we could help you develop some more balanced meal ideas?
I agree about fewer refined carbs and more whole grains. Carbs are good for you! You need them! You don't need refined sugar and flour. You can still fill up on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans (which are especially good for keeping blood sugar level), and you'll be getting so many nutrients and you'll feel fuller and better. I think that will help level things out for you.
Very low-carb diets are bad for you, too. When you don't have enough carbs, your body goes int ketosis metabolism, which is really bad for you. (I learned that from one of hespy's posts!). Eat lots of good carbs! That will also help your weight stabilize itself slowly and safely to a good level for your body.
What foods do you really not like (if any) or really do like and maybe we could help you develop some more balanced meal ideas?
that's the thing, though... like i told my mom last night, sometimes i feel like the binge eating is because i don't enjoy what i eat during the day, but i binge on basically the same foods, as if i'm trying to force myself to learn to like them. there just isn't anything that i'm crazy about... i like carbs, which is a problem. i don't know many good rice recipes, does anyone have some on here that they really like?
i dont think it is a good idea to start restricting your diet agaiin, and certainly not omitting whole groups of foods. im afraid it would be a slippery slope.
It will take time for your body to find its "place". the weight gain will not go on forever...your body is really j
ust adjusting to being fed. you are doing the right thing w/ keeping up sensible exercise. keep it up!! Thumbs Up dont worry about losing pounds right now... you need a chance for your body to recup a bit.
...i've been gaining weight for almost 2 years now, i would have thought that my body would have found its "place" by now. i'm not going to continue gaining weight, bingeing every day reaching between 2,000 and 3,000 calories, i'm already miserable enough where i don't let my boyfriend touch me, i wear huge baggy clothes because none of my normal clothes fit me, i wear a hoodie at work (i work in a room with an oven and other machinery that gives off heat) because i'm tired of people making comments to me about how big i've gotten. i can't stand to look at myself in the mirror because it makes me cry every time. i get night sweats because of the stress, i can't sleep, and i'm breaking out in hives on a regular basis now
i really understand that you're trying to help so that i don't resort back to my anorexia. and i really truly appreciate that so much.. but i know that going the way i have been is just going to get worse, and i want to stop it before it gets to a point where i honestly have no hope left to feel better about myself
i don't want to cut out all the carbs, i love carbs, i just am looking for things that are naturally low carbs, because the only things i can think to eat when i'm hungry is bread, crackers, cereal, etc
I agree about fewer refined carbs and more whole grains. Carbs are good for you! You need them! You don't need refined sugar and flour. You can still fill up on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans (which are especially good for keeping blood sugar level), and you'll be getting so many nutrients and you'll feel fuller and better. I think that will help level things out for you.
so fruits are okay, even though they're loaded with sugar?
so fruits are okay, even though they're loaded with sugar?
Well, fruits are far better than refined carbs and sugar, that's for sure. They are loaded with fiber and nutrients and are low-calorie for their volume, in general. I really don't think you could eat enough fruit for it to become a problem, honestly. This is fresh fruit, not dried fruit or fruit juice, which are more concentrated in sugar. If you are eating lots of fruit to replace other refined carbs in your diet, that's definitely favorable.
So yeah, if you replace the refined carbs with more wholesome ones--like fruit!--your body will get a much better sense of the amount of food and nutrients it requires.
i know what you mean about the kind of *panic* that you can go thru when you are gaining weight. im am about a yr and half out from starting recovery, and i go thru swings too. for me, the only thing that helps is that i remind myself that they are swings. i may not be eating well, i get in ruts, will gain/ lose weight... i just tell myself to kick myself into a better habit. it might just start w/ eating more veggies in a day or eating one less cupcake. ??? but i try to feel good about what im doing...the *good* that im doing, being mindful. and yeah, i avoid the mirror for a time.
but thats just me.
as for the carbs...what are your favorite foods? are you trying new preparations? sometimes cooking them differently ...roasting vs. steaming, for example... can wake up your tastebuds. try new sauces and recipes?
dont try to omit your carbs (whatever it is you love, like bread) all at once. try to cut down on the serving size little by little and fill up on more protein and vegs.
fruit is good b/c it contains fiber (in the skin) and nutrients. *an orange, for example, is better than orange JUICE (thats just straight sugar)* a piece of fruit w/ a nut butter, yogurt, is a great snack.
popcorn is good! you can also add all types of seasonings to help w/ whatever flavor you are wanting...chili spices, NY, herbs, even caramel, choc shavings, pb...etc.
try to examine what it is you are craving and enjoy eating...is it the saltiness to something? the texture or condiments?trying to adapt them to veg foods...like tofu, whole wheat pasta, veggies, etc. then hopefully you can enjoy eating the foods that you need to eat anyway.
Both of my parents are diabetics and I've gotten them to switch to this brand of low carb pasta.
Granted I don't know for sure if it's totally vegan, however, it doesn't have any obvious sources.
http://dreamfieldsfoods.com/
If it's about insulin, fruit should be fine. The problem arises when there's too much glucose in the bloodstream too fast, which is what happens when you eat refined carbohydrates (the sugars are easily accessed and digested). The presence of the extra fiber in whole grains slows down the digestion process, which makes it release sugars more slowly (also means you feel fuller longer!), and the same goes with fruit. Even though it tastes sweet, this doesn't mean it's full of bad sugars; both refined and unrefined grains' carbs completely consist of sugars (but don't taste sweet because of how they're arranged in the food). In other words, don't think that just because it tastes good that it's bad for you!
Fruit can be great when you're craving sweets, because it takes care of any actual sugar needs your body has without overloading it. But as kissmekate said, it's about whole fruits, not so much dried, and definitely not juice.
My sister tried the "low-carb" thing for a few weeks once, and she said the first thing she craved was actually fruit (I would have thought it would be bread or candy or something). She felt like crap (what can I say, it's a constipating diet!) and went vegan for a few weeks afterwards to "balance it out." ;D
Don't cut carbs......gym instructors and their high protein diets aren't always the best advisors in my opinion.
Cut out the refined carbs, include healthy complex carbs and you should be fine. If you're working about an hour a day, you need these.
Also don't talk yourself into thinking it's now that you're eating that your body is getting into trouble. Anorexia plays havoc on the body and that's when the damanage occurred, not when you started eating again.
Otherwise good advice above.
May I throw my two cents in?
It seems that from the list of foods you're binging on later in the day, that they are foods of choice because of their convenience. Yes you like the carbs but it's just so easy to open the box of crackers, or cookies, or the bag of bread, etc. Maybe you should take a little time and prepare some convenience foods that are better for you and readily available as well.
I personally love to snack on macaroni salad. Make it with whole grain pasta of course, but fill it with your favorite additions, olives, celery, cukes, tomatoes, onions, peas, beans, whatever, and your favorite sugar free dressing. Make a large quantity of it and have it ready in the fridge for eating when you feel the need to binge.
The same with a green salad, or a fruit salad. A bowl of fruit covered with granola (sugar free) and soy yogurt is incredibly filling and appetizing. The point being, prepare in advance your own convenience food, rather than the processed crap from the store.
Be strong and proactive for your own better health. I agree with the advice given to you about not drinking if it hurts! Be positive and kind to yourself. I wish I could help more.
Bless you and best of luck.
Yes, fructose is technically "still a sugar" but a) the body assimilates it differently than the refined white crap and HFCS and b) you're getting a lot more good stuff in the whole-fruit package. You're getting fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that--sorry to be the one to tell you--AREN'T in those Kit-Kat bars! ;) If you eat cold, whole fruits from the fridge they are so refreshing! The juice from that apple or orange or whatever that runs down your chin is also hydrating your system.
As my doctor says, "Honey no one ever got fat from eating fresh fruit." Now if you drown it in whipped cream and white sugar, that's not fruit anymore...that's a processed dessert.
Now that our summer veggies are coming in, I like to chop up some red sweet peppers, carrots etc and keep them chilled in the fridge. They're crunchy (which is so satisfying!) and refreshing and full of flavour.
Im concerned about the binge eating, in both of your posts this comes up as a major concern of yours and Im wondering if you can talk to somone about it. Since you are a recovering anorexic do you have a therapist you can talk with? Im not sure all this health food advice is going to do you much good until you deal with the underlying problem of this binge eating and why you are doing it. If you can get it under control and follow a healthy diet and excersize program Im sure you would be suprised at how fast you can get back in shape and feel better about your body. Since you have seen the doctor, Im sure bloodtests have been done, did he/she refer you to a nutritionist? It would be good to keep a food diary for a week and then do some nutritional planning, 6 small meals tend to help with blood suger levels and cravings. I would stay away from any processed food and white sugar till you meet your goal. Maybe get rid of the kit kats and gets some nice organic dark chocolate for a treat. Eat friut first thing in the morning, a big salad and protein for lunch, snack on your crackers and hummus, veggies,
nuts, and then have a sensible dinner followed by a friut bar or a little soy ice cream. Watch your portion sizes and eat slow. Baby steps, hang in there and get healthy! You can do it!
It seems like your binge foods could be change to complex carbs instead of simple and be a far better choices..pb &j is fine on whole grain bread, whole grain bagels, luna bar occasionally, popcorn with nut yeast, brown rice, sweet potatoes, brown rice pasta, fresh fruit is fine...just make sure you are still getting some form of beans or tofu or other protein source and greens.
Just remember complex carbs = good...you need carbs for brain function. Just try to limit simple carbs...
When your body is use to sugar from the simple carbs it craves more and you are continuously in this vicious cycle of sugar binging and withdrawal.
also fiber tends to be very filling and can help curb binges.
Im concerned about the binge eating, in both of your posts this comes up as a major concern of yours and Im wondering if you can talk to somone about it. Since you are a recovering anorexic do you have a therapist you can talk with?
my doctor is also my therapist, he specializes in eating disorders, i've been going to him for over 3 years. he has been trying to get me to lose some weight for a couple months, and i talk to him about the binge eating but he doesn't really help me, he gives me these really out-there ideas, like trying all liquid diets (if i didn't want to eat actual food, i wouldn't have this problem), and then once he said i should join the peace corp so that i could see people that have bigger problems than me and that would fix me. he's actually a really good doctor, sometimes i think he just says that shit to get a reaction out of me lol... but still...
i did get rid of the KitKats, and i bought more veggies to have on hand. I bought some Kashi Oatmeal Choc Chip cookies so i can have one of those every night instead of the kitkat. i know that's still processed but it's not as many calories and still kind of satisfies my chocolate craving. they aren't as good as the Craving Cure Cookies but i'm too lazy to make them.
i didn't binge last night and i haven't yet today (and its almost bed time) so i'm hoping that i'm actually on the right track now
thanks everybody
my doctor is also my therapist, he specializes in eating disorders, i've been going to him for over 3 years. he has been trying to get me to lose some weight for a couple months, and i talk to him about the binge eating but he doesn't really help me, he gives me these really out-there ideas, like trying all liquid diets (if i didn't want to eat actual food, i wouldn't have this problem), and then once he said i should join the peace corp so that i could see people that have bigger problems than me and that would fix me. he's actually a really good doctor, sometimes i think he just says that shit to get a reaction out of me lol... but still...
It's just my opinion, but it sounds like your doctor is not as supportive as he could be. His suggestions are not very practical, and he is giving you very little to work with in terms of finding ways to improve--and he borders on making you feel guilty. I am surprised that a doctor who specializes in helping people with eating disorders would say such things. Do you think getting suggestions from a different doctor with a different point of view would be helpful? Just my very objective, outsider observations, for what they are worth.
I think replacing the kitkats was a great step! I'm glad to hear that you are feeling good about the progress you have made in the past few days. :)
(((Sariea)))
I'll take your word for him being a really good doctor... Most people with a history of eating disorders have an all or nothing type personality so suggesting a liquid diet could be a dangerous thing to do when it could potentially trigger a relapse.
Here is a link to a great site for healthy (fiber rich) weight loss.
http://beandiet.blogspot.com/2007/04/weight-loss-foods.html
Good luck.
KMK, you're right. his suggestions aren't practical. i know when he said those things it was to get my reaction because i always turn down his practical ones, i think i'm still wanting to believe that there's an easy answer so when he suggestions something that i COULD do, i just think "thats too hard, no i can't do that". he gets really frustrated with me sometimes and we just end up sitting there staring at each other lol.. i haven't even seen him since the middle of february but i have an appointment in 2 weeks finally. i'm gonna see if i can actually talk to him this time since i'm feeling a little better about it.
~THHF~, his statements kinda did trigger me, putting me in a "i'll never lose weight" kind of mind frame, the all or nothing thing you mentioned. thanks for the link, i'll go check it out now!
Oh WOW! No binge eating over 24 hours! You must be so happy and proud of yourself!! Keep it up, remember everything won't happen all at once, as much as we like instant gratification things take time. Im sorry your doctor said the peace corp thing, being in the medical field myself, Im not sure where that came from other than he must have been frustrated with you and it came out at the end of your session or something. I know a different perspective does change a person as I have done medical mission work in Guatemala and came back a different person, but that is unrealistic for somone who needs help and advice from a trusted physician. Perhaps before your next appt. you could write down all the positive changes you are making as well as any questions you have along with undesirable symptoms (anxiety, the alcohol thing, poor body image, etc.) and then you will be super prepared for you guys to work as a team. Also get him to refer you to a nutritionist or a therapist specializing in eating disorders. Somone who can give you goals and a good eating program, maybe a dietician. Hang in there dear!!
You are wonderfully unique. No one else has your smile, your spirit, your blend of gifts and great qualities. You're a secret recipe that can never be duplicated, a gemstone never seen before, a masterpiece and a miracle-really!! So don't think you're not special. (WW 12/4/07)