Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

[Elizellen]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Great positive attitude, Singadiva

[Barbee]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Diva... what type of doctor did you go to? I'm wondering if I need to go to one too. I have to diet just to stay the same weight.

[singadiva]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Thanks Elizellen! It ain't easy....

Barbee, I have just started with a naturopath and a new doctor who is Atkins-friendly and specialises in nutritional disorders and womens' health.

How do you mean 'diet to stay the same weight'? Do you mean you have to follow Atkins Induction and are not losing or that you cannot lose weight eating normally?

I'm asking because the only way to be effective with Atkins is to understand this is a way of eating for life and not a diet. This is a programme to reset your bodys responses to food and done properly, it means your body will function the way it is supposed to.

The probelm is, the rest of the world has gone totally astray with food and it 'looks' like they are the ones being normal with it - they are NOT. That is the toughest thing when you are an Atkins person, to keep saying to yourself the world has gone crazy with sugar and flour and additives etc etc and to understand that this is NOT what your body needs.

Our bodies are ancient and have evolved over millenia NOT eating these things. Why would we think that in the incredibly short time these frankenfoods have come on the scene that our bodies could cope just fine? The rampant chronic diseases we now suffer are proof we are NOT coping.

Shun the notion that you are dieting and embrace the knowledge that you are making an honest bid for true health instead of a shallow bid for fleeting gratification.

Diva

[Barbee]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

I meant that any diet I go on is just to stay the same... if I eat like "normal" I gain weight. In other words if I eat the same as my husband or friend... not overly just foods we always considered"normal"... Cheerio's for breakfast, a sandwich on whole wheat for lunch and ohhh let's say spaghetti, or mac and cheese for supper.

I went on the Atkins on May 1 weighing 223 (naked). I lost about 1 lb during induction and was averaging about 1 - 2 lbs a month. I got down to 209 by Nov. 1. Now I had a mixed drink (vodka and diet soda) on Christmas eve, and one christmas cookie on christmas... then I discovered the Atkins bars and had one a day for about 2 wks. I now weigh 215. It's not like I went out and had pizza and french fries or anything. Geez.

I never had a weight problem until the "change". I couldn't take hormone replacement due to breast cancer in my family. Now my hair is falling out, I have joint pain, my skin is dry and I'm tired all the time. I was wondering if I need a doctor who specializes in hormones or metabolism but there isn't any in my area.

I plan in staying with Atkins for life because as soon as I start eating carbs I get diaherria (sp), stomach cramps and gas. I can live without that.

[singadiva]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Your situation sounds suspiciously like your body has been trying to deal with 'normal food' foryears and finally it can't.

Let me tell you my story to put things in some perspective. When I first went on Atkins, I lost very easily and felt wonderful but people around me pressured me to stop as they felt I was getting too thin and that the diet was faddish. I wish to God I had never listened to them because I started low-carbing again in November last year and have been on a strict Induction for more than a month - I've lost just 2 kilos.

But in that journey, I was so shocked that I wasn't losing weight like others on Atkins, I got myself thoroughly checked out and I discovered I am PCOS, Insulin Resistant (just a heartbeat away from Type 2 Diabetes), Hyper-insulinaemic, my adrenal glands are barely functioning and my thyroid is so suspect my new doctor has put me straight on T3 medication.

ALL of these means I can't lose weight easily at ALL, regardless of the diet but that Atkins is my best bet of all of them as the IR/HI means I cannot tolerate high carbs. Interestingly I am also a Type O - the original Hunter/Gatherer! I have to keep my carbs right down and am still trying to figure out how low I need to go to engineer a weight loss!

My advice to you is to start reading up about Insulin Resistance (Syndrome X) and to reread your 2002 DANDR - chapter 20. Dr Atkins does a very thorough job of explaining how your body can go through years of a normal diet, trying to cope and then just breaks down in your later years - this is not a sudden thing at all even though it feels it comes upon you suddenly. You then have no choice but to fix it NOW and, horrible as it is, the slightest carb will pile weight on you.

If you decide to check your thyroid, read up on this - the best info is at http://www.apinchofhealth.com.au under Thyroid 101. The tests commonly used in labs worldwide are HOPELESSLY unreliable. You can test normal and have a thyroid problem. You need to be insistent and have your facts under your belt when you go to your doctor or be prepared to find a better doctor. Look for womens' health clinics for a doctor who is sympathetic to womens' hormone issues and look for endocrinologists or get a referal to one.

Get a DHEA test for adrenal function - all the endocrine system is related and it all works in with insulin sensitivity which affects your ability to process carbs.

Good luck and keep me posted!

Diva

[Barbee]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Thank you Diva. I cannot find tyroid 101.

I appreciate your help! Will take advice and get back w/results!

[singadiva]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Hiya,

Click on the Search button at top of the page and type in Thyroid. A lot of thread will come up and Thyroid 101 is among them, about a dozen down from the top.

Sherrie has posted some awesome information.

Cheers,

Diva

[SheilaMarie]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

I've been told that artificial sweeteners should be limited to 3 per day, but after reading this, and knowing that I'm high risk for diabetes, I think I'll cut it out completely!

I had gestational diabetes with my last child. In December '08 I got back on Atkin's and my sugar dropped to 67 and I thought I would pass out. I was too weak and shakey to even fix myself something to eat, so I had some creamcheese with Splenda on it (pretending it was cheesecake) and my sugar came up to 92. I wondered why since there was no sugar, but I bet my body was responding to what they were talking about in the original post.

Also, Stevia (Truvia) was recommended to me by my health-nut-grandmother. Come to find out, it has 3 carbs each packet. Ick! No way.

[dietingduckie]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

I too love sugar and sugar free products. I have been on the Atkins induction now for four weeks with the help of a friend. The very first week I dropped twelve amazing pounds and jumped for joy, but then my next two weeks I havent dropped a pound, not even an ounce, boohoo. I will not give up tho, I am going to try to cut out the diet pop for sure this time and the crystal lite and hopefully the coffee with sugar twin, I hope I can because I find the coffee feels so much better in my tummy with out as many carbs in my system. I love my afternoon coffee and my morning one as well. Is two coffee, instant, too much?

[singadiva]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Both brands of Stevia I use have no carbs at all (Nirvana and Sweet Leaf) so check yours and make sure it is pure Stevia and not combined with something else to make it more 'palatable'. Some companies are combinging it with Xylitol, for example, which is a sugar alcohol.

Pure stevia also supports pancreatic function. Lokanto is another natural sweetener but I don't know much about it.

Coffee, avoid unless it is decaff (read your book for the specifics on caffeines bad effect on blood sugar levels) and decaff should be done through the Swiss Water Method which avoids using harsh chemicals to take the caffeine out. I have a great decaff fresh organic bean and have one first thing in the morning and rarely again in the same day.

Diva

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Hello!!!!

I posted today on the main forum about sweet taste and insulin response...
Anyone give up all sweeteners?

And I was shown by someone to come to this thread.

I am insulin resistant and while all of my levels (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc...) went DOWN - my insulin level went UP from already high 15 to 19! (should be lower than 10)...

I HAVE lost 12.5 pounds since starting atkins on january 03rd, but it's ONLY ben 12.5 pounds in 11 weeks. While i AM ecstatic about my loss - I (obviously) wish it was more...now that i'm doing more reading about this Cephalic Phase Insulin Response, I'm realizing that i seriously have to give up ALL sweet tastes.

Normally - in the morning - I have hot tea (legal herbal/caffeine free) with some heavy cream & some sugar free da vinci syrup. I also have my water at lunch with a lemon wedge (or iced tea at dinner with a lemon wedge).
And on the weekends I try to find a different breakfast to eat than just eggs (usually "mock" pancakes or something that has splenda or sf syrup, etc)

But I am beginning to believe that my insulin resistance is THAT bad that I need to stay away from even splenda (which is technically allowed in very little moderation)...but yeah - I have to give up my syrups and my lemon.

I already don't drink pop as I gave that habit up a few years ago - so that's no worry at all - but instead I drink tea. lots of it. and if it's hot, it's sweetened with splenda - cold with lemon.
so yeah - just something else I need to give up for now.
lol

[singadiva]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

[quote....
I am insulin resistant and while all of my levels (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc...) went DOWN - my insulin level went UP from already high 15 to 19! (should be lower than 10)...

I HAVE lost 12.5 pounds since starting atkins on january 03rd, but it's ONLY ben 12.5 pounds in 11 weeks. While i AM ecstatic about my loss - I (obviously) wish it was more...now that i'm doing more reading about this Cephalic Phase Insulin Response, I'm realizing that i seriously have to give up ALL sweet tastes.

Normally - in the morning - I have hot tea (legal herbal/caffeine free) with some heavy cream & some sugar free da vinci syrup. I also have my water at lunch with a lemon wedge (or iced tea at dinner with a lemon wedge).
And on the weekends I try to find a different breakfast to eat than just eggs (usually "mock" pancakes or something that has splenda or sf syrup, etc)

But I am beginning to believe that my insulin resistance is THAT bad that I need to stay away from even splenda (which is technically allowed in very little moderation)...but yeah - I have to give up my syrups and my lemon.
[/quote]

Hi, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance in November and immediately went on Atkins. I gave up all sugar in EVERYTHING but did use stevia and some splenda. I reversed my IR in three months and am no longer IR. I lost just three kilos and am currently gaining and losing the same kilo BUT I have just started menopause so losing weight is doubly hard now until my hormones can be sorted.

You WILL be very sensitive to sugars of any kind and perhaps sweeteners as well but try stevia and cut all other down or out then give yourself some time before you are retested - did you do a fasting glucose test and was it hourly or three hourly?

Cheers,
Diva

[Diver Down]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

Coke Zero. It's my achilles heel. I drink lots of water, but probably an equal amount of Coke Zero. This is my third attempt with Atkins, I'm still in my induction phase and losing weight, but I know I have to cut it out. I'm trying to find more creative food dishes, learning to cook a bit more, to avoid getting bored with food and resorting to soda to fill in the gaps. I could easily drop something like Coke Zero if I could switch to a fruit juice, but alas...

[DebbieC]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

I just love this board! I had been on stict induction which included no sweeteners etc.. well last week I made some clouds (cream cheese and splenda) and a few days just mixed 2 oz cream cheese and 1 packet of splenda and microwaved, it was great! BUT I stopped loosing so I stopped the Sweeteners and now I am back to the induction Headache and have to go thru that again. I didnt know why it was happening but after reading this I see Splenda can be just like Sugar. Well no more Splenda for me! Did I say how much I love this site?? LOL

[Barbee]

Re: Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response

There is a new sweetner, it starts with X and it doesn't seem to stall me like Splenda. ONly problem is, it claims not to leave a taste in your mouth but it does. At least I taste it. My whipped cream didn't taste good at all. But someone else might like it. I bought it in the health store. It isn't supposed to effect blood sugar at all.