It can be quite disheartening when we embark on a new way of eating, but we don’t see the results we hope for. Dr. Paul Mason talks you through the underlying factors that might be preventing you from experiencing the benefits of the Defeat Diabetes Program, such as hidden carbs and eating too much, and what you can do about it.
Dr Peter Brukner: Well if someone's not seeing the results they'd hoped for on the Defeat Diabetes program, what could be the underlying problem?
Dr Paul Mason: Well, hidden carbohydrates is a huge cause of that, Peter. So carbohydrates really hide in a lot of processed foods. Things which are ostensibly healthy on the outside, at least the packaging says they're healthy, contain a lot of carbohydrates. Things like muesli bars. Saucers can be, you know, 20, 30, 40, 50% sugar, which is absolutely massive. So at the end of the day, if you're not preparing whole foods yourself, you could actually be consuming a whole lot more carbohydrates than you realise. Even a slice of bread contains the same amount of sugar that you might get in three or four teaspoons of sugar.
Dr Peter Brukner: What about how often people eat?
Dr Paul Mason: Well, that's another one. So because you have much better appetite control on low carb diets, people who are used to eating to the clock might actually find themselves eating more often than they need to. As a rule, we say you should only eat when you're hungry and stop eating when you're full. So be very, very mindful that you don't stick to your old habits of eating to the clock regularly throughout the day if you're not truly hungry.
Dr Peter Brukner: I reckon alcohol is an underlying issue with some people.
Dr Paul Mason: Massively. I mean, a lot of people don't realise the amount of calories contained within alcohol and it's very, very easy to over-consume. Four glasses of wine is the equivalent of a whole bottle. So if you're consuming alcohol on most nights of the week, you probably need to peg that back a little bit.
Dr Peter Brukner: Well, what about underlying medical conditions? They must be an issue.
Dr Paul Mason: Absolutely. And they're frequently underdiagnosed. Common medical issues include thyroid problems, problems with iron deficiency, so on and so forth. Even medications commonly prescribed for blood pressure like beta blockers will slow weight loss. So if you think you might have any of these underlying issues in the background, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.
Dr Peter Brukner: So if you're not getting the results you hoped for on this program, think about eating too often, think about too much alcohol, and certainly underlying medical conditions.
