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« on: August 09, 2010, 12:11:11 am »
My short history:
Many years of SAD. About 15 years ago, had some success with atkins for weight loss for a year. Revisiting atkins a year later resulted in kidney stones. Many years of mismanaged health care led me to my worst condition ever, with a doctor playing the blood test -> treat the numbers with pills game. This led to out of control blood chemistry, diabetes, high blood pressure, and at least 150 pounds of extra weight. I felt like I was dying, and his solution was to tell me I needeed even more pills rather than work with me with lifestyle changes. This is when I started taking control of my own health.
Did raw vegan (mostly green smoothies) for about 9 months. Not 100% faithful, kept cheating with cheese as I craved it. Reversed the diabetes, got the blood chemistry under control. Lost 70 pounds (probably including lean muscle weight). Felt bad, was b12 deficient and suffering from adrenal fatigue (diagnosed with spit test).
for 12 months I Started eating raw red meet in addition to raw veggies and fruit. Stress would push me to icecream binges during this period. Also, my adrenal condition was unimproved after a year of eating like this, and taking a ton of supplements prescribed by a naturopath. This bummed me out. I got back in there and did more research. I had been too wiped out to do my own adrenal fatigue research and let my naturopath guide me. Learned sugar was the enemy for adrenal recovery. This led me to the idea of low-carb raw paleo.
So, for the past 3 days I have been <50g carbs per day, and I am sure I am entering ketosis. I have lost 8 pounds in water weight in those 3 days as well. My appetite is largely suppressed.
I am eating almost exclusively grass fed pastured beef I bought from a local farmer last year. It is the lean meats, ground and steaks/roasts. When I was eating this for one meal a day, I really looked forward to it, now at 3 meals a day of just this, I am already bored with it. The flavor no longer excites me, and it is a chore to eat it. Once per day I have a little treat with some raw unfiltered honey, pumpkin seeds, and raw cacao powder. Just a small amount as a treat. I hope to get this out of the diet over time, but I am keeping it to a small amount (<20g honey, 1tbsp cacao, small handful of seeds, total carbs <30g).
Also, when I eat my meals, usually 1/2 pound to 1 pound of beef, I am really tired about an hour after i finish eating. I fight to stay awake. Dose in and out of sleep. And it lasts for about 40 minutes.
So my questions:
Any reading advice on making food choices. I have a lot of grass fed beef in the house, so that will be a staple for a while. I already have a deposit on another cow for this fall, and will be getting the organ meats this time around. I am guessing I am eating about 50% fat (thanks to cron-o-meter estimates). What should I consider adding for additional fat? What can I do to get over the post meal fatigue? Is more fat the answer?
My primary dietary goals are: general good health, weight loss, adrenal recovery.
Thanks for any pointers.