Originally Posted by sf40:
I have posted in the past about my dismay that my fasting blood glucose has gone up slightly since going low carb. Any thoughts?

Have you thought about having a very small snack right before bedtime. Here is what bloodsugar 101 (http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/17561156.php) says to try:

Originally Posted by sparky1946:
On the news break, I heard that by 20XX, (don't remember the date< was groggy :)), 1/3 of the people in the US will have diabetes! I am going to research more to make sure I didn't dream this.

You didn't dream it, Sandy! I couldn't believe it either ... it was on NPR, here is the reference link.

Originally Posted by Brown:
I had a really crazy week last week with work, and one day I ended up working 26 out of 29 hours straight (the 3 hours in the middle was drive time and trying to take an hour nap in my car at 6 am before the next job at 7, but failing miserably...) I was doing so well, and at the end of that 29 hours I ate a brownie from the coffee shop. A BROWNIE? I haven't eaten more than 40-something carbs in a day since the beginning of July. That one brownie set off all the old carb cravings and carb withdrawls and all the weird addiction-y stuff. CRAZY. I didn't crave carbs at all for months until I just ate the brownie at the hospital... all downhill from there. Now almost every single day since then, so a week now, I've been bingeing on carby food even when I'm not hungry. Holy **** is the monster back. It's BAD. SO I've got to get it back on track. I'm going to go back to induction-level/basic foods tomorrow, and hope I can stay on track. I still haven't had a day off since October 6th, and I have no idea when I'll take my next one. I worked 70 hours last week and 50 this week (plus 2 hours of drive time each day). On top of that, I've been so busy I haven't been able to go to yoga in a week and a half. The owner of my studio even sent me a personal email. Heh...
Anyway... BOO CARBOHYDRATES AND 7 POUNDS. BOO I SAY!

Someone whip me back into line, please.

Brown, you described me in a nutshell if I have a sweet carby thing. I almost *almost* bought a cookie two days ago and that would have started it. I didn't though, thank goodness.

For me ... the ONLY way to stop the madness is to eat as much as I want of proteins and veggies and no carbs at all until my body calms down again. I stop thinking about calories. I keep myself full and satiated on the non-carb things. I cook a steak and eat cold meat for a snack if I have to.

Interesting blog post about the "Myths of Fasting" on Leangains. The blog post talks about more than intermittent fasting too. What do you fasting ladies think of his comments????

Have any of you heard of L-glutamine?
 

I just read this (below) on that Primal Body Primal Mind website. I have seen L-glutamine mentioned in various books before. Have any of you? I only mention it because I have the hardest time not eating sweets......seriously. That brownie incident is me everyday...... So I'm considering taking L-glutamine just to see if it works. I also saw somewhere that it was good for gut health????

So…with all that potentially conspires to derail the best of low carb intentions what can a person do to actually tame this carb craving monster once and for all?? Take heart—it’s easier than it sounds. For most individuals it really does seem to be as easy as eliminating sugar and starch from the diet and using dietary fat to satisfy the appetite. Mild tendencies toward temporary symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia while the body adapts over a 3-6 week period can be easily managed with the use of the amino acid L-glutamine. –Just ½ tsp of powdered L-glutamine under the tongue 2 or 3 times a day (or as needed) seem to be sufficient for most. The brain can use L-glutamine in lieu of glucose while metabolic conversions to fat and ketone burning over sugar burning are taking place. The additional use of 4,000-8,000 mg, three times per day of the herb Gymnema sylvestre can improve insulin sensitivity and utterly kill carb cravings in almost anyone. Actually getting Gymnema on one’s tongue by chewing Gymnema tablets or liquid can even destroy your ability to so much as taste sugar for a few hours—a cruel (perhaps) but effective tool in indulgence management….suitable for curbing all sweet temptations at holiday parties. I see both L-glutamine and Gymnema as essentially temporary “bicycle training wheels” for that “sugar burning” to “fat burning” metabolism transition period.

L-Glutamine and fasting
 

I used to put L-Glutamine in my morning greens drink, but I couldn't remember why.

I used it the first time I tried to lose weight eating only real foods but not restricting carbs (always was a low bread eater). So I cannot say it worked but I lost 25 pounds, without too much angst.

I use fasting as a method of confusing my body. My own theory. I used in the above diet period as well and it appeared to work for me. Lose 2 pounds after a fast, go up a pound for three days, lose another 2 pounds in the next fast, go up a pound for three days. Rinse and repeat. For me, it is slow but sure.

I usually feel great during a fast day. Get a lot of work done. Haven't noticed a loss of energy during my walks, etc.

But my husband could never do it in a million years. He misses a meal and he is angry!! I've got to get the heck out of his way ;).

I thinking fasting would be great for me (and my digestive system)....it's just mentally hard for me. I'm such an emotional eater.

Wow CJ that's crazy busy!!

I've taken L-glutamine for muscle recovery after a hard workout, I didn't even know it could kill carb cravings, bonus.... I should go have a shot because I am a bit hungover today and I am the carb :queen:, you don't even want to know :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ilene:
I am the carb :queen:, you don't even want to know :rolleyes:

That's my girl!!! ;)

Originally Posted by sparky1946:
That's my girl!!! ;)

:rofl: it's ok tomorrow is another day :devil:

Originally Posted by Ilene:
Wow CJ that's crazy busy!!

It's really Brown that's crazy busy! I'm just commiserating with her :dizzy:

Originally Posted by CJZee:
It's really Brown that's crazy busy! I'm just commiserating with her :dizzy:

:lol: I think the wine last night burned a few brain cells :dizzy:

Wow, lots of activity since my last post!

Sparky, yes I do exercise, though this week was a bust. We tried to switch our walking from early morning to evening and it just didn't work. Back to mornings. If need be, I'll eat a hard boiled egg before setting out. I am speculating my carbs may be too low due to responses I received when posting about this issue on MDA. I am feeling excessively stressed and anxious right now, not sure if it's due to work (stressful now) or my body trying to cope with too few carbs. Can't eliminate the work stress right now, but can add more carbs. No grains, though!

Also, I read the same statistic as you about the percentage of Americans expected to be diagnosed with diabetes. Frightening, isn't it?

Brown, I have the same feelings as you if I have too much grain/sugar. The last time I did that, I felt physically ill and next morning I felt like I had a hang-over. It was awful. And of course, I craved more. It took every bit of willpower to not give in. Lots of fat helped. Lots and lots and lots.

Wildviolets, thanks ... I will look for that. Food allergies!

CJZee, I have thought about eating a small snack before bed and do it sometimes. The interesting thing is my fasting BG has gone UP since eating primal. Higher than what it was before. So not sure if it is the dawn phenomenon or something else. I do feel extremely anxious, which makes me think it could be something else. Right now, I am ruling nothing out and trying all sorts of things to see if I can spot any kind of pattern or solution.

So I decided I'm not gonna stress too much about food but aim for about 100g of carbs per day by eating all veggies, some fruit, yogurt, and whatever else naturally occurs in foods. No grains. I will not worry about protein and fat percentages for now and just let them fall where they may. My focus will be on feeling good and satisfied. I'll track for a few days to see where I'm at. Once I give this slight adjustment in my food and attitude some time, I'll start checking my blood glucose again. :)

Hello girls :wave: ... Feeling much better this morning... Had a nice run/walk workout and a bacon and egg breakfast :hun: all is good :D ...

ETA: After my carb fest yesterday I was soooo bloated this morning, eyes puffy, fingers like sausages... YUK, I feel much better now...

Originally Posted by Brown:
Can't wait to get rid of the bloat. My binge for the past almost-week had me up over 7 pounds. :-/

I can believe that Brown :yes: ...

Sandy, you'll be happy to hear I'm up this morning :p almost 2lbs ;) ... and I was so careful yesterday...