Dr. Booker’s advice to Amanda via email … being shared here to benefit anyone in a similar dieting journey …

You may have noticed that the hardest part of the first phase of your diet was overcoming your yearning for the usual bad carb breakfast: toast or bagel, pancakes or waffles. For the last 5 days, your breakfast has consisted of eggs and a protein such as Canadian bacon or turkey bacon. The initial goal has been to wean you from the customary morning dose of carbs, but the ultimate goal is to begin reversing your body’s inability to process sugars and starches properly, the condition at the root of most weight problems.

To accomplish this, we must cut off all carbs but the healthiest ones, those highest in fiber and nutrients and lowest in sugars and starches. Additionally, we are getting you in the habit of eating breakfast! We find that skipping breakfast has become all too common in our society, and the results are damaging. When we skip breakfast, it allows blood sugar to drop and hunger to increase over the course of the morning, eventually we reach for the first available food to satisfy our hunger pains, usually those bad carbs guaranteed to keep us overweight.

Understanding Phase One (taken from The South Beach Diet)

“As you know, this phase is the strictest phase of the diet. It’s meant to last for 2 weeks only-just long enough to resolve the insulin resistance that was brought about by eating too many bad (mostly processed) carbs. Phase 1 does not have to be low carb if you eat the right carbs. It is designed to allow ample portions of protein, good fats, and the lowest glycemic index carbs needed for satisfaction and blood sugar control. These glycemic index vegetables, which also contribute fiber, important nutrients such as heart-healthy folate, and other vitamins and minerals. Many salads and vegetables are unlimited. You will also have your choice of proteins from a variety of sources.

By the time this phase ends, your unhealthy cravings, especially for sweets, baked goods, and starches, will have essentially vanished. You’ll notice that each day includes six different occasions to eat. So you should never feel hungry, and if you do, it’s possible that you’re being too stingy with the portions. The South Beach Diet doesn’t require you to measure what you eat in ounces, calories, or anything else. The meals should be of normal size-enough to satisfy your hunger, but no more that that.”

Terms to get familiar with:

Glycemic Index:
The glycemic index or GI describes the difference in carbohydrates by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Low GI carbs – produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels, while the carbohydrates higher on the GI produce larger fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels. Lower GI carbs have been shown to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes and are the key to sustainable weight loss.

Insulin Resistance:
Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells in the pancreas. This insulin is released into the blood stream and travels throughout the body. Simply put, insulin acts to control the metabolism (breakdown) of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin, and the breakdown of carbs, fats and proteins, doesn’t occur as it should. Your body responds by producing MORE insulin to achieve the desired results. This can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and/or heart disease.

Today is my second day maintaining the diet that Dr. Booker has put me on. So far, I’ve realized that I’m not getting as much food variety as I’m used to but obviously this is for my health so I can’t complain or whine (too much!).

Tonight I have a friend coming for a sleepover and this presenting a slight challenge because she wants to eat popcorn while we watch movies. But I can’t have corn in my diet. *Sigh*

Mom and I have been looking for snacks I’m allowed to have and here’s what is approved:

• Sugar-free Jello®
• Cheese sticks
• Nuts
• Raw vegetables (I’m not a big fan of but will try to tolerate)
• Yogurt (not sure about yogurt?? I will have to ask Dr. Booker for more details on yogurt, which kinds, brands, ingredients are ok, etc.)
• Sugar-free popsicles
• Myoplex low-carb protein shakes (recommended personally by Dr. Booker)

My food selection is so narrow now. I hope to have the strength to live through the next weeks being surrounded by friends and family members who do not have such restrictions in their diets.

I think I’m going to talk to my girlfriend when she gets here and beg her to skip the popcorn and go for a veggie platter instead??

Will keep you posted on how this goes down

UPDATE: Mom took us to the grocery store and my friend and I got some raw carrots and an organic, fat-free cream cheese. I also got Crystal Light drinks because I can’t drink soda anymore. I just want to thank my friend for being so supportive and allowing me to ban popcorn during fun girl movie time!!

Here’s Amanda’s personal introduction. The sound may be slightly challenged near the end of her video but, nevertheless, the core of her message is clear: Amanda’s in it to win it! Over the next few weeks and months, Amanda will continue to journalize her thoughts and special events via videos, through various photos and of course, blog posts as well.

More to come … stay tuned!

Sometimes it is just better to be lucky than good. And I have to say, meeting Amanda was a very lucky day for me.

Please take the time to read about a very special teenage girl who I am excited to introduce to you. Amanda is the 15-year old daughter of a very good friend of mine, and she has decided to accept a personal challenge to herself, and change her life for the better. Allow me to share the first email that Amanda sent to me just a few days ago:

# # #

Hello, I’m Amanda. I’m 15 years old. I’m 230 pounds or so. I made a new years resolution to be a vegetarian ((BUT, i want to wait after my diet that you prescribe is over, so don’t worry ). I love a lot of music but one of the things that has been one of my latest interests is Bob Marley.

I have Acanthosis Nigricans. Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin condition that is related to obesity and diabetes type two. All of these conditions have one thing in common: they’re chronic. My skin condition is located on my neck, sometimes my face, underarms, around the breasts, the arm areas, my stomach area, backside and more.

I’ve been living with this since I was in 4th grade and enough is enough. I wanna say that not only will I be helping myself, but I would be letting parents and other children living with this condition know there is hope and that you can do something about the condition as well as your health. I know the difficulty of having this condition all over my body. It’s not always easy for me. All we need is the love and the love and effort from yourself. You believe in yourself, that’s the key. I haven’t really believed in myself much until now. I’m ready to show ya’ll what I got

Also, I would be glad to document my progress such as blog, pictures, videos so others can see what’s going on.

Thank you,
Amanda

# # #

After discussing Amanda’s case in great detail with her mother, we all decided that her story was simply too important to remain a secret. Amanda decided she wanted to document her entire weight loss journey, partly so she would have a personal record of her successes and achievements, but also so she could help educate other parents and teenagers to the risks and challenges of childhood obesity. The path Amanda has chosen is not an easy one, but she understands her efforts will result in a lifetime of rewards.

I am excited for Amanda and I am humbly honored that she has chosen us to work with her. Furthermore, I hope you will share this experience with her, and invite others, especially those who may be facing similar challenges, to follow along with Amanda through her photos, videos and blog posts. Maybe some of you might even feel inspired to leave a comment here on this blog post to let Amanda know that she is not alone on this journey.

I think 2010 is going to be a very exciting year!

Dr. Booker

Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying!