Help me help a friend

[Chris]

I've been trying for quite some time to get my friend, Jeff, to adopt a low-carb lifestyle -- if not Atkins, then something similar. Jeff is somewhat overweight and is having major problems controlling his Type II diabetes. He has a number of additional health problems, as well, about which I'll let him decide if he wants to share the details, or not.

Anyway, I've been telling Jeff that low-carbing not only helps us get our weight down to normal, but seems to offer numerous other benefits, as well. In my case, my almost daily moderate headaches, and the severe migraines that I had every week, or so, have completely disappeared, for the first time in my life. That, alone, would be worth adopting the WOE, even if I never lost another pound.

I have a skin rash called dishydrosis (inflammation of the sweat glands) that attacks my hands, and, especially, my feet. It is an auto-immune disorder, but I no longer need the steroids that I used to take since I've been on Atkins, because the condition has entirely disappeared.

before Atkins, I'd go though bottles of antacid tables in no time because of severe heartburn and indigestion. I can't even remember, now, the last time that I took an antacid tablet.

These days, I have more energy than I've had in several decades, all because of Atkins.

So, help me here, people. Tell Jeff, and everyone else who might need convincing, about the benefits you've discovered from following the Atkins WOE.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Help me help a friend

Chris buy him Dr Arkins Diabetic low carb book. Canuck from here is featured as a diabetic success in it. Nothing like real diabetic folk telling him how they controlled they blood sugars and all the realted health issues like eyesight, blood pressure ands the resulting kidney and heart damage high blood sugar causes. Many of them came off their diabetus meds because they were in such good contril. give him a link to i=our diabetes forum too.

[RachelnLa]

Re: Help me help a friend

Loan him your book and tell him to just look at it to see if it's right for him. Once he sees the diabetic part and if he wants to get his under control it will snag him into reading it. I have highlights all over my book and stars, etc. It may catch his eye.

* What has he got to lose by trying it? Some weight? Feeling better? Getting his sugars under control? All pluses! Why wouldn't people want to do it???? Mind set. His mind has to be in the right place. He has to want it more than he doesn't want it. No matter how good we can make thing looks.. the desire has to be greater. That said, these are a few of my pluses:

1. energy like never before. I have the "want to" to do things, live life and move!
2. no more mood swings or depression (we were hit hard by hurricane Rita - losing everything we owned. The depression following that made me go back to atkins. Eating was the only thing in my life I COULD control. After that, the other parts of my life starting falling back into place.)
3. migraines are few and far between.
4. no bloated feeling. I can eat until I'm full and still not have that bloated feeling that carby foods gave me.
5. my self image has improved along with my confidance.
6. no more reflux!!
7. No more insomnia!
8. Knowing I'm doing something good for my body/health makes me feel great about myself. *I"M* calling the shots

I agree, give him the link to the boards and let him browze.. what's he got to lose? What can he gain? Just try it for 2 weeks... that's all. then see.

Let us know how it goes!

[Chris]

Re: Help me help a friend

Thanks, 2Big and Rachel -- you both bring up some very good points. Jeff will be reading this thread, later, and I hope it sinks in. I'm going to see to it that he has copies of both books, even if I have to buy them, myself!

In my original post, I forgot to mention two benefits that are both very important. I used to have somewhat high blood pressure, and it's now in the low-normal range -- always! I also had quite high cholesterol, which is also now in the low-normal range. I would imagine that the combined effects of those could well increase my life expectancy by years.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Help me help a friend

weight loss and blood sugar in the normal range will both help lower blood pressure for him Chris as high blood sugar causes high blood pressure.

if you need any 2BIG brain leaking with the actual science behind it let me know.

[Chris]

Re: Help me help a friend

weight loss and blood sugar in the normal range will both help lower blood pressure for him Chris as high blood sugar causes high blood pressure.

if you need any 2BIG brain leaking with the actual science behind it let me know.

2Big!! I don't know what we'd do without her!!

[julirama723]

Re: Help me help a friend

A big problem for some people are eating the veggies--especially if they haven't tried many varieties, and haven't eaten them regularly--or are still experiencing childhood brussel sprouts trauma.

I would say, give Atkins a shot for 2 weeks. If you don't notice changes for the better in those 2 weeks and/or are absolutely miserable, then go on from there.

As for the veggies--incorporate them into stuff you already eat--put green peppers and mushrooms in your omelette, put celery in your egg salad, or make AWESOME mashed or au gratin turnips if you miss potatoes. Make jicama "french fries" or caulflower casserole.

Eat a salad--but don't forget crumbled bacon, cheese, egg, and dressing. Chris, show your friend how little 3 cups a day actually is--by that I mean it's not little nutrient-wise, but a LOT easier to get your quota of veggies than ya think.

Also, atkins is not much of an "on-the-go" diet, but there's a reason for it. All the stuff you are putting into your body is fresh, and mostly it's freshly prepared by YOU. You CAN, however, make stuff ahead of time and just grab it out of the fridge if you're in a rush. I boil a dozen eggs at a time, and grab one or two for a snack/meal. I also will buy a HUGE pack of chicken tenders, let them marinate in Italian dressing for a day or so, and grill them all--that way if I want a snack, or protein for lunch, I grab some chicken and ranch dressing. Other easy stuff is pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, celery with cream cheese or ranch, or bacon, which I'll make a large amount of and then bag it into individual servings.

A crucial thing is to not freak out and feel deprived--let your friend know all of the foods he CAN eat--I think a lot of people have misconceptions about Atkins, thinking it's a "very restrictive diet." I think of it in terms of the opposite--it's a very liberating way to eat for LIFE. Where else is it perfectly acceptable and guilt free to eat a steak with butter, bacon and eggs, fresh whipped cream, and (legal) cheesecake? Make sure he knows that foods get added back in during OWL--great foods like nuts, berries, and whole grains. I personally can't wait until the berries!

Hope this helps Chris--remember to help your friend focus on all the positives! Maybe you could make a list, of pros and cons, about continuing on his current eating plan vs. starting atkins. A lot of times if I see something indisputable in front of me, that's the impetus to start.

[Babs]

Re: Help me help a friend

Hey Chris, Your friends is very lucky to have you as a caring friend, and that right there should mean something and perhaps he will try it for you, in return of a good friendship.
I can say what it all means to me. I am a bad carbohydate addict, and it makes me sick when I eat them, only I didn't realize it. I was always hungry. I found that the two weeks out of my life to go through Induction was worth saving my life. I have a list of improvements I have noticed in myself, but for now, I list a few. I do not need to waste money on anti-acids, since I have no more heartburn. I no longer am winded just walking around the yard, or even in the house from room to room. That was my wake up call this time because I had never had this problem. It made me think about my heart.

I will soon save lots of money because I won't have to spend $50.00 to $100.00 a month on blood pressure meds (and my husband too). I dream of what I can do with that money. I save lots of money and time because I no longer buy chips, ice cream, candy, cookies, processed foods, breads, etc. and don't have to take the time to think of what flavor I want. I am not hungry for them, nor do I want these foods any longer. When I ate these foods, I ate it all within a day or two, and then some. Now I get to eat the most delicious recipes ever. There are foods that can be ate if one is hungry. I started with 3 eggs for breakfast, and now I am full before I eat one (and they are chicken, not Ostrich eggs. ) I no longer use the excuse that I do not have time to cook. It's like my time for exercise now...it all comes first. I tell myself just because I don't like it, doesn't give me the excuse to shrug it off by saying I don't feel like it. I have to do. My husband has to do it, and he's losing much faster than me. I am a major pizza nut, and now that I make the taco bake recipe with pizza toppings, I can have my pizza and not eat as much because the crust is made from cheeses. I would encourage anyone to give Atkins way of eating two weeks, keeping it strict, and see how much better they feel. (That is not original, that is what Dr. Atkins says in the book.)
If friends are willing, I would ask them to write down foods they like and then check out the recipes that include those foods, and start to read the book and give it a try. For me, It's worth a more active, longer lasting, healthier life. Best wishes to all! Babs

[knicknack]

Re: Help me help a friend

Hi Chris-

My dad is a diabetic (but not type 2), just diagnosed about 3 months ago. He also had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He got put on medicine for all three conditions. He went back to the doctor and it was only sort of working. So, he went on a 30 carb a day diet for a month and went back to get more testing.

His blood sugar: totally under control
Blood pressure: so low that they had to take him off the medicine
cholesterol: totally normal

So, there you have it. Why to go on atkins. My dad is not an overweight man, either, so it's not about the weight for him. It's about the health.

Oh, and I might add, the doctor said: "I don't know what you're doing, but keep doing it" when he saw my dad's results. His health literally did a reversal and the doctor was amazed.

[cleochatra]

Re: Help me help a friend

This is to Jeff.

If you want light and fluffy lovewords, you might want to skip this post, because I'm going to lay it on the line.

I don't know what I can say that everyone else hasn't.

I guess I just want to say that if you enjoy being unhealthy and on the path to certain death (because diabetes does kill people), you might want to just keep doing what you're doing. It's pretty selfish, and it hurts your friends as much as it does you, but what the heck, right? It's your body and your life.

Diabetes is 6th leading cause of death in the United Dtates in 2002. This is up from 7th place in 1999. The number keeps growing.

My friend's dad didn't do anything about his diabetes. She and her mom found him dead in the backyard. He should be a live today, but he isn't. So, tell the people you're going to leave behind to suck it up and cope because you can't. Or you won't.

• Heart disease and stroke account for about 65 percent of deaths in people with diabetes.
• Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.
• The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.

If you want to prevent something wholly preventable, why not look into making positive change? Or you could be like I was, 325 pounds, scaring small kids who thought I was going to eat them with chocolate syrup.

The choice is yours.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44 percent of new cases in 2002.
• More than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur among people with diabetes.

I hope you do what you think is right. And I hope you'll consider that people who care about you don't want to see you kill yourself with food.

Do you want to be another statistic?

Not that it matters, but I'd like to see you stick around.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Help me help a friend

Hi Jeff,
I started Atkins 100 lbs over weight, depressed, couldn't sleep, hiding, hurting, and eating everything hoping to fill myself up...nothing worked.

I started Atkins 89 days ago. I didn't like salad, and I don't like salad..
I started because I know i will loose weight.
I know I will not crave foods in a week
I know I will have energy in a week
I know I will begin a road back to living
I started peeling lettuce leaves and stuffing them with meats and mayo...calling them wraps. I bought foods that worked. I rode my stationary bike 15 mins slow...I slowly gained ground after 4 days of headaches..
Slowly it all turned around...
Oh yeah, I have to go now, my family are stuffing our bikes in the van so we can all go bike riding outside in the sunny cool fall day. My overweight daughter and I go out every chance we get. My husband likes to go with us. We can't wait to be out there.
I have to grab some water bottles and catch up with them. We are now late, because I stopped here for a minute Jeff to say, it really works and you will not be the same in a week, nor in two weeks...at a month you will be blown away, at 2 months you too will be grabbing gear and having fun, at 3 months you will start to see a whole new life available to you...
I have to go now,the horn is beeping...Join us Jeff, we are tellig you our life's truth here.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Help me help a friend


I'm the girl in the black shirt, forcing a smile...


This was our ride today right after I wrote to you Jeff...
This Atkins deal really works, 4 mos ago this would not have been possible...

[RachelnLa]

Re: Help me help a friend

I also wanted to add.. your taste changes. Your friend may think he don't like veggies or certain ones... but he just may if he tried them or ate them different ways! He just might be surprised.

[Chris]

Re: Help me help a friend

I've just spoken to Jeff, and he has taken our advice seriously -- very seriously! It turns out that he joined the board shortly after reading this thread, and has decided that he's going to give Atkins a try.

So far, he's only been reading, and hasn't posted anything yet -- he's says that he hasn't learned enough yet, to make any reasonably intelligent posts (silly man!). So, I told him that I was going to say that he was just lurking right now. He replied that that sounds like some pervert doing weird things outside windows while half naked! He said that if I called him a "lurker" that he was sure Cleochatra would have some interesting remark about it! I told him that, in that case, I couldn't resist!

Jeff's biggest problem is, of course, his diabetes. He's on injectable insulin, but can never -- ever! -- bring his blood glucose to within a normal range. Additionally, he's having real issues finding the vegetables that he can eat because he can't eat foods high in vitamin K, since he takes the blood thinner, Coumadin. Interestingly, if you look at a vitamin K chart, it looks almost like a carb counter in reverse. The lower the carbs, the higher the vitamin K. The one big exception are green beans -- which has become his staple vegetable.

Anyway, he's trying. I hope he'll begin posting, soon.

[jgcrews]

Re: Help me help a friend

[lurk, lurk]

Since Chris said he was going to refer to me as a lurker, I figured I might as well lurk. But don't tell anyone - it's still a felony in Virginia!

Actually, I really appreciate everyone's comments and feedback. You have all provided some valuable information and insight into my condition and some possible solutions.

As Chris mentioned, I am a strange eater - there's a lot that I really don't like. Of course, everything I do happen to like is a no-no. So, this will be an interesting journey, especially combining it with low vitamin K vegetables that won't adversely affect my blood (I'm primarily on Coumadin as a result of having Factor V Leiden, an inherited blood disorder which causes my blood to be 3x - 4x thicker than normal, and makes me very susceptible to developing DVTs (clotting) which has been a very, very big problem over the last 12 months).

Thanks again to everyone for their advice. Hopefully, I will be able to get on board in the next couple of weeks.