Has anyone tried the metabolism miracle diet or used PGX? These are two strategies I am thinking of trying and would love to hear about any experiences with them.

I have taken PGX. I took it until recently when I got PG. I would say it works for sure, but you still need to eat well and get exercise. It helps to make you feel a bit fuller, and it does stop cravings. I wouldn't say it is a miracle, but I lost more weight while on it, and dieting, than I did just dieting.

Thanks, I bought some PGX from costco, and I think i will start with it this week and see how it goes for a month or so first. I just read the metabolism miracle http://www.themetabolismmiracle.com/ and I am curious to see if it will work for me. It is basically a really low carb diet. I followed a diabetic diet while pregnant, so the carb counting won't bother me too much. The hard part would be the first 8 weeks where you eat almost no carbs. That part makes me a little leery though, it seems unbalanced.

I don't know that book, but I followed Atkins and stayed on induction for almost 3 months...I worked out daily and took PGX and I lost 50lbs. I also don't have a hard time being low carb though. The first 3 or 4 days will bethe toughest, but then you will start seeing results and the weight will start dropping off.

When I added carbs back in, I still ate low carb, but added in fruit. We also eat gluten free, so many carbs are off limits anyway.

Now, I am eating whatever I can keep down, but I have not gained back any of what I lost.

I also bought my PGX at Costco

I don't know what either of those are but I'm a HUGE fan of low carb diets in general. For most anyone. I don't think they're unbalanced, personally if they're done correctly. Best of luck!

E, PGX is is pretty much just a super fiber.

ah, well...there you go. lol. you could not pay me enough, even in SPARKLIES to take that. therefore I'm not suprised I did not know about it!

The first phase sounds a lot like the induction phase of Atkins, you eat either no carbs, or are allowed 5g every 5 hours. The smallest amount I went to before was 15g at a time, so I'm sure it will be hard. It also says the first 4 days are tough and then it gets easier. The concept is to let the pancreas and liver rest and then re-train them to handle carbs properly again. Whether this works or not, I think I do need a really low carb diet. I really can't handle my carbs anymore.

You would not be alone in that, and I find that a diet exactly like what you are describing does help not just the liver and pancreas, but the entire endocrine system as well. Best of luck and if you do it, you can jump in on our buried low carb thread!

All the reading I've been doing has me convinced that low carb is what my body needs. Since I had my baby I have gained a bunch of weight, that's right since, not during pregnancy. I gained the perfect amount of weight while PG and followed a very strict gestational diabetes diet. I actually felt like I had a metabolism for the first time while PG. I kept up mostly with the diet with a few splurges, but I've still piled on the weight and nothing that worked before is working now, like ww. I avoid sugars because I feel awful after and I exercise as much as I can fit in, but nothing is working. I'm exhausted all the time, but I usually can't sleep when I try to. I can't say my baby keeps me up either because he usually sleeps 10 hours a night. I also get bad headaches and acid reflux, and had fertility problems due to PCOS. Oh, and my memory is absolutely awful, I am beyond mommy brain, sometimes it's frightening, I'm getting scared to go back to work because I really need my brain to function there. Sorry for the novel. I'm just hoping that this lifestyle will be the answer for me. I am also waiting to get into see my doctor to get my TSH levels checked in case that's part of it. Do you have any advice on getting started and sticking to it?

My best advice is just to have your house full of foods that you can eat; carry around a bottle of water at all times and drink drink drink; and just get started, I find nothing more motivating then getting into it and seeing results.

exactly. figure out what you're going to want to eat and always have some snacks on hand. Drink a LOT (water or green tea are the two things I stick to) and just make sure that you understand the first few days can be tough, but once you get past that you will probably feel better than you can imagine.

find some recipes that fit the bill before you start so you have fun things to look forward to food wise as well.

Thanks for the help Now I just have to get motivated and organized to start.

And have "legal treats" on hand. That can make all the difference on a rough day

yes!!!

Yes, and I gained 6lbs in the first 8 weeks!!

I usually eat low carb, and decided to try MM. I joined Miracle-Ville, and started the diet. It was difficult to get used to eating differently as I was accustomed to Atkins, but I was determined to give it a shot. You are not supposed to weigh yourself for the first 8 weeks. After 4 weeks my jeans were starting to feel tight so I was getting a little worried, but I figured I'd just soldier on for the full 8 weeks and hope for the best. I sent Diane an email and told her my results, but she said I was obviously not eating enough and should eat more free foods. I did just that, and at the end of the 8 weeks I was 6lbs up!!!! I was not impressed........ went back to Atkins and lost the 6lbs.

I'm going to have to check out this diet. People are often coming in to our clinic with the "newest" diet and often I look at them and shudder. With very few exceptions, really! There have been a few that have piqued my interest straightaway and those have usually been quite helpful to people.

I want to know what exactly the program is for this metabolism miracle.

WOW, firefly - it's like you were typing my story out! Except that my diet during pregnancy wasn't as good, so I did gain during. AND after. But for the last 5 years since my baby was born, I felt pretty much exactly the same way you did. I quit all carbs on July 29th of 2011. I now eat fruit, but that's it for carbs. The first week was HELL as my body was detoxing, and it FELT like I'd been on hard drugs or something. Shakes, migraines, dizziness, nausea, etc. That feeling passed.

To date: I still maintain a carb/gluten free diet. I exercise 3 to 5 times a week (although I slacked off this past month since I was travelling for Christmas), and I've lost 80 pounds since that day. My PCOS is also under control for the first time ever WITHOUT the use of Metformin. Normal periods the last few months. My insulin, blood sugar, and other hormones are all finally NORMAL too. (I had a blood test just last week, so that good news is current.). My sleep patterns are better, I feel more rested and my extremely fuzzy brain is sharp again.

My specialist OBGYN told me last month that my body cannot handle carbs, and that it's a good thing I got off them. She told me that in the future, if we get pregnant again, to keep eating that way, because it's a very healthy diet (when you do it right).

How I got started: if it helps, I drank protein shakes (chocolate ones) to help me get 'extra' protein for the first few weeks. It also helped me work through the "chocolate cravings". I got the Costco brand "Premiere Nutrition". Each has only 1g of carbs, and 30g of protein. I don't drink them any more, but they got me through the first few weeks, while I was trying to figure out how to cook/eat a balanced diet without bread, pasta, rice, and sugar.

During those weeks, I ate unlimited salads, veggies, and made sure to have a healthy sources of protein (eggs, chicken breast, fish, etc). And 1 to 2 of those chocolate shakes at "snack times".

Anyway, they helped me at first, so if you have trouble giving up the carbs, it might help you too.

Glad you feel better Dayna! Most people with PCOS feel much better on a low carb diet.

Oh no! That's not good at all! How much does the MM differ from Atkins?

That's what I'm wondering. I looked at it briefly and it seemed like the first few weeks are low carb. I didn't read very closely though, so I could be wrong.

Thank you for your story DaynaM, it is very inspiring. Thank you for the tip on the protein shakes as well, I'm going to check them out. I hope this works for me as well as it has for you.

Firefly, it might now hurt to get the Atkins and give it a read as well. I do not know hat the difference are, but I know that Atkins works, and it is not unhealthy. You eat so many veggies on Atkins in the start. On my Atkins journey, over the last decade, I have met many people that are on it for life, and they are healthy and satasfied. It is not for everyone, sure. But for those of us that do well on low carb, it is a programs that can be for life with very little discomfort.

Haha, I was already looking for it, but wow, I didn't realize how many Atkins books there are out there! Which do you recommend?

there is a new one now "New Atkins for a New You". I would get that one. The plan will be the same as the last, but it prob has more food suggestions and stuff.

If I could...

eat 1200 calories every day
run for an hour a day
lift weights for an hour a day
never crave sweets and other carbs
not need caffeine
always drink water

I would be bikini ready.

But no. I can't get past 8 weeks. I need 12, and the rest of my life to maintain it.

truly though, if I had an appetite suppressant it would help tremondously.

Thank you!

jcent, did you use PGX while on Atkins?

Yeah, I've been eating this way around 10 years as well. Yes, I've slipped off, but never for very long. I would have to say that my average day has more nutrients than most people I know. I never understood what nutrients they think you're missing? I mean, I know which they point to, but it's so far from being correct.

With Atkins you are only allowed a limited amount of carb grams per day depending on what phase of the diet you are in. MM does not require you to count carb grams except for the 5x5 foods. "Free foods" do contain carbs, but you don't count them, so essentially you can run up that count.

yes, I did.

Thanks for the distinction Sparklee. I got distracted last night and didn't go read. I think that the restriction while your body switches it's fuel is essential. That alone would make me recommend Atkins over the MM. I'll still read it, just to know what they're saying but I can see now why you could gain on it.

That's the thing! In my opinion, "free foods" are not really free if they contain carbs. Even veggie carbs are going to add up if you eat like 10 tomatoes in a day - not that I did - or would - but you know what I mean.

The thing I just couldn't wrap my mind around was that you have to eat a lot of free foods in order for the diet to be effective. All that did for me was add weight!! When I brought this to everyone's attention I was told that I'm obviously not a Metabolism -B type despite the fact I have almost ALL the symptoms. Go figure........

That's funny, I didn't see that. All of the allowed foods listed for step one, or the free foods either have no carbs, or you have to make sure that if you eat the ones that do have carbs that you only eat a serving that has 5g or less and not eat any other carbs within 5 hours before or after. For instance, if you eat a small to medium tomato with lunch you would not eat any other carbs with it, or within 5 hours. Maybe it has changed since it first came out? I will probably try Atkins since it's been around so long and so many people have had success with it.

The foods in the allowed (green) columns are not carb-free. Even with less than 5g of carbs, they add up very quickly. It is only the foods in the 5x5 column that you are only allowed every 5 hours. The green columns are free foods and can be consumed at any time.

any diet with that type of chart is too much for me to wrap my head around, lol. I don't want to push you into Atkins Firefly, but it really so much simpler. 15 grs of net carbs per day to start, that is it. All you need is a carb counter and to be good about reading labels.

Oh thanks for posting that! I plan on detoxing from carbs starting Monday. I may have to lock myself in the house for a couple weeks! I skeeered!

don't be!!! It's an amazing feeling once your body is burning fat for fuel. So stable, comfortable and easy. Totally worth it!

(of course I say this as I have seven layer bars baking in the oven for a blessing later today....they're gluten free but still full of sugar!!! I must resist!)

The first few days for me are usually horrible! Grumpiness, headache, all over lethargy and a craving for everything. The only thing that helps is to drink lots and lots of water. Get over the first week and it's plain sailing..........

Good luck!

Me too Sparklee. Days 2-4 are the worst. I drink lots of water, green tea and make sure I have legal snacks on hand. I also make hot cocoa (a bit of whipping cream, water, cocoa, stevia, vanilla and salt) which makes me feel like I'm doing something ridiculously decadent! lol!

My lifesaver is sugarfree jello with heavy whipping cream!!!

Mine is blended cream cheese with vanilla and sweetner.

Mine is protein ice cream - made in my ice cream maker.

My favourite flavour is chocolate peanut butter...

chocolate protein powder blended with milk or chocolate soy milk, mixed with melted organic peanut butter... mmmm, so good!

I do this with cream cheese/sour cream, vanilla and stevia. ohhhhhh, yum. Especially over berries!

Ricotta cheese, instant coffee and chocolate DaVinci syrup. Tastes like Tiramisu.......

Mmmm those all sound good!

Can someone please educate me about coconut oil. I've seen many recipes that use coconut oil and I'm confused as it used to be considered one of the worst fats out there. What has changed? Is it only considered good when there are no carbs being consumed too?

Haha me too! I think my family might have to lock me up preventatively like a werewolf

It's an incredibly healthy fat. There's been a lot of misinformation in the past because of the fact that it's a medium chain fatty acid and is a saturated fat.

However it is incredibly healing, contains both caprylic and lauric acid (only otherwise found in breastmilk!) and is also thermogenic. It raises your basal body temp and is great for the thyroid, as well as fighting yeast and healing the gut. And because it's thermogenic it requires the body to work harder to burn it resulting in a higher expenditure of calories.

People have vilified MCFA across the board without distinguishing between the goodies and the baddies....similarly to saturated fats, which it also is!

Another issue is that the big study that was done using CO did so using hydrogenated coconut oil. The good stuff (extra virgin coconut oil) is NOT hydrogenated. The study has no relevance.

My two cents!

Thanks E! I did not know all that, but just thought it was good for you. I feed it to DD in a number of things and think it has realt benefited her and helped with weight gain.

yes, it's a great equalizer for people with damaged guts. If you aren't absorbing food because of villi damage or bacterial imbalance it can help heal that and allow gain. If you are having the opposite problem it can boost your thyroid and normalize bacteria and help you lose. I was taking it with my dd (both doing a large amount-more than 3 tbs. a day for me and 2 tbs for her) when we were diagnosed with celiac disease 7 years ago. I lost on it and she gained!

hmmm, good to know. I need balance right now. I am losing too much from hyperemesis again.

Thanks for the info e!

What she said......

I eat coconut oil by the spoonful!!!

GO slow and steady. Different people have relief with different things and too much fat, as beneficial as it is, may not work in your favor.

lol, no that already crossed my mind.

I work with kiddos with feeding disorders and love coconut oil as a way to add calories (not to say, jcent, that your DD has a feeding disorder, your post just made me think of it).

A lot of times people add butter or cream to increase calories but these often cause indigestion, which exacerbates the problem, especially if the kiddo suffers from reflux. Okay, enough geeking out on work stuff!

My DD is celiac I think there is still healing to be done, and am especially interested in coconut oil now as it can aid with that.... But her weight gain is actually ok now, so I am much relieved.

Geek out all you want! I work with this on a regular basis as well. I cringe when the dairy recommendations come through.

My dd has celiac too and had a feeding team as a child. Even before she was diagnosed with CD, she couldn't eat on her own from birth. As we were looking for answers, my pediatrician PUSHED dairy on dd because she was FTT (and threatened me with a DCF referral if I didn't comply.) Even with her history and the fact that she projectile vomited if *I* ate dairy and she got it in my milk. Clearly, it wasn't a great choice for her but they'd have none of it.

Now, at almost 8 she still can't have dairy without massive cramping, digestive distress, reflux and rashes. Very common with CD, actually...but thanks for nothing, doc! ((shudder))

Oh e.taylor, my heart goes out to you. I believe feeding disorders are one of the most difficult things to deal with as a mom. I mean as moms, our visceral need is to feed our child so they will grow. And it seems like it should be so easy and natural but that is not always the case.

Often by the time these kiddos get to me, they have so many negative behaviors and experiences with food. It takes a lot to undo the damage and is a very slow process. And the moms have been dealing with conflicting recommendations...it's just terrible.

And don't even get me started on FTT...I mean it's not even a diagnosis...it's a SYMPTOM of an underlying problem. A child does not just have failure to thrive...there is a reason...but so many doctors use it as a catch all diagnosis instead of finding out what the real problem is...really chaps my hide!!!

Your DD is lucky to have such a knowledgeable and strong mommma !

well, I'm pretty lucky to have her! IT was a long road and she ended up being properly diagnosed eventually. She has celiac disease, ehler's danlos syndrome and is on the autism spectrum. She is an amazing kid though! She's a little fighter and thank god for that!

And yeah...I feel the same about so many "diagnoses." They've slapped labels on symptoms left and right and made them their own disorder. Drives me batty, and FTT is just one many!

We were lucky to have a great team early on. She was never able to eat on her own from birth so luckily she didn't have time to develop other issues. My brother on the other hand? It's too bad he was never evaluated. He's now starting to branch out and try new textures at 21! He spent all of grade school, middle school and high school able to eat only 5 or 6 foods, and even then it wasn't just "pasta" it was spaghetti. He couldn't do other shapes.

Anyway, it's been a long road, but worth it when this pumpkin is on it with me!

*poof!*

She is quite a beauty!!! She has an angelic smile.

Halfway through The New Atkins For A New You. Getting excited to get started!