Losing weight because of Lymes diet

I don't know if everyone here follows the Lymes diet, but I do. Meaning, I eat basically no Carbs and no sugar. I started this diet in October 2009. I weighed 192 then. It's August 2010 now and I weigh 155. I don't exercise much at all. I might go for a walk once a month at best. So all the weight loss has been from this diet alone, without a doubt. So it's been 10 months and I've lost 37 pounds. People have noticed too. Anyone I haven't seen for over a month says something about it. "Did you lose weight?" ext..

I have read this forum, and I know a lot of people have had a lot of trouble sticking to the diet. That's Understandable, because it's hard not to include so many things (like cereal, pasta and pizza) in your diet. But the thing is, the Lymes was so bad for me, I would do ANYTHING to make it better. So I have been extremely strict with my diet. For many, this is really hard to do. But I look at it as a "no choice" thing. I know if I eat the sugar & carbs, the Lymes symptoms will return. And that scares me to death. And that's why I'm able to maintain the diet without much of a problem.

I don't cheat with the diet. Ever. I do not eat any carbs or sugar whatsoever. (No, I don't eat fruit.)

I've heard that some people get sick trying to do this diet. That never happened for me really. The only symptom I seem to have is feeling tired some days.

While I'm happy to have lost some weight, I'm wondering now how far this will go. I'm not anorexic. I eat every day. I enjoy eating, and some days I even feel like I've pigged out. But I'm just not eating anything with Carbs or Sugar. And gradually, the weight just keeps coming off.
So I'm wondering if anyone else with Lymes, who follows the same diet, has gone through this.
While some people would kill to lose weight, I'm actually concerned that I might start getting TOO thin. I wouldn't mind if I even dropped another 10 pounds.
If I got down to about 145lbs, That'd be about as thin as I could imagine being. (I'm 5' 11'') As it is, I haven't weighed this much since I was 15 years old. (I'm 29 now)
So lets say in two months from now or so, I hit 144.. I'm going to start getting scared. I don't want to get THAT thin.

What if it keeps going? Will I have to pig out (with non carb/sugar foods) every day to maintain the same weight? Anyone been in my position before?
Thoughts? Stories?

Post Edited (Mike29) : 8/7/2010 4:10:10 AM (GMT-6)

hey Mike ..is that a book.lyme diet? how many lyme diets are there..I freak out without carbs? does anyone else?

are you eating only egg whites?

Mike,

one of the patients I met at the Hansa Center is 85lbs and 5'3.  She is on the same diet as you are and is very concerned.  She went to the Hansa Center in hopes they would be able to fix this problem.  She was told she had parasites along with lyme and is being treated for it.  I talked to her a few days ago and has not gained any weight yet and is very concerned.

My son who is 13 now, eats the same way you do and is 4'11 and 75lbs. Very thin. He will not eat carbs or sugar because he says he will pay for it and feel even worse than already does.  He has been gluten and diary dairy free and no sugar since diagnosed last fall.  He is still young and growing and has only gained 4 lbs in one year.  He should be at least 90lbs right now.

 I have been trying to feed him about 5 small meals a day to help him gain weight.  It's a catch 22. 

I am happy to hear that the diet helps you feel better.  I think thats the most important thing right now.

Hi Mike. Like you, I have difficulty maintaining my weight while eating a low carb diet as recommended for people on antibiotics. And like you, I am a person who never cheats on the diet because I don't want to suffer the consequences. Also, my doctor told me sugar feeds bacteria and I sure don't want to do that, so keeping the carbohydrate load low is important to me. My LLMD suggested small servings of complex carbohydrates to help me maintain a healthy weight because I had gotten dangerously thin. I eat 1/4c of brown rice, or a small handful of nuts, or higher carb (but low sugar) vegetables, and sometimes a few not-very-ripe berries. A spoonfull or two of oats, or of natural peanut butter can also add some healthy carbs. If you are willing to eat some less popular foods, millet is a nutritious, healthy choice for adding some carbs, or a little buckwheat or quinoia. Sometimes I have a little bit of black beans or pinto beans.

My experience is like yours; if I stick strictly to the low carbohydrate diet (for me that's 40 carbs or less in a day) it doesn't matter how much fat I eat, I will lose weight. By adding in some complex carbohydrates, I'm now able to keep my weight within 5 lbs of where I want to be. I still don't eat sugar or foods that are high in sugar because I think that would be inviting problems.

Another thing I thought of when I read your post was that maybe you have some food sensitivities that are causing some of your symptoms to return when you try eating carbs. Through the process of trial and error (elimination diet) I found out that I don't tolerate gluten and that dairy is also a problem for me. Cutting those things out of my diet allowed me to add some of the complex carbs above without consequence.

Just a side note - one thing a lot of people have found helps with their symptoms and helps detox is an infrared sauna. I'm in the process of purchasing one, but am concerned, since they are touted as weight-loss aides, how that will work. Nothing easy about all of this. I hope you find an answer that works for you.

Rose

Well, what I got out of all that was, when I start hitting about 145, which would be as thin as i think I should really be, I guess I'll start adding things like brown rice to try and maintain my weight level.


@PacificNW

"He will not eat carbs or sugar because he says he will pay for it and feel even worse than already does. "

Pay attention to that part. He's speaking the truth. That's exactly how it is. When you feel those Lymes symptoms, you'll do anything to NOT feel them. And if that means no sugar / no carbs, then fine. Because that's not half as bad as feeling the Lymes pains.

I guess my advice would be, continue the diet, but just try and add some things to it if he's getting too thin. "Complex carbs" That's something I need to learn about myself. I'm not at that point yet.

Post Edited (Mike29) : 8/7/2010 6:34:40 PM (GMT-6)

My diet consists a lot of -

Turkey Burger, Lamb Burger, Chicken Burger

Any kind of cheese

Egg Whites, Eggs with cheese

Water, Diet drinks, Unsweetened Iced Tea, Coffee

Fresh Spinach

Salmon, Steak, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb

Coldcuts, Salami, Liverwurst, Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef

Sugar Free Ice Pops

Sugar Free lime Jello

That's about all I can think of

Post Edited (Mike29) : 8/7/2010 7:17:07 PM (GMT-6)

Really jc27 ? Than please tell us what you eat.

Mike29 said...
I feel fine. I'm mostly symptom free with the diet, yes. And Yes I'm on Antibiotics for the lymes. Either Doxy or Rifampin

Yes, only egg whites.

What I don't really understand is the process thats going on with my body. I'm still eating fat. I eat Cheeseburgers (with no bun) ext.. So it doesn't matter how much fat you eat really? As long as there's no sugar, your body will metabolize it in a way that you still lose weight?? Confused. Would like an explanation of how this works

People have been brainwashed about the proper way of eating, especially when it comes to fats. The truth is, since the low fat fad began several years ago there's been more heart disease and more health problems than ever before. The "diet" I adhere to is a very common sense diet and does indeed include fats (lots of fats). There are good fats such as coconut oil (very healthy and good for lyme), grass fed, hormone free organic beef. Hormone free, cage free eggs and chicken (yes, yolk included), etc.

My son introduced this to me after I had gotten very, very sick from taking steroid shots (big no-no for us with Lyme disease. I lost 75 pounds in six months and was so sick all I could eat was a few saltine crackers daily.). It's called the Weston Price "Diet" (it's really a way of eating, not a diet), and since I've been eating this way I have gained a few pounds of healthy weight, have energy and have felt better than I've felt in years. You can learn more about this here:

www.westonaprice.org/

Dr. Ron Schmid, a naturopathic doctor who has Lyme disease himself is a big proponent of this way of eating, including raw milk and raw butter (hard to get unless you life on a farm like he does). He used to be a vegetarian until he researched Weston Price and converted to eating healthy grass fed meats, organic vegetables, etc. He has a very informative website where he shares his story. He believes that the best way to keep Lyme disease under control is healthy eating and certain supplements. Here's his story, and while you are on his website look it over as there is a wealth of information there: www.drrons.com/diet-chronic-disease-and-optimal-health.htm

Some of you are familiar with Sally Fallon. She wrote the recipe book, "Nourishing Traditions" which you can buy on Amazon. Just go there and read what the book is about and the nearly 500 glowing comments about her book:
www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242860114&sr=1-1

Also, the benefits of coconut oil for lyme and other chronic disease has been proven to be very beneficial to those who suffer with this disease. We automatically think that all saturated fats are bad for us--not true:

www.wellsphere.com/lyme-disease-article/the-many-health-benefits-uses-for-coconut-oil/1132490

lymesentinel.blogspot.com/2009/12/saturated-fats-are-good-for-you.html

Obviously, this may not be a good way to go for someone who has cancer. Every illness requires a different approach. The Gerson Diet would be ideal for cancer patients and other types of diseases, even some people feel it works well for Lyme disease. I'd have a hard time doing this one, but if it works for you that what's important.

For me, in addition to getting treated at the Hansa Center, I believe the Weston Price approach to eating is what helped get me better and gave me more strength. I haven't gained any significant weight back eating this way and my recent cholesterol and heart tests were all good. I eat butter, cream, whole milk (plain no sugar) yogurt, coconut oil and my heart is in great shape, healthier than it was one year ago and my blood pressure is normal to below normal, whereas before I had terribly high blood pressure and took blood pressure pills. Had to go to ER on two or three occasions because of it.

I'm not saying this is for everyone, I'm just saying what's working for me and has helped me and a lot of other sick people to get better.

Gary

Hi Mike,

I want to congratulate you for sticking to that diet. It is extremely hard. I have tried it several times and am about to try it again. It looks like you are on a high protein diet. I have a list of foods that you can eat from a lady that is licensed to sell supplements. She is actually a friend of mine. If you want, I can list everything that is allowed on the diet and maybe that will help you out a little. There is more that you can eat. She also has a great chilli that she makes with turkey meat. It is VERY good! I can post that for you too or for anyone else that is interested. I too feel better when I am following this diet.

Also, you can add Stevia to your iced tea and coffee. You just have to know how much to add. You just use a tiny bit of it. I love drinking green tea with honey and adding Stevia to it. Really good:)

I'm glad that I read this post. It has truly encouraged me.

Hey Gary, I'm glad you mentioned that about the raw milk and butter. I've been on the fence about it since I've heard it is good for us (including the cholostrom product) but also read that people with compromised immune systems should not use it because of the potential for bacterial infection. There's a booth at our local farmer's market where these products are sold. I just want to be sure they are safe for me.

Also, about fats, I totally agree that healthy fats are essential to a healthy diet. Cutting out all fats (as much as possible) can cause health problems. A good friend of mine went on a no-fat diet and subsequently had to have her gall bladder removed because of it. Thumbs up to olive oil, flax oil, et. al.

Rose

@CajunGrl

I'd like to see the list

@Dowa

Egg whites are more healthy. I try to eat healthy where I can. It's too hard to just drink water for me, so I do drink diet soda. I know diet drinks are bad. But they don't have sugar. And I have to have SOMETHING I can drink.

Post Edited (Mike29) : 8/8/2010 3:09:58 PM (GMT-6)

Gary~ you are absolutely right on with your information (the only other great source link I could think of that you left out was Mike Adams )

'The Untold Story of Milk' by Ron Schmid http://www.amazon.com/Untold-Story-Milk-Pastures-Contented/dp/0967089743 is truly one of the most eye opening books I ever read (especially when I read it). I have to say that in spite of reading the book and of all I learned from the Weston A Price foundation (btw I do have Sally Fallon's cookbook you mentioned) I decided to not drink milk at all. We did raw milk for awhile, about a year, (a couple of years back) until it got to $13 a gallon (I am sure it is even more now) and then I tested positive for a "teet" borne bacterial infection (on top of everything else). So we decided to forego raw milk and opt for almond nowadays. I understand not everyone will have that experience, but for me it wasn't worth the risk. One of my gal pal's is now raising goats for raw goat products (milk, cheese, etc) and although some say goat is best for human consumption and I know her place is sparkling clean, I just can't go there. Maybe in time though. Or not.

That was great of you to post all that information and links!

Mike - Can you find Zevia brand soda in your location? It comes in Coke, root beer, ginger ale, and lemon/lime flavors and is sweetened with stevia. There are also some flavored vitamin waters sweetened with stevia. Do you like lemonade or iced tea? You can make that sweetened with stevia. One thing I like is Hint - it's water with essence of flavor in it, but no sugars or sweeteners at all. It doesn't taste like water.

Rose