Currently feeling asthma-wheezy and coughing intermittently, whether because of seasonal allergies or because I’m coming down with something, I do not know. Ciaran’s been coughing too, so maybe we’re fighting off a bug, although I’ve felt fine otherwise.
Had a good appointment with my nutritionist yesterday. I like her quite a lot and would friend her on Facebook if it didn’t make me feel like she’d probably think I was e-stalking her… Anyway. One of the issues I’ve had for as long as I can remember is eating and eating and not ever feeling truly full. The other night I had three tacos, some refried beans, and applesauce and I just could not feel full. The next morning, however, we went out to breakfast at The Original Pancake House in Ballard and I had an omelette and bacon. By a third of the way into the omelette (they’re 5-egg omelettes and GINORMOUS), I was full. No room for anything else.
I asked S, my nutritionist, what she thought was going on. I’d felt happy at the taco meal (i.e., the lack of satiety wasn’t because of emotional baggage), enjoyed my food, etc. She asked me what I’d had to eat earlier in the day…and I realized that it was a carb-filled sort of day, with very little protein to balance all that PCOS-induced blood sugar wackiness. I’d never known before that blood sugar could mess with your body’s full-sensor that way. Ever. Having the high-protein omelette worked. Having a high-carb day did not.
We chatted about snack options and I stocked up at the store last night. Currently my work snack stash is:
Wholegrain crackers
Apples
Salami
Brie
Cheddar
Mini-bagels
Peanut butter
Cream cheese
I have to remember to pair protein and grain, or protein and veg and maybe that whole refusing-to-be-full thing will improve. Here I’d always thought it was entirely my screwed-upness that was causing it but no, really, there might have been a physiological trigger for it after all.
Side note, re: the title. Ciaran currently has two imaginary owl-friends. The male is named Truckstar (he’s brown) and the female, who is pink, is charmingly named Weezie.
Yes, he made up those names, so far as I’m aware.
Wow – that makes a lot of sense!!
Doesn’t it? When I think on it, I absolutely *don’t* feel full on carb-rich foods. I just don’t. Oatmeal goes through me in an hour or so.
It’s like a revelation and I’m really, really excited about putting it into practice in an intentional way. I’d always known about the protein/carb blend being super important for PCOS sufferers but I didn’t know it could affect fullness like that. Crazy!
It does make sense. One thing that struck me when I did Atkins years ago was how full I’d feel.
Tonight I’m making a carb-y meal (beans, rice, tomatoes, corn, onions, mushrooms) — and I always top it with shredded cheese. Much more satisfying that way
Heidi, may I suggest you read “The Savvy Woman’s Guide to PCOS” by Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD and “The Insulin-Resistance Diet” by Cheryle R. Hart, Md and Mary Kay Grossman, RD. they speak to this exact thing. Even if you aren’t interested in “dieting” per se, but just want to feel satisfied, I recommend following the basic tenants of the I-R diet. It basically says the same thing, with every meal or snack that includes carbs, try to eat at least 7 grams of protein for every 15 grams of carbs. I swear when I eat that way not only do I feel full, but I have little to no desire for sugar or sweets. It takes about a week before you get to that point but when you do, it really, really does work. And the PCOS book is excellent also for others to understand us with PCOS better.
I’m just getting over a nagging cough I’ve had for about three months. It’s so nice to have it gone.
Back when I was a young teen I was interested in being a vegetarian (not anymore) and read that if you complemented bread with cheese or peanut butter it makes for a complete protein. I always feel full on those things.
Glad you found something that makes your life better!