Bragg's, anyone?

[channlluv]

I have been using their apple cider vinegar mixed with cold water and a packet of stevia in an effort to help me lose weight. In the week I've been using it, I've gained four pounds and my face is breaking out. Both may be due to the detox effects of the ACV, or that my period is due in a few days, or a couple of dietary lapses. I'm wondering if any of you use Bragg's products, and how. Maybe I'm not doing it right.

I bought some of their liquid aminos, too, with the intention of making salad dressing with coconut oil and balsamic vinegar. Do any of you use it? I read that it's good for thicker hair and weight loss, but I'm not sure how that works.

I also picked up one of their books - the one on ACV-- but it reads with the fervor of religious propaganda and most of their evidence is anecdotal. I'm not sure I trust it. Plus, it's rife with grammar errors, which bugs me. If they didn't take the time to consult a professional editor, would they consult nutritionists and other medical professionals?

I'm new to these products. I'm hoping to get some input from you all. You, I trust.

Thank you!
Roxy

[KnottedYet]

I have Bragg's apple cider vinegar. Good stuff.

Lose the stevia. Mix a teaspoon of honey into the tablespoon of vinegar and the cup of water. (I prefer mine hot).

ACV works great for weight loss if you drink one cup of the mix every evening, after substituting all sugary and artificially sweetened drinks with water the whole day, eating 2 servings of fresh fruit or veges 30 min before every meal that day, and getting at least 1 hour of exercise that day.

It's a miracle!

Ok, I'm being a little sarcastic... read too much of that Bragg literature and you too will become a bit off like me. I like Bragg's because it makes my tummy happy. Any cider vinegar will do that for me, but Bragg's tastes so much better. It makes a nice salad dressing, too.

Use it, enjoy it, but don't expect it to make you lose weight.
(and the only way to detox is to go to the bathroom, whether or not you consume vinegar)

[channlluv]

Thanks, Knot.

What is your favorite salad dressing recipe?

I was using the stevia instead if honey because my doctor tells me I'm prediabetic. One of the reasons I'm trying so hard to lose weight.

I'm reading a book now by Dr. CW Randolph and his wife, Dr. Genie James. He's the one who discovered the benefits of bioidentical hormones and they've written this book, From Belly Fat to Belly Flat. Nowhere in this book do they mention ACV. It made me wonder about the acid level--maybe this is contraindicated for someone who may be dealing with estrogen dominance.

I feel like I'm facing one of those 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, and when I get it all put together, I'll be healthy and fit, and maybe it won't be too-too late to have another baby, but I'm growing less and less confident about that.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

I just sprinkle it on the salad. Nice perky-tart effect, much like when you just sprinkle on some lemon juice. Goes well if you have walnuts in the salad.

Sweetness (real or artificial) is an appetite stimulant. Stevia is just as guilty of that as sugar or aspartame or saccharine. If you want to lose weight, you need to stop stimulating yourself. Real sweeteners at least have some calories associated with them, which satisfies some of the appetite they stimulate.

I'm hypoglycemic and gotta watch the pre-diabetic excitement, too. I got out of the habit of sweetening things and a whole new world of taste opened up. It's rare that I sweeten anything, but when I want sweetness I use something real like sugar or honey.

And honestly, if you load up with some plain fruit or veges at the start of a meal it makes a huge difference.

[Trek420]

What is your favorite salad dressing recipe

Not a recipe so much as theory/techniques. I've started making my own. We find if I buy commercial I end up with a collection of dressing odds and ends, some expired, some just plain odd ("But the wasabi blue cheese bacon dressing's was on sale!") in the fridge :rolleyes:

First the way my Mom does salad dressing:on the salad. Fill a big beautiful bowl with greens, colorful combos, edible flowers from the garden, be creative, have fun. Drizzle green bits with oil, nice local olive oil or any good olive oil is what I like. Now use your hands to lightly toss the salad. I said hands, not tongs. :p Every nook and cranny of leafy green bits must be covered. Use a little more oil if you need to. Fresh ground pepper, dried herbs, toss toss toss.

When she says covered, not drenched, just light coating.

Now take a light vinegar; Braggs, balsamic, Japanese rice wine vinegar, any of our wonderful local sourced flavored balsamics .... drizzle, toss again.

Voila! Your salad just made it's own dressing. :p
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The way I make dressing, not a recipe either:

Pick a bowl, glop in a little mustard; brown, dijon, pick a mustard. Depending on the mustard choice sometimes I use a bit of honey. Add vinegar, usually balsamic. Whisk till very smooth.

Take the French whisk in your right hand, olive oil in your left (reverse if you're lefty) and pour a constant light drizzle of oil into the mixture while feverishly whisking with your other hand. Continue drizzling and whisking till it looks right.

[channlluv]

You two are so fabulous. Thank you both.

Knot, thanks for the tip on sweetness being a stimulation. I hadn't considered that with stevia, since it's supposed to be natural and not sugar, hence a healthier choice. Thanks, too, for the tip on veggies and fruit before the meal. I'll try that.

And Trek, thank you for sharing how you and your mom make salad dressing. I'll give that try.

This book I'm reading, From Belly Fat to Belly Flat, recommends lots of veggies, too, but what's a bit disheartening is that all the estrogen-balancing food they're recommending, or a lot of it, anyway, I'm already doing. We have broccoli, cauliflower, or spinach with just about every meal. Always lean meats, wild-caught fish two or three times a week, fruit at least once a day, lots of green salads, boiled eggs, brown rice, all of that. I need to look, then, at the dietary stuff that's not on the list and start eliminating it. I do eat out for lunch a lot. Usually Panera or Rubio's, which always seemed like healthier salad options, but maybe a month on this Fat >> Flat diet will shake out all the bad eating habits. Or most of them, anyway.

They also recommend bioidentical hormone treatments. I'm just getting into this chapter. Seems a bit pie-in-the-sky that some cream made out of wild yams will help me drop the pear-shape, but probably no more than thinking ACV drinks three times a day will do it.

Argh. My brain is a-swim in too much information.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

Throw away the diet books.

Seriously.

Buy cookbooks instead.

Go to the library and check out every Moosewood cookbook you can find (especially the later ones which are lighter on the cheese). Also any Alice Waters cookbooks, and any cookbooks from Greens restaurant. Mollie Katzen's "Sunlight Cafe" is another good one.

Pack your own lunches, and only eat lunch out once every couple weeks.

Drink water when you are thirsty. Eat fruit or raw veges (good ol' carrot sticks and pickled olives are handy and easy to pack) when you need a snack.

Cut down on the sweetners and extra salt. (appetite stimulants) If you want a piece of chocolate, have a square of extra dark. Very satisfying and you won't be left craving more.

And get the blood test for celiac disease. (infertility, weight problems, pre-diabetic, endocrine issues

[Thorn]

Awash in too much information? Let me help with more....:rolleyes:

You mention Braggs...my latest favorite cooking show is the raw cooking show on public television (http://www.mptv.org/local_shows/?s=12) While her personality is muted on the show, Caroline is an amazingly upbeat, positive and contagious personality. She supplements a lot of her cooking with Braggs aminos (http://www.mptv.org/local_shows/recipes/?s=12)

Her thesis is that by keeping the nutrients in your food high, you will eat less because the body has found the nutrition it needs. She's a walking example, having lost significant weight by switching to a raw food diet.

That said, I'm not a raw food nut, but living without air conditioning in this extremely hot summer, we've been using her recipe bases a lot--and they're just that, starting points for you to expand upon. (whisper) just don't let her know that we use her taco mix in whole wheat wraps (/whisper).

[Trek420]

Another great cookbook:

http://www.greensrestaurant.com/display.aspx?catid=7&pid=4

[arielmoon]

Throw away the diet books.

Seriously.

Buy cookbooks instead.

Go to the library and check out every Moosewood cookbook you can find (especially the later ones which are lighter on the cheese). Also any Alice Waters cookbooks, and any cookbooks from Greens restaurant. Mollie Katzen's "Sunlight Cafe" is another good one.

Pack your own lunches, and only eat lunch out once every couple weeks.

Drink water when you are thirsty. Eat fruit or raw veges (good ol' carrot sticks and pickled olives are handy and easy to pack) when you need a snack.

Cut down on the sweetners and extra salt. (appetite stimulants) If you want a piece of chocolate, have a square of extra dark. Very satisfying and you won't be left craving more.

And get the blood test for celiac disease. (infertility, weight problems, pre-diabetic, endocrine issues

This is the best advice I have seen in a long time!! This is exactly how I eat except that I am also vegan. The only other thing I would add is to avoid processed foods.

[Groundhog]

And get the blood test for celiac disease. (infertility, weight problems, pre-diabetic, endocrine issues

Knot, you are my hero!

Roxy, I haven't kicked my weight issues (yet!) but I cannot believe how much healthier I am since I was diagnosed with celiac and started eating gluten free.

And I frequent a celiac message board with tons of women who had infertility issues, PCOS, prediabetes, etc., and who are now much healthier.

Of course, not everyone will have celiac who has the symptoms that Knot lists above, but since celiac disease is so underdiagnosed, I like to help get the word out. Of the 100 people who have celiac, only THREE know that they have it.

Best of luck to you.

[channlluv]

Okay, I just pulled out a cookbook that a very fit marathoner/mud runner friend recommended to me a few months ago that I bought, but haven't used yet. It's from the Earthbound Farms people: Food to Live By. I'll try some of these recipes this next week and see how they go.

I looked at a site about celiac disease and the only weight problem they mention was losing it. I do have some of the other symptoms, but not that one. Can you have celiac and be 100 lbs overweight?

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

"I looked at a site about celiac disease and the only weight problem they mention was losing it. I do have some of the other symptoms, but not that one. Can you have celiac and be 100 lbs overweight?"

Yup.

Your body can't absorb the nutrients it needs while it is being ripped up by the whole gluten-thang. So it keeps telling you it is hungry, and you eat and eat and eat. Desperately trying to get minerals and vitamins, your body only manages to absorb a ton of calories and it's still starving!

A lot of folks with celiac will lose excess weight very quickly once they get the ALL the gluten out of their menus. Their intestine heals, and suddenly (within a couple weeks) they can absorb nutrients again. They aren't starving for trace elements any more, so they aren't as hungry. Some are still very difficult to absorb (vit D and vit B12 especially) but some over-the-counter supplements take care of that. (sometimes in massive doses, but that depends on what your doctor recommends)

[badger]

it's interesting you mention celiac disease and how so few people know they have it. I was at a party tonight and one of the women there was just diagnosed this February with celiac. How she went on for a few years without realizing she had it, and once she knows she feels SO much better.

One interesting thing she mentioned regarding celiac is how if one is predisposed but don't show symptoms, one of the triggers can be surgery. She had surgery on her ankle to repair a torn achilles tendon 4 years ago and she said that's when she started having problems.

Anyways, this is neither here nor there regarding ACV, which I also use as part of my simple salad dressing: my current oil (rice bran oil), ACV, and a sprinkle of raspberry balsalmic vinegar. Sometimes I'll also throw in a bit of Bubbie's Horseradish (OMG, so good!!)

[channlluv]

I also just ordered the Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam.

I looked at one of the Moosewood books. It seems pretty similar to the one I already have - Food to Live By - so I'm going to hold off on that for a bit.

I wish these books came with shopping lists.

I think I may try gluten-free just to see how it is. I found another thread about gluten free substitutes and it seems there are a lot of options out there for a sandwich lover.

I've got a follow-up appointment with my endocrinologist in September. I'll ask him to run the celiac blood test since he's already running a full panel of hormone tests.

Thank you for all the support and the wealth of information.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

You must NOT change your diet before the blood test!!!! :eek:

If you stop eating gluten or decrease your usual gluten, you will have a negative test no matter if you have celiac or not.

The blood test ONLY picks up antibodies to gluten. You must be eating gluten for several weeks before and during the test in order for the antibodies to be produced. Some doctors recommend 6 slices of bread a day for 6 weeks before the test.

If you change your diet before the blood antibody test, then your only option is the DNA test, which is not covered by insurance and is a couple thousand dollars.

Please talk to your endocrinologist before you go eliminating any foods.

Plus, if you truly do a gluten-elimination diet, you must have guidance from a nutritionist for it to be effective. Gluten shows up in some bizarre places.

Please, do all the other things for a healthier pattern of eating that folks have suggested. All those great cookbooks, all those lovely fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

But don't mess with restrictive diets of any sort without a doctor's or nutritionist's guidance.

[Trek420]

Lots of good books out there of course and others here will chime in with faves I'm sure. Mollie Katzen, world class chef and the author of the Moosewood books is one of the handful of foodies credited with changing the way America eats (towards food that's made from food).

She's just come out with a book geared towards new cooks. I can't wait to read it:

http://www.molliekatzen.com/get_cooking_promo.php

[tctrek]

I thought gluten might be my problem, but was tested and I actually have no food allergies. But I feel the pain of any women who eats fresh/whole foods, exercises, yet cannot get the needle on the scale to budge. That has been my life for 10 years.

At the risk of thread drift, I will mention here that after many years of inability to lose weight, I asked my doctor if I could go low carb. She said "go for it"... It's been 5 weeks - I did pretty much straight Atkins with 20 grams of "net carbs" the first 2 weeks and adding 5 grams per week. I took 4 days off when we went to the beach, but other than that, I've been staying on track.

What I am finding out is that I am carb-sensitive. Reducing my carb intake has lifted my energy to new levels. No more sleepy afternoons at the office. I don't stand at the vending machine trying to choose between Snickers bar or chips. I have no carb cravings!! I am sleeping better, too and feel energized when I wake up in the morning!

I am riding my bike early in the morning on an empty stomach (not long distances- say under 25 mi.). I'm drinking zero calorie Powerade for electrolytes and I might eat a shot block or two while riding. Then, I have a low carb protein shake post-ride. I'm eating tons of green vegetables, salads with chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef and eggs. I just started eating apples this week... I had eliminated all fruit for the first 5 weeks. I'm drinking about 80 ozs per day of water, green tea and/or Powerade. Stevia in my tea.

Unbelievably I am losing a pound a week. I am the person that could eat 1200 calories per day and actually gain weight!! I'm the one that can ride or go to the gym every single day and not lose weight. I'm post-menopausal and have hypothyroidism and have battled weight issues for 10 years.

I don't know if my stupid body will adjust to the low carb and figure out how to hold on to the weight again, but I am changing forever how I eat. I had blood work done after 4 weeks and my glucose/insulin levels are "perfect".

I recommend talking to your doctor -- I think there are many women out there who are carb sensitive and could benefit immensely from this dietary change.

[Susan]

Over here, we use ACV and pumpkinseed oil for salads - just sprinkle some of the Vinegar over green salad or tomatoes, add a bit of salt and some p.s.oil and toss (just as described above). People that aren't used to this kind of salad dressing find the dark green oil strange in the beginning :D but most people like the taste in the end.

However I think it would be hard to drink ACV :eek:

[Trek420]

Over here, we use ACV and pumpkinseed oil for salads - just sprinkle some of the Vinegar over green salad or tomatoes, add a bit of salt and some p.s.oil and toss (just as described above). People that aren't used to this kind of salad dressing find the dark green oil strange in the beginning :D but most people like the taste in the end.

This sounds wonderful! Next time I'm low on oil I may look for pumpkin seed oil and experiment with combos in different dishes. :)

[schnitzle]

Hells yes to pumpkin seed oil!! I think it's delicious in salad dressing. I've also used flax seed oil mixed with olive oil.

Here's my go to salad dressing: In a jar I mix dijon mustard (Beaufor), oil (olive, pumpkin seed, flax or grapeseed), some type of vinegar, grate in a clove of garlic, salt, ground black pepper, maybe some fresh herbs if I have some and shake it like mad. Add it to any salad stuff around.

I could drink the stuff!

I'll be interested to see what your celiac test shows Roxy. I wonder since your doc said you are pre-diabetic if it is more of a carb sensitivity as tctrek posted. I think that is my problem, although I've never been tested for celiac. I'm over 100 lbs overweight myself.

[channlluv]

My family doctor has told me she believes I'm glucose intolerant based on my symptoms (I get really sleepy after I eat white bread, white rice, etc., so I stopped eating white food a long time ago, for the most part. I'll admit I'm not as diligent with my diet as I should be.

TCTrek, I think I may be in your boat, too. What I dread most is giving up fruit for five weeks. I eat a lot of fruit. Already today I've had a banana and a cup of grapes. I've got an orange for my afternoon snack. How long did it take for your carb cravings to go away? And what are "net carbs"?

I need some quick, easy veggie recipes, I guess. I'll go take a look at the new cook book you recommended, Trek. And Knot, thank you for telling me not to change my diet just yet. I was all ready to go out and buy a bunch of gluten-free stuff. Although just yesterday I realized that most of what I eat is gluten-free. Fruit, veggies, lean meats, eggs. I do drink milk occasionally with cereal, but other than that, I'm largely dairy-free, too. I have cheese every now and then. But I do eat bread. I guess too much of it.

If I'm just glucose-intolerant, does that mean I have to give up fruit? I often start the day with grape juice-frozen berry-spinach-whey protein smoothie.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

These are really things you should be working out with your doctor and your nutritionist.

We are all full of ideas, but honestly you need to be diagnosed by a medical professional before you go eliminating anything (carbs, gluten, topic-of-the-day).

And while we are all full of ideas, with your medical history you really should be doing any dietary changes with the guidance of a medical professional every step of the way.

[channlluv]

I was just thinking I needed to call my family doctor and get her in on this before I move forward. Thanks, Knot.

Roxy

[tctrek]

TCTrek, I think I may be in your boat, too. What I dread most is giving up fruit for five weeks. I eat a lot of fruit. Already today I've had a banana and a cup of grapes. I've got an orange for my afternoon snack. How long did it take for your carb cravings to go away? And what are "net carbs"?
Roxy

Believe me, I thought it would bother me not to have my fruit, and I was a huge fruit eater, but it didn't. The fact is that i did not have carb cravings after the first day. But I made sure I had plenty of food to eat, so I was not hungry. You can eat any of the foods on this page: http://www.atkins.com/Program/Phase1/WhatYouCanEatinthisPhase.aspx

Net carbs is basically the Sugar carbs, not the fiber carbs. So, something might have 10 grams of carbs, but if 2g are Sugar and 8g are fiber, you only "count" the 2 carbs when figuring out your 20 grams per day. That's because fiber carbs don't spike your insulin, just the sugar does.

I don't really understand why it works, but it does. The trick is to add back carbs slowly... and stay away from white food and food with high glycemic index.

[Trek420]

I was just thinking I needed to call my family doctor and get her in on this before I move forward. Thanks, Knot.

Roxy

That's a really good idea. I recommend asking her for a referral to a good sports nutritionist or nutritionist experienced with athletes before making any change to your food plan/diet/pantry etc.

[Groundhog]

...And Knot, thank you for telling me not to change my diet just yet. I was all ready to go out and buy a bunch of gluten-free stuff. Although just yesterday I realized that most of what I eat is gluten-free. Fruit, veggies, lean meats, eggs. I do drink milk occasionally with cereal, but other than that, I'm largely dairy-free, too. I have cheese every now and then. But I do eat bread. I guess too much of it.
...
Roxy

The problem with the celiac blood test is that it is not exact enough...or in other words, there are a lot of false negatives and you have to be eating gluten at the time. I, too, was mostly GF prior to diagnosis -except binging on bread. My celiac was picked up via an endoscopy, because I was in so much pain that my doc thought I had an ulcer. No ulcer, but they found celiac with minimal damage (although I felt so bad I didn't think it was "minimal"). But the blood test done right after was negative for celiac- even though I still ate gluten. So I am an example of someone who has biopsy-proven celiac but negative blood work (plus I have the genes). What I'm saying, Roxy, is that your celiac test (or Person X's celiac blood test) may be negative but that person may still have the disease due to the inaccuracy of the blood test.

I agree with Knot to have your doc run the celiac blood panel first (make sure they run the "full" panel) but there is no harm in cutting out gluten entirely AFTER the blood test (unless your doc wants to run the endoscopy) to see what happens. If you cut out gluten entirely, strictly, and you feel better then you have your answer. Some docs say that a Gluten Free diet is "unhealthy" because you don't get enough vitamins, but with proper planning there is nothing inherently "unsafe" about a GF diet. What a GF diet has is less fiber and less vitamins added to grains (e.g. "fortified" cereals or "wonder bread with eight vitamins"). Fiber is easy to get with fruit, veggies and flax (and oatmeal for some) and vitamin supplements are as "natural" as fortified bread. If you or your doc are worried about diet, a nutritionist/dietician can help with that.

My doc sent me to a nutritionist/RD and she said that my body thought it was "starving" because it wasn't absorbing nutrients/vitamins/fat and thus it wanted me to gain weight. My metabolism slowed, my vitamin levels were low, and I developed osteopenia, the beginning form of osteoporosis. The body type that most often gets osteoporosis is a thin one, so my body was really not absorbing calcium and/or vitamin D. The 20 extra pounds I gained in the two years before diagnosis got my BMI up to 29 and so I was one of the 40% of celiacs who are overweight at diagnosis.

Losing weight (I have 20 to lose plus the 15 that I was overweight with before illness) has been frustrating. I am psychologically "addicted" to refined carbs and maybe physiologically too. Cutting out wheat, plus white rice, white potatoes, corn, and GF flours is about the only way that I can loose weight. I don't know if it is from celiac or from years of eating unhealthily, but I can't fight it. Eating simple carbs makes me hungry. In terms of diets, South Beach Diet Phase I or Atkins Diet or Paleo Diet all work for me losing weight...they all cut out the "white" foods.

Some folks think that gluten intolerance is a spectrum between low gluten intolerance at one end to celiac at the other. Others think it is all celiac, but our tests aren't exact enough.

I'm just a layperson with limited knowledge. But I know that gluten has done some pretty nasty things to me and my son, so I just try to get the word out to others and hope that they end up less damaged than I. Going GF has made a world of difference in my health and I'm very grateful.

Again, I wish you good health, Roxy, and good health to all.

[KnottedYet]

The endoscopy can also give false negatives, especially if someone has strongly patchy villi destruction. If the scope misses the patch, and all the GI sees is lovely furry intestine... false negative.

People who get the herpetaform dermatitis can have that biopsied instead. Docs will recognize the tongue patching as celiac, too, but there is no standard for biopsy of the tongue.

23andme.com will do the celiac genetic test for a lot cheaper than the one your doc could order; but you'd still need it confirmed through the MD. More money down the tubes.

Blood antibody test is easy and cheap. If it comes up positive, end of story. If it comes up negative but your doc still suspects celiac, you'll probably be ordered the endoscopy or a 3-4 week gluten-free trial. If the endoscopy comes up negative but the doc still suspects celiac, you will be put on the 3-4 week trial.

It is very easy to survive without gluten. Entire civilizations through-out all of human history have done it.

It is very easy to eat out, you can always find something to eat even if you can't get to a restaurant you know comes from a non-gluten grain culture.

There is no temptation to cheat on the diet, because it is so not worth being sick and dizzy and itchy and rashy and lightheaded and migraine-y with a mouthful of sores and struggling with "gluten brain" for a week, just for a bite of bread. (I have panicked nightmares that I've accidentally eaten a pastry.)

There is a good bit of media hoo-rah around gluten-free right now, because so many people have lost weight or gotten healthier by cutting out gluten. They were probably all undiagnosed celiackers. Gluten itself is not a bad thing. It's only bad for folks who don't make the enzymes to digest it, and whose bodies (for what ever trigger) suddenly decide to attack gluten as an infectious invader and thereby catch the small intestine, nerves, brain, mucosa, skin, and other ectoderm-derived tissues in the cross-fire.

The important take-away from all this is that anyone suspecting a gluten problem must have guidance from an MD or nutritionist before experimenting, like Groundhog and I had. Just switching your sandwich to gluten free bread isn't gonna do it, it's a large and complicated dietary change to make in our wheat-centered culture. But once you know how to do it, it's easy to maintain.

ETA: fun trivia. The Catholic Church won't ordain celiackers, because they can't eat the wheat eucharist and so have been rejected by God for priesthood. I find it deeply ironic, as this is a prime example of the legalism which Yoshua ben Yusef was so strongly against. Laypeople can have rice or oat wafers.

[Trek420]

I think celiac or no we all can benefit by fewer or no processed foods. HFC syrup sneaks into nearly everything. Read labels! Bringing my lunch to work most days I dropped 9 lbs* just being more in control of ingredients. The places I'd eat are small, local independents. No chain eateries near my work, well .... now there's a Subway and a 'Bucks. :rolleyes: But I can't control if there's HFCS in whatever they use.

Not saying go vegan, or raw foods or do anything different .... it's just good to read the labels and eat food that's made from food. Obviously no label on an apple, peach or broccoli. :)

But meanwhile do communicate this and any concerns to a doctor, nutritionist.

*then put 4 back on when Knott was here :p oh well.

[Groundhog]

The endoscopy can also give false negatives, especially if someone has strongly patchy villi destruction. If the scope misses the patch, and all the GI sees is lovely furry intestine... false negative.

People who get the herpetaform dermatitis can have that biopsied instead. Docs will recognize the tongue patching as celiac, too, but there is no standard for biopsy of the tongue.

23andme.com will do the celiac genetic test for a lot cheaper than the one your doc could order; but you'd still need it confirmed through the MD. More money down the tubes.

Blood antibody test is easy and cheap. If it comes up positive, end of story. If it comes up negative but your doc still suspects celiac, you'll probably be ordered the endoscopy or a 3-4 week gluten-free trial. If the endoscopy comes up negative but the doc still suspects celiac, you will be put on the 3-4 week trial.

It is very easy to survive without gluten. Entire civilizations through-out all of human history have done it.

It is very easy to eat out, you can always find something to eat even if you can't get to a restaurant you know comes from a non-gluten grain culture.

There is no temptation to cheat on the diet, because it is so not worth being sick and dizzy and itchy and rashy and lightheaded and migraine-y with a mouthful of sores and struggling with "gluten brain" for a week, just for a bite of bread. (I have panicked nightmares that I've accidentally eaten a pastry.)

There is a good bit of media hoo-rah around gluten-free right now, because so many people have lost weight or gotten healthier by cutting out gluten. They were probably all undiagnosed celiackers. Gluten itself is not a bad thing. It's only bad for folks who don't make the enzymes to digest it, and whose bodies (for what ever trigger) suddenly decide to attack gluten as an infectious invader and thereby catch the small intestine, nerves, brain, mucosa, skin, and other ectoderm-derived tissues in the cross-fire.

The important take-away from all this is that anyone suspecting a gluten problem must have guidance from an MD or nutritionist before experimenting, like Groundhog and I had. Just switching your sandwich to gluten free bread isn't gonna do it, it's a large and complicated dietary change to make in our wheat-centered culture. But once you know how to do it, it's easy to maintain.

ETA: fun trivia. The Catholic Church won't ordain celiackers, because they can't eat the wheat eucharist and so have been rejected by God for priesthood. I find it deeply ironic, as this is a prime example of the legalism which Yoshua ben Yusef was so strongly against. Laypeople can have rice or oat wafers.

Excellent points, all. I do eat out quite a bit due to career and family and have learned to manage it. Never tempted to cheat.

Re: the Catholic Church...don't get me started. The Church as bad as the Military on gays, celiacs and women IMHO. I've heard that the Military won't take celiacs, (but will keep newly diagnosed celiacs) because field conditions require Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and MREs can't be made GF. At least that is a reason that makes sense!

[channlluv]

Wow, thank you Groundhog and Knot for sharing so much of your own experiences. I've got a call into my doctor. I'm waiting for her to call me back to confirm an appointment for next week. It's time for a full blood panel checkup anyway, and a mammogram.

I'll post here as things progress.

Roxy

[lattae]

I thought gluten might be my problem, but was tested and I actually have no food allergies. But I feel the pain of any women who eats fresh/whole foods, exercises, yet cannot get the needle on the scale to budge. That has been my life for 10 years.

At the risk of thread drift, I will mention here that after many years of inability to lose weight, I asked my doctor if I could go low carb. She said "go for it"... It's been 5 weeks - I did pretty much straight Atkins with 20 grams of "net carbs" the first 2 weeks and adding 5 grams per week. I took 4 days off when we went to the beach, but other than that, I've been staying on track.

What I am finding out is that I am carb-sensitive. Reducing my carb intake has lifted my energy to new levels. No more sleepy afternoons at the office. I don't stand at the vending machine trying to choose between Snickers bar or chips. I have no carb cravings!! I am sleeping better, too and feel energized when I wake up in the morning!

I am riding my bike early in the morning on an empty stomach (not long distances- say under 25 mi.). I'm drinking zero calorie Powerade for electrolytes and I might eat a shot block or two while riding. Then, I have a low carb protein shake post-ride. I'm eating tons of green vegetables, salads with chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef and eggs. I just started eating apples this week... I had eliminated all fruit for the first 5 weeks. I'm drinking about 80 ozs per day of water, green tea and/or Powerade. Stevia in my tea.

Unbelievably I am losing a pound a week. I am the person that could eat 1200 calories per day and actually gain weight!! I'm the one that can ride or go to the gym every single day and not lose weight. I'm post-menopausal and have hypothyroidism and have battled weight issues for 10 years.

I don't know if my stupid body will adjust to the low carb and figure out how to hold on to the weight again, but I am changing forever how I eat. I had blood work done after 4 weeks and my glucose/insulin levels are "perfect".

I recommend talking to your doctor -- I think there are many women out there who are carb sensitive and could benefit immensely from this dietary change.

I too, think that I'm carb sensitive as I've had the same problems with weight loss, diagnosed with hypothroidism for 20 years, and now menopause has set in. Nothing has taken the weight off even though I bike 50 miles on some days :( and watch my food intake. Have you found the new atkins eating plan difficult to do? I need to investigate to see if there's any low carb breads at my local panera bread, as I love to eat sandwiches on occasions. Where do you find your lo carb shakes at? Did you find it difficult to start out with the 20 gms of carbs? Thanks

[channlluv]

I just got home from Trader Joe's where I purchased some of the ingredients for the recipes in the Gluten-free Almond Flour cookbook. I still need to get arrowroot powder, which they didn't have, but it's only in a few of the recipes.

If you can do your own baking, this may be an option for you. I'm really looking forward to trying every recipe in this book. There's not a one in here that has made me go, "Um...yeah, maybe for someone like Knot and Trek420." In other words, something I'd have to work up to on the healthy eating scale. (And I mean that as a compliment -- you two are now my role models for healthy living.)

Roxy

[tctrek]

I too, think that I'm carb sensitive as I've had the same problems with weight loss, diagnosed with hypothroidism for 20 years, and now menopause has set in. Nothing has taken the weight off even though I bike 50 miles on some days :( and watch my food intake. Have you found the new atkins eating plan difficult to do? I need to investigate to see if there's any low carb breads at my local panera bread, as I love to eat sandwiches on occasions. Where do you find your lo carb shakes at? Did you find it difficult to start out with the 20 gms of carbs? Thanks

I worried terribly about the 20 gms of carb the first 2 weeks and I felt so much energy that it did not bother me at all. I was astounded. I was eating 150 grams of carbs a day and then went to 20. It *should* have felt bad, but it didn't! I had more energy! Dr. says that's because I must be carb sensitive... so rather than giving me energy, carbs slow me down and make me lethargic.

I will admit I eat a hamburger with cheddar cheese on it... just no bun! Make sure to eat lots of green vegetables - you will need the fiber for you-know-what. I do not eat any bread, potatoes, pasta or rice.. NONE. In the 5th week, I allowed myself an apple in the afternoon, but that is the only fruit I am eating. I eat lots of salad, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, brussell sprouts. No corn or carrots. I have an EAS Advantage (3 gms net carb) after workout. I am not counting calories, just net carbs.

I really don't think I will ever go back to eating carbs the way I did. I just feel so much better. When I reach my goal weight, 20 lbs to go, I might allow myself one day a week to eat a few more carbs... maybe not, though if it makes me lethargic.

[Trek420]

I'm really looking forward to trying every recipe in this book. There's not a one in here that has made me go, "Um...yeah, maybe for someone like Knot and Trek420." In other words, something I'd have to work up to on the healthy eating scale. (And I mean that as a compliment -- you two are now my role models for healthy living.)

Roxy

Ok, uhm, thank you and yet I'm a little uncomfortable with being anyone's role model for healthy living because
1) I'm not that good at any of it and more important ...
2) what works for me might not work or even be healthy for someone else.

They way Knott eats has been carefully worked out by listening to and working closely with her doctors, nutritionist. And when we're cooking together it works for me too because frankly I like and eat anything except eggs with runny yolks, and liver. :D

And even those I'd eat with enough bacon, mushrooms and or sour cream on top :D

I'd recommend not making any change in your diet nor following a diet book until you've completely discussed options with your doctors. Meanwhile I don't think you can go wrong "painting with your food" but again I have no medical background.

They say we "feast with our eyes" first. It can be fun to add color to anything you make and usually that's in the produce section :p

Today I rode to the farm market where I picked up red potatoes, yellow squash, brussel sprouts, green and yellow peppers (not these ones), peaches, red grapes, cucumbers, red and yellow tomatoes .....

Now I'll just have some fun with it.

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, what she said... :D

My dinner tonight is Pommes de Terre avec Carcasse Mysterioso et Brewski

Pommes de Terre

Rinse a dozen red potatoes in a dulsatory fashion
Cut off the icky bits
Cube 'em
Boil until they can be stuck by a fork
Drain and mash
Add olive oil (1/2 cup or more)
Add plain yogurt (1 cup at least)
Add salt (a teaspoon-ish)
Add cracked pepper (a few twists of the grinder)
Mash again

Carcasse Mysterioso

Select a can of SPAM (low sodium, so it's healthful!)
Cut two thick slices, and set on the Pommes de Terre to warm
Cut another slice and eat with fingers

Brewski

Root around in fridge until you find the last bottle of Redbridge (gf, so it's good for everyone!)
Drink from bottle.

ETA: oh, and "feasting with the eyes" I note that SPAM is the exact shade of pink as the boiled red potato skins.

[Trek420]

Food sounds so much better in French :p ;)

[channlluv]

Okay....well.

I'm making baked chicken, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Not the almond flour kind. That starts tomorrow.

I did an experiment today. I've been laying off white foods for a long time and I've been going easy on the bread intake all week. Yesterday I stopped at this fru-fru bakery that some of the other faculty members rave over and bought a loaf of sourdough bread. I had a slice for breakfast and another for lunch with peanut butter on it, and another a little while ago for a snack, with some Earth Balance spread on it. It was tres yummy, but I feel like I've swallowed a watermelon, my belly is so big. Seriously. Call me Stay-Puft.

Is that what celiac does to you?

Roxy

[nscrbug]

Okay....well.

I'm making baked chicken, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Not the almond flour kind. That starts tomorrow.

I did an experiment today. I've been laying off white foods for a long time and I've been going easy on the bread intake all week. Yesterday I stopped at this fru-fru bakery that some of the other faculty members rave over and bought a loaf of sourdough bread. I had a slice for breakfast and another for lunch with peanut butter on it, and another a little while ago for a snack, with some Earth Balance spread on it. It was tres yummy, but I feel like I've swallowed a watermelon, my belly is so big. Seriously. Call me Stay-Puft.

Is that what celiac does to you?

Roxy

Bloated, gassy, crampy...just a general gross feeling...yup, that's what gluten does to me. I had a celiac blood panel done a year ago...came back negative, but I never did follow-up with an endoscopy like I should have. While I don't think I am celiac, I do think I am gluten-sensitive. If I have a gluten-heavy meal, I feel like complete crap afterwards...tired, lethargic, and all bloated out with tons of gas...lovely! I swear it gets so bad, that sometimes I sleep on the couch to give my poor DH a break. I need to seriously just eliminate gluten completely...tough to do when you're a self-proclaimed "carb addict", like myself. :o

[malkin]

Food sounds so much better in French :p ;)

If we're ever in France together, you two can order the potatoes, but I'll take care of the beer, ok?
and don't even think of asking for Spam.

[Trek420]

and don't even think of asking for Spam.

Why not? I love SPAM :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

[KnottedYet]

No SPAM?

How about popcorn shrimp! YeeeeHahahah! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UmUX68KtE&feature=related

Of course, after France we could go to Hawaii and have my favorite SPAM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_musubi (although I prefer the full nori wrap, not like in this picture)

C'mon, feeeeeeel the looooooooove http://www.spam.com/

They have a SPAM cycling jersey at spam.com. You know you want one....

[schnitzle]

Of course, after France we could go to Hawaii and have my favorite SPAM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_musubi (although I prefer the full nori wrap, not like in this picture)


Oh how I looooove spam musubi!! <3

[KnottedYet]

Oh how I looooove spam musubi!! <3

TE field trip to L+L!!!!
http://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/
Yeah!

[channlluv]

And you can bring your own Bragg's Liquid Aminos to use as a dipping sauce.

Roxy

[malkin]

Why not? I love SPAM :p


I'm all for it (especially in HI) but just not in France.

[Trek420]

And you can bring your own Bragg's Liquid Aminos to use as a dipping sauce.

Roxy

:p ;) Mon dieu :rolleyes: Oy gevalt. Well, ok you go ahead and use whatever you want but why on earth use liquid aminos (whatever that is) when I can have this on my Portuguese sausage eggs and rice! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriracha_sauce

[channlluv]

The Liquid Aminos taste a lot like soy sauce/teriyaki sauce.

They're also supposed to be really good for your hair and boosting digestion/liver function or something to help you lose weight. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Go find a cookbook.

Roxy

[channlluv]

Medical update: The good news is, all blood work has come back normal. No celiac, no hormone problems, nothing. All my results came back in the normal ranges. A little high on the sugar, but not diabetic. A little low on the thyroid hormones, but still normal. My endocrinologist is going to have me do a 24-hour urine collection to test for Cushings, but he said today that if it's not that, he's not sure what else it could be.

I did some reading online and while I have several Cushings symptoms, I don't think it's the answer, either. He checked my abdomen and I don't have the too-much-cortisol indicators. (I have been living under a high level of stress, though, for almost twenty years. Actually, all my life. But it's not indicated in the blood tests as having any sort of effect on my system.)

Meanwhile, I'm now swimming a mile at the Y a couple days each week, and 10+-mile bike rides a couple times a week, and I'm still trying to be conscious of what I eat, although not super restrictive because I find that stressful, having to track everything so closely.

I asked him if I could have a referral to a nutritionist and he's handing me back off to my family practitioner because he's run every test he could think of (except for the Cushings thing, which will happen this weekend).

So I'm back to square one, but feeling pretty old (I turned 46 a week ago), frustrated, angry at myself for not being able to lose this weight (because obviously it's all in my head), and nowhere close to answers that will help me get fit.

I've been fat all my life, and he actually said today, "It may be that this is just what it is." Meaning my body has a set weight of 230, and unless I want to try gastric bypass, he can't help me.

I told him I don't want surgery because I wouldn't be able to eat for cycling or swimming...I wouldn't be able to train. My mom has had lap band surgery and it helped her lose 80 lbs in a year, but her diet is extremely limited, she can only eat 5oz of food at a time (although she regularly overdoes this and blames it on a faulty band adjustment), and often throws up whatever she's just eaten. I've been out to eat with her several times and she's had to excuse herself from the table to rush to the bathroom because "it's just not staying down." I don't want to live like that.

He also suggested their weight loss program, but I've done it before, and while there was some nutrition included, the teacher kept saying it was just a calories in-calories out equation and here, buy some of our chocolate shakes and chocolate-peanut butter bars and then eat a regular balanced meal once a day. No thanks.

I just want to cry. My life has been dominated by weight. I'm tired of being the fat mom. I'm embarrassed to run into women I know at the Y in the locker room, because there I am in all my pale, whale-like glory, and yeah, I just swam a mile, but who cares? I still look like a ten months pregnant pear.

I'm a bit, I don't know what I'm feeling about this, but the two tall, healthy, gorgeous friends I got into cycling a year ago are outriding me on a regular basis. I just can't keep up. I'm a hundred pounds heavier than they are. I can go farther, but nowhere near as fast. I can't even ride with them because I don't want to compromise their workout because I'm so much slower than they are. They're both training for the women-only tri in October, the one I invited them to join me for last year (I did the bike leg with two other friends for a relay team). They both had to get bikes to do it.

Ditto for the swimming. They are like dolphins. I'm a manatee.

And my knee (MCL) still hurts from that ridiculous 5K Everyday plan in August.

I'm feeling really isolated. My gut is telling me there's something wrong, but none of the medical tests back this up, so I'm wondering if I'm just deluding myself and I should just shut up and stick to the stupid whole grain-organic everything diet of the day, count the points, weigh everything, add up all the calories and deduct the exercise calories burned, if that number is even accurate for me because my body is so out of whack I have no idea if what's on the Garmin is accurate...I'm whining. I'm sorry.

I read in the October SELF that we should aim for 75 minutes of aerobic exercise every week to jump start weight loss. I had to laugh. 75 minutes a week??? I'm doing 75 minutes every other day, and a half hour on the days in between. If those skinny models are only doing 75 minutes a week to look like that, why can't all the exercise I'm doing pay off for me, too?

Whine, whine, whine...

The big update, though, is that I don't have anything showing in any blood tests that would indicate a reason why this weight isn't coming off. "It just is what it is."

Roxy

[crazycanuck]

(((Roxy)))

Ya know what..you may be the weight you are but.... you're still human & are obviously a wonderful person. You're doing what you can & obviously are dedicated to getting to your goal.

You're telling me you can't just go and make an appt with a nutritionist??? That's complete B********:mad: . Is there one at the Y you go to???

life is complete $*$*$*$*%&&&$*$ some days & although i don't have a magic answer for you, keep believing in yourself.

Keep riding & swimming. Do not give up & keep going. Throw away the mags as much of it's gunk.

There might be some recipies on http://www.healthyfoodguide.com.au/


btw..I often feel like a manatee with the chicks in our swim group. Most of them are size 2 & are ironmans etc..Out on the trails too BUT...I just keep on going out there to prove to myself i'm not a complete dorky potato.. :rolleyes:

Keep moving & keep smiling.

[KnottedYet]

Throw away the mags as much of it's gunk.


What CC said!

Hang in there!

Stop beating yourself up with all this stuff you are reading, stop counting and measuring, stop chasing fads.

From what you said about your mom, it sounds like she may have taught some challenging food behaviors as you were growing up.

Those gut surgeries fail when people force so much food into themselves that their stomach stretches and creates a new big pouch. Please don't even consider getting it done to yourself.

I think going to a nutritionist with the goal of learning about food in general (NOT weightloss!!!) would be an excellent place to go from here. As long as it's not the charlatan you went to before.

Somewhere on this board is a piece written by a TE'er who went to her doc for a check up, and got a lecture about how she was obese and needed to exercise. She had just finished an Ironman triathlon.

So, yes, some folks have a set point that is on the sturdy side. (my sweetie, for example, riding SF to LA in the AIDS Lifecycle several times and looking cuddly every step of the way)

If that's the case with you, then learn all the aspects of how to fuel the machine in a positive way, and take on the world! Stop punishing yourself! Ask a good nutritionist to teach you how to eat without counting, without restrictions, without searching for quick cures and miraculous snake oil.

What is that Michael Pollan quote? "Eat real food. Not too much. Mostly from plants."? Something like that, anyway. Eat food that has value for the joy and fuel it brings, not for some purported magical effect it has on weight. Eat food your body likes. (if it makes you uncomfortable and gassy, don't eat it. if it feels like lead in your tummy, don't eat it) A nutritionist who isn't out to sell you crap shakes and crap bars can teach you how to gauge what foods make your body happy.

Let go of the urge to let your life be "dominated" by your weight. Find something FUN to dominate your life instead. Find something deeply meaningful to dominate your life instead. Find something that adds joy to the world and contributes to the good of society to dominate your life instead.

Eat real food. Enrich your life. F*ck the weight. (to paraphrase Mr. Pollan)

[OakLeaf]

(((((Roxy)))))

What Knott said.

You're beautiful and strong the way you are.

Ask your family doctor for a referral to a nutritionist. Not that I've ever seen one, but I think a sports nutritionist may have a better handle on weight loss in athletes. I expect you have a medical school associated with a Division I sports team ... that's where I'd look if it were me (actually I'm thinking about it, but haven't made the appointment yet).



@CC - welcome to the wonderful world of USA "health care." She can *probably* make an appointment on her own (not always true with allied health professionals, but usually), but insurance won't cover it unless she has a referral (some insurance, any MD/DO can refer, other insurance, your PCP is the gatekeeper for everything).

[Trek420]

Somewhere on this board is a piece written by a TE'er who went to her doc for a check up, and got a lecture about how she was obese and needed to exercise. She had just finished an Ironman triathlon.

I can't find the thread but found her on YouTube (warning: turn the speakers down and or OFF if at work or around small/young children).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGFx4xWnnnI


So, yes, some folks have a set point that is on the sturdy side. (my sweetie, for example, riding SF to LA in the AIDS Lifecycle several times and looking cuddly every step of the way)

((roxy))) Especially when I did my 4th AIDS ride (I had some challenges on my last ride) people were shocked by what they perceived as weight loss. I was always hearing "wow, you're losing weight". The funny thing was I weighed the same but dropped from size 20 jeans (with elastic waist band of course) to 12. I threw the scale out or put it away anyway, just found it for the TE Weight Loss Thread. I still go by "how I feel, athletic performance and how my clothes fit".

With all you do I'd bet you feel, look, ride & swim lot better than any 200 sumthin' woman who does not do any of that. Actually .... better than any skinny sedentary person.

I'll hash my thoughts out this out later, gotta get to work and the doggie needs a walk too. A very wise TE'er (Velo Girl, actually) once told me that cycling particularly is about strength to weight ratio. So "you have a choice of getting lighter, stronger, or both". My body is on the sturdy side (luckily my sweetie thinks that's cute) so I focused on strength; eating lots of good tasty nutrient dense yummy foods, adding weights and/or intervals to the regime.

I lost inches, gained a stronger engine. The weight stayed the same. But it's a hoot to feel fit.

[redrhodie]

I just want to cry. My life has been dominated by weight. I'm tired of being the fat mom. I'm embarrassed to run into women I know at the Y in the locker room, because there I am in all my pale, whale-like glory, and yeah, I just swam a mile, but who cares? I still look like a ten months pregnant pear.

I'm a bit, I don't know what I'm feeling about this, but the two tall, healthy, gorgeous friends I got into cycling a year ago are outriding me on a regular basis. I just can't keep up. I'm a hundred pounds heavier than they are. I can go farther, but nowhere near as fast. I can't even ride with them because I don't want to compromise their workout because I'm so much slower than they are. They're both training for the women-only tri in October, the one I invited them to join me for last year (I did the bike leg with two other friends for a relay team). They both had to get bikes to do it.

Ditto for the swimming. They are like dolphins. I'm a manatee.


Roxy

I have a lot of thoughts ((((and hugs, Roxy)))) about everything you've written, but I'll keep my point to this...what does "outriding" mean? If you can go farther, then you win (this is your life, and these are your rules!). Focus on your strengths. You're built for endurance. You're strong and healthy. You've got a lot going for you for cycling. If you're into doing tris, you won't even be in the same category as your friends, so you can't compare what you're doing to them. It's not the same (but it's just as good).

My ultimate goal is to be a long term cyclist. I'm going for "still riding when I'm 90". (Actually, I'm going for 100, but since no one in my family has ever lived to 90, anything over 84 will be gravy). I ride in a way to not get injured, moderate distances, and I keep a moderate pace. I see no reason that if I don't get hurt, I can't be doing this for the rest of my life. With this as my focus, I don't care if I'm fast, since speed isn't necessarily going to help me reach my goal. I just keep pedaling, because it's good for me and fun.

[channlluv]

Thank you, friends. So I should embrace my Weebleness, huh? You all make it sound so easy.

Trek, thank you. I've got size 20, elastic-waist jeans, too. I wore them yesteday.

I'm sorry for the whine fest. I should have put a Pity Party warning sign on the subject line. I appreciate all the love and support, and the really, really great advice. I can contact a nutritionist myself. I was just hoping for a qualified referral to a sports nutritionist. I guess he didn't know any. My family doctor is a runner and cyclist, too, though, so I'm sure she knows someone.

When I do tell someone how much I weigh, they're usually surprised. I don't look it from the waist up. My hips, though, and thighs...remember that SNL skit about the wide-bottomed people? I'm not quite that bad, but not too far off.

I'm a Weeble. A Weeble who can bike twenty - thirty miles and swim a whole mile without stopping.

Trek, I'm going to take your story as my inspiration here. I'd love to get down to a size 12. I know I can do it. I just have to not get injured and keep up the regular exercise.

Thank you again, everyone, for the love and support.

Roxy

[Trek420]

I'm a Weeble. A Weeble who can bike twenty - thirty miles and swim a whole mile without stopping.

Remember; that's more than many people do ... ever. You rock! :cool:


Trek, I'm going to take your story as my inspiration here. I'd love to get down to a size 12. I know I can do it. I just have to not get injured and keep up the regular exercise.

Well, I thought I'd get down to a 10 this year but my jogging buddy doggie pulled up lame (that'll be another thread) and I need to refocus on staging the condo (another thread) so I'm working out cleaning :rolleyes:

I'd rather be fat and fit than skinny and weak any day. :D :D

[KnottedYet]

Gawd, that shot of Denise going through the finish tape just gives me shivers EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Yeah, BABY!!!!!!!!

[Trek420]

Any skinny chick can do an IM or swim a mile non stop (well, maybe not any, but you catch my drift).

Fat cyclists rock! :cool: And tomorrow, we'll be lighter or maybe just smaller jeans.

[emily_in_nc]

Roxy,

I am one of the petite ones, but I just want to reach through the miles and give you a big hug. Girl, be kind to yourself. You are doing what 99% of people, even skinny people, don't, and that is exercising and eating right and attempting to live healthy lives. I'm constantly amazed by the intelligent, educated people I work with who smoke, don't exercise, eat burgers and fries daily for lunch, and basically don't expect to live past 70, so they think "why bother" when it comes to developing healthier habits. What a heartbreaking attitude, and there's not a d*mn thing I can do to change their thinking, which I fear will just become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You, otoh, are doing the right things, your mind is in the right place, and yet, you are still overweight. I would be very suspicious of your "slightly low" thyroid. One of my best GFs had "slightly low" thyroid, and once she got herself to an excellent endocrinologist and started on thyroid hormone, lost 30 lbs. effortlessly. There are a lot of folks who are borderline on thyroid, but because they're not in the "low" range set by the powers that be, are not treated. Your ideal level may be much higher than the norm. I fully believe that our bodies are all individualistic, and what is right for most may not be right for me or for you. But finding a doctor who believes that and will work with you, trying different things until you find the magic, can be difficult. My friend lives in San Fran, where there are many good doctors who are holistic and open-minded, and that has helped her, but that's not possible everywhere.

Given all that you have told us, you should be losing weight, and you aren't, so something is wrong with this picture. The key is figuring out what that is. Yes, your setpoint will probably always be higher than mine as you say you have been overweight all your life, so unfortunately have more fat cells than you need (fat cells don't just "go away" without liposuction, they just expand and contract). But even given that, you should be able to lose weight on a healthy, reasonable diet (I totally agree with the advice that mentions Michael Pollan above - real food is key) and with an active lifestyle. If you are not losing, something is biochemically "off".

The difficult part is finding out what that is. I sure do wish you luck in this journey. Hardly a day goes by where I don't feel gratitude for being small, because I can imagine how those who are larger must feel. I was chubby in college from too many pizzas and beer, so I got a small taste of what people like you go through every day, and it was not fun.

Keep fighting!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Roxy }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[nscrbug]

Roxy...I'm going to echo what emily_in_nc said about being suspicious of the low but normal thyroid. I'm one of those that was on the low end of normal with my thyroid test results. My doctor thought that perhaps even though I wasn't technically deficient, he felt that by putting me on a low dosage of thyroid hormone might make me feel better (I was having all kinds of symptoms). Let me just say, that it did help immensely. I would go back to your endo and question the thyroid results again. I have been on the thyroid meds ever since, and am now up to taking 88mcg of Levoxyl. They your doc do a full thyroid panel including the test for antibodies?