First time poster and I have a question
#137233 - 01/11/05 10:24 AM
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Pen
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 12
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Hi, all. I've lurked here for a while and this is my first post. (I am so glad that I found this board. The information and support seems to be incredible) I am an IBS who alternates somewhat between D and C, but mostly D. My question is this: with all of the hoopla about the Atkins and other low carb diets, I want to make sure this IBS diet is healthy enough to be on long term. (I have read Heather's posts about this subject and found them helpful, but I wanted some actual feedback from other dieters who have used this IBS diet also). I have borderline high blood pressure and need to lose some weight. My doc has pushed the Atkins low carb diet, but any high fat meat, cheese, dairy and a lot of the veggies on Atkins just KILL me IBS wise and I cannot handle them. I was told no baked potatoes, no oatmeal, no toast, no graham crackers, no saltines, but this is the stuff I live on when I can't eat anything else. Is it possible to be on Heather's diet long term and still be healthy? Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Edited by Pen (01/11/05 11:05 AM)
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Pen:
In my humble opinion (based on having IBS for 46 years!), Heather's IBS diet is the only IBS diet in the world that truly works. Other diets that claim to help IBS are a hoax.
Unfortunately, having IBS may mean you sometimes can't eat as healthy as you might wish to. This is especially true if your IBS has flared up or is otherwise unstable. However, Heather's diet is aimed at getting you stable and getting you to be able to incorporate a wider range of healthy foods in your diet to ensure you eat nutritiously. Heather's diet is also healthier than the average non-IBS North American diet because it recommends you eat organic food and that you stay away from fatty foods and junk food.
I no longer have a weight problem so I am not an authority on the subject of overweight. However, at one point in my 30s I was 25 pounds overweight. I lost that weight slowly but steadily over a 2 1/2-year period by simply cutting down on the size of my food portions and cutting out all foods with sugar (cake, etc.) Otherwise I ate my regular diet. By the year 1996 I was back down to a size 0, which is my correct size.
Nowadays I continue to avoid all food with sugar -- but not so much because I want to stay slim, but because I have blood sugar problems, which are rampent in my family.
I would think daily exercise, in combination with cutting down on food portions and cutting out sugar, would also help in losing weight.
Hope this helps.
Belinda
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Hi Pen, Welcome to the boards.
I'm no dietician or nutritionist but I do have personal experience of IBS-A. I was diagnosed in August and found Heather's website the next day. I have been doing the diet since, I have lost weight and it has stayed off. The diet is really working for me tummy wise.
The foods I used to binge on were anything with cheese on it and chocolate and both of these are off the menu now. I feel so much better and my energy levels have really gone up. Regular exercise and drinking lots of water is important too.
To keep the D away I need the breads etc and to keep the C away I need the fruits and veggies, I eat a babyfood fruit puree every day, when I used to eat yogurt. I can tolerate more and more veggies now and the main points of the diet that I stick to are :
1. I never eat anything except soluble fibre on an empty tummy
2. I do not eat red meat, cheese, dairy at all
3. I don't drink fizzy drinks or caffeine
4. I try to get as much fruit and veg into me as I can in a safe way to keep my nutrition balances
5. I keep away from alcohol as much as I can! (well I am Irish  - I keep it for special occasions, as opposed to a glass of wine or a beer just because I am out for a meal or meeting someone in a bar.
Hope this helps you!
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S.
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When I first found this site I had that concern also so I asked my GI and my PCP and they both said this is a good diet and that I would probably be healthier and live longer if I have to follow it for the rest of my life. The GI said it is similiar to the diet of most Asian cultures and that they tend to live longer than Americans. I am not sure about that part but I do feel healthier on this diet. I do however have a problem maintaining my current weight I keep losing weight and have to fight to gain it back so that I do not end up looking to thin. I am fairly tall and if I drop to much weight even though it is technically not unhealthy I tend to look unhealthy.
Christie
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Christie
~Hoping and Praying for Sleep!~
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I'm a D and I have been on a similar diet (more restrictive than Heather's) for 14 years. I eat rice and noodles, eggs, meat and fish, peanut butter, crackers, and mashed potatoes. I DO NOT eat fruits or vegetables (unless they're green vegs and they're cooked into extinction), dairy, soy, citric or ascorbic acids, nuts, or scrapmeat. I drink herbal tea and other decaf drinks, or hot water. Yes, for 14 years.  This is how I stay stable.
Do I occasionally slip and have a slice of pizza? Yes I do. I also pay for it dearly with D and debilitating pain. But if I want to stay stable, I know what to do.
I have glucose, iron and liver tests every 6 months, and they have always been normal. I do not have scurvey (in case you were interested). Nor do I suffer from anemia or calcium deficiencies. And the best part is that I have put on weight and managed to keep it on, since I was hospitalized at 19, weighing less than 100lbs. (I was 5'11") due to complications from D from IBS. Yeaaaa!
Heather has an information page about atkins and IBS on the nutrition page, I think. Try doing a search and you'll find it.
~nelly~
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Hi, Pen!!
Welcome aboard!! Glad you found us! YES, Heather's IBS diet is EXTREMELY healthy!! I've been on it for the past year officially, and partially for long before that. I have fibromyalgia so it is especially important for me to eat a healthy diet. I can honestly say that my fibro is better than it was a year ago, and that I honestly believe that is partially due to Heather's diet. I also have no other health problems than the fibro related ones, my heart is in great shape, all my test results always come back peachy keen, I work out with a personal trainer once a week, and I am within 2 pounds of my ideal weight, down 15 pounds from two years ago.
In my humble opinion, what you were told about the Atkins diet and about not eating potatoes, oatmeal, etc, is HOGWASH, or worse!! Total freaking nonsense!!
So welcome aboard. I hope you decide to give Heather's diet a chance. And we'll be looking forward to getting to know you better!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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I guarantee you CAN eat fruit and veggies! If you want, I'll share my bag of tricks for tolerating them. It's important for your long-term well-being to include them in your diet, but, then, you probably already know that!
Lemme know if you want to know more!
Belinda
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I would like to hear your take on making veggies anf fruits easier to tolerate. Please- do tell!!! I appreciate all input.
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Melissa
Pain predominant w/occasional C.
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I'm intolerate to ascorbic and citric acids, and have to watch the Ph of foods I injest... Otherwise I'd probably take you up on that offer, Belinda!
~nelly~
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