Dairy question

[Hopin2Lose]

Hi all. I am not losing much and I know that sometimes people recommend dropping dairy to see if that helps. I'm considering this and just wondering if anyone has noticed it made a difference. Also, why does it make a difference? My doc wants me to give up dairy anyway so I'm going to do it, but I was just curious. Thanks.

Bree

[Georgiana]

That is because some people have an intolerance to diary products. If they didn't know about it pre-Atkins, that is just because it was status quo.

How fast are you losing though? Are you still in Induction or did you already determine your degree of metabolic resistance? If you are still in the first two weeks, step away from the scale and wait until the 14 days are over to weigh yourself. Then you'll figure out if you have a high metabolic resistance and can plan your next dietary steps accordingly.

Of course, if your doctor told you to give up diary, that's a completely different story.

[not2late]

Why does your doctor want you to give up dairy?

[Hopin2Lose]

I've only lost a pound in the last 2 weeks. I have about 10 lbs left to lose but I've been doing this for a month and only have lost 2 lbs total. I do have medical conditions that make it difficult for me to lose and I am weaning down on a steroid which may also contribute. It's just frustrating because I am working sooooo hard to lose this weight. I am working out HARD 6 days a week along with 2 long walks a day. I should be a fat burning machine. I do know the medical stuff is the biggest obstacle, but knowing that doesn't make it less frustrating. I'm not giving up or anything, but I am just trying to see if there is anything else I can do to get better results. I'm not expecting huge losses since I don't have a lot to lose, but I've been working out religiously since March 7 and doing induction for 4 weeks and I have little to show for it. And yes I have measured in inches and there isn't much to note there either.

My doc wants me to give up dairy because we're not really meant to eat dairy. I've heard that before, but I read more about it and it makes sense I guess. We're the only species to drink milk beyond infancy and the only ones to drink the milk of another species. By the way, I'm not looking for a debate here, just saying why. Same with grains. She wants me to stick to meat, veggies, and eggs and fruit (when I get to that stage). Kinda paleo diet-ish I guess, but she didn't use those words.

I don't have artificial sweeteners hardly at all (maybe 2 times a week) and I'm going to give those up too. There are some hidden sugars in a few of the things I eat so I'm going to give those up too, though it seems unlikely those are the reason I lose so slowly. Like the sugar in bacon or things like that. I couldn't find bacon without nitrites that didn't have sugar and I figured the 1 gram of sugar was better than nitrites, but I guess I'll just leave it out entirely.

Thanks for the help.

Bree

[nerakgg9]

Hey Bree, I just weaned off a high dose of prednisone...it is very hard to lose while on it in fact it seems close to impossible...What I did was I purposed to not gain any weight while I was on the steroid...no small feat...I succeeded in that partly because I was so ill...you have actually lost weight...wooo hooo...GREAT JOb...I am impressed...you should feel proud of yourself...

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by Hopin2Lose

I don't have artificial sweeteners hardly at all (maybe 2 times a week) and I'm going to give those up too. There are some hidden sugars in a few of the things I eat so I'm going to give those up too, though it seems unlikely those are the reason I lose so slowly. Like the sugar in bacon or things like that. I couldn't find bacon without nitrites that didn't have sugar and I figured the 1 gram of sugar was better than nitrites, but I guess I'll just leave it out entirely.

Sugars and other junk they put in processed meats can actually make a difference. I cannot eat any bacon/cold cuts/whatever that have sugar in them or my weight loss stalls. So giving those up may help.

[Hopin2Lose]

Thanks. I'll try that.

Bree

[liv]

You have an interesting doctor. Is she/he follower of the paleolithic diet?
Isn't dairy the first thing we have when we are born?

[Hopin2Lose]

No she doesn't follow the paleo diet. Yes milk is the first thing we have when we're born, but we are born with the enzymes to digest human milk. Adults do not have the same enzymes to break it down and certainly not for the milk of other species. I actually totally understand the rationale, but I also know that people like Weston A Price found some of the world's healthiest people and they consumed lots of dairy, though it was raw. My doc said if you have to have dairy, goat milk is much better because it's more similar to human milk. I don't have to totally give it up, she just doesn't want it to be the focus of my sources of protein. Ideally, I'd have none, but I just can't see doing that forever. I just had IgG tests done and that should be back in 2 weeks. That will tell me what foods are problems for me. If dairy isn't one of them and other things are, I'd rather keep the dairy and give up the others. Otherwise, what the heck can I eat? I imagine Atkins without any dairy is really limited!

Bree

[liv]

Some people will give up dairy because they have to as they may have some intolerance to lactose. I think we have members who do that. Dairy on Atkins will always have to be somewhat limited because of the lactose (which is sugar) content

I think people who really get immersed in the kind of choices you are talking about (like Weston) are very good at thinking of food as just items or fuel. It could be for you if you are into it.