Follow D.A. Gray as he loses 1/2 his body weight and manages his diabetes to boot
Article by D. A. Gray
Well, I had many diets to choose from. After all, Id tried them all. Atkins, the Zone, the south beach diet, the diabetic diet, and heck, I was even a vegetarian for a while.
Well, I had many diets to choose from. After all, Id tried them all. Atkins, the Zone, the south beach diet, the diabetic diet, and heck, I was even a vegetarian for a while.
Now I was a big fellow with a large appetite. Combining foods I knew was going to be very tricky as I attempted a lifestyle change which would lead to a massive weight loss that I could manage and MAINTAIN. I knew a lot about the so called glycemic index after having been on the Nutrisystem diet (which was fine, but only if I wanted to starve to death). Still, the most important consideration was to do no harm to my diabetic situation. My diabetes was out of control already and I certainly didnt want to do anything to make it worse.
I had a chat with my father back when I was 40, the last time I saw him although the rumors have him alive and well somewhere two hours from here. But I digress, he had lost about 50 pounds on the Atkins diet, and a series of daily walks and his workout cycle. I was impressed, he looked good.
I had tried the Atkins diet before the diabetes bit me. It didnt work for whatever reason. Seriously, I actually put on weight the time I tried it for a month.
Then last month I talked to my son. He is a big boy, and now he is well proportioned, although he was headed to be a little chunky. He just swore by a high fat, high protein diet where he limited his carbs to just under 100 grams a day and now his pants fit again, he looks just great. He also swore by a movie called FAT HEAD. I watched the movie on Net Flix, and I must say, I was impressed by the facts given in the movie in conjunction with my sons weight loss.
So I decided to start with a VERY low carb diet (in fact, I get 99% of all my carbs from milk, cheese, vegetables and fruit). I try to keep it under 50 grams a day, but usually it creeps up to 100, still, not bad, and its something I can live with.
Almost immediately, I noticed a very unbelievable, but welcome side effect. I no longer needed the 50 units of fast acting insulin at every meal! I was SHOCKED to say the least. Moreover, as the month went on, I found that I rarely have to take even 20 units of the long acting insulin. Now, Im not saying this for anyone elses sake, Im just reporting what happened to me. I saw the doctor at the beginning of the month and my A1c was high (showing my diabetes). After the end of the first month with this post, my A1c is normal.
Now, listen, I dont want you to go out and watch FAT HEAD the movie, then go on a similar diet to mine and quit taking your insulin because I said so. Just the opposite. I was militant in my testing of the blood sugar and made sure I took the insulin that was required. I will report to you what my diabetes doctor tells me next month.
Bottom line? I now weigh 339 lbs. Thats quite a One Month weight loss for a diet that I actually enjoy and would eat anyway. I eat my fruits and veges, my meat and protein, eggs, cheese, milk, etc. I just stay completely away from grains. Simple, huh? Thats what I thought.
There was one negative output on my bloodwork this month, and that is that I have high triglycerides which I now will attempt to control over the next month and report back to you. The doctor prescribed a medication and Im going to take it.
About the Author
DA Gray chronicles his attempt to lose 1/2 his body weight and control his diabetes at http://www.Fast-and-EZ.com/articles