Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I know what you mean about carbs being comfort food. I ate some bread over the weekend, for the first time this year. We had a guest for lunch and we bought some bread, normally we don't have any in the house. I did enjoy eating it! - carbs definitely have a feel-good impact - but then I didn't feel good afterwards.

I am not coeliac, but I definitely don't react well to wheat. Sometimes it doesn't hurt for me to have a reminder of why I don't eat it. Lesson learned, I hope. And with regard to fruit - carbs there as well, of course - when we have fruit, it is at breakfast time. The insulin response behaves better early in the day, and we are both pretty carb sensitive here.

With regard to Lyrica - I've just asked this question in the Medications section, by the way - do we know why/how it causes weight gain?

I have been learning a lot about wheat / gluten sensitivity lately; celiac disease is sensitivity to one particular part of the molecular structure of gluten, and the celiac test only tests for that part, hence it is insufficient to determine wheat sensitivity. There are tests available from some specialty labs, which cover sensitivity to all areas of the gluten molecule, but they are fairly expensive and less likely to be covered by insurance. The cheap and effective method to determine gluten sensitivity is to go totally gluten free for a couple of weeks and see how it feels. If you are gluten sensitive, results from a trial of diet tend to be rapid and dramatic.
I am not gluten sensitive but a lot of my family members are so I have been sent a bunch of articles lately. One of them stated that wheat sensitivity is becoming more and more common because the genetic engineering of the wheat plant to allow for larger harvests, has added complexity to the molecular structure of wheat. Some large percentage...can't remember but it could be as high as 10% - 20% of the population is now suspected to have some degree of wheat sensitivity due to these changes.
Sorry to veer off topic a bit but I thought that might help clarify your situation calluna.

That's interesting HM. I can well believe it, and regarding the increasingly engineered wheat - when we were staying in rural Crete some years back, neither of us had any problems at all with the local bread. It fits, I think.

Well to update, this week Ive not lost a single pound but havent gained one either which is ok.
I notice Calluna if I eat any pastry or white flour based products then i too roll around with stomach aches....I try my best to avoid these products preferring wholewheat pasta and bread which also helps so much with constipation.

Well, this week I have actually lost - ta da! - one pound. That means that I now have an amazing total weight loss so far of - one pound.

Lyrica has a lot to answer for..... I hate to think how much I'd have gained if I wasn't on this diet. Ho hum.

Amanda - I have discovered that I can eat low carb pasta with no problem at all, it is high fibre which is a nice added bonus. It is 5 grams of carb per serving.

I have just read a really interesting blog post about how dairy products can assist with weight loss, and I thought I would share it with this group. You'll find it here. The study about protein intake and dairy intake is quite surprising, I think.

I had yogurt with blueberries for breakfast this morning, and I've just had a whey protein shake for lunch, so I'm obviously on the right track!

Oh, this is bad. I am not winning this battle. This morning I am four pounds up on my starting weight.

I know it is probably because I am changing the meds around a bit - starting nortriptyline again - but I am also reducing the pregabalin (Lyrica) a bit and surely that ought to balance it out a bit? It doesn't seem to work that way, though. I am still not eating much, one small meal a day plus a couple of protein drinks. If I was eating normally I think I'd probably be as big as a house. Darn these meds, I will be so so pleased if the surgery works and I can stop taking them!

All very annoying.

Tracy and Helen you are doing so well! Who else is still doing this? - this thread and the stats one seem to have gone a bit quiet, is it just me talking to myself?

I just feel so embarrassed that I have completely stalled in my weight loss, so haven't posted on here, that all. I am staying where I got to, but achieved that about a month ago GGGRRRrrr! Sorry nothing seems to be working for you Calluna at the moment, the meds HAVE to be playing a major part in it. There's always next week
Tracy is a star!

Yes Tracy keep going girl!
I am in the same boat as you Helen, I have not been bothering to post because my weight is very happy right where it has landed.
Calluna I strongly believe the nortriptyline is what is killing this for me, it also has made my face break out so I am chubby and zitty
I am not eating too much really, I don't feel like dieting strenuously but I am eating a very reasonable diet. Excercise is a problem, the nortriptyline and my various neuro symptoms have combined to encourage me to lie around like a neutered dog a lot of the time. On the up side: School starts in a week, husband and I have a schedule which allows us to be home kidless on many of the school days, and I love to take a walk with my man. Much better than using the elliptical machine in the house which was my only option the summer. So maybe I'll gradually start to take some off. I'll update if I make any progress.
I feel lame about the whole thing. But I am also kind of biding my time because I hope to be cured or much improved by the tarlov cyst surgery this winter, and if I can get well and off these meds then I know taking off the weight would be a breeze.
Oh well, I am glad we motivated Tracy!

We're all in the same boat, then!

HM - nortriptyline making your skin break out - that's interesting, because I've just got that particular problem myself, and I am of an age where I should no longer be needing to worry about that. It is most annoying, I shall have to buy some spot zapping stuff. I notice that it says 'rashes' in the side effects list, I wouldn't call this a rash, exactly.

I am walking as much as I am able, every day. We've got a dog, and she needs her exercise as much as I do. I don't think I'm going to be doing any more than that, really. You were using an elliptical machine? - wow, I'm hurting just thinking about that one!

I'd really like to get some of this weight off before I have the surgery. Carrying extra weight is a risk for DVT, I've had that twice already with a PE the last time, and I really don't want to have it again. But I agree with you, if it wasn't for these meds then it would be so much easier. My husband has lost 23 lb since the beginning of June - I've gained 4lb.

Helen - no need to be embarrassed about stalling. I think that my main function now in this group is for people to be able to look at my graph and say - well at least I'm doing better than that!