More on the Facts and Factoids

[Maribeth]

Without a blood test, it is very difficult to determine your blood sugar levels. Saying that you have low blood sugar is pretty much based on symptoms if there is no actual testing involved.

Low blood sugar can be caused by a variety of things. One of the most common is a situation where a person will eat a large amount of simple carbs--as they are digested, they release a big gush of glucose into the blood stream. The super rapid rise in blood sugar will cause the body to send out insulin in hyperdrive mode, usually sending more than is needed. The extra insulin will cause blood sugar levels to drop below normal, causing the ravenous hunger, craving for sweets or simple carbs, shakiness, weakness and nausea.

People usually give into the craving and eat another simple carb--overeating them typically, due to the intense hunger. This causes another insulin spike, and the cycle starts all over again.

People who have problems with hypoglycemia that isn't induced by eating too much in the way of simple sugars may have a problem with maintaining blood glucose at normal levels for other reasons. Usually these people have to eat at very regular intervals and make sure they include some quicker absorbing (higher glycemic) carbs and some slower absorbing (lower glycemic) carbs at every meal and snack.

Hope this explains it a little.
Maribeth

 

[Cynthia8828]

Hello Keta!!!

Good to see ya!!!

At this time, I am LIMITING, although not completely removing, whole grain bread in my diet. However, once I lose 9 more pounds, it is the brown rice and whole grains bread and sweet potatoes TYPE of carbs that I will gradualy add back into my diet. (with limits because I found my diet to be MOSTLY carbs in the past and that is how I gained these 20 pounds in the past year!!!)

For instance, I had a slice of 9 grain bread yesterday at Grandmas (normally I would have had two for my sandwich but I limited myself to one). Today, I probably will not have any, but tomorrow, I might have a cup of brown rice. I am a carb junkie. I lost 3 inches off my waist right off the bat. Do you know why? I know you do!!! Because I was SO bloated from all those carbs. It wasn't ACTUAL loss as much as carb bulk.

I have considered greatly the concerns of mental health during this and I have to truly tell you that I feel BETTER than ever. I am sharp, happy, energetic, etc. I need to make this very clear... I am not on a NO carb diet. I am on a LOW (er) carb diet.

In response to the other posts above (sorry...I forgot the names).

Yes, my PT is certified. He has been a trainer for 11 years. I don't know exactly what a trainer can and can do. All I can tell you is that I have found him to be WONDERFUL. Further, I am thinking that it is possible that he felt comfortable giving me nutrition advice because he is a personal friend of my mother. He trained her through a 25 pound weight loss and exercise program.

Also, someone asked me what is wrong with potatoes or rice. NOTHING is wrong with them as far as I know, but like I said, I am in a particular phase of a diet. Once this phase is over, these items will be added in slowly and with limits.

Blessings,
Cynthia