At the first of this year, I found myself more heavy than I have ever been in my life. Last year's knee surgeries brought my physical activity to a veritable standstill, and my eating habits, though not excessive, were not the healthiest. I determined that I would undertake to commit myself to Weight Watchers once again, which I pursued with great determination.
After three months of WW, and slow but steady weight loss, I decided to visit our family doctor, to obtain a baseline on my current status. The news was not good. My TSH was elevated, and I had to start on thyroid medication, but worse, my Hgb A1C was elevated at 7.3, and the dreaded word 'diabetes' come coming out of his mouth. He wanted to start me on medication, but I had other ideas. I asked for a three month rain-check, at the end of which time, should my labs show no improvement, I would acquiesce and begin diabetic meds. He reluctantly agreed, and sent me home with my very own glucometer to moniter my blood glucose levels. O joy.
I went home, wondering what on earth I was going to do! I followed WW faithfully, but my blood sugars were wildly erratic, and mostly way too high. I began to reconsider the composition of my diet, and to question the appropriateness of WW for me and my case.
Then, the greatest single event in my entire dietary life happened, though at the time, I didn't realize it. I found and read The South Beach Diet, written by Dr. Arthur Agatston. From the South Beach website:
"Arthur Agatston, M.D., is a cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has served on committees of the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging, where he is a member of the founding board of directors.
Dr. Agatston has authored over 100 articles and abstracts for scientific journals. His pioneering work in noninvasive cardiac imaging has resulted in computerized tomography scanning methods and measures that bear his name: the Agatston Score and the Agatston Method, which are used for screening coronary calcium, are recognized worldwide.
Dr. Agatston did not set out to develop a weight-loss plan. His goal was to help his chronically overweight heart patients get their diets under control, thereby preventing or reversing the myriad of heart and vascular problems associated with obesity. Knowing that his patients weren't faring well on the standard, low-fat American Heart Association diet, Dr. Agatston began to investigate diets and the origins of insulin resistance on his own.
The result was the South Beach Diet™, which was offered to numerous heart patients in Florida with impressive results. He presented his findings at a national meeting of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The word spread throughout Miami, prompting the local ABC affiliate to do a monthlong series on the South Beach Diet™, which was repeated for two years.
Dr. Agatston's clinical cardiology practice is still very much devoted to prevention. He lectures extensively on prevention nationally and internationally and reviews for major medical cardiology journals. Dr. Agatston maintains an active, full-time cardiology practice, both clinical and research.
Go to agatstonresearchfoundation.org to learn more about Dr. Agatston's ongoing research initiatives."
Wow! I was reading about myself. I did NOT have diabetes; I had metabolic syndrome, which, if left unaddressed, would surely go on to develop into type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. AND, there was something I could do about it! I set about beginning this newest diet on March 27, 2009.
And immediately had difficulties. You see, I have been a professional dieter most all my adult life. I understand rigid structure, lots of rules and restrictions, and compliance with weird and unfamiliar food lists and recipes. I understand deprivation, and willpower. I understand counting and measuring and journaling and group meetings and all the things that go with dieting. And South Beach had NONE of this. None.
Nothing in my entire life of dieting experience had prepared me for this. I floundered! I had to back up and look at the forest before I began to consider the trees.
The truth of the matter that I came to realize is that what is 'wrong' with me is that I have a limited tolerance for high-glycemic index carbohydrates. Not really any different from anyone with some other dietary intolerance, such as celiac disease, or lactose intolerance. There is a certain category of food that I simply need to avoid, or strictly limit my intake of. Once I got a handle on that, all the rest simply fell into place for me. And the miracle of it all is just this: I AM NOT ON A DIET anymore! No measuring, counting, journaling, no weird recipes, no strange foods. It is all so effortless and so utterly liberating. And probably most glorious of all, for me personally, is that I don't have to THINK about FOOD 24/7 anymore. It is so easy, and the solution was right here in front of me all along.
I avoid flour, bread, potatoes, corn, ALL SUGAR, rice, and anything that is of a high-glycemic index. I have been eating this way since the end of March, and to date, I have lost 63 pounds. But best of all, I returned to our family doctor, who just couldn't believe his eyes. Oh, and that Hemaglobin A1C? It is now 5.8, perfectly normal. Cholesterol numbers all normalized as well. My blood pressure is normal, and he stopped my anti-hypertensive meds.
I highly recommend this dietary approach to anyone and everyone I meet. It is not difficult. Just avoid a certain category of foods---how hard is that? Especially when you consider that you are avoiding cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and so many other terrible problems. Get the book. Read it. And start living it today. The preventative answer to so many health problems in our country today is so very simple!
