Dr, Schwarzbein

Heidiann · 07-08-2005, 07:40 AM

I just got her book and have been reading it. She believes in good fats, protein, etc. - basically not creating an insulin response. However, she said that no one should ever go below 45 carbs per day as she said this is dangerous for a nondiabetic. She also isn't too fond of ketosis. Any thoughts on her program? Is anyone on her program? She also states that you need to heal your metabolism before you can lose weight, what do you think about that?

Yaylocarber · 07-08-2005, 08:28 AM

Are you talking about her first book or the second book? Her first book is really the book I like the best.

I disagree with her about needing carbs and I think sometimes this comes from a more personal viewpoint (hers) of not wanting to give up some foods or tell people they have to give up everything they like (potatoes, corn, bread, pasta) by allowing more carbs to make it easier. I think her program is a good one for maintenance or for someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose, but I believe if someone is extremely insulin resistant they will not lose well at that carb level. I was on 30g carbs on Protein Power when I first began lc and though I lost well at first, about 30 lbs, I was stuck for a long time until I lowered my carb level. Everyone is different, with different metabolisms, so each person needs to follow a plan that works for them.

Schwarzbein's first book is a mustread because it is such a great educational tool and I have used it several times to convince naysayers that lowcarbing is the healthiest way to lose weight, particularly the Introduction and Chapter One.

I use elements of Protein Power, Schwarzbein and Atkins as sources of info to support my own individual lc plan. If anyone asks me which plan to start on, I usually suggest a higher carb plan because unless they are seriously overweight, I feel they may find success at a higher level of carbs than I did because I was very obese when I started. I also tell them up front that if they find that they are still craving carbs, are having problems losing or staying on plan, they will need to go to a more structured plan like Atkins to be successful because they are likely more metabolically resistant and need to eat fewer carbs than South Beach, Protein Power, or The Zone, or Schwarzbein allow. However, I recommend all these books for a lowcarber's library for reference purposes as I have gone back to them on countless occasions, and this is a lifetime thing we're doing and we need all the info we can get.

Jugo · 07-08-2005, 09:05 AM

I am currently reading her first book... haven't got too far into it... So far I have liked what I have been reading...

I will let you know what I think when I am finished...

LightlyStarched · 07-08-2005, 09:27 AM

I really want to read her books. I keep checking at Bookman's Used Books but none have shown up yet. Yeah, I know I could order them somewhere online, but I have a penchant for real used book stores - must be the musty smell or something, lol. Please post anything else interesting you learn.

tammay · 08-17-2005, 04:24 PM

I am also reading the newest book (SPP) and am liking it a lot. I am close to goal (less than 10 pounds away) and am now looking for a maintenance type plan that focuses on healthy living and eating and not weight loss. I like her approach a lot and always did. My sister did the first plan a few years ago and went from a size 18-20 to a size 8 on it (I'm guessing she lost about 50-60 pounds). She's a vegetarian and SP was the most veggie-friendly low carb plan she could find.

I haven't read book one and two but was told that this third book is really the nitty-gritty of the first two. I think her appraoch that one eats healthy to lose weight rather than the other way around (losing weight makes one healthy) makes a lot of sense.

But then, I agree that her plan may not work as well for someone who has a lot of weight to lose. I know that 30 pounds ago and probably even 20 pounds ago I wouldn't have found her book as enlightening as I do now, when I've lost most of the weight I wanted and am in a position to want ot maintain rather than lose it.

I plan on giving it a try, though, just because I like her 5 steps and the emphasis on balancing protein, fat, carbs, and veggies at every meal (and with her down on sugary foods and artificial sweeteners except for stevia and xylitol, I'm guessing I won't become readdicted to sugar). Don't know if I'll go the total limit of carbs that she suggests, though (45 a day - maybe - but she suggests, I think, 25 gr per meal for 5 meals a day for a total of 125 per day!)

Tam

kissesfromaudra · 08-17-2005, 06:43 PM

People can still lose weight even going down to 100 carbs a day and not even getting into ketosis. It is a much longer process and they have to make sure to exercise lots but it does work. Most people who are not fans of Ketosis get it mixed up with another word (forgot what it was but it has to do with diabetic people) which is dangerous. Ketosis is not dangerous but it is hard work to get there and to stay there. Sometimes it is easier for people to focus on the 100 carbs or less and to lose weight that way. I myself prefer going under 20 carbs and staying in ketosis because I know I can and like to do it. Plus I like to lose weight faster. But what ever works best for you is best for you!

Hugs,
Audra

Yaylocarber · 08-19-2005, 04:50 AM

Audra, the term you were looking for is ketoacidosis, which is a problem for diabetics. Schwarzbein developed her program while she was treating diabetics, so it is a given that she would not encourage ketosis. However, in normal nondiabetics, it would be no problem to be in ketosis as long as enough water is taken in and electolytes are in balance.

The first Schwarzbein book is really the best to have imo. I have given it to many people who are anti-lc because it is the BEST explanation of how carbs work in the body. She has great graphics that explain why carbs cause physiological problems and even though her plan is higher carb, it is the one I will use during maintenance.

07-08-2005, 07:40 AM	#1
Heidiann Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14 Gallery: Heidiann	Dr, Schwarzbein I just got her book and have been reading it. She believes in good fats, protein, etc. - basically not creating an insulin response. However, she said that no one should ever go below 45 carbs per day as she said this is dangerous for a nondiabetic. She also isn't too fond of ketosis. Any thoughts on her program? Is anyone on her program? She also states that you need to heal your metabolism before you can lose weight, what do you think about that?

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07-08-2005, 08:28 AM	#2
Yaylocarber MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,752 Gallery: Yaylocarber	Are you talking about her first book or the second book? Her first book is really the book I like the best. I disagree with her about needing carbs and I think sometimes this comes from a more personal viewpoint (hers) of not wanting to give up some foods or tell people they have to give up everything they like (potatoes, corn, bread, pasta) by allowing more carbs to make it easier. I think her program is a good one for maintenance or for someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose, but I believe if someone is extremely insulin resistant they will not lose well at that carb level. I was on 30g carbs on Protein Power when I first began lc and though I lost well at first, about 30 lbs, I was stuck for a long time until I lowered my carb level. Everyone is different, with different metabolisms, so each person needs to follow a plan that works for them. Schwarzbein's first book is a mustread because it is such a great educational tool and I have used it several times to convince naysayers that lowcarbing is the healthiest way to lose weight, particularly the Introduction and Chapter One. I use elements of Protein Power, Schwarzbein and Atkins as sources of info to support my own individual lc plan. If anyone asks me which plan to start on, I usually suggest a higher carb plan because unless they are seriously overweight, I feel they may find success at a higher level of carbs than I did because I was very obese when I started. I also tell them up front that if they find that they are still craving carbs, are having problems losing or staying on plan, they will need to go to a more structured plan like Atkins to be successful because they are likely more metabolically resistant and need to eat fewer carbs than South Beach, Protein Power, or The Zone, or Schwarzbein allow. However, I recommend all these books for a lowcarber's library for reference purposes as I have gone back to them on countless occasions, and this is a lifetime thing we're doing and we need all the info we can get.

07-08-2005, 09:05 AM	#3
Jugo Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,582 Gallery: Jugo Stats: 278/176(162)/160 WOE: Atkins-Maintenance, BFFM Start Date: August 2002	I am currently reading her first book... haven't got too far into it... So far I have liked what I have been reading... I will let you know what I think when I am finished...

07-08-2005, 09:27 AM	#4
LightlyStarched MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,085 Gallery: LightlyStarched Stats: 245/229/140 5'4" WOE: IF Start Date: 2/22/04, started IF 8/10/08	I really want to read her books. I keep checking at Bookman's Used Books but none have shown up yet. Yeah, I know I could order them somewhere online, but I have a penchant for real used book stores - must be the musty smell or something, lol. Please post anything else interesting you learn.

08-17-2005, 04:24 PM	#5
tammay Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Southwest Texas Posts: 882 Blog Entries: 17 Gallery: tammay Stats: 153/142/120 WOE: Lowcarb Vegetarian (my own) Start Date: Jan 2002 (restarted: 9/20/08)	I am also reading the newest book (SPP) and am liking it a lot. I am close to goal (less than 10 pounds away) and am now looking for a maintenance type plan that focuses on healthy living and eating and not weight loss. I like her approach a lot and always did. My sister did the first plan a few years ago and went from a size 18-20 to a size 8 on it (I'm guessing she lost about 50-60 pounds). She's a vegetarian and SP was the most veggie-friendly low carb plan she could find. I haven't read book one and two but was told that this third book is really the nitty-gritty of the first two. I think her appraoch that one eats healthy to lose weight rather than the other way around (losing weight makes one healthy) makes a lot of sense. But then, I agree that her plan may not work as well for someone who has a lot of weight to lose. I know that 30 pounds ago and probably even 20 pounds ago I wouldn't have found her book as enlightening as I do now, when I've lost most of the weight I wanted and am in a position to want ot maintain rather than lose it. I plan on giving it a try, though, just because I like her 5 steps and the emphasis on balancing protein, fat, carbs, and veggies at every meal (and with her down on sugary foods and artificial sweeteners except for stevia and xylitol, I'm guessing I won't become readdicted to sugar). Don't know if I'll go the total limit of carbs that she suggests, though (45 a day - maybe - but she suggests, I think, 25 gr per meal for 5 meals a day for a total of 125 per day!) Tam

08-17-2005, 06:43 PM	#6
kissesfromaudra Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 179 Gallery: kissesfromaudra Stats: 18/12/6 WOE: Low carb Start Date: July 2008	People can still lose weight even going down to 100 carbs a day and not even getting into ketosis. It is a much longer process and they have to make sure to exercise lots but it does work. Most people who are not fans of Ketosis get it mixed up with another word (forgot what it was but it has to do with diabetic people) which is dangerous. Ketosis is not dangerous but it is hard work to get there and to stay there. Sometimes it is easier for people to focus on the 100 carbs or less and to lose weight that way. I myself prefer going under 20 carbs and staying in ketosis because I know I can and like to do it. Plus I like to lose weight faster. But what ever works best for you is best for you! Hugs, Audra

08-19-2005, 04:50 AM	#7
Yaylocarber MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,752 Gallery: Yaylocarber	Audra, the term you were looking for is ketoacidosis, which is a problem for diabetics. Schwarzbein developed her program while she was treating diabetics, so it is a given that she would not encourage ketosis. However, in normal nondiabetics, it would be no problem to be in ketosis as long as enough water is taken in and electolytes are in balance. The first Schwarzbein book is really the best to have imo. I have given it to many people who are anti-lc because it is the BEST explanation of how carbs work in the body. She has great graphics that explain why carbs cause physiological problems and even though her plan is higher carb, it is the one I will use during maintenance.