Guest guest Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 > I have a question about a close relative. She is obese (about 150 lbs > overweight, 35 years old, smoker) and is trying to lose weight. But - > nothing is happening. SHe was vegetarian (junk food vegetarian in my > humble opinion - lots of processed carbs) for about 18 years and > resumed eating meat about 6 months ago. She has always had explosive > diarrhea about 30 minutes after eating. Not every time she eats, but > consistently throughout her vegetarian years. Now, she still has it > but not quite as often. She is doing a low carb diet - meats, dairy, > fruit and veg. She's been doing it for about 4 weeks and not a single > pound has come off. Not one. Her hair is quite thin and has been since > around the time she quite eating meat - whether or not there is a > correlation in that I do not know. I've given her some homemade yogurt > and am encouraging her slowly to take kefir hoping that would help > with her gut. Anybody have any ideas what's going on or what I could > make for her to help her out? > > She has terrible back pain, abdominal cramps, and amenorrhea (maybe > 1-2 really heavy periods a year) which she believes could be from an > ovarian cyst, but lab work has not produced any results to this nature. > > Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you. I have a body that can react like that. #1 thing to check - get with an endocrinologist. (have you or her read Good Calories / Bad Calories, the section on the hormonal lock such that stored fat is not released?) Check for insulin levels, adrenal issues and cortisol levels. For some people, the way they do low-carb, it actually stimulates insulin through raising cortisol and adrenaline. Result - just enough circulating insulin and cortisol to prevent release of stored fat. #2 - what kind of low carb and what are her menus and meal times. #3 - meal amounts. How tall is she, what is her exercise, and do you think she has a large/healthy lean body mass or a small/sickly one. If she's small, atrophied muscle, and her metabolism is seriously hosed it's easy to have too much dietary fuel and not need any stored fuel. #4 - mineral depletion. If she spent years living on too much sugar and starch, some minerals will be low and metabolism won't work again until levels are corrected. NDs are good for this. Personally I needed iodine, selenium, and magnesium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 From my experience I usually think 'adrenal' - I had abdominal pain and back pain and hair loss a couple of years ago and it was adrenal. My thyroid was low as well, but it was more adrenal than thyroid. I still get the abdominal/back pain when I've had a stressful day. I don't lose weight, either. --- In , " cbrown2008 " <cbrown2008@...> wrote: > #1 thing to check - get with an endocrinologist. (have you or her > read Good Calories / Bad Calories, the section on the hormonal lock > such that stored fat is not released?) Check for insulin levels, > adrenal issues and cortisol levels. For some people, the way they do > low-carb, it actually stimulates insulin through raising cortisol and > adrenaline. Result - just enough circulating insulin and cortisol to > prevent release of stored fat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I've said this before, but my favorite way to lose weight is fasting - on juice, raw milk, or even (for short periods) the Master Cleanse. I believe that shutting down the digestive system can help immensly in getting rid of a lot of the bacteria and yeast that poor eating can bring in. It also breaks the addiction/craving cycle of poor eating - the carbs feeding candida, the MSG addiction, etc. to allow the person to begin to eat healthily with a clean break from the old ways. Keeping the blood sugar low will also help with insulin resistance, and fasting has been shown to help the glands regulate themselves better - an effect which lasts for many months after healthy eating has been resumed. I believe that fasting is very compatible with WAPF, as well, because the most unnatural thing in the world is for us to be consuming so much food all the time - more calories than our bodies are built to handle. If she has a history of eating poorly, she's probably either lying or in denial about how many carbs she continues to eat. Once you develop insulin resistance, you feel like you're starving all the time, and really crave those sweet/starchy foods in an irresistable way. It is more than most people can resist. My friend had a terrible weight problem and went on a raw food diet (note here you can have raw cheese, raw milk, and even eggs if they don't gag you!) and she loved it - had tons of energy and felt better than she had in her whole life while the pounds flew off - several pounds every week without her feeling hungry. But what wasn't allowed in her diet were sweets except for a few very low glycemic ones and starches, except for a few sprouted grains. I'm doing a raw milk fast right now and I'm full of energy, not hungry and losing weight at a nice rate of a couple pounds a week, without really even trying. It does take about 3 days (of miserable, constant hunger if she's badly addicted) to adjust to the new way of eating, tho. And she'd be advised to wean herself off of caffeine slowly first or risk major headaches. My guess is the thin hair could be related to what is happening in her gut. There are plenty of examples where food sensitivities/dysbiosis cause hair loss. --- In , " Sumner " <sumner_33@...> wrote: > > I have a question about a close relative. She is obese (about 150 lbs > overweight, 35 years old, smoker) and is trying to lose weight. But - > nothing is happening. SHe was vegetarian (junk food vegetarian in my > humble opinion - lots of processed carbs) for about 18 years and > resumed eating meat about 6 months ago. She has always had explosive > diarrhea about 30 minutes after eating. Not every time she eats, but > consistently throughout her vegetarian years. Now, she still has it > but not quite as often. She is doing a low carb diet - meats, dairy, > fruit and veg. She's been doing it for about 4 weeks and not a single > pound has come off. Not one. Her hair is quite thin and has been since > around the time she quite eating meat - whether or not there is a > correlation in that I do not know. I've given her some homemade yogurt > and am encouraging her slowly to take kefir hoping that would help > with her gut. Anybody have any ideas what's going on or what I could > make for her to help her out? > > She has terrible back pain, abdominal cramps, and amenorrhea (maybe > 1-2 really heavy periods a year) which she believes could be from an > ovarian cyst, but lab work has not produced any results to this nature. > > Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 She needs to get to a doctor right now. She has some gland issues going on that sound serious. The diarrhea is probably celiac or IBS due to wheat. The back pain could be caused by kidney failure. This is not a situation for amateurs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Adele says b vitamins are good for stress back pain (can't remember which one). I agree that she is probably still in recovery from minerals deficiency, and the other things mentioned. Sounds like she is deficient in everything! I would think an elimination diet might help, too. Desh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 > If she has a history of eating poorly, she's probably either lying or > in denial about how many carbs she continues to eat. Once you > develop insulin resistance, you feel like you're starving all the > time, and really crave those sweet/starchy foods in an irresistable > way. It is more than most people can resist. This used to bug me no end, that people would think I was lying about carbs just because I wasn't losing. It could be many things besides lying or denial once the underlying disorder of excess fat accumulation is very severe. Even the fruits and veg mentioned in the original question, if she is severely insulin resistant, depending on how much and when they are eaten, could stop fat loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I go on really low carb diets with little result. I think I have to take care of detoxing and balancing gut flora as much as limiting carbs? I have severe weight problem, autoimmune thyroid disorder and other issues. Dawn From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of cbrown2008 Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 1:00 PM Subject: Re: obesity & weight loss > If she has a history of eating poorly, she's probably either lying or > in denial about how many carbs she continues to eat. Once you > develop insulin resistance, you feel like you're starving all the > time, and really crave those sweet/starchy foods in an irresistable > way. It is more than most people can resist. This used to bug me no end, that people would think I was lying about carbs just because I wasn't losing. It could be many things besides lying or denial once the underlying disorder of excess fat accumulation is very severe. Even the fruits and veg mentioned in the original question, if she is severely insulin resistant, depending on how much and when they are eaten, could stop fat loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Can you share with us details about your raw milk fast? How much, how often? What do you think about adding raw egg yolks and coconut oil to up the fat ratio? --- In , " haecklers " <haecklers@...> wrote: > > I'm doing a raw milk fast right now and I'm full of energy, not > hungry and losing weight at a nice rate of a couple pounds a week, > without really even trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 I have some serious weight to loose and after 13 years of trying everything (Weight Watcher, aerobics, South Beach, Atkins, and more) I found a wonderful nutritionist. She did a diet analysis as well as blood cell analysis. She also did some muscle testing and found that I would never lose weight because of underlying conditions. First, I have a huge parasite load, an almost non functioning liver and gallbladder, and a serious lymph system problem. Second, she couldn't even put me on a detox routine, because of the afore problems mentioned. I am going through a 6 week, oh, gentle wake up for the lymph system and will then be on a 4-6 month detox for the parasites. ONLY THEN can I get to the point of reversing all the signals that have been telling my body to store fat and start to shed it. I said all this to say that sometimes, no matter what one may do to loose weight, it may be something totally different and completely underlying that one won't be able to see without the help of a professional. It really can be " not her fault " . I highly encourage her to see someone. _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pendraig Siberians Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 2:45 PM Subject: RE: Re: obesity & weight loss I go on really low carb diets with little result. I think I have to take care of detoxing and balancing gut flora as much as limiting carbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2008 Report Share Posted March 23, 2008 Update - you seem to have been onto something about the denial. She recently left a half-full 'Coke Zero' at my house and mentioned drinking these regularly. Also discovered she ate an entire family size box of conventional fish sticks for dinner. And that was all she ate. Not the healthiest of diets. All I can do is share good tasting healthy foods with her. She already has the NT cookbook. If she wants to change I am willing to help. Until then there is not a thing I can do to make it happen. Like the old addage - you can lead a horse to water, but can't make her drink... > > > > I have a question about a close relative. She is obese (about 150 > lbs > > overweight, 35 years old, smoker) and is trying to lose weight. > But - > > nothing is happening. SHe was vegetarian (junk food vegetarian in my > > humble opinion - lots of processed carbs) for about 18 years and > > resumed eating meat about 6 months ago. She has always had explosive > > diarrhea about 30 minutes after eating. Not every time she eats, but > > consistently throughout her vegetarian years. Now, she still has it > > but not quite as often. She is doing a low carb diet - meats, dairy, > > fruit and veg. She's been doing it for about 4 weeks and not a > single > > pound has come off. Not one. Her hair is quite thin and has been > since > > around the time she quite eating meat - whether or not there is a > > correlation in that I do not know. I've given her some homemade > yogurt > > and am encouraging her slowly to take kefir hoping that would help > > with her gut. Anybody have any ideas what's going on or what I could > > make for her to help her out? > > > > She has terrible back pain, abdominal cramps, and amenorrhea (maybe > > 1-2 really heavy periods a year) which she believes could be from an > > ovarian cyst, but lab work has not produced any results to this > nature. > > > > Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2008 Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 When my sister-in-law was in med. school a friend helped run a study on obesity and weight loss. They found that some of it is deficiency (and when you think of the toll on the body of digesting/processing the junk many obese people eat, you can see why!). They had three things they supplemented and I can only remember two (it was a long time ago). Trace minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. I'm guessing the other may be magnesium or it may be the fat soluble vitamins. Many people are deficient in both. Getting her to add these things to her diet may help her get better resistance to food cravings. Then get her to add raw foods. I read a diet one time where before you started taking away anything unhealthy you first added in all the healthy things a person of that size would need. There were goals of so many raw fruits and vegetables a day, so much whole grains, so much of certain nutrients. Once they got good at that, it was easier to resist the junk. I also recall that once I started taking supplemental magnesium, my chocolate cravings pretty much disappeared. Another thing that really causes huge cravings of junk (besides MSG) is candida infection. I doubt she'd be able to go on a strict candida diet, but there are some foods/supplements that may help knock it back. First is s. boulardii, sold as " Yeast Against Yeast " in Europe. You can find it here sometimes. It fights against dysbiosis in the gut; which would have the added benefit of helping her restore balance there and possibly be able to draw more nutrients from the food she eats. It is also found in many foods and ferments because it is part of the wild yeasts on the outside of cabbage leaves, grapes, blueberries, plums, etc that leave that white powdery coating, and one of the yeasts that gets sauerkraut going. Theoretically umeboshi would have it too (and is also very energizing!) Eating ferments is another way to get the good bacteria in the gut to help push the bad ones out. Try not to get too frustrated with her. The whole craving thing can be very powerful in a way healthy people cannot realize. It is really very, very hard to resist. Imagine being an alcoholic where everywhere you go people are drinking, offering you drinks, you can smell it everywhere, see ads and commercials constantly. (like maybe on a military base?? LOL!) Your friend is fundamentally addicted to MSG - a very powerfully addictive substance, as well as sugars, carbs, and probably chocolate and several food additives. Yet she needs to eat. It's a very difficult thing to find your way out of. > > > > > > I have a question about a close relative. She is obese (about 150 > > lbs > > > overweight, 35 years old, smoker) and is trying to lose weight. > > But - > > > nothing is happening. SHe was vegetarian (junk food vegetarian in my > > > humble opinion - lots of processed carbs) for about 18 years and > > > resumed eating meat about 6 months ago. She has always had explosive > > > diarrhea about 30 minutes after eating. Not every time she eats, but > > > consistently throughout her vegetarian years. Now, she still has it > > > but not quite as often. She is doing a low carb diet - meats, dairy, > > > fruit and veg. She's been doing it for about 4 weeks and not a > > single > > > pound has come off. Not one. Her hair is quite thin and has been > > since > > > around the time she quite eating meat - whether or not there is a > > > correlation in that I do not know. I've given her some homemade > > yogurt > > > and am encouraging her slowly to take kefir hoping that would help > > > with her gut. Anybody have any ideas what's going on or what I could > > > make for her to help her out? > > > > > > She has terrible back pain, abdominal cramps, and amenorrhea (maybe > > > 1-2 really heavy periods a year) which she believes could be from an > > > ovarian cyst, but lab work has not produced any results to this > > nature. > > > > > > Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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