Hoping this helps!
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2012
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Cate--still figuring out the balance that is right. Had high fibre cereal and yogurt for breakfast on Sat and learned it wasn't enough to hold me til lunch. My reading the next morning spiked because I hadn't had enough to eat. Going to go back to cereal and toast and lower carb lunch. Wishing the weight would start to go down--even a pound.
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 158
Cate--still figuring out the balance that is right. Had high fibre cereal and yogurt for breakfast on Sat and learned it wasn't enough to hold me til lunch. My reading the next morning spiked because I hadn't had enough to eat. Going to go back to cereal and toast and lower carb lunch. Wishing the weight would start to go down--even a pound.
On weight, if you are starting to exercise you might be gaining muscle, which will prevent your initial fat loss from showing up on the scales but will fuel later fat loss. Be patient and strong! Your efforts will pay off!
#13
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That's the hard part...I'm also on low protein diet (for about a yr) because I have too much protein in kidney's (body doesn't filter). Kidney function is fine. Unfortunately Dr has never told me how much protein to have--just decrease the amount. I seem to be doing ok since the number went down a lot. I just try to increase fruits and vegetables. It's frustrating trying to find the balance for menu preparation. The dietician at kidney specialist only told me what I couldn't eat, it was very discouraging.
#14
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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That does sound very difficult. Do you know how much protein you were eating before the doctor said you had to reduce it? Many of us actually eat way more protein than we need - but imbalanced, so we eat just carbs in the morning and then eat a lot of fatty protein in the evening. If you even out your daily allowance into three meals plus a couple of snacks, you might be able to reduce protein while also keeping your insulin levels on an even keel.
Your strategy of increasing fruits and vegetables sounds really good. The "standard American diet" has WAY too few vegetables. Reading cookbooks for cuisines that are more vegetable-based might be helpful in countering the "you can't eat this" mentality. The Mediterranean diet has a lot of vegies, olive oil (which most people now say is good for us), and some protein. (Think Greek Salad, or ratatouille.) Chinese home cooking also has lots of vegies, some protein and rice and not much sugar. (Stir-fried broccoli with chicken, for example.)
Someplace on You Tube there is an inspiring video by a doctor who relieved her MS symptoms drastically by eating three large plates a day of different kinds of vegetables, plus lean protein. She thinks some of our health problems come from the fact that our diet is deficient in the micro-nutrients we get from a variety of vegetables. Also, high-fiber vegetables help relieve hunger. (When I don't have time for my omelet, but have to get in the car, I take along 2 pieces of string cheese and two sticks of celery. It is a weird-sounding breakfast, but if I just eat the cheese I am still hungry.)
You have a tough row to how, but we are all here for you!
Your strategy of increasing fruits and vegetables sounds really good. The "standard American diet" has WAY too few vegetables. Reading cookbooks for cuisines that are more vegetable-based might be helpful in countering the "you can't eat this" mentality. The Mediterranean diet has a lot of vegies, olive oil (which most people now say is good for us), and some protein. (Think Greek Salad, or ratatouille.) Chinese home cooking also has lots of vegies, some protein and rice and not much sugar. (Stir-fried broccoli with chicken, for example.)
Someplace on You Tube there is an inspiring video by a doctor who relieved her MS symptoms drastically by eating three large plates a day of different kinds of vegetables, plus lean protein. She thinks some of our health problems come from the fact that our diet is deficient in the micro-nutrients we get from a variety of vegetables. Also, high-fiber vegetables help relieve hunger. (When I don't have time for my omelet, but have to get in the car, I take along 2 pieces of string cheese and two sticks of celery. It is a weird-sounding breakfast, but if I just eat the cheese I am still hungry.)
You have a tough row to how, but we are all here for you!
#15
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 965
That's the hard part...I'm also on low protein diet (for about a yr) because I have too much protein in kidney's (body doesn't filter). Kidney function is fine. Unfortunately Dr has never told me how much protein to have--just decrease the amount. I seem to be doing ok since the number went down a lot. I just try to increase fruits and vegetables. It's frustrating trying to find the balance for menu preparation. The dietician at kidney specialist only told me what I couldn't eat, it was very discouraging.
#16
It might be helpful to have a consultation with a dietician. Possibly, if your doctor refers you, insurance could pay for it. It does sound like you have a puzzle there and I can understand you being wary of protein with your kidney problems.
There is quite a debate about how much protein one needs; some say we don't eat enough, others say we eat way too much. But everything in the articles I've seen that recommend upping the protein say "unless you have kidney problems," so I would use caution and talk to a professional, if your doctor can't give you answers.
There is quite a debate about how much protein one needs; some say we don't eat enough, others say we eat way too much. But everything in the articles I've seen that recommend upping the protein say "unless you have kidney problems," so I would use caution and talk to a professional, if your doctor can't give you answers.
#17
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Join Date: Jul 2012
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I have met with dietician at Diabetes Education Centre--completely free and my GP did send me there. She did say that I could probably up the amount. Currently I'm trying to keep my meat portion (ie chicken) to dinner time. The protein level has gone down considerably from 1.78 to 1.28 (a normal person's is .30). Unfortunately it's kind of hard to know whether I'm doing ok since I only go to kidney specialist every 6 months.
Dietican said my carb intake should be 30g per meal. She did say I should probably be eating 3 small meals with snacks in between but I'm not really a snacker. BTW I have appointment a month from now to see dietician again.
Thanks everyone for advice. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm boring my friens with my health issues
Dietican said my carb intake should be 30g per meal. She did say I should probably be eating 3 small meals with snacks in between but I'm not really a snacker. BTW I have appointment a month from now to see dietician again.
Thanks everyone for advice. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm boring my friens with my health issues
#19
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 737
A little frustrated today as I did my weekly weigh-in and the number is the same Have been drinking more water and didn't quite meet my goal of 30 mins exercise did some 5 days this week. Then a friend of mine posts about her 50lb weight loss and how easy it was. This is not easy for me and it's hard when I see people whose weight seems to slide right off.
I know I need to go shopping tomorrow as I don't have enough veggies in the house.
Jenn
I know I need to go shopping tomorrow as I don't have enough veggies in the house.
Jenn
Last edited by jjrudd; 08-12-2012 at 01:42 AM. Reason: to include name
#20
FitDay Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 965
I have met with dietician at Diabetes Education Centre--completely free and my GP did send me there. She did say that I could probably up the amount. Currently I'm trying to keep my meat portion (ie chicken) to dinner time. The protein level has gone down considerably from 1.78 to 1.28 (a normal person's is .30). Unfortunately it's kind of hard to know whether I'm doing ok since I only go to kidney specialist every 6 months.
Dietican said my carb intake should be 30g per meal. She did say I should probably be eating 3 small meals with snacks in between but I'm not really a snacker. BTW I have appointment a month from now to see dietician again.
Thanks everyone for advice. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm boring my friens with my health issues
Dietican said my carb intake should be 30g per meal. She did say I should probably be eating 3 small meals with snacks in between but I'm not really a snacker. BTW I have appointment a month from now to see dietician again.
Thanks everyone for advice. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm boring my friens with my health issues
I was just re-reading this post and trying to understand your dietician's recommendations. I am a IT analyst by profession so please bear with me. 30g of carbs times 3 meals a day = 90g of carbs or 360 calories from carbs (carbs and protein contain 4 calories per gram while fat contains 9 calories per gram). Assuming a diet of 1500 calories total that leaves 1140 calories from Protein and Fat. If your dietician is like most then your fat calories would be restricted to about 20% of your total or 300 calories. That would leave protein to fill the other 66% of your diet (840 calories from 210 grams). This means macros are 24% carbs, 20% fat and 66% Protein.
This would seem to be double what a person with normal kidney function and protein levels would be eating (see my previous post) so I am concerned that you would be consuming so much. Of course I can be completely off with my assumptions but you said you have been on a low protein diet and this looks like a High protein diet. Excuse my if assumptions are incorrect or you meant 30g of net carbs or from simple carb sources like bread, sugar and processed foods and not total carbs.
You aren't the only one that has to fight for the weight loss. Keep to the good fight. You can do it!