I'm doing The Schwarzbein Principle which is not technically a low carb plan, but is a moderate carb plan. Since the typical American diet has over 400 carbs a day I consider anything around 100g a low carb plan.

I like the fact that you don't have to measure or count anything, just eyeball your plate and balance your portion sizes.

Dr. Schwarzbein in an endocrinologist who has done a lot of research into auto immune diseases like diabetes and osteoporosis. The plan does not allow artificial things just "real" food. No sugar, no simple starches like white bread, but does allow whole grains. The emphasis is on non-starchy vegetables and protein with adequate healthy fats.

I feel like I can stay on this plan for the rest of my life.

I read her book in 2003 and am currently rereading it. Her way of explaining everything about metabolic healing is so simple and informative. I think she has one of the more balanced plans and you are exactly right...a plan to take you through the rest of your life.

I am a type 2 diabetic and got my low carb start on the Schwarzbein Principle. It helped me initially to back off on my meds and lower cholesterol, but I have since discovered that my blood sugar is better with a lower carb level. I've pretty much cut out starches and just stick with non-starchy vegetables, nuts & seeds, and low sugar fruits. My carb level is now more along the lines of Bernstein or Atkins. However, I still observe the principle of veggies, protein, & fat.

I think Schwarzbein is a good option for most people. It just hasn't proven the best for me in controlling blood sugar, though it was much better than I was doing before, low fat/high car.

I started out with Protein Power, so 30-40g carb per day, but increased that somewhat after a few months, because I was approaching my goal weight and I never felt very good on such low carb levels. I knew that coming down from whatever colossal number I was eating before had helped a lot of things, but at the very low levels, I always felt a bit on edge, a bit jittery. I've only just read Schwarzbein, in the last few days, but it's pretty much the way I've ended up eating. I'm probably still a smidgen lower in carbs than she recommends, but pretty close.

I had a lot of stress over the last winter (family illness/hospitals/death - just normal life stuff, but still hard) and was utterly exhausted once it was over. I sort of instinctively moved to something close to Schwarzbein to help me get over that. It's taking time, but I'm making progress. I still have a cup of coffee in the morning and a small glass of wine with my dinner, though . I'm at a stage where I know that eating to support my body and build health and resilience is more important than weight (but I still don't want to gain any ).

I like her books..She is extremely informative..

I am reading her book now. I am sorta in the middle.
SHe explains everything nice and clear.
SHe did say being in ketosis isnt healthy
what do you think about that?
sandi

I disagree ketosis is unhealthy--it's the basis for virtually every low-carb plan out there and the research is building about ketone bodies being an excellent substitute for glucose. Stay tuned because more evidence is coming in that regard!

I read the Schwarzbein Principle but it's been a couple of years now. The book wasn't a keeper for me, but it seemed like a healthy program as far as I recall.

I don't remember why she said ketosis is bad.

Every healthy person is making some ketones on a regular basis, so that's just status quo, normal.

A high level of ketone production only occurs if your body is releasing more stored fat than you can immediately use for energy. On a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet (the reasons are complex), more fat gets released from your abdomen, hips, and thighs than you can possibly burn, but your body has a safe, normal metabolic pathway by which it is rapidly and efficiently excreted. The result of this pathway is ketosis.

This release of stored fat and production and excretion of safe ketones is very old biochemical news, which makes the "calorie is a calorie" parroting quite mysterious.

As far as I know, there are no bad effects to excreting excess body fat rapidly vs. burning it slowly but--again--I can't remember what S. says about this.

In order for ketosis to happen in the *most efficient efficient* way, you need a generous fat, moderate (not unlimited or excessive) protein, low carb diet.

Other kinds of diets can result in lipolysis/ketosis, but they are not as efficient. The result may be an equal or even greater loss of weight but the loss is a mixture of ketosis (fat-burning) and proteinolysis (breakdown of lean body mass).

In order for the body to release fat in the most rapid and efficient way, new dietary fat is continually needed. An extra tablespoon of oil on the salad, frying the eggs in butter, choosing ribeye over cube steak, or adding a rich sauce to the fish just primes the body to release fat, provided that the carbs are low and portions are reasonable/satisfying.

Enough protein for lean body needs (which some can achieve via appetite, others via calculation and weighing) along with enough fat to make meals taste most delicious usually does the trick.

Personal Experience: I have never used ketostix on myself. "My way" is listening to my body, counting my carbs, eating "normal" portions of meat, and eating the amount of fat that tastes right to me--generous and luxurious, not gross. :-)

I feel energetic and strong and my skin and hair are in much better condition than they were 10 years ago on a low fat diet.

I have read Dr. Schwarzbein's book, "The Schwarzbein Principle", and she does an excellent job of explaining metabolic healing and presents a version of a low-carb weight loss plan. However, "The Schwarzbein Principle" is not billed specifically as a weight loss plan, but more about healing one's metabolism in order to achieve weight loss.

There is lots of great information in her book, but just like most other books, I don't agree with everything she says. Schwarzbein is one of the only low-carb proponents I know of who takes a stand against ketosis. However, I still hold her as a very knowledgeable and highly esteemed doctor and proponent of the low-carb nutritional appoach.

If you want to read her dissenting ketosis position it can be found on page 37 of "The Schwarzbein Principle", 1999, Health Communications, Inc. I personally don't feel like Schwarzbein backs up her dissenting view with facts, research, scientific data and studies, but instead states it as an opinion. After all, how can one state a documented dissenting opinion on such an important subject in a mere three-quarter page sidebar?

Her position seems more like an attempt to set herself, and her plan, apart from other low-carb plans, more specifically The Atkins Diet, as is apparent in her opening sentence about ketones. "People have confused my nutritional program with a fad diet that requires a drastic reduction in carbohydrates and an equally extreme increase in proteins and fats." Her very own opening statement is in itself an extreme and inaccurate attempt to both malign and discredit The Atkins Diet, and to distance herself from it. She doesn't name it by name, however, we all know that The Atkins Diet has been referred to as a fad diet more often than any other low-carb nutritional plan in existence.

I must say that Valerie, as always, has done an outstanding job of stating the benefits and safety of ketosis in a very understandable manner. Valerie's post gives a fair and balanced view of the vast majority of low-carb proponents and practitioners as it pertains to safety and positive benefits of ketosis.

yes, you all have explained it wonderful
thank you
For the most part for what I have read so far, She explains things nice.. I almost wish she had a office in NY
sandi

Since reading her books, I'm finding that it's very helpful to me to think of balancing each meal with protein, some carbs, good fats, and non-starchy veggies. I feel better on the slightly higher carb levels, and somehow I've found that way of thinking about it very freeing, so I'm finally managing to feel that this is a way I can eat forever, which I was never absolutely sure of with much lower carbs. At this point, I wouldn't really say I'm following Schwarzbein, or anybody else. I'm finally happy that I'm developing something that really works for me in real life . It feels very natural and effortless to me.