to wonder how the hell she stays so slim??

[SequinsAndSparkles]

My BIL is engaged to a spanish woman, and we spent the weekend at MIL's, all of us together.

She is very slim, I'd guess a size 6/8. Her skin is glowing and she is stunning, yet her diet perplexes me?

On the first morning, we were all having breakfast, MIL made a fry up for everyone, but I am on a diet so I had special K and some toast. SIL prepared her own breakfast (they are currently staying at MILs while they have some work done on their house), and she had some kind of cheese, can't remember what she said it was, about 10 olives and a slice of ham! Yet she said that my breakfast of Special K and toast was stodgy and apparently English women have 'very strange ideas about nutrition'.

For lunch, she had a chicken salad, but it involved lots of extra virgin olive oil, all over the peppers and a big dollop of salsa. And then for dinner she had chicken smeared in pesto, with green beans in salt, more salsa and a slice of cheese.

How is she so slim??

I didn't have a particuarly healthy weekend in the end, we ended up having a takeaway on the Saturday evening, and SIL wouldn't eat any of it, she wasn't rude, she politely declined but I just find it hypocrytical that she eats all this fatty stuff and made the comment about England having strange ideas about nutrition when I was eating Special K and toast!!

a good rule of thumb on fruit for diabetics is if it can be grown naturally in this country then its fine, if it grows somewhere hot then treat with caution...

And kew - many thanks for that.

Over christmas I was at hers having just given up gluten - and I was doing very light research and seeing that it helped diabetics - so I'm telling her drop the carbs as well but didn't really know how to explain to her that well (as I don't really know either).

She's 72 - been type two for about 15 years but I've got to say she's never taken it seriously as she's very slim and will never do her finger prick tests (in denial). So I sent her a GI index (but there seem to be so many) and told her to concentrate on the lower numbers!

This is the best thread I've been on. I'm now low carb but am losing weight very slowly (which is fine as I'm eating very very well as I need cooked veg becaue of weak digestion and lots of beans - can't fact lots of meat or salads).

But I feel so much better plus I'm very worried I'll head the same way as her and for that reason IF the low carb approach is now being taken on by the diabetic experts that gives me a better reason to follow the approach and if I can sort my mum out then wonderful.

I'm going to look into byetta - not a name I recognise. Can I assume that that gp injects (my mum won't do finger blood tests let alone inject anything)?

Gotta say - I've never ever been a cereal fan. Just as well really.

Sequins As a veggie low carber I eat:
Brekkies:
Protein shakes
Omelettes
Veggie sausage/fried egg/fried mushrooms/fried tomatoes

Lunches:
Avocado, mozzarella and tomato salad (with lots of olive oil)
Tuna nicoise without the tuna,
Home-made soup (butternut squash, celery and leek...)

Evenings:
Tofu & veggie stir fry
Veggie shepherds pie with celeriac mash topping
Braised fennel, celeriac dauphinoise, shredded cabbage with ricotta...

Quorn can be low carb - its bulked out sometimes so you have to read the label but as long as you don't eat excessive quantities its OK (if you're happy with the processed nature of it).

no - its daily so would ave to inject herself but it might be worth giving the tablets a go. How is she going ot cope with insulin if she can;t cope with Byetta? byetta is one injection a day (I think) insulin likely to be 2-4!

Kew - EXACTLY my worry re the injections - she's still in denial.

But she exercises loads so she needs to look at her diet. If she needs insulin I think it's the beginning of the end.

I'm going to look at those links and try and get down to her place the next time she sees her gp to see what can be done.

giveitago a lot of chocolate is gluten free. Obviously things like kitkats (containing wafer biscuit) are not gf. Also some ranges due to the processing aren't gf. (some cadburys' says "may contain traces of wheat." I guess it has been on the same line as some of their biscuit-containing varities)

is she on metformin AND glyclacide (sp?) or similar yet? That would be a step before injecting

I just spent all week lecturing about the evidence base for the diabetic diet and the latest is that we should inform patients that there is conflicting evidence for the effectiveness of GI as a tool for controlling glycaemia. There is conflicting and not so strong evidence re carbohydrate restriction and the most recent 2010/11 guideline is that carbohydrate intake must be consistent with regards to amount and type and that very low CHO diets are not recommended purely on the basis that certain nutrients may be at risk.

also they may consider a gliptin before insulin

most people have a pretty 'set point weight' or range anyway, and don't have to be very controlled to stay within it. (But its normal to put on a little weight in middle age). Dieting and processed foods are pretty good ways of messing up the set point though (and so weight increases over time). And fats are important for satiety (feeling full), so fat in diet can help you eat less/feel less hungry. (didn't read whole thread).

She's on high dose of metformin.

Right off to put ds to bed (very late I know).

Many thanks and will check back for more of this fascinating advice.

Interesting post also from onlion.

"the latest is that we should inform patients that there is conflicting evidence for the effectiveness of GI as a tool for controlling glycaemia"

Would love to read anything you have on that onlion - me and my sister are the only adults in teh family who aren't diabetic and none have been told this (yet)

Its the new evidence based statement for the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes 2010/11

Thanks pekkala I'm not a massive fan of meat to be honest, so it's good to know there is an alternative. Did you lose a lot of weight eating like this? Sorry to be nosey!

I have the draft copy of the new UK guideline that will come out in a few months (in my handbag). It just makes one statement about GI but the big ADA document has done a good systematic review.
I still like GI but we cant tell people it has strong evidence behind it for glycaemia (and there is no evidence for weight but we knew that).

anyway...too much like work lol

I actually think the Spanish lady's daily consumption doesn't sound like much food. So, that's also why she's slim.

There was a programme about Atkins which concluded that you basically eat less calories anyway. And I saw the Alex James poo one where cheese (WHY do they always have to wheel HIM out whenever it's about cheese? Other cheese produceres must hate him) helpd you excrete fat.

But, what about all the salt in Spanish Lady's diet?

hey, I'm new here - my first post!

I've been on the India and Neris plan since January and have lost 26lbs so far. I feel fine on it - can't say great as some health issues mean I'm not sure what feeling great is any more! I exercise on it too, going to the gym and horseriding and I can't say I've notice any difference in my energy levels there

Today (as an example) I ate
breakfast - protein shake with lactofree milk
lunch - butternut squash soup and crispy bacon
tea - garlic and chilli portobello mushrooms with splash cream and parmesan

I also make things like cottage pie but with mashed cauli instead of potato

It's the most weight I have ever lost - I have hit a plateau now, but am maintaining which for me is the most important thing

I would have to have some serious fibogel on that diet

ha! it does recommend to take psyhillium (sp?!) husks but I've not had a problem on it at all. I just didn't realise what a carb addict and sugar addict I was until I cut it out

I can't claim to be a veggie because of my ten or so times a year fish consumption (and Pescetarian is wanky) but I also wonder what someone who has a mainly vegetarian diet would do if they needed to lose weight.

Not a problem I have ever had except when I was in my early twenties and soon learned to stay off the cider but it might be something I will need to know for the future.

Assuming an increase of exercise output that is.

Welcome to Brighthair btw

Her diet keeps her slim because she is eating lots of monounsaturated (can't remember how to spell) fats (good fats), lean proteins, vegetables etc. These foods will keep her blood sugars level and balanced throughout the day. Also sounds like she is not eating lots of carbs that would disrupt blood sugar levels and send them soaring, then crashing. This helps prevent that 'fat' around the middle.
Toast and special K for breakfast is sugary and very carby and will cause blood sugars to peak and crash.

If only a low carb diet could include chocolate and cake :(
I cut out bread, rice, pasta and potatoes over a year ago, don't really miss them now. If I eat bread I feel so illl!

Sequins Yes, I've lost just under 5 stone & gone from a size 18/20 to a 10. I lost the bulk of that in about 6 months and have since maintained the loss, gently shifting down a pound or two every couple of weeks. The low-carb way of eating suits me - I can eat my favourite food (cheese!) and I'm never hungry. For me, it's been a liberating experience to find something that works after 20 years of getting frustrated because I THOUGHT I was doing the right thing by eating loads of wholemeal pasta, fruit etc.

Countess Look here - healthyindulgences.blogspot.com/. Lots of cakes! I eat a piece or two of 70% choc most days, on its own or melted in a microwave & whizzed into double cream to make a mousse - yum

Veggies - Check out Rose Elliott's "Low Carb Vegetarian" - she's done a diet book and an accompanying recipe book. They're both very useful.

countess It does! :) check out www.marksdailyapple.com for recipes for e.g., chocolate brownies, chocolate truffles, chocolate ice-cream.

pekkala That's fucking awesome! - but I guess you knew that already!

Insulin resistance is the work of the devil and doesn't do anybody any favours. My poor mum has been Type I diabetic for over 30 years and back then was encouraged to eat lots and lots and lots of allegedly-healthy carbs. :(