I've hit 86 kilos, my heaviest ever

why is my weight going up so much on this diet??? I've cut out junk, I'm exercising and I haven't touched alcohol.  

From today I've been sugar free and I've cut out processed carbs to see if it makes a difference to my weight, I'm craving them but not caving so far but I'm concerned about eating soy as the possible cause, one of my friends told me that she gained a ton of weight by eating a lot of soy products, has anyone else experienced this?

Was your friend blood type A?

How much carbohydrates do you eat?

Are you gaining muscle?

Have you had a secretor test done? If you find that hard to obtain where you live, you may want to give the non-secretor diet a try and see if you do better on it. Or, you could just cut out soy without implementing the rest of the A nonnie diet and see if that makes a difference for you.

Could you be peri-menopausal? Unbalanced hormones can lead to weight gain, and you may need to get your hormones balanced before you can lose the weight.

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Was your friend blood type A?

How much carbohydrates do you eat?

Are you gaining muscle?

I'm not sure what her blood type is, I'll ask.

I was eating waaay too many carbs IMHO. I'd switched to gluten free bread but it was too easy to snack on it after dinner. I do eat rice cakes but no more than four a day usually with some hommus spread on them. As our office has a kitchen that is constantly stocked with sweet biscuits and crackers it was too tempting so I've stopped going in there and I don't eat a lot of rice or pasta, maybe twice a month at the most.

I haven't gained any muscle that I've noticed. I am going to the gym about four times a week but I alternate the yoga classes with either spin or body step/pump.

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Have you had a secretor test done? If you find that hard to obtain where you live, you may want to give the non-secretor diet a try and see if you do better on it. Or, you could just cut out soy without implementing the rest of the A nonnie diet and see if that makes a difference for you.

Could you be peri-menopausal? Unbalanced hormones can lead to weight gain, and you may need to get your hormones balanced before you can lose the weight.

I'm still waiting on my secretor test results, I sent it off about 3 weeks ago now, not sure how long it usually takes though.

I am peri menopausal as I started getting hot flushes and other symptoms earlier in the year but that's stopped now and I've gone back to my usual cycle except that it's now heavier and longer than before. My gyno has suggested I get an endometrial ablation procedure but I haven't decided if that's what I want yet.

Hormones are probably playing a part in this and I'm pretty sure I'm insulin resistant as well as no matter what I do I cannot shift this weight, very frustrating! is there a supplement for that?

Quoted from Sulis

why is my weight going up so much on this diet??? I've cut out junk, I'm exercising and I haven't touched alcohol.  

From today I've been sugar free and I've cut out processed carbs to see if it makes a difference to my weight,...

Rising weight means that you haven't gotten something right (either in the diet or exercise) or you are gaining muscle prior to losing fat.  

Processed sugar or carbs are the first food type I would look at to reduce weight gain, since you cut them out today, it is too soon to see the effect.  Eat more protein or fat, if needed, to cut cravings...  

Quoted from Sulis

I'm pretty sure I'm insulin resistant as well as no matter what I do I cannot shift this weight, very frustrating! is there a supplement for that?

Cutting the carbs to make the body utilize more fat and protein for energy will side-step this issue some, as well as healing the insulin resistance.

This thread talk about insulin resistance and SWAMI, but may be some help:
http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1281046401

I didn't read this thread, but there is a book recommendation for overcoming insulin resistance...
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/archived/config.pl?%E2%80%8Bread=137205

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Processed sugar or carbs are the first food type I would look at to reduce weight gain, since you cut them out today, it is too soon to see the effect.  Eat more protein or fat, if needed, to cut cravings...  

I'll see how I am after a month of no sugar/carbs hopefully I will know my secretor status by then so I can tweak my diet further.

Clearly I am paying the price for years of bad eating and sugar addiction but I am determined to heal this and get my health back.

Thanks for the links ABjoe, I'll have a read of those when I get home.

try this easy test to jump start.....
http://www.4yourtype.com/WLP_BTD.asp

Quoted from Sulis

I'm not sure what her blood type is, I'll ask.

I was eating waaay too many carbs IMHO. I'd switched to gluten free bread but it was too easy to snack on it after dinner. I do eat rice cakes but no more than four a day usually with some hommus spread on them. As our office has a kitchen that is constantly stocked with sweet biscuits and crackers it was too tempting so I've stopped going in there and I don't eat a lot of rice or pasta, maybe twice a month at the most.

I haven't gained any muscle that I've noticed. I am going to the gym about four times a week but I alternate the yoga classes with either spin or body step/pump.

I think you answered your own question.  It seems that you are not really following the diet strictly, which is necessary to lose the weight you want to shed.  You also mention a sugar addiction.  IMHO, sugar and carb addictions are very difficult to overcome.  The first thing you will need is WILLPOWER!!!  Then you may want to consider bringing some compliant snacks to work to keep you out of that office kitchen.  You will need to have a good plan to acheive your goal.  There are a couple of good books out there on both sugar and carb addictions.  Maybe you could do some research and either buy a couple of books or borrow them from the library.  My neighbor told me about a carb addict diet.  Maybe that would be a good place for you to start.  Meld both the carb addiction diet and your BTD to eat only compliant foods to see if that helps you to overcome your addictions AND begin to lose some weight.  We have a simple rule in our house when it comes to weight loss - NO WHITE FOOD!!!  This means sugar and any type of flour.  I only get one serving of compliant carbs a day as an O.  I am not sure what you get as an A, but I would guess that it is probably less than you are consuming, since one rice cake is one daily serving.  These changes will also have a positive impact on your blood sugar, which you mention is a concern.

Good luck!  You have identified the problem, now you just need to have a good plan and the willpower to follow it.  

Cut out grains as much as possible for the time being. It makes us A's gain weight. Try more veggies, more protein. If you want to eat rice, eat it as cooked rice not in rice cakes. Bring a bag with compliant nuts (walnuts, almonds and raisins) to work to snack on. The raisins take care of the any sweetness desires.

Sulis, check out Dr. D'Adamo's Menopause book if you can (I borrowed it from my local library, but will probably buy a copy of my own soon).  It has some good info for bloodtype foods and supplements that address these issues.  I am going through the same thing for the first time in my life:  really struggling to lose.  Progesterone cream (from wild yams) has helped with the PMS symptoms I was having practically constantly due to low progesterone; but I am having hot flashes now (symptomatic of low estrogen).  The hot flashes came and went, and now they are back again.    I do believe that diet and exercise can help alleviate at least the intensity of our symptoms.  You may NOT be perimenopausal, but it may be something else causing hormonal unbalance.  Just something to consider.  I hate that women have to guess and experiment, and that our MDs don't seem to have a real clue.  Their response seems to be primarily surgical and pharmaceutical.  

Rice cakes are about half a serving per cake. So 4 rice cakes is 2 servings of grains. I personally have them as a superfood on my SWAMI- and I'm able to eat just one or two. Some people find that they end up eating the whole bag. Interestingly enough, most of those individuals get rice cakes as a black dot.

Rice cakes are not a bad choice for your grain intake, if you're one of those people who can stop at appropriate portions. The key is to follow appropriate portion sizes for all foods. You may want to eat lower carb than reccomended for a few days, just to drop your insulin level and get your hunger back on track. But then go back to eating the normal A diet- going completely grain-free may not be sustainable long-term for you as  an A.

I suspect that staying away from the cakes and goodies may be enough to get your weight loss started, but you may need to be extra-strict for a week or two to get your eating habits changed.

It certainly can't hurt you to avoid soy products, and get your protien from other legumes, plus appropriate animal foods such as yogurt, eggs,  poultry, and fish.

Quoted from SandrAruba

Cut out grains as much as possible for the time being. It makes us A's gain weight. Try more veggies, more protein. If you want to eat rice, eat it as cooked rice not in rice cakes. Bring a bag with compliant nuts (walnuts, almonds and raisins) to work to snack on. The raisins take care of the any sweetness desires.

It makes Warriors and Explorers gain weight you mean. Teachers do not have this issue when they are healthy.

I would cut out hummus for sure. 4 rice cakes a day without any other carbohydrates would be ok. If you are consuming carbohydrates on top of that you are going to far you could say. Each rice cake is about a 3/4 serving of recommend carbohydrates. I think they lack fiber though.

Could be a lot of things..... peri menopause, carbs, leptin, stress.......... reduce grains for a while or try cycling you carbs:  more some days and less others.  Progesterone loss starts in the late 30s and seems to destabilize the metabolism, at least it did for me.  I feel better from supplementing.

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I think you answered your own question.  It seems that you are not really following the diet strictly, which is necessary to lose the weight you want to shed.  You also mention a sugar addiction.  IMHO, sugar and carb addictions are very difficult to overcome.  The first thing you will need is WILLPOWER!!!

Will power alone does not work when you have a chemical addiction. I have just read 'sweet poison' by David Gillespie and he says you will have to go through a  withdrawal period prior to giving up sugar for good. Moderation does not work with addiction and as I am an all or nothing type of gal I am cutting sugar out completely and believe me I'm getting those withdrawal symptoms today but it will be worth it to be free of this demon once and for all. I have several coping strategies in place, so far so good. I am determined to be 100% compliant.

It's amazing though that when you announce you are quitting the stuff people go out of way their to shove it under your nose. I have said no to several sweet treats being circulated around the office today, people think I'm strange but too bad  

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Cut out grains as much as possible for the time being. It makes us A's gain weight. Try more veggies, more protein. If you want to eat rice, eat it as cooked rice not in rice cakes. Bring a bag with compliant nuts (walnuts, almonds and raisins) to work to snack on. The raisins take care of the any sweetness desires.

I cannot eat nuts or dried fruit as I get terrible IBS and  bloating issues if I do so I'm eating a lot more veggies this week and snacking on carrots and celery instead of nuts. I've upped my protein intake (more fish, bleh!) and I'm feeling fuller especially now that I'm having an egg for breakfast minus the gluten free bread of course

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Sulis, check out Dr. D'Adamo's Menopause book if you can (I borrowed it from my local library, but will probably buy a copy of my own soon).  It has some good info for bloodtype foods and supplements that address these issues.  I am going through the same thing for the first time in my life:  really struggling to lose.  Progesterone cream (from wild yams) has helped with the PMS symptoms I was having practically constantly due to low progesterone; but I am having hot flashes now (symptomatic of low estrogen).  The hot flashes came and went, and now they are back again.    I do believe that diet and exercise can help alleviate at least the intensity of our symptoms.  You may NOT be perimenopausal, but it may be something else causing hormonal unbalance

I'm pretty sure hormones are playing a part, I've just started taking Krill oil for the pms symptoms and joint mobility and reducing fructose (sugar) is helpful to reduce the peri menopausal symptoms. Since my sister cut out sugar from her diet her symptoms and weight have dropped and she feels fantastic, hardly any hot flashes and her moods are more even.

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, it will be interesting to see how my next cycle goes now that I'm off the sugar. Previously I've tried wild yam and the other popular female supplement chasteberry with limited success but I was eating a ton of sugar while taking those so I'll wait to see how I am next cycle before supping for hormone balance.

Hummus? chickpeas? not on the A diet.

Explorer?.....

check your thyroide....

Quoted from Sulis

I'm pretty sure hormones are playing a part, I've just started taking Krill oil for the pms symptoms and joint mobility and reducing fructose (sugar) is helpful to reduce the peri menopausal symptoms. Since my sister cut out sugar from her diet her symptoms and weight have dropped and she feels fantastic, hardly any hot flashes and her moods are more even.

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, it will be interesting to see how my next cycle goes now that I'm off the sugar. Previously I've tried wild yam and the other popular female supplement chasteberry with limited success but I was eating a ton of sugar while taking those so I'll wait to see how I am next cycle before supping for hormone balance.

Sulis, my husband used to teach a time management and goal setting class and he would disagree with the idea that a habit can change in 21 days.  He would recommend you give it eight weeks.   Either way, my advice is to give it time.  It sounds like you have made some excellent changes and are on your way!!!  Good for you!!!  Also, as a former sugar addict, I also went cold turkey on both the diet and the sugar.  This means I gave up wheat, most dairy, corn, sugar and coffee all in one day.  Cold turkey just seems to work better for me as well.  Don't under estimate the power of will power.  You may find by day three or four, the only thing you have is your will power.   It's what helped keep me on track.  I was even more addicted to coffee than sugar, so I DO understand.  I was a former pastry chef !

Maybe get more Spartan with it.     Within the context of the diet of course.........  You just may need to shuffle around whatever your doing to find some way to eat less.  Your metabolism may also be stuck if you eat the same amount every day etc.  Switch things up and see what happens.

http://spartanlean.com/

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Explorer?.....

I have no idea what my genotype is.

my thyroid is ok, I've never had a problem with it but my grandmother has problems with hers, genetic?

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Also, as a former sugar addict, I also went cold turkey on both the diet and the sugar.  This means I gave up wheat, most dairy, corn, sugar and coffee all in one day.  Cold turkey just seems to work better for me as well.  Don't under estimate the power of will power.  You may find by day three or four, the only thing you have is your will power.   It's what helped keep me on track.  I was even more addicted to coffee than sugar, so I DO understand.  I was a former pastry chef

  

Wow Patty, cold turkey on all those things in one hit? that's a huge step, well done!

Today I said no to chocolate twice, unheard for me especially at 3pm! that's when I look for sugar the most so I'm proud of myself for sticking to my guns. I've only had compliant fruit this week so I'm doing well so far

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Maybe get more Spartan with it.     Within the context of the diet of course.........  You just may need to shuffle around whatever your doing to find some way to eat less.  Your metabolism may also be stuck if you eat the same amount every day etc.  Switch things up and see what happens.

I'm being sensible with my portion sizes and I'm really making an effort to eat and chew slower which I'm finding tough. I have always bolted my food down, a terrible habit but one that was forced on me in childhood so I'm going to have to work hard to overcome it. Today my snacks were carrot sticks and you really have to chew those a lot. I'm pleased to say that I took my time over them despite being busy at the office and people clamouring for stuff etc. We have quiet rooms and areas that I can retreat into so I hid there for 15 minutes while I ate

I thought hommus was ok for A types? rats!

Keep up the good work, Sulis!  

get T3 and T4 tested and also the early morning cortisol levels...

Quoted from Sulis

I thought hommus was ok for A types? rats!

When working with the BTD or GTD, the name of a product isn't as important as the ingredients in the product.  If you are a fan of hummus, it wouldn't be too difficult to come up with a recipe for making your own, using compliant ingredients.  My daughter makes her own, using organic beans that are good for her genotype.  In her case, she uses Great Northern Beans instead of garbanzo and almond butter instead of the tahini.

This is a creative and empowering way to approach our food choices.  No need to deprive yourself of things you like if they can be reformatted in a way that is still good for you!  

Quoted from Lola

try this easy test to jump start.....
http://www.4yourtype.com/WLP_BTD.asp

What a neat little program! This may come in handy sometime for a person who wants to get an early start!

Good article listing possible reasons why you may not be losing weight:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/17-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight/

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get T3 and T4 tested

are they thyroid tests?

yup

Reverse T3 is also an important thyroid hormone to get tested. According to my doctor, it is the most important one.

I'll ask about those tests next time I'm at my doctors

I weighed myself this morning and my weight has dropped a bit! cutting out sugar and processed carbs seems to be helping and I was at the gym 3 times this week.

Let's see if I can can keep the weight dropping

Quoted from Sulis

I'll ask about those tests next time I'm at my doctors

I weighed myself this morning and my weight has dropped a bit! cutting out sugar and processed carbs seems to be helping and I was at the gym 3 times this week.

Let's see if I can can keep the weight dropping

Keep at it, girlfriend!  You can do it!  

Will power alone does not work when you have a chemical addiction. I have just read 'sweet poison' by David Gillespie and he says you will have to go through a  withdrawal period prior to giving up sugar for good. Moderation does not work with addiction and as I am an all or nothing type of gal I am cutting sugar out completely and believe me I'm getting those withdrawal symptoms today but it will be worth it to be free of this demon once and for all.  I have several coping strategies in place, so far so good. I am determined to be 100% compliant.  

More power to you, Sulis. Just hang onto that attitude!  Coping strategies are super duper diamond things to have in hand in a lot of situations! Just keep on going, gal!

I'm back in hormone hell though, this is week 3 of the period from hell and no sign of it ending. I'll be booking that endometrial ablation procedure for sure. Changing my diet over the last few months has not done anything to alleviate it unfortunately so I have to resort to surgery

Ablation was one of the best things I ever did. I just wish I hadn't waited so long...

Quoted from Sulis

I'm back in hormone hell though, this is week 3 of the period from hell and no sign of it ending. I'll be booking that endometrial ablation procedure for sure. Changing my diet over the last few months has not done anything to alleviate it unfortunately so I have to resort to surgery

Have you had your hormones tested?  I am assuming you have endometriosis which is a condition of estrogen dominance.  My sister has/had that, had her ovary removed.  I have read endo is fueled by insulin resistance.
I read a positive testimony online last night on a low carb forum from a lady who says she started losing weight again from doing intermittent fasting..... it helps reduce insulin.
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/.....mittent-fasting.html

I've read good things about ablation, hope you feel better.

Quoted from Mother

Ablation was one of the best things I ever did. I just wish I hadn't waited so long...

I have heard from some other women that it's worked well for them as well and I don't want to wait now!

Quoted from 14442

Have you had your hormones tested?  I am assuming you have endometriosis which is a condition of estrogen dominance.  My sister has/had that, had her ovary removed.  I have read endo is fueled by insulin resistance.
I read a positive testimony online last night on a low carb forum from a lady who says she started losing weight again from doing intermittent fasting..... it helps reduce insulin.


I've read good things about ablation, hope you feel better.

I don't have endometriosis but I have some small polyps and a couple of fibroids which are also small. I had then treated a while back (D&C, cauterization) but mow they're back and I'll be having the ablation to stop these lengthy, heavy periods. Meanwhile I will continue with my low carbing and sugar removal. I feel so much better for it already

If I'd been bleeding for 3 weeks straight, I'd look at herbal options before considering surgury, and then I'd research everything I could find about the procedure my doctor reccomended  before scheduling it.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have this procedure done- I'm saying you should research the procedure itself, the possible complications, treatment for those complications, and alternative treatments for the condition before doing anything.

I tried everything prior to ablation, including waiting too long, . I had no complications and was back to normal in 2 days., I also have 2 small fibroids but they haven't grown in 3 years, actually they are shrinking which I was told happens the closer you get to menopause. Well.. it's been since May, maybe I'll be there very soon. Good luck

Quoted from ruthiegirl

If I'd been bleeding for 3 weeks straight, I'd look at herbal options before considering surgury, and then I'd research everything I could find about the procedure my doctor reccomended  before scheduling it.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have this procedure done- I'm saying you should research the procedure itself, the possible complications, treatment for those complications, and alternative treatments for the condition before doing anything.

I've tried herbal supps in the past with no real benefit and because of the polyps I'm not a candidate for the Mirena coil which is working well for a friend of mine.

My eldest sister has had the ablation with no problems but I have done a fair bit of research on the procedure and my gyno gave me some literature on it as well so I wanted to really check it out before deciding to go ahead with it. I haven't booked it yet as I have some more questions for my gyno but I am just so over these three week bleeds with only a 20 day break between them.

_{I was eating waaay too many carbs IMHO. I'd switched to gluten free bread but it was too easy to snack on it after dinner. I do eat rice cakes but no more than four a day usually with some hommus spread on them.}

I don't know if it has been said earlier but hummous (chickpeas) is a metabolic inhibitor for A's. Cut that out. I used to do the same just living off hummous and rice cakes and had weight gain now I can eat rice cakes and eat and artichoke spread that tastes like hummous with no weight gain .

Try eating in an eating window- eat your blood type food over period of 5 hours and fast the rest of the day.  Try Fast 5:
http://www.fast-5.com/

Quoted from Sulis

I've hit 86 kilos, my heaviest ever

why is my weight going up so much on this diet??? I've cut out junk, I'm exercising and I haven't touched alcohol.   From today I've been sugar free and I've cut out processed carbs to see if it makes a difference to my weight, I'm craving them but not caving so far but I'm concerned about eating soy as the possible cause, one of my friends told me that she gained a ton of weight by eating a lot of soy products, has anyone else experienced this?

I wonder if needing iodine is at the root of a lot of your problems. Please do some research on it if you haven't already.  

Sometimes something else is going on in your body that could be making your diet complicated.  When was the last time you had a complete blood work up?