I have heard so much conflicting information about low carbing that I scheduled a visit yesterday with my doctor, whose advice I trust. He had not seen me since I lost weight, and he was impressed. I explained what I had been doing to lose the weight, and he told me to continue to lose another ten pounds doing exactly what I was doing. He told my wife the same thing, to continue as she was, to lose another fifty pounds. I average between eight hundred to one thousand calories a day. I average about thirty-five carbs a day, and I consume about thirty-five grams of fiber also, which I get from green vegetables, flax seed, and psyllium husk powder. I try to keep my proteins which are lean proteins, to between seventy and one hundred. I get my fats from fish, olive oil, avacado, and omega 3. I banished sugar, flour, fruit, and starch from my diet. I take a host of vitamins, and drink at least a gallon of water a day, in addition to any other liquids. I average about two pounds loss per week. My doctor reduced my blood pressure medicine, and he informed me that if the blood test I am scheduled for next month reflects significant reduction in cholesterol, he will reduce or eliminate my medications for that.

My doctor also sanctioned my wife's diet, which is, gasp, the Kimkins diet. She averages around six hundred calories a day. The doctor told her that as long as she consumed around seventy grams of protein a day, took her vitamins, drank plenty of water, and monitored that she not lose faster than about two to two and a half pounds a week, he had no problem with her diet. He had taken her blood work a while back after she started the diet, and he was amazed when her triglycerides and cholesterol each dropped one hundred points.

EEEEEEK! I think I'd respectfully disagree with that doctor.

If my diet is dangerous, I don't know why my doctor would support it. It has not had any detrimental effects on my health, and my doctor will see me again in three weeks to monitor my status. I trust this guy. I intend to see my cardiologist in December for a second opinion, and if he also approves it, then that will seal the deal for me. I don't see any downside here, unless the comments are about my wife's diet. Her doctor will see her in thirty days to check on her health also. After all, this thread is titled "what's working for you". It is what is working for me, and her.

Andy

Well, I fired I doctor I'd used for 15 years when he insisted on a low fat diet for me.

They're not infallible and most of them are clueless about current research....except for the blurbs they read from published studies. In other words, they don't have all the facts.

Andy, I agree that diet will indeed work for weight loss in the short term and I'm so happy that is happening for you and your beautiful bride. But the long-term health consequences to a severely reduced calorie diet as you have described are much more detrimental than a temporary move of the scale. We'll support you in your efforts here, but please know my concerns are for the sake of your health and well-being. THANKS again for sharing.

We are just concerned that's all.
The reason why it's dangerous is that if you look up your body weight and you calories burned just by living, you are prob-very likely way under what you need to even live.
When I workout i burn more then 600 calories most of the time and my job is physically demanding. If I only ate that my head would be rushing and my body shaking......if it's working for you, that is great! But please heed the warnings that your body will start telling you after you are doing it for awhile.
when you have the shakes or head rushes or you want to sleep or you can't think or even function, that is the time to think about how important is it to lose the weight fast or be healthy.
As far as your doctor, I am wondering why he is looking at weight loss vs calories consumption.That is the first thing my doctor asked me about. I used to have a doctor that was only concerned about the scales and nothing else.........anyway just please be careful.
I am glad it's working

I really do appreciate the feedback. My wife and I are paying close attention to how we feel, and if we begin to feel bad, get lightheaded, etc., I would see the doctor right away. So far, we feel very well and have lots of energy. I am close to goal and will be slowly increasing calories and carbs to stabilize into maintenance. And I''l keep an eye on my wife's progress.

Andy

Keep at it, Andy!

I work with doctors all the time and what they know about nutrition you could put in a thimble. Saying that, if you feel healthy and you know in your heart your eating a balanced diet, and your exercising, then maybe 600 calories is working for you. I wouldn't do it for me cause thats my breakfast. LOL
But, getting a balanced diet is really necessary. You just cant get everything the body needs from a pill, so we need to eat not only good foods, but a variety of good foods. We need to eat all colors of veggies. We need protein every meal and we need fat every meal, good fat, but fat.
Glad your hear and excited to meet you both.