My understanding is that if this works for me, I will notice within a month so I am going to commit to a 6 week trial. It will actually mean upping my carbs a bit and eating fish as my only meat protein. I need to get focused on some bean recipes and it will take a lot of will power to up my veggies rather than eating too many whole grains - I do love my grains!
I have read conflicting opinions about dairy. I think I will continue with the no-fat Greek yogurt and avoid anything else. I am going to give soy beverages a try on my oatmeal. I have also read conflicting things about tomatoes and potatoes - I can't imagine giving up tomatoes (especially with all the basil growing in my yard!) so I will allow those and skip potatoes.
I am also going to track my meals and calories. I have been given the challenge to write about my efforts - so this seems like the logical place. So - that will be my focus over the next few weeks.
All that said, my research has also shown that the simple act of losing weight does a lot to relieve the symptoms of arthritis - especially in the areas where I have it - feet and knees. So I am not unaware that the way I lose weight may not have any more impact than the simple fact of losing weight. I am interested in pursuing a healthier approach, becoming more self-aware in my food choices and I hope that this experiment will be a good start to that goal.
Way to go! Finding personal motivation is so helpful when trying to make a huge behavior change (I write from quality research and personal experience.)
ReplyDeleteI understand some folks report decreased pain when they give up tomatoes, but they (tomatoes, not people) are so rich in lycopene - well, experiment on yourself. As for potatoes, all that starch has nothing to offer except carb calories. I support your choice.
Tracking food has been shown to be helpful in maintenance and weight loss. It continues to help me eat mindfully. Even if I can't find the exact calorie count of something at least I am aware of what I put into my body.
Dairy - I won't give up Greek yogurt either and can't find enough evidence to make me! It's also a way for me to get protein in rather than sugary carbs.
This is becoming a tome... but as someone who suffered from chronic back, knee and foot pain from osteoarthritis, I can tell you that has completely resolved with my weight loss. Sure my finger joints still flare at times but not very often, which I attribute to eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. I do even better taking fish oil supplements but am off those until surgery heals up.
We are the same age, have some of the same weight issues, and I have been a yo-yo'er for 30 years - if I can do it, so can you. Really.
Jan
Good for you! The great thing about your approach is that after your initial experiment, you can tinker. I have a friend who can't have tomatoes for some intestinal reason, but she found that a couple slices on a sandwich, or in a sauce, now and then didn't cause a problem. The same with potatoes or any other foods--you can figure out where your biggest benefits are, what you can allow in teensy amounts and what needs to be on the no-go list. Who knows, you may discover some new food-inflammation correlation and become incredibly rich and famous! Not to mention that whole helping future generations of arthritis sufferers. LOL
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted!
(For the record, I disagree with Jan on potatoes. They have iron and other cool things in them that are beneficial. But if they're causing problems--then they can be jettisoned in a heartbeat and replaced with something else.)
Ha! Cammy didn't think I would follow-up? (JUST KIDDING!!)
ReplyDeleteShe's right. Taters with skins do have iron, Vitamin C, and minerals, but one has to weigh the benefits of a food with any downsides. At my age, I don't need any extra iron; I get Vit. C from fruits and supplements (cause I want a ton of C now for wound healing); and the starch load is just too much for me and my insulin response. (One of the more, um, interesting things I have done is to check my blood glucose after eating things like baked potato, oatmeal, "healthy cereal" - I get an amazing blast in my blood sugar, and I'm nowhere close to being diabetic based on other measures.) My sister, however, is a size 2-4 and eats primarily a grain and veggie-based diet that is heavy in carbs (including baked potatoes).
Again I agree with Cammy that you can play around because diet is a very individual approach. Aren't bodies wonderful?
Link for potato nutrition: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2770/2