Looking for education and information
oldgonenewcome
Posts: 1 Member
Hello, my name is Katie, and I am starting New Directions VLCD 800 today. My primary motive is avoiding recurrence of a rare cancer I had 3 years ago. Body fat converts to estrogen, and my cancer is estrogen-fed. After a cancer-free scan, I blissfully returned to a non-exercising, junk-food dependent life (ice cream is my love language, and Diet Coke is my water). Then my oncologist told me this spring's CT scan showed a nodule to watch. I have six kids who need me to stick around for a long time, so it's time to get serious about discarding the weight.
My 20yo daughter and I are part of a "test group" for a doctor who is just starting to offer ND after trying it herself. Because it's not really a full clinic, we did not receive any start-up materials (a hard thing for an information lover like me). We completed initial assessment and will weigh in weekly. I read every on this board in one sitting, and I am here to say thanks for what everyone has shared!! Especially Daisy and Julie and the woman in Arkansas who had to quit have put quite a body of useful information on here.
I also wanted to ask for some directions. Are there additional sites which share more of the science behind this approach? I noticed that Julie (the nurse on this board) was advised to not exercise and questioned that. I have concerns about crashing metabolism, especially for my young daughter, and I would really like to learn more about the medical reasoning behind this program and dangers/benefits of ketosis. We each have 40 pounds to shed. I think we can probably survive the replacement/losing phase, but I am worried about the maintenance after such a drastic season and whether our bodies will adjust back to "normal" eating and living.
I chose this plan because I have a laundry list of classic issues with weight: hate exercise, very busy traveling family always on the road, emotional eater, constant party hostess, in a season of heavy grief (my mom died) and can't make the investment in healthy shopping and cooking right now. We have existed on fast food for years to keep up with our jobs and travel, which I know is awful, and I just can't correct that without some kind of jump start to get me back on track. I read a blog (Girl Called Eddy) about New Directions whose author ended up being on this board, and it gave me hope that I can kick my bad habits this year. So, thanks again to you all, and look forward to learning more here.
My 20yo daughter and I are part of a "test group" for a doctor who is just starting to offer ND after trying it herself. Because it's not really a full clinic, we did not receive any start-up materials (a hard thing for an information lover like me). We completed initial assessment and will weigh in weekly. I read every on this board in one sitting, and I am here to say thanks for what everyone has shared!! Especially Daisy and Julie and the woman in Arkansas who had to quit have put quite a body of useful information on here.
I also wanted to ask for some directions. Are there additional sites which share more of the science behind this approach? I noticed that Julie (the nurse on this board) was advised to not exercise and questioned that. I have concerns about crashing metabolism, especially for my young daughter, and I would really like to learn more about the medical reasoning behind this program and dangers/benefits of ketosis. We each have 40 pounds to shed. I think we can probably survive the replacement/losing phase, but I am worried about the maintenance after such a drastic season and whether our bodies will adjust back to "normal" eating and living.
I chose this plan because I have a laundry list of classic issues with weight: hate exercise, very busy traveling family always on the road, emotional eater, constant party hostess, in a season of heavy grief (my mom died) and can't make the investment in healthy shopping and cooking right now. We have existed on fast food for years to keep up with our jobs and travel, which I know is awful, and I just can't correct that without some kind of jump start to get me back on track. I read a blog (Girl Called Eddy) about New Directions whose author ended up being on this board, and it gave me hope that I can kick my bad habits this year. So, thanks again to you all, and look forward to learning more here.
2
Replies
-
Hey, that's my blog - cool! So yeah... Here's what my doc did with me. I had about 75lbs to lose. The first two weeks - your kind of in survival / crash / mode. Don't worry about excercise. Just stick to the plan. You may experience some constipation (use Miralax), and otherwise, you'll be dealing with cravings, withdrawal from using food as your usual coping mechanism. Start doing different things in stead. Go for a walk when you're dying to raid the fridge. Drink water. water. more water! All else fails, better to have another ND shake that scarf down donuts. So do that. Once you see the weight drop off you'll feel much stronger. You can doctor your shakes. I make my breakfast shake with iced coffee, for example. You can eat a couple of dill pickles at 3pm if that's when you're dying (usually I am), you can drink a La Croix for a treat. There are even chocolate flavored teas with no calories. I bought calorie free / sugar free coffee flavors to use in my pudding / shakes. I put jalepenos in my chilli (that got me thru every evening when I wanted hot food!). Once you're about 4 weeks in, start walking, building in some exercise. You will need to change your routine to keep the weight off when you transition to maintenance. As the weeks go by and your closer to your goal weight, your energy will increase and the exercise, if you find something you like to do, will get easier. Add in strength training to maintain your muscle mass. At some point, your doctor will allow you to start adding in normal food. The key is remember how your body felt - when you weren't full of water weight from carbs, when you were eating to survive... and then start self regulating. It is not easy, but you can do it!! I always think -- I put the weight on over 20 years. 16 weeks of shakes isn't so bad to take it off!! Stick to it!1
This discussion has been closed.