I am 35 years old, currently overweight, and had serious health issues. For years my doctor warned me about being pre-diabetic and at major risk of heart attack. I tried everything he suggested, from lowering fat intake to exercising like a mad man.
But my blood work always came back horrible. My cholesterol / HDL ratio was 6, which is really bad. I had triglycerides double and sometimes triple the recommended amount.
I cut out virtually all saturated fats, ate lots of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, with vegetable oils, and it just got worse and worse.
I ran 3 miles 4-5 times a week. I played sports. I lifted weights. I also yo-yo'd up and down with my weight and would gain anything it took me 2 months to lose back in two weeks if I stopped.
So recently a co-worker of mine turned me on to a very good book, Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health by Gary Taubes. In addition, I did a massive search of hundreds of articles on nutrition studies which overwhelmingly supported Taubes research. (Note: I ignored any study based upon opinion or any 'quoted' fact that lacked a corresponding supporting scientific study).
After reading the book, I cut carbs by about 80% and sugar by 90%, by my estimate. I ate as much of any kind of meat I wanted, and also green veggies (prevents colon cancer in guys). I cut high sugar fruits such as bananas and grapes, and ate berries instead (higher in antioxidants as well). I avoided starches like potatoes and corn. I shunned bread, and occasionally ate tortillas because I love tacos. I left one day in the week to eat whatever I wanted, within reasonable sizes and calorie limits. I did NOT reduce calories, but increased my total caloric intake by a bit.
The results are:
Total Cholesterol down 8 points
Good Cholesterol up 7 points
Trigycerides cut in half (or third if you consider two years ago I was triple recommended level)
Chol / HDL ratio down to 5 from 6
All of my other blood markers, including glucose, are well in line with recommended levels
I also lost 10 pounds, including the most weight loss over the holiday season, and have kept it off without any exercise other than occasional running, about once per week.
I am no longer considered pre-diabetic or at major risk of heart attack. I am buying new clothes and feel a lot better. I haven't gotten sick a day since I started, and my allergies have actually gotten better as well.
I have only been doing this for a few months, but the transformation is astounding. After 15 YEARS of trying the recommended diet of my doctor (and my wife who is a PA) and not having luck, I am completely shocked at the short term results of this approach.
It goes against everything that conventional medical teaching tells me to do. Yet it has worked like a charm. My wife will not admit that it is a good idea. At first she warned me that my cholesterol would go higher and I would have a heart attack. And she kept getting me to switch to a rice, wheat, and chicken diet 🙂 Thankfully, however, I stuck with this and got the results. Her response to my blood work was "Hmm...." and nothing else. I haven't talked to my doctor yet, but it should be an interesting conversation.
I know these type of diets have been discussed before, and there is likely to be a lot of argument on this topic. However, I just wanted to point out that I did a shit ton of research on the topic and found no solid SCIENTIFIC refutation for it. I just found lots of opinions, politics, and money trails leading to the grain and vegetable companies.
Whats up next? I am cutting all vegetable oils, including Olive oil, and using coconut and palm oils in my home-cooked food instead. I am also switching off of cows milk, and gonna drink mostly water with some coconut milk to the medium chain fatty acids.
If anyone requests, I will post images of my blood work for proof. I can't prove the weight loss so you will just have to take my word on it.
Cliffs:
-Health sucks, doc says I am gonna die soon
-Dropped carbs and sugars
-Ate as much meat as I wanted
-Veggies? Who cares! Just ate occasional green one
-Dropped 10 pounds
-Blood work came back really good, I am now healthy
But my blood work always came back horrible. My cholesterol / HDL ratio was 6, which is really bad. I had triglycerides double and sometimes triple the recommended amount.
I cut out virtually all saturated fats, ate lots of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, with vegetable oils, and it just got worse and worse.
I ran 3 miles 4-5 times a week. I played sports. I lifted weights. I also yo-yo'd up and down with my weight and would gain anything it took me 2 months to lose back in two weeks if I stopped.
So recently a co-worker of mine turned me on to a very good book, Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health by Gary Taubes. In addition, I did a massive search of hundreds of articles on nutrition studies which overwhelmingly supported Taubes research. (Note: I ignored any study based upon opinion or any 'quoted' fact that lacked a corresponding supporting scientific study).
After reading the book, I cut carbs by about 80% and sugar by 90%, by my estimate. I ate as much of any kind of meat I wanted, and also green veggies (prevents colon cancer in guys). I cut high sugar fruits such as bananas and grapes, and ate berries instead (higher in antioxidants as well). I avoided starches like potatoes and corn. I shunned bread, and occasionally ate tortillas because I love tacos. I left one day in the week to eat whatever I wanted, within reasonable sizes and calorie limits. I did NOT reduce calories, but increased my total caloric intake by a bit.
The results are:
Total Cholesterol down 8 points
Good Cholesterol up 7 points
Trigycerides cut in half (or third if you consider two years ago I was triple recommended level)
Chol / HDL ratio down to 5 from 6
All of my other blood markers, including glucose, are well in line with recommended levels
I also lost 10 pounds, including the most weight loss over the holiday season, and have kept it off without any exercise other than occasional running, about once per week.
I am no longer considered pre-diabetic or at major risk of heart attack. I am buying new clothes and feel a lot better. I haven't gotten sick a day since I started, and my allergies have actually gotten better as well.
I have only been doing this for a few months, but the transformation is astounding. After 15 YEARS of trying the recommended diet of my doctor (and my wife who is a PA) and not having luck, I am completely shocked at the short term results of this approach.
It goes against everything that conventional medical teaching tells me to do. Yet it has worked like a charm. My wife will not admit that it is a good idea. At first she warned me that my cholesterol would go higher and I would have a heart attack. And she kept getting me to switch to a rice, wheat, and chicken diet 🙂 Thankfully, however, I stuck with this and got the results. Her response to my blood work was "Hmm...." and nothing else. I haven't talked to my doctor yet, but it should be an interesting conversation.
I know these type of diets have been discussed before, and there is likely to be a lot of argument on this topic. However, I just wanted to point out that I did a shit ton of research on the topic and found no solid SCIENTIFIC refutation for it. I just found lots of opinions, politics, and money trails leading to the grain and vegetable companies.
Whats up next? I am cutting all vegetable oils, including Olive oil, and using coconut and palm oils in my home-cooked food instead. I am also switching off of cows milk, and gonna drink mostly water with some coconut milk to the medium chain fatty acids.
If anyone requests, I will post images of my blood work for proof. I can't prove the weight loss so you will just have to take my word on it.
Cliffs:
-Health sucks, doc says I am gonna die soon
-Dropped carbs and sugars
-Ate as much meat as I wanted
-Veggies? Who cares! Just ate occasional green one
-Dropped 10 pounds
-Blood work came back really good, I am now healthy
