I didn't think I could either...

NewStartNow · 07-04-2009, 09:29 PM

My sister-in-law has gained a lot of weight and doesn't really know how to get it to come off. I feel her pain. I'm very far from my goal.

I was telling her about low-carb eating. I told her to just give up grains, bread, HFCS, hydrogenated oils, sugar, and potatoes...just as a start to see what happens to her body.

She said it was too hard. I had a flash back to when I first starting reading up on this lifestyle. I didn't think I could do it either. Give up bread! No way!

But I did. And I discovered my addiction to sugar and my sensitivity to wheat and dairy...and now I can hardly believe that I live without bread and cheese and ice cream and cookies...but I do and it's not even a big deal anymore. I get cravings but overall I'm adapting and I feel so much better.

If only she'd give it a try.

CarolynF · 07-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Well, a good example is the best advice. When she sees you dropping weight, she may
decide to give up all that bread.

Face it, many of us ate a carby diet and that's why we were heavy..

Blood Sugar 101 · 07-05-2009, 06:32 AM

Just remember what they teach at the 12 Step programs: You have to work your OWN program.

It's very tempting to want everyone around you to experience the benefits you're experiencing, but if people aren't ready they'll find your evangelizing a turn off.

That's one reason a lot of us, self included, participate in boards like this one where people come because they are ready to make changes. The internet is wonderful the way it makes it possible for people who want information to find it.

But my daily life is filled with contacts with people who are suffering needlessly from high blood sugar and diabetes who have no interest in making any changes and who trust their ignorant doctors. I've learned, the hard way, that there is no way I can get through to them because they don't want to know. I console myself thinking about the many thousands of people who visit my web site every day who DO want to know, and remind myself that it isn't my responsibility to fix everything wrong with the world, just to do what I can to help.

NewStartNow · 07-05-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

Just remember what they teach at the 12 Step programs: You have to work your OWN program.

It's very tempting to want everyone around you to experience the benefits you're experiencing, but if people aren't ready they'll find your evangelizing a turn off.

That's one reason a lot of us, self included, participate in boards like this one where people come because they are ready to make changes. The internet is wonderful the way it makes it possible for people who want information to find it.

But my daily life is filled with contacts with people who are suffering needlessly from high blood sugar and diabetes who have no interest in making any changes and who trust their ignorant doctors. I've learned, the hard way, that there is no way I can get through to them because they don't want to know. I console myself thinking about the many thousands of people who visit my web site every day who DO want to know, and remind myself that it isn't my responsibility to fix everything wrong with the world, just to do what I can to help.

You are correct. From now on I'll just encourage her with whatever she decides to do. She wants to give up sodas. So I'll encourage her in that. That's a first step.

Blood Sugar 101 · 07-05-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewStartNow

You are correct. From now on I'll just encourage her with whatever she decides to do. She wants to give up sodas. So I'll encourage her in that. That's a first step.

That sounds like a very positive way to approach it.

One thing I've also learned is that there are people who can lose weight eating a lot of foods I can't. So if I lay down the law about carbs and then they lose weight eating pasta and whole wheat bread they will think I'm an idiot or a fanatic.

There's a member of my family diagnosed with diabetes who can eat a lot of carbs without ever seeing a blood sugar spike. His blood sugar is only high fasting. But when I gave him the pep talk about blood sugar spikes after eating, his meter didn't find any. So I was glad I had only suggested he test to see what foods raised his blood sugar. Otherwise, again, he'd have thought I was a deluded fanatic.

I do know people who lose weight on Low Fat diets, even some with diabetes. So pretty much all we can do is suggest people experiment to find out what works best for them and what they can stick to, and do the same for ourselves.

No one size fits all with diet.

Houston Heather · 07-05-2009, 11:40 AM

I post on a local news site.. and one feature of the site is the ability to give a "thumbs up" to a post.

Boy, I would have given all thumbs up on this thread!

Sometimes, the person who really takes your advice to heart is the last person you'd expect. I converted a paratransit driver and a fast-food employee and it thrills me... but I have told HUNDREDS of people my secret. To my knowledge, out the hundreds, only two took the leap.

It's hard to love someone and see them hurting, knowing you have the answer.

LadyPeacock · 07-05-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

It's hard to love someone and see them hurting, knowing you have the answer.

This is so true. I have a couple dear friends that are morbidly obese. I fear for them. But until they make up their mind to change their WOE, there is nothing I can do. It really and truly breaks my heart.

NewStartNow · 07-05-2009, 12:46 PM

I was just thinking that you all are right: there is no one size fits all diet

BUT there are things that we know contribute to poor health and in most cases weight gain, that are universal no matter what diet you follow.

excessive sugar
HFCS
hydrogenated oils
refined flours

I think that everyone should work to eliminate these. You can't go wrong there. Eat low fat but cut out the above; Eat low carb but cut out the above; Count calories but cut out the above; Be vegan but cut out the above.

I think these are harder to cut than anything else because they are part of our convenience foods. When we lose those we have to go back to Real Whole Foods.

peanutte · 07-05-2009, 12:47 PM

It's true, Peacock. It's heartbreaking. What's weird is that some of those same people look skeptically at me, as if I'm doing something obsessive and crazy because I don't eat bread, sugar, pasta, etc. It's as if they view my diet as a negative thing, even though I have gotten results and they are still stuck going in circles. They can't honestly tell me they are fine with being so overweight. I think they just fear doing something about it.

LadyPeacock · 07-05-2009, 12:55 PM

Peanutte, I know what you mean. I know for a fact by their comments that they are not happy with their weight. But I guess they just have to reach a point like we did where enough is enough and something has to change. I just hope they can/will reach that point before it is too late.

peanutte · 07-05-2009, 01:12 PM

One friend in particular likes to say, rather smugly, "I'm not in favor of diets that eliminate entire food groups." Well, that's too bad, because I can't see any compelling reason I should be eating bread and pasta and sweets. She's an emotional eater, and could really benefit from Atkins. But oh well!

LouieLouie2007 · 07-05-2009, 01:19 PM