Comments on: Low-carb and calories

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:48:51 +0000

Dr. Eades,

I’ve seen a few references to glucagon counteracting insulin’s tendency to promote fat storage, but I couldn’t find any data on this via Google. I ask because the idea that protein stimulates insulin is used by some low-carb detractors to claim that insulin is a non-issue when it comes to obesity. I’ve seen it said that protein also stimulates glucagon and glucagon counteracts insulin — is there data to support this?

Thanks!

By: Andr�

Andr� — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:05:55 +0000

On Art DeVany’s site I read about the effect that muscle tends to look smaller when one starts on a low carb diet. The main reason for this seems to be that you burn the fat that is in the muscle. Most bodybuilders have inflated muscles. Have you seen Arnold Schwarzenegger lately? All his muscles hang down on his body like he is deflating. Reason: not enough real muscle fibers. Everything was just fat and water (due to the glycogen) under a thin layer of muscle. The Austrian oak really an Austrian balloon?

Use the right exercise (cardio/endurence is definitely NOT good) and you will see muscle grow again. Avoiding the shake after the exercise allows growth hormone to keep running. And then eventually you will have real muscle and more strength. Like our paleolithic ancestors.

Seems to me that most people in this thread are focussed on weightloss. Now I don’t say that that’s not important. But the real issue is health. I think Dr Eades has covered every aspect of this – the glutathione, hormone production, suirt1, gene expression, AGE’s, CMS, ROS, etc – but I wonder if everybody appreciates those aspects. And I think the health benefits from exercising deserve more attention. Research has shown that muscle strength is a reliable indicator for longevity. If you want to die in good health, you need to exercise. Losing muscle tissue as you age is really a form of dying slowly.

I know it is the reason for me to want to stay in ketosis as long as I can, even though I am close to my sixpack (at 49 ). And I changed my exercises. Weightloss isn’t the issue anymore. Fit for life; that’s it for me.

By the way, Dr DeVany judged my responses on his site to be very educated. I answered that all the credits are for Dr Eades, as you educated me.

Thanks.

By: Midgy O'Rourke

Midgy O'Rourke — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:46:34 +0000

Hi Dr Eades, I just love your stuff and always look forward to a post from you in my inbox! I have been overweight since the age of 6. When I was about 21 I saw a story on the news on low carbing, I went out and bought a book and started low carbing immediatly and got down to 170 pounds (from 240), but just couldn’t do it any more because of my distaste for my food options. I kept it off for a couple years by still keeping the carbs under 100 g/day but long story short, I ended up at 260 pounds 2 years ago, no thanks to Taco Bell and Hagen Daz. I’ve since then gotten back down to 175 pounds again following a “somewhat” lower carb diet but get stuck at this weight, even with daily exercise (Power 90 to be exact, plus walking and biking). I was just wondering if you have any food suggestions for me because I want to follow a more stricter, low-carb diet for health benefits and faster weight loss, however in all honesty I hate the taste of eggs, I don’t like cheese (other than melted on food), and I really don’t like meat too well either and hate salads. I’ve lost my almost 90 pounds by following the book The Warrior Diet (it appealed to me because of not having to eat meat and eggs during the day and it is still somewhat low carb), eating usually nothing for breakfast or one clemintime, morning snack a stoneyfield yogurt, lunch is celery and carrots with hummus and a fruit, after work a couple prunes, and then for supper I make a lot of low carb stews like beef and cabbage, and when I need a snack I have an apple with natural peanut butter. I completely love this way of eating and am happy with it, however I’ve been stuck at 175 pounds since January of this year, with 34 inch waist (5′4″ woman, soon to be 31 years old), so I’m VERY unhappy about that. I’ve thought maybe I’m not eating enough (protein of course), but like I said, I have a hard time getting down a full piece of meat and/or eggs. I can get down the eggs on a piece of buttered toast but feel I shouldn’t be eating wheat. I’m not expecting that you can offer much help because of my pickiness, but in any case, you’re an amazing person and I love reading you books and website. I have your next book on pre-order. Cheers!!!

Why don’t you try substituting a protein shake for your typical breakfast? It could take the place of both breakfast (which you often don’t eat) and your snack. It will give you plenty of good quality protein and fat, keeping you from being hungry throughout the rest of the day.

Here is the recipe for the shakes MD makes us just about every morning.

6 oz water
1 oz cream or coconut milk
a scoop or two of low-carb protein power (enough to give you at least 30 gm protein)
flavoring as desired (MD uses sugar free syrups)
a cup of ice cubes
Whir it all up in a blender and have at it.

By: Sydney

Sydney — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:19:37 +0000

I know I am very late to this game, but I started doing PP about 4 weeks ago, not to lose weight but to get my fasting blood sugar down (hovers in the low 100s). I’m definitely under 30g of carbs. I lost a few pounds initially, unintentionally, while still trying to stay on my usual calorie regimen. However, I bought into the idea that, if I didn’t need to lose weight, I could eat whatever I wanted and have been eating a lot of nuts and some cheese. I find meat repulsive, and though I’ve been trying to eat the meats I can tolerate, it just makes me miserable. I have gained several pounds in the last couple weeks (have been also doing Slow Burn, but my body composition scale doesn’t show any particular increase in muscle mass) and do indeed feel I’ve regained the extra bit of flab I was happy to have accidentally lost. I don’t feel or look like I’ve put on much muscle mass and my pants are tighter.

So, I’ve read through all the comments on this and most the other posts and haven’t seen this addressed: Assuming my fasting glucose levels speak to some level of hyperinsulinemia, could my still elevated insulin levels be causing me to store fat, despite being extremely low carb?

Thanks – really, really appreciate your books, your blog, your responding to comments – everything.

Cheese and nuts are weight loss killers. Try laying off of them and see what happens. Also, you could try substituting a protein shake for one of your meals to get the weight loss moving again.

Here is the recipe for the one MD makes for us most mornings.

By: Nancy 54

Nancy 54 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:11:05 +0000

Hi Dr. Mike – one more post-menopausal woman in her early 50’s stuck on a plateau. I’ve lost approximately 60 lbs and have faithfully followed a low carb paleo diet for the past year. Triglycerides are at 50. I am 5′10″, 245 lbs. I’ve had half my thyroid removed and have taken Synthyroid .175mg for the past 5 years. My TSH levels are normal, but my morning body temperature is between 97 – 97.4. My doctor does not believe I have any additional thyroid issues. I keep my carb count at 50 or under, calorie count at approx. 1500 – 1700 daily. I perform moderate weight and resistance training along with swimming for exercise. My weight loss has stalled for the past 6 months. I’m willing to try the all meat diet for a week and/or reduce fat in my diet. How many fat grams would be considered too high to lose weight? I’m currently consuming approx. 90 – 100 per day. Any other recommendations to help get things moving? Thanks so much for your post and assistance!

Were you my patient I would probably switch you to Armour thyroid – it works much better for weight loss (and a lot of other problems) than Synthroid. And I might start substituting a protein shake for a meal to get things moving. Watch out for cheese, nuts, and nut butters – the saboteurs of many low-carb diets. Finally, I would get your hormonal situation (female hormones) sorted out and use natural hormone therapy if needed. Also vitamin D and maybe check iodine status.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:42:07 +0000

You refer to eggs as fetal meat. Blah!
I may never think of an egg the same way again…

I will try to ask my question so that it makes sense. When you are on a low carb diet and lets say you go off of it for a day (Oh how I love those chocolate/carmel/pecan.. millionaire candies) does that just ‘mess the diet/weight loss’ up for that day or does it take a couple of days to get back on track because of the sugar that was introduced into your body? I’m referring to the way your body chemistry reacts to the sugar/carbs and wondering if a one day mess up can mean the difference in whether you lose weight for that week..

I hope that made sense.

You can usually get back on track in a day or so. A big day of screwing up usually doesn’t cause a week’s worth of damage, but it does seem to make it tougher to get back on track. If you’ve got the self discipline to jump back on the low-carb horse the next day, you should be okay.

By: Jesse Aitken

Jesse Aitken — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:48:07 +0000

Hi Dr. Mike, I read this blog, and it was interesting… About two years ago I decided I was going to lose weight, which I did. 110 lbs now. I got to the point where everyone was like wow man you look good. SO I became comfortable with myself, and yeah, back to eating regular foods. I was a hefty 346 lbs the day I started this journey… I’m roughly 234 now. I’ve found through all my weightloss times, the fastest have obviously been low carbs. A majority of my weightloss though, came from eating a “Chicken Ceasar Wrap” once a day, at noon. I was steadily losing 3 lbs a day. But I noticed my energy was terrible. I felt dead 24/7. What was the cause of this? Blood sugar? Anyway, a little tip for others. Several times I went on a pork rind diet.. 3 Bags a day, spread out. I was losing rediculous amounts of weight. Anyway I guess the question I was getting to.. I workout, and I was wondering, does creatine even make it to the muscle without carbs? Also, when I initially start low carb diets my arms, seem to shrink and never come back to size, obviously glycogen stores, but what does the body put in place of glycogen after one becomes adapted to the diet?

Pictures of my weight loss
http://www.myspace.com/eskiho

Thanks
Jesse

It puts glycogen back. The body makes it easily once one is low-carb adapted.

By: debs

debs — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:59:49 +0000

Dear Dr Eades,
I am 53, only 5′ and 290 pounds. I have type 2 diabetes. I have a lapband (unfilled) so I am able to swallow anything. (i do not want to have it filled again as i had bad experiences ) I have gallstones which have not bothered me. I have a kidney stone which has not bothered me. I take synthroid. I take peroxatine. I take 2 metformin per day . I take one crestor for high cholesterol
Yesterday I started a NO CARB no sugar diet. (hi protein, fat) Please may I ask a few questions?
Can one eat unlimited amounts of meat or fish per day?
How much salad greens is one allowed per day?
Is there a limit to the amount of veggies one may have per day?
Does the fat HAVE to be oliveoil or the “good fats” or can one eat ANY type of fat?
Is there a limit to the fat one has in a day?
Is a totally NO carb diet safe or should one have a few carbs (or will those few carbs be int he veggies or salads?)
Will my cholesterol become normal…is there a chance i could go OFF the crestor tablets?
My doctor said i have mild retinopathy so he said I have blood vessel damage – so if that has damaged my kidneys will this diet be harmful to my kidneys at all?
I was taking glyburide – 1 a day and when i started this diet yesterday my sugar went so low..so I shall not take the glyburide today.
Is there a limit to how much whipped cream one can have per day?
thank you so much
I look forward to your reply
D

For medico-legal reasons, I can’t really answer a long list of personal diet questions in the comments section of a blog. Hope you understand.

By: Manny

Manny — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:47:50 +0000

Dr. Eades,

I am a 28 yo male new radiology resident and have found myself getting overweight sitting in the dark all day! I started my low carb diet and I find myself eating only 1100 kcals per day but satiated. This cannot be healthy (I am 5′9” 193 lbs). I am following a split weight lifting program and interval training most days when I am not on call. Do I need to increase my calorie intake? If so, in what form?
Thank you.

If you are burning calories from stored fat, you shouldn’t need any extra as long as you’re satiated. If you’re eating low-carb, I would assume you’re getting plenty of good quality protein in your 1100 kcal, so I don’t see a problem. As you near your optimal weight, I think hunger will kick in a little more and your caloric intake will go up some. Until then, I would worry about it.

By: 2bflawless

2bflawless — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:26:57 +0000

Doc,

Just read this post and part II. I am guilty as charged! In my own experience I have been successful on LC initally going from 163 to 143 then gaining 12 pounds back by high fatting (i.e. eating more calories). I stopped *high fatting* and got down to 149.6 eating 1200 or less per day which I have been told is too low. It came to a screeching halt when I returned to my old “munching” habits. Eating when not hungry because I love food. I am a fairly good cook and enjoy making new LC recipes but I wind up eating a lot more and shot back up 160 right after Thanksgiving. Instead of reigning in my caloric intake I decided to eat higher carb which made me physically ill so I quickly came back to LC and now weigh 154.8.

So you are right, Doc, calories do matter so no peanut butter till I get to goal which is 20# away!

Thanks for directing me to this post.

Ciao,

Lisa

Glad I could be of help.