Going Wheat Free: My New Commitment to Myself

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Judy

I guess you can say I am a walking encyclopedia when it comes to diets. After all I have been trying to lose weight since middle school. I remember those days when I had very little knowledge of what to do to lose weight (and lets face it, back in the 70s I don’t think too many experts did either). Back then my idea of a diet was total deprivation-packing my lunch with nothing more than half a sandwich and a piece of fruit after nothing more than a bowl of cereal for breakfast. No wonder I came home completely famished and ready to eat everything in site!

As I got older I started researching various diets and have tried more than my fair share. From Weight Watchers to Atkins, South Beach, LA Weight Loss and Slim-Fast just to name a few.  I have had some success with a few of these diets but ultimately the weight came back. Continue reading →

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How to Save Money on the Wheat Belly Diet

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Judy

This post about the wheat belly diet is more about saving money than the diet itself. When I first started my plan to go wheat free I watched our grocery bill go up at least 30%! However, I later realized that the diet itself can be very economical. This is when I also realized that I was making the mistake of buying all kinds of gluten-free specialty products to replace the foods that I was accustomed to. This was not only unnecessary but quite expensive as well. From gluten-free pastas to gluten-free pizza crusts and even costly gluten-free desserts I was spending a fortune!

Besides the overall cost of these products I was also making another mistake-eating too many calories.  Keep in mind that many gluten free products were pretty much created for those with Celiac’s disease so that they do not feel deprived.  After all, gluten is in so many products that we love that giving up breads, pastas, our favorite cakes, pies and more that the thought of cutting them out for life is downright depressing. Continue reading →

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Making the Wheat Belly Diet Work for You

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Judy

The wheat belly diet isn’t just about giving up wheat. If you need to lose weight you do have to watch what you eat.  And because we all have different nutritional needs it is important that we tailor the diet plan as we see fit. For example, because of my high risk for type 2 diabetes (and the fact that I have a significant amount of weight to lose) I need to seriously watch my intake of carbohydrates.

The foods with the most carbohydrates are the starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, soda and anything else sweetened with sugar like pastries, cakes and cookies. Non starchy vegetables are low in carbohydrates and full of much needed nutrients so they are an important part of any diet (low carb or not). Fruit is a higher in carbs than most vegetables but can still be enjoyed in moderation.  Continue reading →

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Is This a Wheat Free Diet or Gluten Free Diet?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Judy

You may be wondering if Wheat Belly is  a wheat-free or a gluten-free diet and what is the difference?  The fact is, just because something is wheat free does not make it gluten free. However, when following the wheat belly diet it is much easier to look for gluten free foods because if it is gluten free then yes, it is wheat free.  But not so fast! Going gluten free still does not mean we get the green light to fill up on gluten free foods!

So if going gluten free pretty much guarantees that we are also wheat free then why not just follow a gluten free diet? The answer is simple. We do want to eliminate the wheat in our diet and the easiest way is to look for gluten-free replacements. However, with Wheat Belly you have to watch your carbohydrate intake and many gluten-free products are very high in carbs. Sure you can enjoy a slice of gluten-free cake once in a while as well as other products that can replace your favorite breads, pastas, etc on occasion but this should be done only as a rare treat. Continue reading →

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Finding Wheat Free Alternatives For Your Favorite Foods

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Judy

I must admit, the thought of eating wheat free (and even grain free for that matter, but that will be the subject of another post) was really daunting at first. The thought of never having pizza, pasta, bread or many of the other staples that tend to make up the American diet really made me sad. However, I am finding that you can find many wheat free alternatives, and in many cases duplicate your favorite recipes to make them not only wheat free, but low carb as well.

I have decided that along with going wheat free I am cutting back on carbs in general. Now keep in mind this has to do with my personal situation (prediabetes) and yours may be different. However, most days I am trying to eat less carbohydrates by choosing plenty of healthy non-starchy veggies, small amounts of fruit and starches like potatoes only rarely (small servings a few times a week).

This is where it pays to be really creative. For example, I found  that mock garlic mashed potatoes (made with cauliflower) can actually be as good as the real thing! Now you can have your “mashed potatoes” and not feel deprived.  In fact, even the pickiest eaters (you know, those veggie haters in your life)  may enjoy this recipe: Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes Continue reading →

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Wheat Belly Diet Review

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Judy

I have been following the wheat belly diet for almost two weeks now and thought this would be a great time to follow up and give a review of the book.  I do have to say that I am impressed with it for many reasons. First of all, I really appreciate that the author, cardiologist Dr William Davis really goes into detail about why wheat should be eliminated from our diets.

The first section of the book really does dig into the history of wheat and how it has been genetically modified over the years to a not so healthy “frankenwheat”.  I also find it very interesting how many of Dr Davis’ patients recovered from various ailments after being taken off wheat.  I used to think that wheat intolerance meant pretty much one thing-Celiac disease. However, there is so much more to it and Dr Davis goes into great detail about the negative affects that wheat can have on so many people. Continue reading →

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Is the Wheat Belly Diet Expensive?

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Judy

After my first shopping trip for the Wheat Belly diet I was wondering if this was a plan that I would be able to afford to do. After all, visit any health food store or natural food section at your local grocery store and you know that many specialty items are indeed more expensive. But is actually following the Wheat Belly Diet expensive? It really doesn’t have to be.

First, there are plenty of every day items that you are probably already buying that are already gluten free.  From meat and poultry, produce to dairy as well as many staples like salad dressing, mayo, oil, raw nuts etc. Most do not contain gluten (check labels to be sure, for example not all salad dressing is gluten free).  Before making your grocery list check your refrigerator and pantry for gluten-free items that you already have on hand. Continue reading →

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Wheat Belly Diet Update End of Week 1

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Judy

I wasn’t planning on weighing in until being on the Wheat Belly Diet plan for a full week but found myself weighing in almost daily to see if I would have the rapid weight loss that many were having. I am happy to report that I am down to 198.5 so that’s 5 pounds in 5 days! I actually think it would have been more but I did some cheating along the way. I haven’t measured yet. I plan to weigh in about once a week and measure every few weeks or so.

The cheating did not involve wheat. In fact I have had no wheat products since i started.  However, there were days I was a bit heavy on the starchy carbs or sugary snacks. Tortilla chips, potatoes, rice and even a coke  are all wheat free and gluten free (check labels, brands may vary). However, it is important to watch your carb intake on this diet for best results. And for someone like me, who is pre-diabetic I was eating way too many carbs the first few days. Continue reading →

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Wheat Belly Diet Day 1

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Judy

I actually got started a day late on the wheat belly diet due to not being home all weekend and not getting to the grocery store.  I knew that if  I wasn’t well stocked with a variety of healthy wheat-free foods I was setting myself up for failure. Well I did get started a day late but happy to report that day 1 went well and so far no cravings.

My starting weight is pretty high at 203.5-which is not good for someone who is only 5’3″ tall. And here is the kicker-my waist measurement is a whopping 48 7/8″. Would you be surprised if I told you I haven’t worn anything without an elastic waistband in years? Continue reading →

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What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Judy

The simplest definition for metabolic syndrome is when a patient has developed three or more simultaneous metabolism disorders. Metabolism disorders include obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a resistance to insulin. If these conditions go untreated, the syndrome will result in the onset of severe health dangers.

Early detection and diagnoses of any of the above listed disorders can help in preventing this bad situation from becoming much worse. First, consider an honest self evaluation of your weight. Obesity can be an easily detected sign of a metabolism malfunction. Continue reading →

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Why is Belly Fat so Unhealthy?

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Judy

Belly fat is one of the most common forms of visual obesity. Many people will default blame to a slow metabolism or genetics when examining their larger midsection. Unfortunately, a large belly can be a warning sign of excessive visceral fat. As opposed to subcutaneous fat, visceral fat forms around the organs in the abdomen and can lead to serious health risks.

What is Visceral Fat
Individuals often desire to lose a few inches in their waist, but frequently that person finds it harder to do than was expected. This is usually an indication that the fat in their abdominal area is actually visceral fat. This type of fat is more difficult to lose than the type that simply resides underneath the skin. Visceral fat lines the body’s organs and can actually be difficult to detect without an abdominal imaging machine. It is possible for people with visually low body fat to actually possess a high level of visceral fat because it a product of high cholesterol and not just high calories. An excess of visceral fat will result in a pot belly or other common belly fat conditions. Continue reading →

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Is the Wheat Belly Diet Plan Right for You?

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Judy

I am almost half way finished reading the Wheat Belly Diet and I have to say this has really opened my eyes as to how unhealthy wheat can be. I was first intrigued with the wheat belly diet plan because of the simple fact that I have plenty of belly fat that needs to go. However, the more I read the more I realize this diet plan can do so much more than help me lose weight.

You may be tempted to skip the whole first section of the book and get right to the diet plan but I urge you not to. You will love to read about many of Dr Davis’ patients who have had total health transformations since changing to a wheat free diet, such as the young man facing a possible heart transplant who’s health improved dramatically after eliminating wheat from his diet. Continue reading →

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Wheat Belly: My Struggle With Belly Fat Part 2

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Judy

In part 1 of my struggles with belly fat  I talked about being overweight since childhood and finally battling the excess weight then eventually gaining it all back (and then some-plus lots of belly fat). Soon I was jumping from  one diet after another.

Diets Never Worked
Most diets were pretty sound such as simply counting calories or following Weight Watchers. These would work for a while but eventually  I would cheat – a little at first then before you know it I was off my diet completely. Other diets I tried included the South Beach diet and Atkins diet (I lasted about a day on that one) but nothing ever seemed to work in the long term. Continue reading →

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Wheat Belly-My Struggle With Belly Fat Part 1

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Judy

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been struggling with my weight pretty much my whole life. And when I say I have a wheat belly I can say it is not from pregnancy or the typical middle age spread. For me it is genetics, basically on my father’s side (and because my father died at the very young age of 40 I really want to fight genetics any way that I can).

Excess Belly Fat
I think my earliest memory of being overweight was when I was about six years old any my brother called me fat. As I grew older and entered into my teens years I continued to gain-but not like girls typically gain. I have always been very thin in the arms and legs and gained everything in the belly. Needless to say I was never comfortable with my appearance and finding clothes to fit right has always been a nightmare. Continue reading →

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Wheat Free Diet: What are the Benefits?

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Judy

Although I am not in the medical profession I do enjoy reading anything that has to do with health and nutrition. And since I have been overweight on and off for most of my life (even as a child) most of the reading that I do has to do with weight loss. However, I have never really thought about how following a wheat free diet could help me lose weight.

I notice that even though the Wheat Belly Diet book is new it has already gotten 5 stars and favorable reviews from Amazon. And while I am sure that many people who read the book will skip over the history of wheat to get to the actual diet it is well worth reading from the beginning to see just how wheat has been changed over the years and just how it can affect us. Continue reading →

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