Amy the medicine that I take, Seroquel, has been known to cause diabetes. I started to notice that I had frequent urination, frequent thirst, and frequent hunger, all signs of the disease. I think my body was mimicking as if I had diabetes. I don't, as I've had several exams. I did an experiment where for one week I cut out carbs, and the next week I ate carbs. Yup, I can't consume them. Carbs where causing my frequent urination among a host of other problems. As soon as I cut out all sugar my body bounces back to incredible results....I have the proof, severa blood tests I've taken.

It's interesting what anti-psychotics do to the body. Before them I was underweight on a high carb low fat diet. Seems they've totally altered my metabolism.

Ah, yes, bacon... meat candy. Unless you keep it in the freezer (after cooking). Then it's more like meat ice cream. YUM!

I've been following a low-carb diet for a dozen years now, and the worst problem I've had with it so far is the nonstop nagging of well-meaning fools (including my current VA-appointed personal care physician) telling me how 'unhealthy' it is. As if weighing 350 lbs (my 1999 weight) was somehow healthier than todays' 244. (Yes, I'm still fat, but I wouldn't even be alive today if I hadn't gone with low-carb in 1999.)

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Mary Vernon, past president of the American Bariatric Society, on the 2011 Low-Carb Cruise. She gave me what I think is the key to my current 'stall' which I wrote up on one of my blogs -- google "your small intestine has taste buds" for that article. Using what I learned from her, I have resumed my weight loss, down 10 lbs over the last month.

Sorry to hear that you have problems with motion sickness, Amy. Otherwise I would encourage you to join us on next year's Low-Carb Cruise.

Interesting, TX CHL Instructor. I don't use artificial sweeteners much, except for an occasional stevia in my tea, yet still can't get past a stall.

I did the Eades' "6 week cure for the middle age middle" and lost 4 pds at first - was so excited -but it came back, as soon as I stopped doing the protein shake weeks.

The thing is, on LC boards, it seems that everyone enjoys great weight loss at first, then stall out. I mean, some obviously lose tons of weight - 100s of pds, as in your case. But something appears to happen after that which makes *just* eliminating grains, pasta, bread, etc, obsolete.

I don't get that. If you're, let's say, 30 pds from goal weight, but stall out, why? If carbs cause weight gain, avoiding carbs should still keep working, right?

I had a hair analysis done to try to determine why not only am I not losing anymore on LC, I've had a net gain over the past 4 yrs. And it shows I have adrenal burnout and extreme carb sensitivity.

I'm only struggling with 10 pds - and was never overweight - so it's not terrible, yet the concern I have is that it seems so many long-term LCers have the same problem, even when they know what to eat and not eat. They stall out and can't find the reason.

I wish Eades or somebody would address this in some other way besides laying it all on the dieter because many of these people have successfully lost a bunch of weight and are staying at ketosis or near ketosis levels of carb intake. Why should their weight loss stall?

I'm now avoiding cheese because I read the Eades say that will cause a stall, but, you know, pretty soon, I don't know what I'm going to eat! I used to be able to eat cheese, and still lose, but now, I can't. What's left to eliminate? Meat?

Ppen, very interesting to hear.

I found I've solved problems I didn't know I had -- exhaustion, mental fogginess, etc., by going low carb.

And TX CHL, talk to me about bacon in the freezer...do you make it crispy or...I forget how Dr. Eades says he likes it...wilty or something.

And great, TX CHL. Gregg, also, is a big guy, but is a far healthier big guy thanks to eating low carb. I love the guy to pieces, and I only get upset at him if he (rather like Lucy) scarfs down some carb'y hors doeuvre at a party. (Some people can just look at a cracker and have it affect their blood sugar.)

I'm sorry about the motion sickness, too! And thanks. Unfortunately, low carb is not the cure for that, it seems.

lovelysoul, have you considered looking at the Paleo way of eating? There is some thought that any dairy, including cheese and cultured dairy like yogurt, might be the culprit in ultimately keeping a person from getting rid of those last ten pounds.

Eating Paleo does give you plenty of foods to eat (including lots of veggies, which would likely need to be low carb in your case), and meat and fat. Anyway, you seem willing to try most anything reasonable in pursuit of the physique you desire, so it might be worth a try.

The other thought I have about this is that is it becoming widely recognized that standard height and weight charts might be more than a little "off." Are you absolutely sure that you really need to lose ten pounds? Only you can say, but I just want to put the thought in front of you.

And Amy, he eats his bacon what I call barely warmed....beyond wilty - absolutely droopy!

And that's the THICK-sliced bacon, FYI. None of that thin stuff.

I myself like to buy the irregularly cut ends and pieces. They seem to have more fat on them. I cook them in my contact grill. Keeps from having bacon fat popping all over the kitchen, and the drippings drain conveniently into a little tray, which I transfer to a jar to be used in cooking eggs or other deliciousness.

BTW, I also threw away my diabetes medication within about three months of starting low carb. That was in 2000 when I threw it away, and my HBA1C's are steady at 5.0 all these years hence.

"Are you absolutely sure that you really need to lose ten pounds? Only you can say, but I just want to put the thought in front of you."

I can only go by the scale, which is 10 pds higher than I've ever been in my life. Of course, I'm older, but the weight has gradually come on over the last 4 yrs, despite avoiding almost all carbs (except those from veggies), as I had already been doing for about 4 or 5 yrs previously (which always worked).

So, I pretty much eat the Paleo way. That's what's upsetting and confusing. If my diet was full of bad things, it would be understandable, but it's not.

The gain is mostly in my middle. People always told me that you reach middle age and there's nothing you can do but gain, and I used to laugh, thinking that they just weren't disciplined enough. That would NEVER happen to me, particularly since I knew all about avoiding carbs. I figured I'd never have a weight problem.

And, technically, according to the charts and what not, I still don't have a weight problem, but weight creeping up IS a weight problem if you can't stop it. It's not really about what I weigh, but the inability to lose despite eating the right things.

I'm not the only one either. I'm on the LC boards, and stalls and gaining back weight are frequent, even among people who previously lost huge amounts of weight and (according to them) keep their carbs very low.

We all start trying various things: upping our fat, eliminating dairy, etc. This works for some, then usually stops.

In fact, it seems kind of rare for LCers to actually meet their goal weight after a certain point. The most successful ones I communicate with seem to have lost the bulk of their weight years ago, very rapidly, gained back a portion, then stay stuck in a stall zone, still needing about 30-50 more pds off.

My point (and the frustration I feel) is that it's one thing to tell people who have never low-carbed about the diet. If they follow it, they will lose weight and be thrilled. No question. That happened to all of us who discovered LCing, and especially for some who were 100+ pds overweight, it was a godsend. They become LCers for life.

But something seems to occur metabolically that starts making long-term LCers more carb sensitive, resulting in stalls, and preventing them from reaching their goal weights, even though they are still eating according to plan. And nobody is really addressing that end of it. The focus is all on the initial amazing weight loss, reduction in blood sugar, etc...which is wonderful, and nobody is wishing they still had that 100+ pds back on...but still, we are wondering WHY? What is causing these stalls, even when the diet remains low in carbs? It shouldn't be this way based on the science that's been presented.

I'm goint to try it. Thanks so much!

I'm doing low carb, thanks to you, Amy. 24 lbs so far. I've read lots of blogs that were very helpful, but many of them don't seem to post new stuff. Anyone have any suggestions for good LC blogs?

I just posted this but now I don't see the post. I have gone low carb thanks to you, Amy. 24 lbs gone so far. I've read a lot of articles and blogs and they've been very helpful, but many don't have recent posts. Does anyone have any suggestions for good LC blogs?

Just sayin', you need to refresh this entry. I responded to your comment just above. I'm on deadline, so I didn't have time to go find the links.

@lovelysoul; I hear you, but I don't know the answer. I am not dismissing your concern, but I wonder if maybe there isn't **just one** answer. I don't know.

There are so many "types" of fat people, if you will. There's the string bean that only gained weight after one or more pregnancies. There's the always-chubby person who has never dieted before. Then, there's the little girl (like me) who was easily identifiable in her kindergarten photo as the fattest little girl in the school. This person (me) had numerous yo-yo episodes as I tried to find the "one true answer" to losing weight and good health. Of course, each cycle of the yo-yo brought on more fat, less muscle, and most importantly, more shame.

And then there are people like Amy, who (presumably) never had a weight problem at all, but find themselves healthy and "effortlessly thin" eating low carb.

I only know that **most** people's health is so much better when low carbing, the weight issue is (almost) secondary.

Yeah, I agree, harkness. There probably isn't any one reason any one person can't lose. Some of it is influenced by genes, for sure.

I was one of those effortlessly thin people. I say "effortlessly", but it was partly upbringing that helped. I grew up loving, not hating, vegetables, and almost never craved sweets, so that was half the battle won.

My half-sister has battled weight all of her life, but she, unfortunately, grew up in a household with lots of fast food and sweets.

So, a lot goes into it, such as genetics and environment, but, like I said, I have noticed that on LC discussion boards so few people actually make it to their goal weight before the weight loss slows and stalls out.

My situation is kind of reverse, in that I am actually heavier now than when I started LCing nearly 10 years ago, but it's hard to say how much heavier I would be if I hadn't.

It's not like the people who were 250, and now they're 175, and trying fruitlessly to get to 130. Obviously, they are far better off.

Still, why can't they keep losing? Why does the weight loss plateau?

My guess - and it's purely a guess, but based on so much anecdotal evidence and my own experience -is that the body eventually adjusts to the lower level of carbs, and then actually becomes intolerant of carbs. A slip up, like having a slice of pizza, or glass of wine, which wouldn't have derailed them at all before, now causes a stall or even a gain.

That's what's happened to me, and I'd love to understand why, and what to do about it. But there's not much study devoted to this. For one thing, the LC diet is relatively new, so they haven't studied that many people long-term. They can't really say how many of those who LC actually reach their desired weight. Based on my observations, very few do. Not that they aren't total LC converts, but they still aren't where they want to be, and the longer they LC, the harder it becomes to even maintain a weight that's 20-50 pounds over goal.

Ok, so. I skimmed his blog. Most of what I saw was whining about being ignored, or deleted from other blogs. Good start.
Is her really saying he has "cured" diabetes? Really? As in his pancreas is now functioning normally? Because if so, good on him. Otherwise, he has just "controlled" it thru diet, which other people have already done numerous times. I come from a long line of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics, the Type 2's split pretty evenly between those that are medicated and those that are diet controlled.
So, What he has to offer isn't new, and he's pretty whiny.
Oh, and I have a huge problem with people who tell other people not to take medical advice that will save their lives, so yeah.....

"Cured"/"Controlled"?

His diabetes is not manifesting anymore.

Here: http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/weight-loss/low-carb-diets-improve-type-ii-diabetes/

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/the-pitiful-state-of-medical-ignorance/

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/low-carb-experts-taubes-eades-wortman-volek-discuss-solutions-to-obesity-diabetes-metabolic-syndrome/3714

"Dr. Eades added that the side effects of most diabetes drugs could be completely avoided if diabetics would go on a low-carb diet."

You do understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2, yes? You can't just tell a Type 1, insulin dependent diabetic to eat more meat. they would die, horribly and painfully. You really need to understand the difference before you stat throwing this around as a panacea.

"I have noticed that on LC discussion boards so few people actually make it to their goal weight before the weight loss slows and stalls out."

Interesting points lovelysoul. I agree with you 100% on this.

While I see amazing results with my body I'm not convinced LC is the be all end all. Yes, I tend to loose 1lb a day with LC for weeks.... But for a long time (before I was medicated) I lived off a low calorie, high carb, low fat diet and never gained an ounce. I did this because that's the natural way I used to eat.

Also I've been to Asia enough to know they eat carbs that we are just not supposed to consume and somehow they are rail thin.

I'm 38, work at a desk 8 hrs a day and work out about 70 minutes per week (that really ain't shit).

I've been eating low carb/paleo for 8 months and sport a friggin' 6 pack like I did when I was a competitive athlete working out 10-15 hrs a week and in my early 20's.

Not a bad deal.

Thanks, Ppen. Just like you, I used to live on carbs and was rail thin, which is odd. My ex is a vegetarian (of 30+ years), so we mostly ate grains, beans, veggies, and pasta. Btw, he is still thin and healthy at 63.

Of course, as Amy notes, I didn't eat many sweets, but still, that can't explain it all, can it? Did I just have a super, Asian-style metabolism?

Do Asians have more health problems? More heart disease? Colon cancer?

Frankly, I'd give anything, at this point, to eat like an Asian - a plate of rice and some tofu - without gaining 2 pds.

Carb intolerance is real, and it's not fun. I think many people lose weight by LCing, but that may, in fact, be simply by eliminating the really bad carbs, like sweets, which would probably cause them to lose anyway.

Basically thin people, like me, drastically increased protein, while severely decreasing "healthy" carbs, which our bodies apparently could metabolize well, and I'm not convinced the results are overall positive.

"I've been eating low carb/paleo for 8 months and sport a friggin' 6 pack like I did when I was a competitive athlete working out 10-15 hrs a week and in my early 20's."

That's wonderful, and I had the same kind of results in the first few years. I never had really anything to lose, but I got down to really low weights - a hot (for me) 105 pds. And that's what hooked me on LC.

But I would caution anyone to not be seduced into becoming too excessive with it. If you can still have a few carbs and maintain, then do so. Don't be tempted to go lower and lower with your carbs, especially if you already have a six pack. You don't need to, and it may lead to carb intolerance.

What I find interesting is that the high-protein diet works for so many people -- and the high-micronutrient diet works well too.

I just saw a documentary called "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" about a guy who goes on a fresh juice fast and basically saves his life and several others in two months.

He talks about how he got so messed up - and it wasn't eating cuts of meat, it was adding all that processed crap and overloading his system to the point of failure.

Apparently the villain in the modern diet is the mix of fat and low-value carbs.

Oh, wow! I didn't have the opportunity to actually watch the video until just now. Nobody mentioned the interviewer. Although he isn't identified, that MUST be Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, who is a major figure in the low carb world.

As an aside, I enjoyed very much my dinner with Andreas and his lovely partner during the low carb cruise, and he made an excellent presentation to our group concerning Ancel Keys' dishonest misrepresentation of dietary fat.

Thanks for posting the interview, Amy!

@Kat, as a person who is intimately aware of the disease that is type 1 diabetes, I have to ask: are you aware of the work of Dr. Richard Bernstein? No, he doesn't advocate type 1's throwing away their medicine, unless they can, but he is certainly a pioneer in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

He's in his 80's, BTW, and had type 1 some 60 years, so he's NOT just talking theory. Most people with type 1 have no chance of living to their 80's unless they at least make some effort toward following his advice. His low carb dietary advice is somewhat more restrictive and regimeneted than typical low carb diets, but obviously, it is very effective.

And a balanced diet is called balanced for a reason. Take a good look at your teeth. We are omnivores. We evolved to eat *everything* in some balance, some people need more carbs, some more protein.
I also see that no one has really addressed the control/cure issue I raised. You can say something is cured if you take it once/a few times and the illness is gone. It is merely controlled if you have to maintain whatever it is you are doing, be it diet, medication, whatever. If you stop it comes roaring back with a vengeance. I still say that doctors have had patients with mild Type 2 control their illness thru diet for years, so what this guy is proposing is not new, it's just a particular diet. Ok, so you want to eat meat and that works for you, fine, just don't tell people who are ill to throw away their meds because you are on a crusade against carbs.
And a Type 1 Diabetic is insulin dependent for life. Different animal, and yes they also can benefit from diet and exercise, but they will always be on their meds.

"Frankly, I'd give anything, at this point, to eat like an Asian - a plate of rice and some tofu - without gaining 2 pds."

I've been to Asia several times and yes it's true they consume almost no sugar. But they consume ALOT of rice, which LC tells us not to do. I used to have it for breakfast everyday in Japan. And there is of course lots of noodle shops, pasta shops around too. Tempura, Okonomiyaki, Pho, Sundubu aren't exactly LC either.

I'm with you lovelysoul I love tofu and rice! And if you read Protein Power it does say to eventually reintroduce carbs. Eating all meat is not healthy, not because we can't subside on an all meat diet but we would need to eat the organs and brains of animals to get all our nutrition. I wouldn't recommend that with cows nowadays especiallY!

It's curious, isn't, Ppen? Why aren't Asians fat, then? Even without sugar, that's a lot of carb intake. And why aren't vegetarians, like my ex, collapsing of protein deficiencies and other health problems?

He's ovolacto, not vegan, which I think can be very hard to balance nutritionally, but, according to LC plans, he (and I, when I ate like him) shouldn't be getting enough protein.

So that's something I've been questioning in my quest to determine what's wrong with me. Has my protein intake been too high? Are the protein requirements actually accurate?

Lately, I've been dropping it down, since I don't feel healthy eating so much meat, and because I've been reading about how excess protein causes a glucose response and will be stored as fat anyway, just like carbs.

LC diets claim you can switch your body over from burning carbs to fat. At one time, I obviously had a very efficient, Asian-style metabolism that burned carbs yet still kept me thin.

One thing I know I did wrong when I began LCing, and for long time afterwards, is that I still had a low fat mentality. I didn't increase my fat intake enough, which may have lead to my adrenal burnout.

I would caution anyone LCing that it's not enough just to restrict carbs. You must increase fat. Your body has to burn one of those macronutrients, so if you aren't feeding it carbs, it needs to have increased fat - butter, olive oil, avocados, nuts, and/or fatty meats.

You can't simultaneously eat low carb and low fat. A low carb diet must inherently be a high fat diet (not so much high protein, as people call them), yet I'm not sure that message is clear to many. I've even read on LC boards of people using low fat products!

I suspect that this causes the adrenals to have to work much harder, as you're basically starving your body of a sufficient fuel source.

That's my theory, anyway. The nutritionist has put me on all kinds of supplements to try to help my adrenals function normally again, but the best thing is to not wreck them in the first place.