As you know, I’ve been through quite a health scare recently after being told I’d had one heart attack and could be on the cusp of another one. Then I went through weeks of poking and prodding and the final result is that other than one teensy blocked artery in my neck, it seems I’m fine.
The cardiologist gave me a clean-ish bill of health and a visit this morning to my GP found her happy with my current situation but… “Maureen, every pound you are overweight is not good. See the dietician and the exercise physiologist. You’ve got the all-clear to get fit.”
That’s all sorted and now, enter stage right, Jennifer Elliott, author of the book Baby Boomers, Bellies & Blood Sugars. Yes, I AM a baby boomer, I’ve got a belly and while my blood sugars are currently fine – that could change at any time. My liver tests came back fine but several years ago I had some problems with a fatty-ish liver – so this book is going to be a part of my new regime.
While I’m a firm believer in all things in moderation, we will be seeing some new recipes too. I’ll be posting some of my favorite lower carbohydrate meals. My goal is 5 kilos off in the next six month. (11 lbs.) I think that’s doable.
Jennifer’s recipes are low in carbohydrate and that’s probably just what I need because I’m going to be ramping up the exercise and extra protein will help the old bones get fit. My mother had and my brother has type 2 diabetes so I need to be aware of the risks.
Baby Boomers, Bellies & Blood Sugars is based on Jennifer’s experience dealing with her daughter’s weight gain as a teenager. She was diagnosed with insulin resistance (the precursor to type II diabetes) Jennifer has been a dietician in community health for more than twenty years and has noticed more and more younger people presenting with type II diabetes – it’s not just a bunch of oldies any more.
With her daughter as her test patient, she researched digestion, metabolic processes, lipid biochemistry, muscle physiology clinical nutritino and epidemiology. She came up with a new approach and her daughter responded brilliantly. That’s when Jennifer began advising her clients with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes to try the same method so successful with her daughter.
Jennifer says for people who have a problem with high blood sugar or carbohydrate metabolism to eat a high carbohydrate diet is just silly. Why would you eat something that’s the center of your problem?
If you’ve got extra weight around the middle, are hungry all the time, have a foggy brain, find it difficult to lose weight – maybe Jennifer Elliott has the answer for you. Check out her book at BabyBoomersandBellies.com
I definitely think you are in the right track! If I may suggest a wonderful book on the subject of nutrition and how the current food pyramid recommended by the USA is probably adding a lot to the problem of obesity, I suggest you read “Why we get fat” written by a journalist from the New York Times, Gary Taubes. An eye opener, reviewing the scientific literature and debunking a huge series of nutritional myths. Indeed, controlling the spikes of insulin from ingesting sugar (in any form, whole wheat grains included) is the key.
Particularly older women like us need to get a grip on their carbohydrate intake, as the decrease in estrogen completely alters the way our body deals with it. A must-read, truly!
Rooting for you!!!!!
Sally, does this have anything to do with the show, “The Men Who Made Us Fat” by the BBC? From the change to margarine to use up stocks of corn to anything that can make rich men richer and we’re left holding the bag.
I’ll read “Why We Get Fat” too! Thanks so much.
I am unfortunately not familiar with that show – but it does touch on those points and many more.
I have a deep interest in nutrition and fitness and have always been a bit skeptical of the “counting calories in, calories out” when it comes to weight control. It is obviously a lot more complex than that, but at the same time quite straightforward: control your insulin peaks and your sugar intake, and the battle is under control… I hope you enjoy the book and profit from reading it – I recommended it to many people and have been thinking of writing a small review of it on the blog. If only my day had 36 hours!
I’ve ordered the book 🙂
Congratulations on you “clean-ish” bill of health Maureen. I, for one, look forward to a change-up in healthier meals. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I look forward to any kind of meal these days. I feel my tastes are changing and although I have never been much on sweets and carbs, I’d much rather head it off before it goes wild!
I think you have chosen a doable goal and I wish you much success. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. I know the first thing I wanted to do after I went through all kinds of “how healthy are you tests” was to go out and buy an exercise machine. I didn’t. Kudos to you for making a positive decision to nip it in the butt!
Thank you so much for sharing…
Thanks, Louise. I’m not there yet 🙂
As I am overweight/insulin resistant and adopting a low carb diet with an exercise program, I am THRILLED to see this post Maureen. I’m totally with you.
Cool, Jan, we’ll head on a journey together.
Good post. Who can’t stand to lose a little weight? 5 kilos in 6 months is totally reasonable and doable, IMO, and a good rate of loss. I think the biggest diet no-no most Americans did was back in the 80s when we all went on the “fat is bad” bandwagon, and replaced fat with added sugar and carbs. Remember those Snackwell cookies? So bland you’d eat an entire package just to get some sort of flavor fix. But hey, they had no fat and loads of carbs, so you were eating healthy. Not.
Yeah, John, the fat is bad, carbs are good, pay the man big dollars to eat a fistful of chemicals. I think food bloggers have a real chance to change how peope think about food.
I’ll have to check out that book.
Good luck with your goal Maureen. I think its wonderful. I should really have a healthier diet myself. My family has a history of diabetes. It will come back to haunt me one day if I don’t change it up!
I know what you mean, Chelsea!
This looks so interesting Maureen and makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the info, I will check out this book. It sounds like it’s wise advice for all of us. Hope you’re feeling well. Sorry you’ve had a tough time.
I’m sure my little episode is nothing next to what a lot of people are living with so I’m a pretty lucky person.
G’day Maureen! Glad you got a good bill of health and awareness is always the first step to change of anything, true!
Small changes, make great results…am cheering for you from the sidelines too!
if you get a chance, The Dinosaur Gene by Pamela and Dr David Mitchell explains a lot…it is in the combination of foods…am currently banned from exercising, eat like a horse and feel a lot happier and healthier overall…Good luck! Look forward to hearing the highs and the lows of your life changes that you know you CAN do!
Cheers! Joanne
G’day Maureen and first of all, glad you got the all clear, true!
Awareness is always the first step of change too!
When you get a chance, The Dinosaur Gene by Pamela and Dr David Mitchell helps explain a lot…under the food guidance, eat like a horse, am currently banned from exercise, metabolism high, can’t put on weight…feel a lot happier and healthier too…
Look forward to reading about what you know you CAN do! Cheers! Joanne
Happy Halloween!
I know it’s not fair but I’ve always been envious of high metabolism people. My dad was that way. Everything he ate went straight through.
So happy to hear the good- ish news. I’m always conscious of what we eat as Rich is a walking cholesterol bomb with a double digits count so I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you come up. I’m sure it will be delicious and orgasmic in any case.
I hope so. It will be interesting. 🙂
Good luck to you, Maureen. I’m glad that you received such positive news and have a plan to improve things even more. It wouldn’t hurt me to lose a few (ahem) pounds and will be looking at both yours and Sally’s recommendations. Thank you.
Yeah, I was pretty pleased with the results. Glad to know there’s nothing serious and I just have to wait for the virus to clear. Yay!
I’m glad you’re doing better Maureen. The book sounds great- let us know how it works out
Great post Maureen! You know that I’m a baby boomer as well with a belly and could definitely stand to lose a few pounds. 11 would be quite nice. 🙂 I’ll have to check out this book and look forward to your progress and hearing about what you’re eating.
I went walking this morning.. that’s a beginning!
Great that you have the first bill of goodish health. I am still so resistant to the no sugar intake. I will watch with interest at how you will change your diet and the things you make. and damn it all I will try to look and learn
Oh, you look so fit. I think of you and I have envy 🙂
Read with interest the info re Jenny Elliotts book. I have a mother and a sister who could eat anything they liked. Me, all I had to do was look at food to put on weight. I managed to stay a size 12 until menopause. I am now a size 16 and not happy. I’ve known for years that I was insulin resistant but what to do about it. I have cut back on carbohydrates but seeing the explanation of Jenny’s diet…I get it. So I be on to that ASAP. Thankyou.
Sister’s comment; “what is your favourite cheese cake?”
Me; “I haven’t eaten cheese cake in 20 years”
Sister’s comment; ” I lost weight when I gave up dairy” as she sat opposite me eating a piece of bread with jam and smothered with cream.