Forums: September 2011 Kickstart Forum: How do I know if it's working?
Created on: 10/03/11 02:09 PM Views: 1673 Replies: 17
moonbeam Joined: 10/03/11 Posts: 4	How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:09 PM This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but didn't hear about the kick-off until mid-September so I joined in on 9/22. I've had good luck staying on plan and am amazed that my daily cravings of sugar have decreased. I'm feeling ok, but the weight isn't coming off like Dr Barnard stated in the book. After 11 days, I'm only down 4 lbs. I'm disappointed, but don't want to give up. I'm 58 years old and have struggled with weight for some time now. I've tried every diet available and nothing worked. I'm tired of diets and want a health plan. I'm eating whole grain breads, beans, pasta etc. And am wondering if introducing carbs is working against me. Sometimes I feel so bloated. I have limited carbs in the past. Any help or words of encouragement would be great. Thanks in advance!
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donnamae Joined: 09/01/11 Posts: 35	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:20 PM Hi Moonbeam, well as I've said before, I am no expert on this way of eating - although I do feel like an expert on weight loss since I've done it all my life -- up and down up and down!!! But one thing that I think might help you is to just think that if you are eating right, there really is nothing else you can do. And it will catch up with you. Also, you're a wee bit younger than me, but I had a doctor tell me once that it gets harder to lose weight as you are older and have dieted for many years. I don't know if that's your case, but it was mine. I guess your body gets used to the dieting mode and doesn't cooperate as much. I don't have much to lose, and really haven't distinguished myself with weight loss on this, but I did lose 7 lbs and that was a surprise!! You also sound like me, having been brainwashed about carbs!! It really sounds like you are doing everything right. I always think when I hear people say that you will lose xx amount of weight, that that applies to 'virgin' dieters - not someone who has done everything in the book like me, and maybe you!! So stick with it! It certainly can't hurt you and maybe in a week or two all of a sudden your body will just give it up!! Good luck!!
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:41 PM Hey there, I am amazed to see you say "only 4 pounds" in 11 days. That's a huge amount of weight in only a week and a half!!! 4 pounds?! That's awesome! Be proud of yourself! Remember this: It took a long time to put all that weight ON your body, so it's going to take awhile to take the weight OFF your body. True, lasting, healthy weight-loss takes time. Dropping pounds quickly may look good on the scale, but it isn't maintainable long-term. You want lasting results. The bloating can be hard at first as your body adjusts to the new foods – but you will adjust. It just takes time. I used Beano some in my first couple of weeks to help tame the bloating, then I didn't need it so much. You'll do great, I'm sure. Keep up the good work. You're doing awesome! Molly Horn
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:43 PM moonbeam wrote: This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but didn't hear about the kick-off until mid-September so I joined in on 9/22. I've had good luck staying on plan and am amazed that my daily cravings of sugar have decreased. I'm feeling ok, but the weight isn't coming off like Dr Barnard stated in the book. After 11 days, I'm only down 4 lbs. I'm disappointed, but don't want to give up. I'm 58 years old and have struggled with weight for some time now. I've tried every diet available and nothing worked. I'm tired of diets and want a health plan. I'm eating whole grain breads, beans, pasta etc. And am wondering if introducing carbs is working against me. Sometimes I feel so bloated. I have limited carbs in the past. Any help or words of encouragement would be great. Thanks in advance! Be sure to have LOTS of greens and veggies and fruits, not just grains and beans. For that matter, many people will feel bloated and kinda icky if they jump right to lots of fiber (whole grains, beans, lentils, etc) right away. Back off that stuff a liitle and get more of the greenery in there. Look over at the Power Plate - it's MOSTLY veggies with portions of grains and legumes next to it. That's something that I find I have to watch consciously - if I get hurried and busy, I fall back to grains and beans - even though they're whole grains and good stuff, it's still light on the veggies and fruit and I'll start to notice it. Even something as ostensibly simple as packing a tossed salad with my lunch most days is all it takes to keep on track. --Deb R
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moonbeam Joined: 10/03/11 Posts: 4	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 4:46 PM Donna, Molly and Deb, Thank you so much for your strength and insight!!! I feel so much better just knowing that I'm not alone. I did bring a cup of edame beans today to snack on and realize I need more fruits and veggies. Hopefully this will also help me with the "I want to see results yesterday" syndrome. You're right... it took a long time to get here. I'll re-read the power foods when I get home tonight. Thanks!! Angela
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catbear Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 76	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 5:17 PM It can be hard at first switching your digestion to whole foods! Try soaking your beans and grains before cooking them. (Throw away the soaking water and cook in fresh water.) Add kombu to your beans to make them more digestible. And soak nuts as well. Another thing that might work for you is eating fruit separately from other foods, about 20 minutes before a meal or alone as a snack mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
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moonbeam Joined: 10/03/11 Posts: 4	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 7:53 PM Catbear, Thank you so much! I just got home from work and am heading to yoga, but I am so bloated and uncomfortable. I've been trying to drink more water, too. I will definitely take your suggestions and appreciate your input. Angela
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 at 9:31 PM You know, catbear, your suggestion about fruit is a good one. I've never wanted to believe it because I'm really anti-Food Combining (the fad type, at least). But I know that when I eat fruit separately, I feel much better. So... I guess some of those combining tips work! Molly Horn
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 7:59 AM mollyhorn wrote: You know, catbear, your suggestion about fruit is a good one. I've never wanted to believe it because I'm really anti-Food Combining (the fad type, at least). But I know that when I eat fruit separately, I feel much better. So... I guess some of those combining tips work! I rarely eat fruit as part of a meal anyhow, so this never really was something I bothered with. With the occasional exception of some banana slices on cereal and raisins on oatmeal, most of the time fruit IS my snack of choice - a handful of grapes, a small/medium apple, a banana, etc is my portable, self contained, take it with me, snack choice. I guess the closest other 'fruit/meal' combo is a wonderful mango jicama salsa that we make fresh and eat with chips (bell peppers, onion, jicama, mango, spices). What kinds of fruit-included meals are y'all having to change up? --Deb R
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 8:43 AM I used to try to eat an apple, pear, cantaloupe, or other melon with breakfast – I no longer do that! Now, I'll have my fruit, then wait an 1.5-2 hours, then have my protein+complex carb. That seems to work pretty well for my blood sugar and digestion. Interestingly, Deb – you pointed out mangos – I can eat mangos and papaya pretty well without too much interference to other food. Maybe it's subjective – I love those, ergo I can eat them. Molly Horn
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catbear Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 76	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 8:49 AM I am really missing my go-to breakfast of Ezekiel raisin bread with a smear of almond butter and raspberries, strawberries, green apple or banana slices on top! But I've been reading that the fruit can start to ferment and cause bloating and/or gas so I thought I'd give it a try to flatten my belly.
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moonbeam Joined: 10/03/11 Posts: 4	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:03 AM For breakfast I've been loving Ezekiel raisin English muffins with natural strawberry preserves. Could this be why I'm having problems with bloating/gas?
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:06 AM mollyhorn wrote: I used to try to eat an apple, pear, cantaloupe, or other melon with breakfast – I no longer do that! Now, I'll have my fruit, then wait an 1.5-2 hours, then have my protein+complex carb. That seems to work pretty well for my blood sugar and digestion. Interestingly, Deb – you pointed out mangos – I can eat mangos and papaya pretty well without too much interference to other food. Maybe it's subjective – I love those, ergo I can eat them. I do a similar thing in reverse - I eat my "breakfast" (whole grains, protein, etc) and then about 2 hours later I'll have a piece of fruit. Not by any deliberate "plan" or anything but simply because it's easier to grab a banana or an apple and head off to work and use that as my mid morning snack. Both mango and papaya contain an enzyme that breaks down proteins fairly quickly - that's why you'll often see mango or papaya as ingredients in meat tenderizer products and marinades (not that you're buying them at this point but they're there if you look). Maybe that's why they aren't a problem when combined with your meals. --Deb R
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:27 AM moonbeam wrote: For breakfast I've been loving Ezekiel raisin English muffins with natural strawberry preserves. Could this be why I'm having problems with bloating/gas? Moonbeam, I often feel really bloated after eating Ezekiel products specifically. You might try having another brand's whole grain muffin and see if you have the same result. Molly Horn
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catbear Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 76	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:33 AM Bugsmom wrote: I guess the closest other 'fruit/meal' combo is a wonderful mango jicama salsa that we make fresh and eat with chips (bell peppers, onion, jicama, mango, spices). --Deb R That reminds me of one other thing.... (This is all Ayurveda that I've been reading about, by the way.) For better digestion to try eating raw foods before your cooked, like a first course of salad, instead of mixed in with the rest of the meal. That's something I would do at a restaurant, but not at home. But maybe worth giving it a try to see if you feel better?
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WhisperCat1 Joined: 09/01/11 Posts: 32	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 11:10 AM I noticed that when I first went vegan, I lost about two lbs. a month for several months, and when my body hit the weight it wanted to be all along, I stopped losing weight. This is so healthy and natural, and I felt great the whole time The thing I have to watch is too many added oils in my food, especially with crackers and tortilla chips which I love. In other words, I'm not sure it is the carbs per se... just the way the carbs are cooked. Best wishes for your continued success and health.
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12:11 PM catbear wrote: That reminds me of one other thing.... (This is all Ayurveda that I've been reading about, by the way.) For better digestion to try eating raw foods before your cooked, like a first course of salad, instead of mixed in with the rest of the meal. That's something I would do at a restaurant, but not at home. But maybe worth giving it a try to see if you feel better? I often do that in reverse too (LOL) - I'll save the salad until the end to fill up on without having more of whatever the entree was, which is usually a "bigger" thing (quinoa chickpea pilaf, pasta with veggies, veg chili, etc). The salad finishes things off so I feel comfortably full/satisfied without adding too much in the way of grains and beans. --Deb R
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sparkledee Joined: 09/04/11 Posts: 48	RE: How do I know if it's working? Posted Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 2:59 PM How about a little salad before to help with digestion and a little salad after to feel "full." I have often done that when I've had a salad at the beginning of a meal, and felt I needed something else at the end. Usually does the trick! Dee
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