Comment by Gerri on April 30, 2011 at 10:28pm

You shouldn't be crashing with the right doses to match lower carbs. Takes tweaking of course. What else is new:) What does your doc say about the fluid retention?

Have you tried weights? Increasing muscle mass is the best way to increase insulin sensitivity. I eat protein before exercise to help keep BG level. I stop, test & treat lows with jelly beans. Moderate exercise sends my BG down. Really strenuous exercise sends it high (cortisol stress hormones) & then low hours later.

Comment by Rye on April 30, 2011 at 10:58pm

I have mentioned my retention problem to about 3 different doctors and have never got a response. Not even a possible cause. I am starting to think working at McDonalds may be more challenging than I like weights but I also hear cardio is the way to really lose the weight. When I do exercise I try to combine cardio and strengthing...

Comment by LaGuitariste on May 1, 2011 at 5:33am

If you are salt-sensitive, you may be retaining water just due to the sodium in your food. I find that eating even two slices of bacon will give me puffy feet for two days. I didn't used to be salt sensitive but it has gotten worse as I get older. I think you mentioned that you're in SoCal -- heat can also cause fluid retention -- mine is always worse in the summer months. However, if you do strenuous exercise you don't want to go too low on sodium, either. The only way to know is to track your food for a few days (the sodium content -- you can look it up on-line) and then cut back on the high-sodium foods if it's high and see what happens. A percentage of your 60-lbs. will definitely be retained fluid.

These are some of the worst culprits: pickles, cured meats (pepperoni, salami, bacon), salty cheeses like Feta, fast food (those delish McD fries!!!), commercially processed foods (e.g. things canned in brine, like sauerkraut or canned soups -- these are salt bombs!)

If you eat more fresh food (produce, meat, eggs, etc. prepared at home) and salt them lightly, you can cut your sodium intake back a great deal.

For example:

Broccoli (one cup) = 64 mg. sodium
One cup Panera broccoli cheddar soup = 1028 mg. sodium

1/2 cup serving of baked potato, no salt added = 3 mg. sodium
French fries (fast-food) = over 250 mg. sodium

Home cooking with fresh foods saves a HUGE amount of sodium from getting into your body and wreaking havoc with your fluid retention.

Comment by RacheEH on May 1, 2011 at 5:53am

I find that if I exercise first thing in the morning, before any food and therefore before any insulin, I don't suffer the lows. I'm also low carbing and trying to lose the 28 pounds I put on when I first started insulin. I've lost 14 so far so hopefully I can get the rest off too. The low carb diet does seem to help, even though I'm eating more fat than I would have before. I'm aiming for about 40g carb/day. I'm doing yoga 4 times a week, which is making me feel good about my body and trying to walk 10 miles about 4 times a week too. Keep going Rye, it'll happen xx

Comment by Rye on May 1, 2011 at 11:51pm

JeanV...Thanks for the sodium advice but I do not think that is it. I rarely use salt. I do not eat fast foods, processed foods in very small amounts. I do not eat canned ore frozen dinners. I do not eat red meat either. The heat does make it worst however it has to be almost 90 degrees. So I am still at a lost....

Comment by Rye on May 1, 2011 at 11:55pm

Rache...I do not know how much insulin you take and when but I always have insulin in my body. I love your work out regimen by the way...Congrats on the weight loss! Keep it up!

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