Leptin Resistance

[RitaNow]

Leptin Resistance

Ok - I ordered the book and have been on the web site. I am very interested in this. I have been playing with a high protein/lower carb diet for about 3 years. When I stay on the plan I feel pretty good - but have now "trained" my body to want to eat every 3 hours or I have a Blood sugar drop! It just doesn't work for me to eat every 3 hours! So Jack's theory really strikes me as truth.

I'm experimenting with how this works. Yesterday I ate a 47 gram protein lunch (messed up and didn't eat before then) and wasn't hungry until 8 pm. Hummmmm But I hated the way the eggs tasted and gagged it down.

This morning I had 50 grams of protein - but added a half cup of oatmeal which brings the carbs up to 27 grams - probably to high for Jack's thinking. But I'll report back how many hours until I'm hungry again. I'm aiming to eat only 2 to 3 times a day.

Anyone who is following this - it would be great to have a thread of support going. I know I am L.R. and feel like I've never made it over to the L.S. with the eating every 3 hours.

I'd love to know how you that are following the L.R. diet are doing!!

[Doggygirl]

Leptin Resistance

Hi Rita! I'm sorry I didn't see your posts until now. Glad you found the book and web site and have been digging in.

There is still so much unknown about Leptin and our bodies really are complex machines! What I am finding interesting right now is looking at the similarities and differences among the various "experts" and factoring all of that into my own decisions about what to try. There are definitely multiple opinions about appropriate carbohydrate and fat levels/composition. The "protein in the AM" (suggested amounts differ) and the "don't eat at least 3 hours before bed" seem to be common themes.

I have been able to get pretty consistent with a breakfast that "holds me" for about 6 - 7 hours. 44g protein (combination of egg/egg whites & whey protein powder), 17g fat (coconut oil) and 14g carbs (vegetables). I have this will little variation every morning and like it.

I have also been pretty consistent with not eating before bed. Not 100% though, so still working on it. I have also been rather inconsistent with meal composition, timing, etc. from lunch through dinner. Until I get that part of the day better organized and stable, I don't really expect to see any weight loss results.

I am a work in progress! I'm glad to find a fellow traveler though. Will check back to see how you are doing! Give me all your good ideas, OK?

DG

[RitaNow]

Leptin Resistance

Hey DG - thanks for checking back in on this thread! I also am a "work in progress" with this process. I am reading the book - and experimenting. I also have been checking into and reading other research - which I am also finding that the authors don't follow the same protocol as far as "treatment.

Jack's methods seem to be the the strictest - so I am going to try to stay the closest to his plan at least for correcting the hormone issues.

Today was my most "comfortable" day ... meaning I felt good all day! It looked like this:

7:30 Breakfast
Collagen Protein Shake (Blueberry/Cranberry flavor)
51 Grams Protein
9 grams Carbohydrate
4 gr. Fat

1:30 Lunch
Tuna Salad on a variety of greens & Veggies

6:30 Dinner
Turkey (6 oz)
Salad with variety of veggies, raw sunflower seeds, walnuts, blue Cheese & Blue cheese dressing.

(no wonder I feel so good tonight ... all that FAT!!!) I don't feel stuffed - and I don't feel hungry. I feel just right. For the first time in a long time. I've been "going hungry" and NOT losing weight!! I think Jack is right when he talks about "undereating". I assess myself as "undereating" healthy food and "overeating" junk!!

I'll keep you posted as I "learn" - and will let you know if and WHEN I start losing weight. I just weighed myself this morning ... so will report back. I need to get through the book. I find the theories all make so much sense with my situation. This really is me through and through.

I agree - it's going to take some time and "practice". Just adapting to eating only 3 meals a day is going to be a big change for me! I have had an evening sweet tooth ever since going AF- NF.

Here's to resetting Leptin!! :goodluck:

[Doggygirl]

Leptin Resistance

Hi RitaNow!

I too am starting to think I should move more strictly to Jack's plan. Playing fast and loose with carbs just always gets me in trouble!

The good news is that following the breakfast protocol is really working for me in that half of the day!! Now I just need to probably add a bit more protein and breakfast, and try to settle into a lunch and dinner content that keeps me satisfied - mainly through the afternoons.

Keep me posted, OK?

DG

[RitaNow]

Leptin Resistance

I have felt a little frustrated with the lack of "examples" on menus, etc. with all of the information out there. So when I found this "jump start" section I was thrilled. It really puts the program in a practical "action" form - with enough information to really set you in motion. Just thought I'd share the link for those of you who are like me and need a little more direction with this Liptin correcting diet!!!

Jump Start Your Weight Loss | Weight Loss News

Jump Start Your Weight Loss | Weight Loss News

[Bruunhilde]

Leptin Resistance

Thanks Rita, this helps!

I'm not working that diet but I like the leptin idea and the food choices seem more normal to me than some other diets. I'm discontinuing my use of L-glutamine so the plan here which halts cravings will be instrumental for me. Has anyone tried the protein powder they sell? My hypnotist told me that stuff I use (Jarrow) has too much sugar in it and isn't helping my cravings.

[Doggygirl]

Leptin Resistance

Rita - thanks for the links!! Very helpful info.

Bruun - I use Source Naturals Whey Protein Powder. It's not flavored or sugared, so I can use Stevia and fruit or a SF syrup to flavor it. My doctor is adamant against soy due to impact on thyroid, so that's part of my reasoning. I also recently ordered some of Mercola's but haven't tried it yet.

DG

[RitaNow]

Leptin Resistance

Bruun - I have not tried their Protein Powder. I have tried quite a few and always look for one with less than 1 gram of sugar and 6 or less grams of Carbs. A really good Whey Protein or Collagen based one are my favorites. I may try theirs next time I need to order. (Which will be awhile - as I always get a BIG container).

I have followed the 5 rules for 1 week and have lost 3 pounds. I have been keeping my carb intake below 50 grams per day. I've been keeping my breakfast Protein grams at 50 (with less than 6 Carb grams) and I've been eating a lot of healthy FAT at dinner (nuts & seeds, avocado, blue cheese, olives) and fruit for the carb grams at dinner.

This is the strangest combo I've ever eaten ... but I feel really good. Surprisingly I haven't had a very hard time with 3 meals and no snacks. I am still drinking diet pop (which I need to stop) but am having a little rebellion with that one .... something in my head keeps shouting ... ((((((HEY Girl .... How many changes do you plan on making in a 2 month period?????!!!! Careful now!!!))))))))

I think the interesting thing about this plan is that it's going to evolve. It really isn't that hard. The rules are just common sense and natural to me. We'll see how week 2 is going.

DG - how are you doing with the 5 rules? I think just getting those down (not worrying as much about what exactly your eating just yet) might a good way to go. Keep me posted!!

[Bruunhilde]

Leptin Resistance

Hey DG! Thanks for the recommendation - I agree to avoid soy, for so many reasons. Apparently it aggravates many pathways in the body, negatively. I want a protein that is sugar/carb free so I can stevia it and avoid getting sugar unnecessarily. Any hidden sugar is hard on my cravings discipline.

Rita, thanks for the five rules, its funny, I already eat that way only less carbs. And with the addition of the Smart Carb bread, I'm fired up that I can have bread again. Fat feels good in the diet, doesn't it!

Edit: I should say, I already eat that way except for the Ben & Jerrys! OMG

[RingingCedars]

Leptin Resistance

Here's a thought(my thoughts--not highly technical but makes sense to me). I am hypoglycemic as well. I think in my early days of 29(since we're all stuck in 29:H), the every 3 hours worked well since I was much more active and had a faster metabolism. Now in my late 29's, it is inevitable that metabolism slows down and I'm not nearly as physically active. So choosing to eat more nutritionally dense foods at longer intervals is more appropriate for weight management and I don't seem to experience the sugar lows that I used to that required more frequent meals/snacks.

[Doggygirl]

Leptin Resistance

RC, I was just reading somewhere (can't remember where, unfortunately!) that lots of people THINK they are hypoglycemic who really are not. This person strongly recommended that anyone who suspects hypoglycemia should really have it checked by a doc to make sure. I think his theory was that our bodies get used to a particular eating schedule, so if you feed your body every 2 hours, it prepares and expects food every 2 hours. When that doesn't happen, there are symptoms that minic hypoglycemia. At least that the general gist of what I thought I was reading, LOL!

Anyway, I'm wondering if you think there is any merit to that "logic?"

DG

[RingingCedars]

Leptin Resistance

Hi DG. I was not aware of being hypoglycemic until I had some live blood analysis done at 40. Until then I was a chronic breakfast skipper and ate 2 healthy meals per day. Well healthy was relevant to what I knew then before realizing how detrimental wheat(and other foods) were to my digestive tract. I then started making sure to get solid nutrients into my system at least 5 times per day(minus, some common high mold/allergy foods). I've mentioned before that I mostly eat according to my blood type now. So breakfast became a smoothie, snack a quality "green drink" or spirulina tabs and some raw nuts, lunch a salad with protein, afternoon snack another protein drink+spirulina and a supper veggies+protein or veggies+rice or quinoa pasta. I was so diligent with this regime for about 5 years and I was fit/lean and plenty of energy. I gradually moved away from this due to lots of external factors. (drowning my sorrows in wine one of them) Hmmm you know as I type this, I think I will try to go back to this style of eating. The "snacks" just need to be super food concentrates. This probably does not answer your question one bit. Sorry. Will report back....

[Doggygirl]

Leptin Resistance

Ne, I can relate to what you are saying about all the contradictory advice, etc. I guess the only way I can try to "unfrustrate myself" over it is to acknowledge that our bodies really are complex and not everything is known (yet ).

I am trying to stay focused on my own objectives, one of which is what you said Ne - get out from under sugar cravings. I guess my main other objective is to find a way to fuel myself that feels comfortable for me and that results in reasonable health (weight control, blood test results as ordered by my doc, BP good, etc.)

I'm still searching.

I have been reading a lot lately about Intermittent fasting. Some interesting e-reads on the matter are Fast-5 by Dr. Herring and Eat Stop Eat by Brad Philon (might have that name wrong off the top of my head). They make some interesting points about the food industry and how that has driven so much of the research (how to get us to eat more food!). Brad makes some interesting points from a body building perspective i.e. body builders have gotten lean and muscular for competition following any number of different protocols over the years (i.e. more meals, less meals, more carbs, less carbs, etc.). The common denominator is calorie restriction for fat loss.

And I have no idea how to reconcile that with other info such as Gary Taubes who likes to speak with great authority, but some (not ALL - SOME) of what he says just doesn't ring true in terms of personal experience.

All this is to say I totally understand where you are coming from!!!

I have been actually following Fast-5 for a week now. We shall see. I do find the intermittent fasting approach facinating in terms of insulin control, etc. A different way to go about it than - say - keeping carbs ultra low to control insulin. All of the materials I've read so far only suggest this for people who are NOT clinically hypoglycemic and are otherwise healthy.

If you get it all figured out, let me know, OK??

DG

[RitaNow]

Leptin Resistance

Ne - I also know exactly what you are saying. I am on my second Leptin book and have been reading a ton on the internet. I don't find the information ABOUT Leptin hard to understand (although very dry scientific reading), but I also find the Rx about WHAT to do about it very contradictory , as you have.

What I am doing is a little like DG .... I am experimenting to see what really works for me. I know this is cumbersome, and is going to take a lot of time - but I am so tired of my own "quick fix" methods, that I am willing to sort this out the hard way. So far I have discovered that the 5-6 meals a day does NOT work for me. My blood sugar "learns" to drop 10 minutes before the 3 hours. I have come to the conclusion that I trained my body to do this. For the past 2 weeks I have been eating 3 meals a day (mim of 5 hours between) with NO blood sugar drop, as long as I have enough protein early in the day.

My most recent "observation" with sugar cravings is that IF I eat ONLY "real" food carbs (IE: oatmeal, beans, potatos, true "grain" breads, etc) It doesn't "set" me off on a sugar binge. IF I eat ANY JUNK carbs - I am off on a never ending crave for more. The point is this .... I believe the Chemicals in NON - FoOD is addicting. It leads to cravings for more. I am starting to believe that it is that simple. If we can stay away from NON FOOD. Carbs are easier to control if they are the "real deal".

I am finding the 5 rules to work for me so far - for the most part. I haven't been perfect with the carbs a few days - but am finding I feel better if I keep the carbs 50 grams or so.

Hope this helps. THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED subject .... if we all continue to share what we are learning - maybe we can get it figured out!!! It's going to take some time!

The other crazy thing to note for me ........ All of this "complicated" learning has helped me keep my mind off my NF/AF issues! I am over 8 weeks now ... and haven't been obsessing all day long about "getting through today" like I was for awhile. It's all of this thinking about these hormone issues that has distracted me!!

[SebastianMacGregor]

Leptin Resistance

Determinator;1162113 wrote: Great material DoggyGirl.

being semi-ketogenic is working well for me. My happy zone physically and mentally is:

moderate to hi fat
moderate protein
moderate carbs from vegetable and fruit sources
carbs rarely from legumes and grains (hey once in a while I want some lentils or sourdough!)

when I stick to this formula my sugar, AL and regular hunger cravings are low, moods stable and energy to last.

My zone, is the same as yours.

If I eat within those guidelines, I can eat till I am full, 3-4 times a day. The only downside (for me), it feels like I am eating every time I turn around. And if I forget to eat, I feel famished and rabid for carbs.