Candace S.

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So I'm reading a book, The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living, and I found out something that made sense but I hadn't thought of.

Yes I'm gluten sensitive/intolerant but apparently I'm also carb intolerant. If I eat over 30 grams of carbs a day I put on weight. I may not get sick like I do when I eat gluten, but I put on weight. 

Fortunately, the lifestyle I've been moving to is basically zero carbs, so once I get that down I should stop seeing the up-and-down on the scale for a while, but I just thought it was interesting to find it documented.

You know how you think it has just been a few weeks since you did something or saw someone but in truth it has been months? That's what I'm feeling right now realizing I have not posted here in a very long time.

Here is a brief rundown about what I've been up to.

Lots of experimenting with gluten, grains, and other carbs. I am definitely gluten intolerant. If I eat a piece of toast I will weigh 1 1/2 pounds heavier the next day, and have symptoms such as gas, bloating, joint pain, etc. If I have more gluten than just the piece of toast the symptoms are worse and come on quicker.

You would think simply going gluten free would be the answer, but as I've tested and proven time and time again, this just isn't the case for me. If I eat gluten free foods that have other grains or high carbs, I gain weight. It may not make me feel sick, but it makes me heavy.

I can eat high protein, high fat, low/zero carbs and that is when I lose weight and feel my best. Right now I'm trying to find out which works best for me - paleo, primal or zero carbs. I'm going to start the new years off being primal - but as close to zero carbs as possible. I should start to see the scale go back down and be symptom free in a few weeks. 

I hope every one had a great holiday season and are doing well. I look forward to reconnecting with those of you I don't hear from on Facebook.

Well, apparently I do not have to give up gluten 100%. Although they know I’m sensitive to gluten, they believe that the candida is likely the cause for the IBS symptoms. It is recommended that I still avoid gluten most of the time, but if I am out and want to have a sandwich, it should be ok.

That being said – I feel that allowing myself to eat things with gluten, i.e. bread, pasta, is part of the reason I’m struggling. I knew that gluten caused inflammation – but I didn’t realize that it affects my blood sugars so. So I think that eating more of a modified Paleo type diet (sort of like Atkins) at home is definitely something that should help me feel better and keep me on task to finally start losing weight again. I won’t deny myself something if I want it – but I have to go out to get it. I’m less likely to go get something if I’m craving it, if I have to walk to get it – and if I want it badly enough then I’ll exercise to have it.

Sounds like a “win-win” situation!

 I know, intellectually, what I need to be doing. I know what makes me feel better even. I have come to terms with the fact that if I eat very much gluten, I'm going to pay the price within a few days. Instead of being sad about this, I have desided to count this as a blessing.

I'm not supposed to be eating pasta and bread anyway - so the fact that it makes me sick should just confirm that it isn't good for me. 

I was reminded today that this is partially a mental struggle, not just a dietary issue. This is very true for me - because clearly I'm mental if I want to eat something that has me doubled over in pain with in 2 days LOL

 For as long as I can remember I’ve had some form of health problem. I have always had rashes, cold sores, unexplained stomach problems, the list is long. I don’t remember ever having a time in my life when there wasn’t something, I mean there have been good days, but I’m not sure that more than week has ever gone by that there wasn’t something…

I remember in the second grade my teacher told me I was a hypochondriac because I complained about my stomach hurting every single day.  Now I didn’t have a clue what that meant at the time, but I remember that the tone really hurt my feelings, when I learned what it meant, the word bothered me a great deal as well. It is one of those “haunting memories”, one that you know should have been key at the time, but no one really understood what was going on.

Now, with the medical breakthroughs that have taken place, we now think we know what the problem is… gluten. 

How do you plan for success? For us meal planning and support options are extremely important. So how do you plan for success?

Do you plan 3 meals a day or just dinner? Do you have snack options? Do you have a support system setup? Do you have shopping strategies?

Please share these strategies!

 So I'm in Philadelphia for a while, and I have found myself falling in to some bad habits and it is time to get it back to gether.  So how do you build a support system when you are in a new town? Well you don't avoid your OH community - that does not help at all!

1. Got to  www.obesityhelp.com/group/, put in your zipcode and find a local group
2. If you cannot find a local group continue to work with your online group
3. Keep in touch with your old group through emails, facebook, phone calls
4. Use the OH Facebook page 

Don't let yourself get caught in a loop of bad habits because of a move!

Right now there has been a lot of back-and-forth between DFW and Philly, so I've not had much time to really write about stuff. Once I get back to Philly, after the new year, I will be better about thing - I have to be! 

I realize there hasn't been much activity... we are in the process of re-arranging our life right now, things will have calmed down after the holidays.  My husband accepted a new position across the country from where we live. So I'm getting stuff sold/moved and sorted so I can commute back-and-forth between there and home.

Yesterday, I finished the training to become a support leader! I am so excited about this, but a little nervous as well. I have wanted to become a leader for many reasons, to share my journey, to help people along theirs are two of my reasons.  This last year has been a lot of ups and downs; I'm still learning how to deal with my emotions in ways other than eating, and I'm still trying to find balance in what I eat. Learning from other leaders who have been down this path has been such a blessing and I hope that I can do for some as others have done for me!