The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet
I had picked up the book some time ago but had never read it. I have always listed it on my site and urged others to purchase the book, though I had not used it myself. Well, after watching Oprah's show on this subject and listening to dozens of questions and answers covered on the subject, I finally hunted through the stacks of moving boxes scattered throughout our new apartment. Their new book is: The Carbohydrate Addicts Life Span
The first thing I urge anyone thinking of losing weight to do is take the carbohydrate addict's test from the book. That will tell you if this specially compiled diet will work. No one should use this diet if you do not have the addiction to carbohydrates. It is formulated for this specific problem. It is not for pregnant women without the cooperation of your physician, and it is not for children and teens unless supervised by your doctor. Putting all that aside, it is also not for everyone just for the simple fact that each person's journey is unique. It is created by all sorts of factors that can effect the effectiveness of the diet. Through trial and error you may wish to try it and see if it works for you.
Having said this, I will tell you that according to the results of the test I have a moderate carbohydrate addiction. At first I was relieved, feeling it explained the reasons for my "failures" ( I hate to use this word because I do not really feel there are failures, only reaching our limits for that moment in time).
Now, just having this knowledge does not release me from all the past negative thoughts about myself that heaped guilt after guilt every time a diet failed. It also does not mean that I won't have to struggle with this diet. Let me just say that this is not really a diet. It is a lifestyle that I very well may have to cement into my life for the rest of my life in order to lose and keep the weight off. It will have to become engrained into my life until it becomes so natural I won't even have to think about it. (If I can make that commitment. )
This also does not mean that I can give up doing all the things I have learned over the months since I started writing these articles. I will continue to meditate, supplement, live the life I love, and doing all the positive things I have already incorporated into my life. I will also have to exercise.
Speaking of exercise, I want to relate a funny story.... well, it is funny to me and those who know me....
...Before I was married to Jim, I had started working out in gyms to have something to do while on the road with my job. That lead to running. I had met a gentleman who had counseled me on buying the proper jogging shoe. As it turns out, after spending many years in the military, he urged me to purchase a running shoe from Kenny Shoes, (a shoe store we find in the west). He said that it is that particular shoe he councils all his recruits to purchase for basic training. They are made in such a way that they don't cause blisters. He also urged me to buy my shoes at least 1/2 size larger and to buy men's shoes because they were wider. So, I did this. The shoe I bought is called LYNX. The second best thing besides the wonderful comfort and stability of this shoe is its cost. I paid only $25.00 for these shoes back in 1994.
Back to the story..... I had been running 5 miles a day and dropping weight over a three month period. After marrying Jim, I started learning the computer and pretty much stopped my running. That is when the weight returned. Well, three years into our marriage I had to return to Oregon to help with an ailing parent. I packed my special running shoes so I could at least get out and jog to break the stress and tension I knew would be part of this assignment. When I arrived at my sister's I only had one shoe.
I was devastated. I have kept this one shoe over the last two years. I guess I could not let go of it hoping against odds that the lost shoe would miraculously reappear. You know the old scenario, you keep an odd shoe or sock until one day you decide to throw it away and suddenly the other one appears as if to taunt you. Well, if nothing else, I decided that I would keep it and if I ever got back to the west where they had Kinney Shoe Stores I would take that shoe in and be able to show them exactly what I wanted.
Well, I ran across that one shoe. Once again I almost threw it away. Once again I said no and packed it away with the rest of my shoes. Two days later, I found the missing shoe. You have never seen anyone so excited in your life. I see it as a sign. The apartment complex has a workout studio complete with nautilus equipment and a pool. I can jog around the complex in complete safety. I know it is a sign to let me know that it is time to get back to my running.
Ok, back to the diet... This is a low carbohydrate diet but it is not the Adkins diet. You should not be in ketosis. You should not have bad breath. You should be eating enough carbohydrates to avoid this potentially dangerous problem. The great thing about this way of eating is that they say you can eat anything you want..... really! Yes, I know it sounds unbelievable, but the creators of this diet says it will work. I will reserve judgment on my behalf for a while. You have to have a low carbohydrate breakfast and lunch.But dinner(known as the reward meal!), you can eat absolutely anything you want as long as I eat it in a 60 minute period. No snacking between meals, doesn't matter when you eat. But when you eat that reward meal, you have only 60 minutes and that is the key.
So, I will be sharing my findings with you as this journey moves along.
See ya again soon!
P.S. Did it work for me? NO! It was not something I could continue to do on a daily basis. I have had acid for three months now and it doesn't seem to want to let up. The diet can work for some, but it just wasn't right for me.
What is working for me? A vegetarian diet. You can read about this program and see if it might be something you would like to check out . Chris
Update - though I loved eating vegetarian and my acid problem went away for the two years I did eat vegetarian, I developed diabetes and have had to eat a more balanced meal. I don't think it was being a vegetarian that was the problem. It was not realizing that eating pastries, pastas, and white bread was causing me blood sugar problems. Had I eaten more healthy meals, I think that would not have happened. I really did enjoy being a vegetarian and despite the small amounts of meat I have to eat for blood sugar balance, I still try and eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating more vegetables is good for everyone. Sugar and starch is not!
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