Not Here for Weight Loss

[Tom in St. Louis]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum (I guess the forum itself is "new"), and I'm not sure the best place to post. In any case, I've only been doing PP for two months, but I'm not doing it for weight loss (I'm 6ft, 155 pounds). I have sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, and I got interested in low-carb from reading "Neanderthin", and eventually found PP. I'm doing the diet in conjunction with antibiotic therapy, and it seems to be working! My RA is getting better all the time. Plus, the more I read, the more it seems like this is the best way to eat for general health purposes.

From what I've seen, most people seem to be interested in the weight loss aspect of PP...will I be out of place here? Quite frankly, I only eat because I have too...weight has never been an issue for me. I used to eat a near vegan diet, but only because I thought it was healthy, not out of concern for the animals. Then my triglycerides went up and my HDL went way down, and I was looking at Syndrome X...so now here I am.

Just trying to give some background, to see where I would best fit in. Any input appreciated.

Tom

[hawk]

I have been doing PP for health reasons. I don't neccessarily lose weight this way with out alot of excersize. I have 25 % body fat and lift weights to battle that. I need to stay on PP for lower blood pressure, for RSD which I have found PP to reduce my pain level, and my whole family has type two diabetes. Check out Gabes web page. The test tubes of blood lipids alone on his web site tells the story about the heathiness of this diet. They convinced me when I was first looking around for a healthy way of life. I am pretty much where you are with this WOE.
You are not out of place here. Welcome TOm!

[Turtle]

Tom, if this forum is anything like the old Protein Power forum, you couldn't have found a better place. Very friendly people, with lots of very knowledgable folks who like to discuss the facts and research about this way of eating. I think you're going to like it. :)

[Gabriel Guzman]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum (I guess the forum itself is "new"), and I'm not sure the best place to post. In any case, I've only been doing PP for two months, but I'm not doing it for weight loss (I'm 6ft, 155 pounds). I have sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, and I got interested in low-carb from reading "Neanderthin", and eventually found PP. I'm doing the diet in conjunction with antibiotic therapy, and it seems to be working! My RA is getting better all the time. Plus, the more I read, the more it seems like this is the best way to eat for general health purposes.


I'm glad you found the board and I hope you'll benefit from the infromation that is discussed here and from the experience of other people that have found that carbohydrate control while making sure they have an adequate protein intake is their ticket to a better health.


From what I've seen, most people seem to be interested in the weight loss aspect of PP...will I be out of place here?


Not at all. You're most welcome to participate in any area of this board. The experiences share by members are most helpful here.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, a number of people try this plan because they want to lose weight only. While Protein Power certainly accomplishes that, it provides a lot more than just a way to lose weight and keep it off. It provides solid reasoning, based on science, as to why carbohydrate control and managment, while ensuring an adequate amount of protein (which, of course, comes with its moderate amount of fat) is or paramount importance not only to recover our health but to remain in a healthy state. It is indeed a lifestyle, not just a diet in the sense the word is commonly understood, even though a number of people try it only for that.

Adopting this lifestyle brings much more than weight loss and it truly becomes an enjoyable way to get the best of our lives with better health, more energy and with a contagious enthusiasm. Personally, getting to know this program from the inside out has given me the chance to unlearn what I thought I knew about nutrition and good health. Protein Power has been a tremendous way for me to learn and look at the science behind good health from a completely different perspective.

So, welcome to the board and we look forward to hear more from you.

[SherryJ]

No, Tom, you are NOT out of place here... you are welcome, and I look forward to getting to know you! :)

Sherry

[Mitra]

Welcome, Tom.

As you say, probably most people are interested in weight loss, but you are not the only one who has other reasons for following PP. My weight problems weren't extreme, and I suspect that I could probably control my weight in other ways, but I feel so much better eating this way, that I wouldn't want to go back to a carb-based diet. If I allow my carb levels to drift up, it's not usually weight gain that's the first problem - we've been discussing that very subject in this week's maintenance thread.

It's very helpful to be reminded that this is such a healthy way to eat, and is about much more than just weight control.

[Carri]

Hi Tom,
Amen to what everyone else has said! Weight loss is an extra benefit of the plan but my reasons to start it initially were to keep my husband alive! His blood lipids were dangerously high,:eek: Triglycerides were quadruple the norm and his doctor warned him that he'd be a diabetic in the next 5 to 10 years. Plus he developed gout which really motivated him into doing whatever it takes to get well. As well he was taking Lipitor and prescription med. for GERD (acid reflux). In all my readings on nutrition and health, I knew this was really bad news for him, so I studied hard to find a plan and alternative ways to get him off all meds. and restore his intestinal/stomach health and the rest. I also put him on herbs and supplements which helped heal and restore his stomach balance. Now he is off all meds. and is feeling better than he has in years. He occasionally gets a stomach ache but it's usually because he drank coffee. But he doesn't have to take those disasterous medications anymore. He's lost 35 pounds too. And all this has launched a computer potatoe into man who works out all the time now. He puts me to shame! I am on the plan too because I do need to lose a few extra pounds since developing hypothyroidism. I also read that auto immune patients (like me) benefit from a low carb high protein diet and that it may lessen antibody production which is the thing that is killing a specific bodily organ. I struggle with energy big time! But since being on the diet, I find my energy levels are more consistent and I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. So really the health benefits out weigh just weight loss alone. Know that you are not alone!! Welcome to the group. Cheers, Carri :o

[Shadow]

Hi, Tom, and welcome! You have found the right place. And it is quite thrilling to see others who are following this WOE for the health benefits. It's so easy to get caught up in weight loss that we fail to appreciate just how much this plan does for us all around!

[gitfiddle]

Tom, I'm sure you won't feel out of place here. I started Protein Power because I wanted to avoid taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs that my GP wanted to put me on simply because I'm diabetic. Yes, I lost weight and could stand to lose more, but my lipids and blood sugar came down to a normal level within a very few months. In all honesty, the cholesterol went higher again when I stopped regularly exercising last summer, so I'm working on a regime that will bring the cholesterol down again without causing injury.

I'm very content with this program and how my lifestyle has improved and instead of fighting for my health, I'm priveleged to enhance it. I'm finding out which foods I need and which foods I am better off without.

Welcome!

[gator8me]

Howdy Tom! You most certainly won't be out of place here! Personally, I am here for more than just weight loss but I do have about 15 pounds that I would love to get rid of! lol I don't have any health issues YET, but they do run in my family everything from High Blood Pressure to Hypoglycemia to Diabetes, strokes and heart diseases. I am here to keep myself healthy and also because eating PP way helps me feel my best, got rid of my monthly headaches etc...
I'm glad you found the board and welcome in!
Ally

[Thedabara]

Hello Tom and welcome! Although I started low carbing to lose a little weight, I have found the health benefits are so great that I could not go back. I am now pregnant but still follow PP. I find when I veer away, I get GERD (only while pregnant), and I have other pregnancy symptoms that I do not have when on plan. My lipid numbers are so much better than they were too! Although still tagged with high cholesterol, my numbers are actually very good. My HDL is up consistently at around 84, and tris are usually between 30 and 50. My LDL is about 130 now, but it was well over 200!
So, please post, post and post!
Jenny

[realruth]

Hi Tom....
I began PP for the health benefits and had the bonus of losing a LOT of extra weight...I continue with PP WOL just becasue it's the best thing for me and my body

Ruth

[Nean]

Although having >150# to loose was a great motivator, I am really here because of what caused the wt gain - metabolic syndrome/ PCOS/ sleep apnea. My blood pressure, lipid levels, fasting insulin level, and total protein have improved significantly ! I no longer take Lipitor: had been on 20mg a day. I still have 60-70# too loose, but my health is so much better already.

[Billie]

Nean--love the picture first of all and welcome!

Those are the best reasons to be here. Being healthy is such an important goal, to me far beyond weight loss or losing X amount of pounds by such and such a date.

Jump in anytime, the people are friendly supportive and most importantly knoweldgable!

Welcome!

[Shadow]

Nean - Welcome :D! And what a precious picture you have for your avatar :).

[gitfiddle]

Hey, Nean, that's why I'm here, too. Welcome and join in!

[hawk]

Nean, I have had sleep apnea for 10 years. Even before I gained wieght. Allergies. Whats PCOS ? Nice puppy!!
Gladyou are here. This is the place to ask and recieve answers, help, support, love and what ever else you may need.

[Nean]

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - essentially hyperinsulinemia which causes male pattern hair growth, lack of ovulation, irregular periods, skin tags at the neck/underarms/ other skin to skin areas. Very similar to metabolic syndrome.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome
The avatar is my loverly dog Mack :p

[Blue Fox]

I see this thread was started (and finished!) in March this year but I am hoping that there might someone out there who can tell me about their experience with the PP diet and rheumatoid arthritis. I also have RA and have just started (10 days ago) on a low carb, high protein diet after reading Loren Cordain's Paleo Diet book followed by Ray Audette's Neanderthin. I have ordered the PP book and it is arriving tomorrow and I am very excited about it as it had so many rave reviews on amazon. So.... I am wondering, is there anyone here with RA who has use the diet? Can you tell me your experience?

[Tom in St. Louis]

Blue Fox,

I have sero-negative RA, and am now off all pain meds/anti-inflammatories as a result of two things: 1. A low-carb, anti-inflammatory diet, and 2. Taking krill oil supplements.

Diet- I eat relatively low carb (less than 100 grams of effective carbs per day), and I stay away from red meat, pork and eggs. Personally I eat a lot of nuts, especially raw almonds, and turkey, chicken, vegetables and fruit. I don't like fish, but it would be fine to eat if I liked it.

Krill oil- This has been a godsend. I tried fish oil in the past, but it was disgusting. I would belch it up all day long, and as I mentioned above I don't like fish. I couldn't stand it. I switched to krill oil, and even though it has a fairly strong "fishy" smell, there is absolutely no aftertaste. It comes in gelcaps so it's easy to take. I take 1 gram with breakfast and 1 gram with dinner. Within a week, I was off my NSAID. At the time I was eating low carb but plenty of red meat. Once I cut out the red meat, the last of my pain went away. I would say I am now 95% to 99% pain free, with no drugs. I get the krill oil from mercola.com, though you can buy it from plenty of websites.

This is what has worked for me. I've been experimenting for years with different diets and supplements, and though I failed many times, my persistence has paid off. I can't promise it will work for you as well as it does for me, but it's worth a shot. In any case, keep trying different things until you find what works for you.

Good luck.

Tom

[Bogie]

Just out of curiosity - which medical folks have you been seeing? I think we had someone from Barnes in to speak where I used to work a coupla months ago... Interesting thing is really how little they really know about the mechanism of RA...

[Mitra]

Welcome, Blue Fox :).

You might find it worthwhile getting hold of a copy of Protein Power Lifeplan, because that has a section on autoimmune disorders, and talks about the foods most likely to be involved (grains, dairy, legumes).

[Tom in St. Louis]

Bogie,

I see a regular MD. He is young (early to mid 40s) and fairly progressive in terms of diet and health, though he is still a convential MD and mostly clueless, but he seems better than most. I forgot to mention in my last post (though I did in my first) that I am also on antibiotic therapy for my RA. It gave me an initial benefit, and I continue to take it (probably for another month or so, which will make it one full year). Hard to say how much of my progress is from the antibiotics and how much from diet and krill oil, but it was the diet and krill oil that gave me the big boost.

You can read about AP (antibiotic protocol) in a book called "The New Arthritis Breakthrough" by Henry Scammell. AP therapy is controversial (though not dangerous), and some Dr.'s won't prescribe for it, so you may have to look around. There's a website at www.roadback.org (http://www.roadback.org) that can point you in the right direction.

If you're in the St. Louis area and want to know my Dr.'s name, leave your e-mail address and I'll send to you. He's not specifically a LC advocate, though I'm skinny (too much so for my own taste) so we've never discussed weight loss strategies per se.

[Bogie]

Well, I used to work for one of the major rheumatology guys in the area, and we did a lot of work with both OA and RA... Can't believe your GP doesn't have you seeing a specialist. Do not play with RA... Throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at it.

[momuvfour]

I think there are many reasons to low carb, not just weightloss. It controls my mood swings

[miralin]

I'm not here for the weight loss either, but um ..... my pants are all falling down so I guess that's a side effect. Heh. Oh darn, I need new clothes! What ever will I DO?

Seriously, welcome and best of luck in your better health journey :)