Can anyone suggest an easy to follow book for a low Glycemic Load (GL or GI) diet?
I not only need to lose weight & lower my cholesterol, I’m also hypoglycemic. I’d like to try a low Glycemic Load/Glycemic Index diet, but there are so many books out there that I’m looking for recommendations. I’m looking for one which is simple & easy to follow and doesn’t have a lot of “exotic” foods or recipes.
I’m hoping to follow up with an RD or Nutritionist but would like to start out with a book to start heading in the right direction & would appreciate personal recommendations & experiences. Thank you!
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My mother is hypoglycemic and also diabetic, I think they often go together? Look up books on diabetes, you might find better variety there. As far as I’ve seen, you’ll pretty much turn into a constant snacker, eating your meals in pieces throughout the day. My mom does this and has been losing weight over two years at a decent rate, her cholesterol went down slower though.
I think that you might find this book a helpful start. it has a 12-week eating plan.
Another option is the NutriSystemD (the D for diabetic option is essential) plan in which your food is delivered. it is based on low glycemic index theory.
@hungryhungryhortence If you mother is a type 2 diabetic, she is the opposite of hypoglycemic, although you are correct, the eating plans for diabetics work for both, because they have the similar goal of slowing glucose absorption and keeping glucose levels in the blood even.
I just bought the one that you @BraveWarrior suggested. It is fantastic! Ask more questions about it and I will try and answer. I’m only about ¼ way through it.
@RedPowerLady Well, I read a few of the reviews, and a couple of people said that some of the food items & supplements were unfamiliar or unavailable in the USA. That would be a concern because I am in the USA. Are you?
Yes I live in the United States. Throughout the chapters I’ve read so far he’s only suggested food that I’ve heard of. In fact I haven’t read anything exotic yet. Now I haven’t got to the end where he lists the foods but I am curious now so when I get home I’ll check to see what is listed back there. But I will give you one example that I can remember off the top of my head that may lead some people to say that in the review.
One thing he does call for is using rolled oats. It is a more rough form of oatmeal and it is highly available. However many people just haven’t heard of it. It is a completely “normal” food though and from what I’ve heard by tons of people is that it taste better, hehe, then typical oatmeal.
Feel free to ask more questions. I am really learning a lot from the book and enjoying it. I didn’t think I would at first because it is pretty “diet” centered. I’m not looking to go on a “diet” but rather to enact a lifestyle change (my hubby has a high risk for developing diabetes in the future so we want to take preventative measures now). So I just kinda shrug off the “diet” talk and take in the good information.
It just makes common sense vs. actual faddieting and that is what I really enjoy about the book.
@RedPowerLady Thanks so much, I appreciate your input. Here’s what the review said:
“p. 67 – Glycemix Index (list) of common foods (some only common in Aussieland)...
Some foods will be familiar to U.S. readers, some may not. Some I assume I recognize but I may not because “puffed rice crackers” may or may not mean “rice cakes”. Many items on the list may or may not be widely available in the U.S., and I did not find a list of sources for the products that were unfamiliar. This would take a lot of google research time which I don’t want to do. ...
p. 232 Get up and go – sounds great, hm? Holford mentions “get up and go” mixture so many times that when you finally get to the hidden recipe it’s a joy, until you see the line “1 serving Get UP & Go Powder”, whose explanation I never did find, nor is a source listed for its purchase. Is this some magic Aussieland thing that is for them only? Should say so, then.”
This is what made me pause rather than go ahead & buy the book.
@BraveWarrior
I’ll check out those pages when I get home. For me though puffed rice crackers quite obviously means rice cakes so perhaps the reviewer just lacks some common sense? haha.
I haven’t reached the “get up and go” but will look into that when I get home.
Isn’t the South Beach diet a low GI one?
@ccrow. yes there is a south beach diet book with a greenish blue cover. It’s written by Cardiologist Arthur Agatston. This book is good; since he’s a cardiologist he talk’s about eating and food habits that are good and bad for the heart. The book even has a GI list inside. It talks about lifestyle changes and has really good recipes too. i highly recommend!
oh crud forgot to check those pages last night, will check tonight
@RedPowerLady How’s the book coming along? Any more feedback? I’m thinking that maybe I should go ahead & get it since I can get it used very cheaply at Amazon…
@BraveWarrior I’d go ahead and get it if I were you.
I’ve kinda lost my copy because hubby cleaned the other day so now I have to wait till he gets off work to ask him where he put it. I didn’t forget about you though.
Well we officially can’t find it. I don’t know why as I was just reading it last week. Thinking maybe its hiding in the car.
@RedPowerLady LOL maybe your hubby is like mine & “cleaning” is more like cleaning out = throwing out :)
I ordered it on Amazon used “Like New” condition for only 5 cents plus $3.99 shipping, in case you don’t find yours.
I also ordered (all 5 books for a total $34.56 including shipping):
The Holford Diet GL Counter – Patrick Holford
The Easy GL Diet Handbook: Lose Weight with the Revolutionary Glycemic Load Program – Fedon Alexander Lindberg M.D.
The GL Cookbook and Diet Plan: A Glycemic Load Weight-Loss Program with Over 150 Delicious Recipes – Nigel Denby
The GL Diet For Dummies – Nigel Denby
Probably a bit overboard, but I’m 45 years old, 40 pounds overweight, hypoglycemic, with high cholesterol & borderline high blood pressure working full time at a sedentary desk job so I’m really hoping a low GL diet combined with going to Bally’s 3x/week will be a healthy new lifestyle for me.
My biggest challenge will be getting my hubby on board since he does the food shopping & cooking & is very strict about the budget…”
Many thanks for your feedback. All the best to you & yours!
@BraveWarrior I finally found the book, lol. How did yours work out for you?
@RedPowerLady Got all 5 books but, to be honest, I haven’t had time to start reading any of them yet. I do recommend, though, if you’re going to follow Holford’s plan, “The Holford Diet GL Counter” which is a 4¼” x 6” companion book for your pocketbook for reference when food shopping or going out to eat.
How are you doing with the diet?
@BraveWarrior I haven’t started it. I am pregnant right now so it would just be too difficult to change my eating routine. But still enjoying the book. I’ll look into the counter one.
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