TF and weight loss--is there such a thing?

[moonlightinvt]

I have had a lot of changes in lifestyle over the last few years and I am now overweight (I feel in an unhealthy way--not just my own body image vanity).

About 2 1/2 years ago while TTC I started eating meat (was ovo/lacto vegetarian). Then while preggo went from soy milk (yeah, I know ) to raw cow's milk. After preggo until now I have adapted more of a traditional food diet and feel I have a very healthy diet.

My dd was born in 2002 and about 1 1/2 years after her birth I was below my pre-preggo weight and feeling very fit and energetic (still veg diet).

My ds was born in August 2005 and is now 1 1/2. I have yet to lose a pound (I am 25 lbs heavier than 2002) despite exercising and eating a TF diet. Oh yeah, I also have an underactive thyroid now (since shortly after ds's birth, I believe--which I am treating).

Soooo, what gives?

I guess I am just frustrated and sick of feeling unhealthy.

Please tell me whether any of you have felt healthier and more fit with a TF diet as opposed to how you used to eat. I want hope. Or tell me if you have had similar problems. To be honest, I have never felt as healthy and strong as I did when I was a vegetarian (sigh)

[AJP]

Of course there's such a thing. Fallon and Enig wrote the book Eat Fat Lose Fat, some people on this board have used that program successfully, I think. I personally haven't read it, but I believe it's based on boosting metabolism with coconut oil.

Maybe you need to make some adjustments to your diet, there's a very wide range possible within traditional foods. You might have to improve thyroid function before you can lose weight, but there's a lot of dietary tinkering and fine-tuning you can do while still eating TF and keep that nutrient density. I think different people have different levels of need for animal foods. Also, some don't do well with dairy no matter what, some don't do well with grains no matter what. Have you tried changing your macronutrient ratios (fat/carb/protein)? Maybe you can incorporate some more of how you ate as a veg into your current diet and still keep some of the most nutrient-dense animal products.

[joliebebe]

In theory, yes eating higher amounts of good fat and protein, cutting out sugar and processed grains, you should loose weight, BUT we are not all the same and I firmly believe that what one person eats and is healthy eating, is going to be less than ideal for another.
In my situation I have found eating a higher ratio of good fats and protein to a lower ratio of grains (even soaked/sprouted ones) is the key for me to loose weight and stay healthy.

[HerthElde]

TF diet means different things to different people. We all have different physiologies and different needs. My dh and I both eat TF, but the macronutrient composition of our diets are very different than each other.

Are you eating less veggies than you were as a veg? Are you eating more grains? Are you analyzing your cravings?

I feel like I should recommend the potassium broth in NT - drink it instead of water when you're thirsty (or use a juicer for high K veggie juice). That's an intuitive recommendation, so take it for what it's worth to you. Also, seaweed and sea salt. Nourishing, warming fats.

Anyway, my own story is really long and rocky, but overall I'm much healthier now - that doesn't mean I'm as healthy as I want to be though. For me, personally, eating a high percentage (caloriewise) of my diet as fat was the key to losing weight and having more energy - but that doesn't mean your path is the same. Follow your gut on this one.

[covertlycrunchy]

I am totally about to be in the same boat....been veg for about 7ish years now and considering going TF. I have just barely started to incorporate more animal products back into my diet and have gained 5lbs so far. NOT HAPPY.

I know it is only 5 lbs. But I used to be almost 200lbs and am down to 125lbs. I like thin. I don't EVER want to be not thin ever again. Period.

But I was noticing that I was suffering from a lot of mental confusion, depression, lethargy etc after my first DD was born. I upped the amount of olive oil I got and that improved quite a bit. Another thing to look at is how active you still are. Can you try to work in a little more movement here and there?
The easiest thing for me to do is park far away from the store and walk in (just tell yourself that you are blessed with functioning legs). Or NEVER use an elevator/escalator. Walk whenever and wherever you can. I liked "French Women Don't get Fat" quite TF actually and had loads of little daily hints to burn just a couple more calories a day. It all adds up.

Good Luck!

[quietserena]

When I intially started TF, I found myself pretty much eating meat and grains. Somehow there is so much stress on those two that I kind of started to forget vegetables. That's when I put weight on, personally.

When I focus more on eating good protein, good fats and plenty plenty plenty of greens and vegetables, I find that not only do I feel better but I also lose weight. I will never be 100% sugar or grain free but I can cut out an awful lot of it and still have quite a happy and full belly.

I have no idea whether this is the same for you. If anything, I've learned that we're all different and what works for some doesn't work for all. I hope you find what works for you best!

My situation is also kind of different in that I lost my appetite in pregnancy and it still hasn't quite returned. For some reason, food is such a 'bother', what with the chewing and swallowing and all. I have no idea why this is, but I'm 35lbs under my pre pregnancy weight and still dropping. I had it to lose but I hope it slows down before I completely disappear.

[thomlynn]

http://www.westonaprice.org/askdocto...ng-weight.html

I'm losing weight. DD is nine months old and I'm 20lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight. Cutting out almost all white sugar (I still have some dark chocolate but that's it) helped a lot. Eat Fat Lose Fat is a good book and Real Food: What To Eat and Why is another good one.

Good luck!!!

[Tcarwyn]

I agree with pp poster that there is so much emphasis on grains and meat that I personally started eating way more grains in the beginning. Also in NT there is the whole chapter on how natural sweeteners are fine. I disagree! I gained weight when i first did NT as well...and I wanted to loose Now I am back to meat, veggies, some fruits, nuts and dairy and very very little sugar and grains and I am loosing and feeling GREAT!


Tanya

[cjarvis]

Many of you have said that you "found" such and such way of eating was best for your body. How did you go about finding this? Did you seek help or just trial and error over a period of time on your part?

[quietserena]

I've found it to work for me because I'm not starving all the time, I don't feel run down, my eyes are clear, I'm not craving foods that are just empty calories, my hair isn't falling out by the hand-full, I don't get the hungry jitters I used to get, mu skin isn't dry though the heat is on.. There are more I just can't remember atm. Basically it has been a change for the better.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by joliebebe

In my situation I have found eating a higher ratio of good fats and protein to a lower ratio of grains (even soaked/sprouted ones) is the key for me to loose weight and stay healthy.

Much to my own disappointment I've found this to be true of me as well. :sigh: I like carbs.

[thomlynn]

Originally Posted by Tcarwyn

Also in NT there is the whole chapter on how natural sweeteners are fine. I disagree!

Tanya

I read that chapter as these are better than white sugar but still shouldn't be eaten on a regular basis. And I know I've read a couple different articles on WAPF that say you shouldn't eat dessert everyday or offer it to your children everyday, it's only for special occasions or if you're trying to get them to eat something they really really dislike.

[425lisamarie]

I'm a naturaly thin person. I gained a ton of weight each pregnancy, like as in well over 50 pounds, which is very weird for me to look that big. I have been eating more than normal the last few months, not sure why, but I still dont' have a hard time maintaining weight. I just think every body is different, some people are skinny, some have to really find out what foods they do best on.

[Nikki98]

I am on the larger side (weight wise) and found that following a eating style described in The Garden of Eating has been more of a help to me than just following only NT. Garden of Eating incorporates more veggies in the diet which has done a lot of good for me (and my digestive system ). I also feel clearer. So I still follow TF, I just try to eat a wider range of veggies and of course meat- and I've included exercise as well.

[Tcarwyn]

i agree, garden of eating style I liked very much because of their focus on vegetables.
For me, if I eat 5-10 servings of veggies a day ( what I aim for) I feel fantastic and I loose weight....I always eat meat aswell, and fat, and a little dairy.

Tanya

[cjarvis]

wow, that Garden of Eating book is expensive. Anyone want to sell theirs

Well I will try to get an interlibrary loan for it.

[Chicharronita]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

Much to my own disappointment I've found this to be true of me as well. :sigh: I like carbs.

Me too!!! Last year I hardly ate any grains at all, and lost a ton of weight. I didn't do so well avoiding them over the holidays, and some of the pounds crept back.

I know I have a problem with them, because if I start adding grains back, I start wanting to eat more and more of them to the exclusion of everything else. Being able to eat unlimited amounts of low-carb veggies just isn't as exiting as a slice of sourdough bread slathered in butter!

[newcastlemama]

The meat, fat, and veggie diet works for me too I lost about 30 pounds doing low-grains TF eat eating a lot of food.

[cjr]

I lurk here, but don't usually post. I try to do a lot of NT foods, but I don't focus on NT. What worked for me is focusing on the vegetables, soaked beans, nuts; and supplimenting my diet with the meat and soaked grains. I don't do refined sweetener or natural (except agava). If I concentrate on eating this way, include lots of good fats, 1-2 portions of soaked grains/day, 1 portion of meat/day (sometimes not every day), 1-2 portions of soaked beans, 1 portion of broth...then I will loose or maintain wieght.

One other thing that really helps with wieght loss is resistant workouts. Weight training. It burns more calories than a cardio workout because it burns more calories after the workout.

[barose]

Originally Posted by Nikki98

I am on the larger side (weight wise) and found that following a eating style described in The Garden of Eating has been more of a help to me than just following only NT. Garden of Eating incorporates more veggies in the diet which has done a lot of good for me (and my digestive system ). I also feel clearer. So I still follow TF, I just try to eat a wider range of veggies and of course meat- and I've included exercise as well.

: I too have to eat a lot of veggies and fruit and I'm trying to eat more raw foods in my diet in general. I really limit process sugar and grains. I cant eat diary no matter what (except for butter) and movement, especially weight bearing exercise is key for me staying slim.