Low carb diet working but losing too much weight

[barbarap]

Hi, would be grateful for some advice. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic back in February and started on the LCHF diet which has worked really well. I've been monitoring my BS, not regularly but occasionally, and the highest it has been has been 8.0, so I think I'm on track (any advice on that would help too). But, I've lost almost 1 stone in weight by cutting back on the carbs and am now down to 8st. I'm 66 and don't want to look too thin. I exercise once a week at the gym, only for 1 hour, and walk as much as I can. Is there anyone that could give me some advice on how to keep up with the low carb diet but not lose any more weight? I was also told that my cholesterol was high (7) so is eating a high fat diet going to affect that adversely? Many thanks for any tips and advice.

 

[jack412]

Did you do the high fat part of the low carb? You probably aren't getting enough fat
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

Lchf will lower your trig and raise your hdl, your LDL may stay the same but will be the better type mostly. So it's ok for cholesterol and fat isn't bad,

Do some testing for a week, you may be able to reintroduce some carbs
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

 

[donnellysdogs]

By cutting carbs you will lose some weight... You have to either add back in some carbs or have some more fat. It appears you aren't having enough calories?


Loving life

 

[Brunneria]

There is quite a bit of evidence (sorry, I don't have it to hand) that higher cholesterol levels are protective for older women.

In addition, it is natural for cholesterol levels to rise with age. I can never understand why medical professionals fixate on some ideal figure, without applying common sense and unique circumstances.

If you are worried about your cholesterol levels I should do a bit of reading. It may well set your mind at rest.
The bloodsugar101 link in my signature will take you to an excellent website (in my opinion) with lots of info. If you do a 'cholesterol' search inside the website you will find links to several recent articles and studies, with discussions and analysis. Well worth a read!

It may give you much more recent information than your doctor is using.

 

[Jill the tt]

http://life.gaiam.com/article/why-cholesterol-may-not-be-cause-heart-disease

this explains about cholesterol, i have seen better but cant remember where

 

[Decolana]

I lost 20 pounds in a couple months and was still losing weight. My doc told m err to start drinking atkins diet protien shakes.

 

[jack412]

Your blood test must have been high eGFR to be told to take protein
Diabetics as a general, take standard protein and adjust the carbs and fat

 

[bobrobert]

Eating fat doesn't make you fat?

 

[diamondnostril]

Eating fat doesn't make you fat?

Eating an excess of calories will make you Fat.

But it's very difficult to eat too many calories just in the form of Fat.

Most of us could glug down a large glass of Coke or Fruit Juice, followed immediately by another. Most of us could not down a glass of Olive Oil.

Most of us could finish a big pack of sweets, and still find room for more within a few hours. Most of us could not eat an entire pack of Butter.

Things containing High Fat taste very nice in fairly small quantities. But pretty soon the body says "That's enough". Things containing High Sugar can easily be eaten to excess without the body realising it.

Is there anyone that could give me some advice on how to keep up with the low carb diet but not lose any more weight?

I had a similar problem. Ketogenic (LCHF) was brilliant for my blood-sugars, so I wanted to stick with it. But I continued to lose weight. Eventually I stumbled on the solution of putting Coconut Oil in my 2 or 3 daily coffees. This adds around 500 kCal to my daily intake, and was a really easy way (for me) to maintain my weight without disturbing my blood-sugar levels at all.

 

[sanguine]

Eating fat doesn't make you fat?

Not in itself, no. If only the word 'fat' wasn't both the noun and the adjective (is it the same in other languages?).

 

[bobrobert]

My understanding is you can eat a T bone steak which will possibly add weight because of all the calories but NOT because of the fat content. Unfortunately some people assume it is because of the fat?

 

[bobrobert]

Quote Barbarap.

I had a similar problem. Ketogenic (LCHF) was brilliant for my blood-sugars, so I wanted to stick with it. But I continued to lose weight. Eventually I stumbled on the solution of putting Coconut Oil in my 2 or 3 daily coffees. This adds around 500 kCal to my daily intake, and was a really easy way (for me) to maintain my weight without disturbing my blood-sugar levels at all.

unquote

Are you sure about coconut oil adding cals? All the evidence I have read points to weight loss. The oil is almost pure fat and is touted as a weight loss product.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I'm having a similar problem. Low carb and increased fats worked brilliantly for me. I lost 3stones 5lbs and kept my blood sugars down, cholesterol and BP stayed normal. I am desperately trying to maintain my current weight without adding back carbs and finding it very difficult. I don't want to overdo the fats, just not actively avoiding them, and eating bacon and eggs a few times a week plus real butter, yogurt, mayo. I recently added cheese to this list but am still losing. I take on board @diamondnostril 's comment about coconut oil, but I don't like it and don't drink coffee. I may have to try a few extra carbs.

 

[diamondnostril]

Are you sure about coconut oil adding cals? All the evidence I have read points to weight loss. The oil is almost pure fat and is touted as a weight loss product.

Yes, I'm sure. Dietary Fat contains 9 kCal per Gram. Adding a dollop (20g) of Coconut Oil to 3 coffees each day adds 540 kCals to my daily intake. Adding this stalled my weight-loss and enabled me to stay on LCHF.

You can check this on http://nutritiondata.self.com or one of the other nutrition utilities.

Coconut Oil and other Fats are useful as a weight-loss tools because they satiate and mean you don't eat so much. I just eat 1 time per day on LCHF, and really don't ever feel hungry. Hence the weight-loss. The Coconut Oil in coffee works for me to counter this, but I understand it's not for everybody.

Some people (including me) also think that not all Calories are equal. I think that the human body is designed to work with Fats and Proteins and not really designed to work with High Sugar foods. I think the body (especially the Immune System) can really get to work overnight with Fats and Proteins consumed during the day, triggering lots of biochemical activity. I think the body has much fewer choices how it can use Calories from Carbohydrates, and mostly if they are not burned for energy immediately they end up being stored as body fat. I do notice that on LCHF I sleep much better, and lose more weight overnight.

 

[forge]

Hello @barbarap
The info given to me was as your weight reduces sugar tolerance increases so all you need to do is eat more carbs.

Eating carbs is like a match starting a fire, but if you do not exceed your threshold you do not start your blood sugar fire.

Test yourself to establish your new carb threshold.

You should be able to maintain weight and control your sugar maybe with some meds.

 

[jack412]

http://www.dietdoctor.com/what-happens-if-you-eat-5800-calories-daily-on-an-lchf-diet
What Happens If You Eat 5,800 Calories Daily on an LCHF Diet?

 

[modesty007]

If you loosing to much weight with LCHF why not consider paleo and add some good nutritious carbs like more vegetables. Skip all grains because they don't have any or very little nutrition.

 

[forge]

http://www.dietdoctor.com/what-happens-if-you-eat-5800-calories-daily-on-an-lchf-diet
What Happens If You Eat 5,800 Calories Daily on an LCHF Diet?

You probably become jet propelled.

 

[Carole74]

Hi, would be grateful for some advice. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic back in February and started on the LCHF diet which has worked really well. I've been monitoring my BS, not regularly but occasionally, and the highest it has been has been 8.0, so I think I'm on track (any advice on that would help too). But, I've lost almost 1 stone in weight by cutting back on the carbs and am now down to 8st. I'm 66 and don't want to look too thin. I exercise once a week at the gym, only for 1 hour, and walk as much as I can. Is there anyone that could give me some advice on how to keep up with the low carb diet but not lose any more weight? I was also told that my cholesterol was high (7) so is eating a high fat diet going to affect that adversely? Many thanks for any tips and advice.

I came across this forum because I googled my problem - which is identical to yours! I've not yet been retested (diagnosed pre diabetic (Hba1c 42) and high cholesterol (6.9) 6 months ago). I’m 74 and my friends are telling me I’m too thin. Did you find a way of maintaining blood sugar levels but not losing any more weight? Carole

 

[EllieM]

I came across this forum because I googled my problem - which is identical to yours! I've not yet been retested (diagnosed pre diabetic (Hba1c 42) and high cholesterol (6.9) 6 months ago). I’m 74 and my friends are telling me I’m too thin. Did you find a way of maintaining blood sugar levels but not losing any more weight? Carole

Hi @Carole74 and welcome to the forums. This is a very old thread so I doubt you'll get a reply from @barbarap (who hasn't been on the forums for ten years) but I'm sure some other forumites will reply.

If you are losing weight then I suspect you will be given advice to up the fat content (disclaimer T1 here so I may well be wrong) but I would also suggest that you consult your GP. Though prediabetes is most often a precursor to T2 there are other types of diabetes which could be relevant.

Prediabetes can be associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes

We generally assume a diagnosis of prediabetes points us towards a future risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but we should not overlook an association or pre-diabetic stage surrounding type 1 diabetes.

www.canr.msu.edu

Once more, welcome.