I've been on a low carb diet since shortly after watching Robert Lustig's Sugar the bitter truth. I lost 100 pounds over the course of about 3 years when I remembered weighing myself after my 40th birthday party in 2013 realizing that milestone was achieved. With these diet modifications I've maintained 80 to 100 off from my peak weight of 280 pounds. Depending on the time of year and some variations in diet, I'll swing up and down around 15 pounds. The swings are usually based on dairy intake. The more dairy, the more the weight comes back. Hard to take cheese away from a Wisconsin kid. The sources and inspiration for my dietary modifications are listed below.
I started here.
This video by Dr. Robert Lustig kicked off my journey to reduce carbohydrates in my diet. With 24 million views since it was posted in July of 2009, I must have at least 4 of those views. At an hour and a half in length, individuals have "debunked" or attempted to "debunk" some of the science in this, but when I cut out the ultra-processed foods that contained fructose, 20 pounds dropped off over the period of several weeks. I couldn't believe how easily that happened from one simple modification; no more fructose.
1st book:
Written by Gary Taubes
As I told a friend about Sugar the Bitter Truth, he told me about Taubes giving a grand rounds presentation at Mayo in Rochester, MN. My friend was also having success with weight loss by restricting his carbohydrate intake. Taubes' book was the first book I read. This book and the history of dietary recommendations had me furious as I was victim to the eat less, move more, calories in/out model. Food addiction and the signaling from certain types of calories is something the simple calories in/out equation doesn't account for. Other authors have debated the accuracy of Taubes insulin theories, but whether or not that is right or wrong, continuing to restrict carbohydrates propelled the weight loss. It cemented the ideals of reducing carbohydrates in my diet for the next 4 years. When I turned 40 in 2013, I had returned to my high school weight and my 100 pound weight loss was completed.
I don't really recall the order of the remainder of the books but they have contributed to my knowledge and dietary stylings.
All the rest:
Written by Dr. William Davis
Solidified the elimination of grains (seeds of grasses) from my diet and that of my family.
Written by Michael Moss
A book about the devious ways in which our food is altered to get us addicted.
Written by Dr. James DiNicolantonio, PharmD
We really can't live without salt. It's the wrong white crystal to blame for many of our chronic illnesses.
Written by Dr. Carolyn Dean
Written by Nina Teicholz
Seed (vegetable) oils are only a more modern addition to the human diet. Seen as the better alternative to animal derived fats, their entrance into the human diet and the quantities are in lock step with the increase of obesity and metabolic disease.
Diana Rodgers RD and Robb Wolf
Written by Michael Ruhlman
Written by James Nestor
By Sam Apple
Other influences online: These individuals have YouTube, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
