Has Anyone Tried the Shangri-La Diet?

05-22-06 | Me

[reformedliberal]

My husband has had essential hypertension for about 15 years. His BP meds were increased every few years and last year the MD added a beta blocker. Still, his BP would break through the meds and spike to dangerous levels.

He wasn't what most people call fat, either. He is 5'11" and weighed a consistent 210 pounds, was active and strong. He carried most of the weight in his mid section, but, with a barrel chest, it just didn't seem like that much.

At the beginning of May, this year, he went in for a check up and his BP was so high, the physician actually went a bit pale. They increased the ACE blocker, told him to watch the salt and lose weight.

This time, he took it seriously. Breakfast was oatmeal w/skim milk and Splenda. Lunch was a salad, sometimes with a hard boiled egg. Mid day or after work snack was an apple or a banana. Dinner was a large salad, a large serving of fresh steamed vegetables and a serving of broiled or grilled meat, poultry or fish. Butter was out. He either used Better Than Butter spray or a bit of olive oil. He paid close attention to sodium levels and kept his sodium intake to 1/2 of the *normal* amount. He pays strict attention to what the package says constitutes a portion and measured and weighed until he could eyeball that amount.

He lost 15 pounds in two weeks. He has kept it off and the BP has been in the normal range even with discontinuing the beta blocker (on MD orders) and decreasing the ACE blocker to 10 mg. For the past week, he has allowed himself a few meals out....and his BP went up the next day, but was still in the normal range. His doctor is amazed! Best of all, he went down an entire size in jeans.

He intends to keep this up until he loses another 10 pounds, even though he knows that will take several months, at least. This is a man who hated salads, considered a portion of vegetables to be 1-2 teaspoons and loved anything fried or filled with sugar. He added butter and salt to almost everything

I am healthy, but due to age and slowing metabolism, put on about 15 pounds. Last summer, I used a moderate variant of Atkins: no starches or sugar, very limited fruit, 2 very large salads/day, unlimited protein and fat on a 12 days on--2 days off rotation and took it off. It crept back up during the winter, but eating similarly to my DH, I took off about 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I am now back on the diet I used last summer and have lost another 5 pounds.

You have a lot of complicating factors and were I you, I'd take the MDs advice and do the surgery. Otherwise, from what you describe, you aren't going to last very much longer in any sort of shape to enjoy eating anything.

Your BP will benefit first as you cut the sodium. Your insulin needs may go down as well, as you lose more weight and that will help your weight retention. But, in the long run, you have, as my grandmother used to say, begun to dig your grave with your teeth. You will probably have to reduce your weight some anyway before any surgery.

I know someone who had the stapling procedure over 20 years ago. She lost over 100 pounds and has maintained it. No complications, so it can work quite well.

Good luck.

[alnick]

Have you consulted a nutritionist? Not a dietician but nutritionist.

I would think with your history, you should consult with a nutritionist with experience working with people with similar conditions (kidney, diabetes, cancer).

[Larry Lucido]

Looks yummy but, unfortunately, it's FICTION, cat.

[msnimje]

Since being on the Ritalin...

It works because it is an amphetamine. Ask your doctor if he would take it for an extended period of time. I have never found a doctor who would take it, even those who have no trouble prescribing it for others and even children.

Please, please, please get a second opinion or see if you can come off of this now that you are more disciplined in your daily behaviors.

[babydoll22]

I wish I didn't take any medications at all.However, I have not encountered any negative side effects.

All the reading I have done, indicates that there are no long term side effects. Please let me know, if you are aware of any.

While the weight loss is a nice side benefit, I really take it for the ADD. That area of my life has vastly improved also.

Thank you for your concern.

[AmericanChef]

The problem with "diets" is that they're all temporary. The best "diet" is to eat a variety of things, in controlled portions on a regular basis. Agree with the doctor thing; you and your doc have to make the decision.

You might benefit, however, by hiring a personal trainer; someone who will force you to exercise if you're not doing so on a regular basis. If you're the kind of person who finds excuses not to go to the gym or get on a bike, a trainer can force you to get the work done.

[pissant]

I tried the beer and bratwurst diet.

[rbudd]

My personal experience is that I lost 50 pounds with the "zone" diet... but, I also lost 35 pounds with a Pritikin diet. In the past twenty years I've seen the "low fat" camp (Ornish/Pritikin) and the "low carb" (Atkins, Zone, Protein power) concede points to one another and come closer together. My experience is that exercise is as important as what you eat.

ALL diets seem to agree on two points... eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. But to most people, "vegetables" means cold salads or bland steamed veggies. Almost all diets are missing two KEY ingredients: FUN & FLAVOR. Here's my personal story and what worked for me...

http://www.eleanorhoh.com/diets.htm

[pgkdan]

Me too...that's how I got where I'm at.

[pgkdan]

Thank you for the advice. I appreciste the input...I knew I'd get a lot of good advice from Freepers.

[pgkdan]

I know...that's why I've put off taking his referal for a consult at the bariatric center.

[maxwellp]

You might want to consider this: Eat anything you want (do try to include healthy foods), but cut the portions in half. Want a MacDonald's hamburger? Fine. Simply cut it in half and EAT IT SLOWLY. Throw the other half out or give it to your dog. I learned this from a medical doctor associated with a well-known hospital in New York City (can't remember the name). I urged my husband to try it and he did and slowly lost weight (he loves to eat). And, most important, this is a life-long exercise. When you obtain your desired weight, don't think you can go back to the way you used to eat because all you will do is gain back all the weight, plus more. Try it and stick with it forever.

[pissant]

LOL

[maxwellp]

You might want to consider this: Eat anything you want (do try to include healthy foods), but cut the portions in half. Want a MacDonald's hamburger? Fine. Simply cut it in half and EAT IT SLOWLY. Throw the other half out or give it to your dog. I learned this from a medical doctor associated with a well-known hospital in New York City (can't remember the name). I urged my husband to try it and he did and slowly lost weight (he loves to eat). And, most important, this is a life-long exercise. When you obtain your desired weight, don't think you can go back to the way you used to eat because all you will do is gain back all the weight, plus more. Try it and stick with it forever. Personally, I don't believe in "diets" - they usually don't work. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

[Welsh Rabbit]

Sorry for the vanity but has anyone here tried the new, so-called "Shangri-La Diet"? I'm pretty desperate to lose weight...

Go to a Third World country and drink the water. My dad recently lost 20 pounds after a business trip to Bolivia (he was careful, but he ate a salad that had been washed in the local water). Seriously, go with your doctor's opinion. Personal advice on the internet is mostly worthless, even on an ultra-respectable site like this this one.

[AmericaUnited]

Eliminating sugar, flour and other starches is not good for your health?????

No that's good but replacing it with a ton of dairy and meat is crazy.

[Kaylee Frye]

pinging self

[ncpatriot]

anybody here try Hoodia. It is suppose to curb the appetite. It might make losing weight easier.

[goodnesswins]

If I'd gone "with my doctors opinion" I'd be spending $10,000 a year on drugs, and needing MORE drugs to help me because of THOSE drugs.....I did a ton of internet research...and talking with folks, ON the internet, and I can say now, I'm "cured" and spending about 10% of what my "doctor" said I (or my insurance) would have spent. I think he's getting opinions, and those are of value.....doctors are NOT GODS. JMHO

[Welsh Rabbit]

OK, I'll concede. Internet advice isn't always worthless; a couple of times it has giving me the solution when professionals or conventional wisdom couldn't. But for the most part, personally, I've found that it was definitely best I didn't go with random posters advice in a particular situation.