Response to 2 Much Whine's Skepticism about the TQI Nutrition Plan

[plantgeek]

In a thread about the TQI Nutrition Plan(to quiet inflammation), 2 Much Whine complained that the thread itself was suspicious because one person was with an internet marketing company. I am not with a marketing company, and I doubt that the other person (ensignmarvin) is either. I’ve experienced a great improvement in my health & how I feel after just 2 months on the plan. I’m very grateful to the health professional who told me about it, and wanted to pass the information along to other West Seattle Residents, especially since so many people make resolutions to improve their health in the new year. The plan is taught in a series of 5 classes in West Seattle as well as other locations. It’s based on eating whole foods — including lots of vegetables & fruits, and eliminating processed foods & added sugars of all kinds, except for one or two special occasions per month. People who simply want to lose weight may not have the motivation to stay on the plan, but those of us facing health &/or aging problems can be very motivated & successful. Kathy Abascal is only selling 2 paperbacks (a book explaining the plan & the science behind it, & a slim cookbook). She’s not selling vitamins, supplements or diet meals — and recommends whole foods over such pills. It’s possible to order the books by themselves & not take the classes, but I needed the structure of 5 sessions with other people who were motivated to improve their health. If you want feedback from people who didn’t just join the WS Blog, you can do an internet search or go the to the TQI website (toquietinflammation.com).

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[JoB]

plantgeek..

i checked into this class when it was first offered..

and as i remember, it is a fairly expensive class.

i am glad to know that it worked for you..

but it might not be as successful for people who already carefully shop for their foods…

I am definately what you could call health and age challenged and care a great deal about both my health and my weight…

but that doesn’t mean that I am willing to jump on the latest nutrition bandwagon just because someone tells me it’s a great thing to do.

it may have been unwarranted, but i too felt sold..

which is always an indication to me that i should grab my pocketbook and head for the door

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[Franci]

I have not taken this class, I have thought about it though. One of my coworkers has taken it, she loves the diet and what it has done for her health. She was having quite a bit of foot/knee pain and that has completely cleared up. I think it was at least a year ago and she has kept up with the eating plan because she has gained so much benefit from it.

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[Sue]

I took this class with EnsignMarvin earlier this year, and also found it to be a beneficial class in terms of my health. Being involved myself in alternative health, I was already aware of how powerful food can be when we either eat certain things, or don’t eat certain things, that are causing us health issues. I was amazed (yet not surprised) at how quickly certain health issues of mine resolved themselves when I made some changes to my food at the suggestion of the TQI plan. Changes that were quickly measurable in blood tests, as well as mobility-related.

I think the class was around $150 for 5 sessions, if I recall correctly, and I didn’t think that was too expensive if it helped my health, and it did. The price included all the literature you needed to do the class, and access to private message boards at no extra cost, and which you can continue to use well after the class to ask questions and share experiences, recipes, etc. (The class is now $180 here in WS – I just looked it up – but now includes 2 books that were not available when I took the class in April.)

I didn’t see 2MuchWhine’s post (and it looks as if that thread might’ve been pulled since I can’t find it), but I get the impression that there was skepticism about the integrity of the people posting about it, as if it was advertising. I’m not a newbie to this site, being a long-time poster before the time of the forums here, and a local business person who posts here with my real name and link to my website, so I’d like to think that some here might trust me to be genuine, even if they don’t agree with it. :)

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[JoB]

sue..

i have no doubt you are genuine ;->

more than that i am absolutely tickled that this diet worked for you.

there is no question that the American diet is pretty abysmal and focusing on fruits and vegetables, especially if they are locally and organically sourced has to be beneficial.

I have been moving the meter on my plate towards that 2/3 marks myself for some time and it has paid off in verifiable parameters.

Point of fact is that anything that helps reduce weight will pay off in verifiable health parameters… and will likely reduce pain by reducing the strain on joints.

I am not so sold on the anti-inflammation concept having seen variations on this diet for a couple of decades now fail to produce the expected results for people whose illness has an inflammatory basis .. the exception to this being those who manage to control their diabetes with diet.

I have no doubt this is a good diet.

I just feel it is being oversold.

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[ensignmarvin]

OK, I need to be more skeptical I guess on OP’s. Just don’t usually go straight to their member profile.

The thread that got deleted was a week or so old and I talked about trying a new, for me, winter salad from the TQI cookbook.

As far as the cost of this class, it was worth every penny to me. That’s why I bought the books when they came out in about November or so.

Learning how to use and combine foods in ways to keep them not boring is priceless.

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[JoB]

ensignmarvin..

i am sorry the thread got deleted…

i thought there was some useful information there.

i may even go look for the books…

I admit that because I have spent a lifetime with illnesses for which countless entrepreneurs have literally preyed on the hope for a cure (fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome)

i am pretty sensitive to the messianic zeal with which anyone promotes the latest diet/nutritional intervention as a cure for illness …

having said that I am a sucker for Dr Oz and have probably spent as much impulse buying the magazine for women FIRST at the checkout stand as the cost of the class…

some of the advice works..

some not so much

I am glad that this is working for so many people..

but i would be more comfortable if the expectations were expressed in a more realistic manner.

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[plantgeek]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I have a great respect for people who, without any help, are able to eat a healthy, whole foods diet, eliminating most processed foods. Unfortunately, although I joined Central Coop in the 70’s & know quite a bit about nutrition, I haven’t been able to do that for any length of time. Sugar, in the form of baked goods & chocolate, has been a huge problem for me. My previous attempts to deal with this were based on the thought, “I should give up sugar & eat more vegetables,” which was too vague & moralistic for me to be able to follow through. Arthritis pain finally motivated me to make a change, and the TQI plan gave me the structure to do so. I imagine that in time I may modify the plan somewhat to meet my own individual needs. In the meantime, it’s not vague or moralistic, nor is it a “fad diet,” and I have the confidence that this is a life change that I’ve made for good.

That said, it would be really helpful if those of you who’ve been successful on your own could share what you’ve done to succeed. Do you have tips for other people — including foods that are really making a difference in your health & how you feel? Are there any books or cookbooks that you recommend?

Thanks again for sharing your insights with your neighbors.

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[JoB]

plantgeek..

it helps if you cook..

and if you don’t completely ban all “bad” foods from your diet. In my experience, that only makes you crave them.

i can’t imagine totally giving up chocolate or “baked” goods… but turning them back into an occasional treat instead of a regular part of my diet is certainly possible.

i do best with a lot of soups and one pot meals…

but that is just what works for me.

and i require more protein than most so eggs are a big part of my morning.

paying double or triple the cost of factory eggs was a difficult sell in my house until i brought home some truly farm fresh organic eggs from hens that scratched for bugs as well as meal and hubby tasted the difference.

now i purchase farm fresh when i can get them and the best i can when i can’t.

the “what can i make from this” game i played with Tony’s bargain bags of produce last summer really jump-started my veggie creativity…

but then i am what could most accurately be called a refrigerator cook… i read cookbooks for inspiration but can’t think of the last time i followed an actual recipe.

and i read all the labels.. even those on the fruits and veggies at the local supermarket. if it isn’t local and in season here.. i have to really want it to buy it.

In the past three years, veggies have slowly moved from a side to inhabit the majority of the dishes i serve…

even the small organic pork loin i prepared for christmas eve sat on a huge bed of cabbage, roasted garlic, onions, mediterranean spices and apple juice as it roasted.

I diced the remaining meat and added white kidney beans to the leftovers to form a bean and cabbage stew for the second act.

tasty! and there are still two meals tucked away in the freezer for those not so inspirational moments that are far more veggie than simple carbs or meat than not.

as for what food is making a difference for me right now?

coconut.. in all of it’s forms.

for some reason, the combination of coconut and pineapple had helped tame truly out of control irritable bowel for me…

unfortunately at a pretty high calorie cost…

i am still looking for alternate options…

and yes.. i tried the probiotic supplement route without consistent success…

i am contemplating juicing. I bought a really good juicer last summer that is still sitting on my counter unused.

maybe it’s time ;->

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