Blood sugar diet thread 8

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Thread 8 for the blood sugar dieters

[yumyumpoppycat]

I will measure and weigh in in the morning (might shave off a few cms' grams compared to this eve). IfYouHappen it's better to go with wholegrains or things that don't send you into spirals of carb craving - for me this usually means no white fluffy bread, rice etc - I am fine with potato, small amounts of multigrain bread.

Pink sounds like you were 'on it' - well done. I wasn't 100% strict when I lost the initial chunks but maybe that's what I need to do now to lose the last stone.

[yumyumpoppycat]

Just seen your update Pink - phew to 50g!

[IfYouHappenToSee]

Ah thanks!

See, I think I could do 50g relatively easily.

I don't eat bread unless I've baked it myself. When I can easily inhale the whole lot without stopping for breath

Pasta and rice are my downfalls. And probably then just junk snacky stuff, which I will be able to cut out quite easily. I think I'll just give courgetti and smaller amounts of wild rice a go.

In fact, the only thing I think I'll struggle with is Polos. I eat an awful lot of spearment Polos...

[IfYouHappenToSee]

Oh and beer. I actually think beer is going to be the thing I struggle with more than food.

I do like my ales.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

It doesn't specifically say a carb limit/target. If you follow the meal plans in the book then you don't need to track carbs. If you design your own meal plan then my advice is to be very aware of the frequency of certain foods in those original meal plans.

I get flamed for this in the Facebook group I'm in, (not on here because we're all nice people) - no food is allowed 'freely'- as in, everything has a cap on the amount you can eat if you want the big weightlosses. For example: Fruit- is allowed, in small quantities. Check the amount of fruit portions in a week's menu plan, it's about 1 piece every 4 meals, and some of those are things like pomegranate seeds in a salad, not apples, pears etc. Fruit is never used as a snack. So even 'allowed' fruit is limited. This applies to dairy, grains, nuts etc. as well, and even to some meats (particularly processed/cured meats). We obviously are naturally capped by the calorie limit as well.

The 50g carb limit was already in place in these sorts of forums when I joined in thread 2. It can be helpful, to a point, especially if you want something but don't want to break your plan (ie. Thinking like slimming world syns!). Personally I find it gives me too much leeway to have things that aren't really on plan, or too much of things, and actually the big weight loss for me comes when I don't have certain foods even within a carb limit. As with all these things, the quality of calories you eat makes a difference- so 50g in the form of leafy veg, dairy, fibre, nuts is going to be better for you than 50g carbs in the form of hobnobs (not that you would eat hobnobs!)

I really would make the meal plan in the book your bible. It's been formulated by nutritionists at great expense, and the balance is accurate. If they use bulgar wheat twice in a week, then use that as your guide. I find on these FB groups people see 'porridge' or 'quinoa' on the menu and think it's ok every day; you can eat it, but it will impede your weight loss and you will he sacrificing other nutrients to have it within your calorie count.

[IfYouHappenToSee]

Thank you, bear.

That was a really helpful and informative post!

The carb thing makes a lot more sense now. I'm going to have another look at the recipes in the book.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

If you thanks. I think the thing with 800 calories is that it hugely limits choice. Even 1200 gives you some freedom; 800 simply doesn't afford it. Every thing you eat needs to count, nutritionally speaking, or you will struggle after a few days. So view your daily menu as a whole and also as a part of your weekly menu. A portion of quinoa is fine. A portion of quinoa every day is using calories that you should probably use for something else in order to achieve the right balance of nutrition. If at any point you're struggling, or just hungry and can't work out why, I'd suggest having a quick tot up of number of portions of certain foods/types in your week compared with the meal plan.

(I should add as a disclaimer: I don't always do this! I have a shite relationship with food. I wouldn't still be here, slogging away after all these months! )

Used my treadmill for 15 mins earlier- man, I am unfit. At least I now have a benchmark, something to improve on. Cross with Dh because we were supposed to be not drinking in September- he went to sainsburys and bought red wine AND sticky toffee pudding. I am determined to stick to my plan but it's very hard when it's right under your nose.

[HerRoyalFattyness]

OK. Tomorrow I'm going off plan. We are going to the farm. So an off plan day, then straight back Monday back to plan and being strict.
I can do this. And I don't plan on being massively awful either. Just lunch out (probably containing chips though) and an ice cream.
So the damage will be easily reversed and more if I'm strict until DS1s birthday at the very end of October.

[IfYouHappenToSee]

I've had another look at the menu plans at the back of the book. I'm going to have to adapt it somewhat because I'm vegetarian, but some of the other recipes they give are good substitutes. I am willing to include some high quality, ethically sourced fish.

I'm fairly clued up on nutrition, so I'm going to fly solo using their recipes for a week and see how I get on.

If by next weekend I feel horrific and haven't lost any weight, then I'll reconsider!

[Oblomov17]

I've had a bit of a disaster.
Everything from 1100-2200 calories. Good meals: salads, cauliflower curry etc .

But followed by: Wine, crisps. Chocolate.

I can't seem to control myself. I will try and reign it in today, in preparation for a new start on Monday.

[Oblomov17]

Loved all the courgette links though!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Well I survived my first sober weekend in a long time! I haven't calorie counted, (had lots of cheese!) and we have roast pork, crackling and cheesey sprouts for dinner today. But no wine (despite Dh buying a bottle and then not even bloody drinking it which means it's now here to torture me all week) and no sticky toffee pudding which he also bought, the majority of which is still in the fridge.

I'm feeling pretty positive after all that, as I rarely resist temptation but managed to when I put my mind to it. 800 calories tomorrow and for the rest of the week. I'm not weighing myself either, I've hidden the scales.
I might use the book recipes this week, at least for some of the days as it removes the choice a bit doesn't it? I need a good start to this this time, and if I could lose enough to get back into the 11s in week one I'd be over the moon.

[starsinyourpies]

Hi all, I am new to this and planning to start on Tuesday, I am going to weigh and measure myself then. In France with too many croissants until then...just finished reading the book and quite nervous/excited!

[DomesticDisgrace]

Day 3 for me and 3lbs down! I can't believe how satisfied I can feel on 800cals!
I finally got the book too and having a good read of it to enlighten myself further!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Morning all,

Last day of the holidays today and I feel quite sad, it's been so nice to be off with the munchkins- but we need some normality back and some routine as well so looking forward to it too.

I've done my run/jog this morning- I am so desperately unfit that I'm seeing just simply jogging and being out of breath and keeping on going as a victory of sorts at the moment. I managed 12 minutes today, which isn't great is it? But better than nothing and I can improve on it every day. Once I'm doing the walk to school and back X 2 a day as well that will be better.

Food shopping today, I've done my menu plan. I've got loads of veg to use up as my mil keeps bringing loads round from her garden so I'm going to make a big ratatouille and freeze portions for lunches. Possibly some soup too.

Aiming for 800 cals today so I'm not going to eat until I really feel hungry to try and prolong the fast a bit.

Have a great week everyone!

[HerRoyalFattyness]

My day off day off yesterday has resulted in a 2lb gain, so I lost 5 and put 2 on.
I'm 15st 8lb this morning, and feeling a bit ill.
So straight back to it today. No plans to go off track until October 28th now.

[HerRoyalFattyness]

DS1 is back to school today.
DD isn't back at preschool until the 11th
I'm off to work.
I don't really get much time to exercise as I'm working a 45 hour week, dealing with the kids and doing a college course.

[Oblomov17]

So. I've put on another 2lbs.
My absolute 'major attention' to all meals was 'undone' by a bottle of red and some crisps.

I am starting to get pissed off.

[IfYouHappenToSee]

bear are you using the couch to 5k podcasts for running?

I did that a few years ago and found that, not only did I actually enjoy running, but it was actually manageable!

I'm actually a bit too overweight to do it at the moment. I'm not to look at; I see bigger people than me running all the time, but we have weak knees and ankles in my family and my knees hurt and my ankles will just give way. I can't do weights for the same reason; my wrists are the same.

I'm going to fit in swimming and walking a couple of nights a week each and and start running again when I've lost a stone.

I weighed myself yesterday morning before I started and I'm the biggest I've ever been

Weight - 12st 2
Bust - 43 (36F)
Waist - 34
Hips - 44

I had a good first day yesterday. Didn't feel hungry and stuck to my limits.

I weighed myself this morning and was 12st. I don't think it's a true 2lb loss because I think the 12st 2 might have been a discrepancy yesterday, but I'm running with it anyway!

I've already decided which of the recipes from the book I'm going to do this week, just need to meal plan and shop properly today.

I'm logging everything on MFP and I've set my daily goals for carbs, fat and protein so I'm good to go!

Actually, really looking forward to it. I'm not back to work until next week so that gives me this week so get things sorted and on track properly.

[yumyumpoppycat]

You sound focused bear

Welcome stars and well done on sVs everyone

Royal don't worry about the exercise at lest not for the next few weeks it is mainly diet that counts at this stage, just get your steps in where possible.

Oblomov join the club 1.5 lbs up this weekend and I really feel it too. For you most of that will be water retention from the salty crisps? I think the low calorie days emphasise the swing after a heavy day - partly down to the weight of the extra food - it doesn't mean 2lbs of fat regained. I think with this diet if doing a few days 800 a few higher cal days it might be worth only weighing in the day after 800 days? I think on the 5;2 thread they only weigh in after the second fast day to stop the yo yo feeling?

[IfYouHappenToSee]

I agree.

I think it's helpful to weigh daily/every other day to keep focus, but maybe the only weigh in that counts is the weekly one and if you're down week on week, then that's a good thing.

[Oblomov17]

YumYum and ToSee, I know you talk sense.

Out of all of us, I am the most infrequent weigh'er. I like to leave it for atleast a week, to get a dramatic difference.

But this was different. I was so focused on ds2's Holy Communion as my goal, Mid June. That after that i've relaxed. Too much!!

And knowing I was eating more potato, crisps, wine, I deliberately didn't weigh. because I already 'knew', but didn't want to see the actual figures.

So, on MFP, I only weighed :
17 July
then 13 Aug. 21 Aug, 30 Aug, 4 sep.

Hopefully, If I am strict this week, I will see a dramatic difference, giving me the inspiration I need to keep going till 30 September = Mallorca with ds1's foot ball mums. Bikini!!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I do feel pretty focused, but partly that's because I haven't been all holiday and I'm feeling it now. Not drinking at the weekend has given me a bit of a boost, I'm not starting the week feeling like I'm re-losing pounds I lost last week. I think the realisation that I've just spent another summer trying but not really trying, plus the fact that I'm pretty much at the very top of my personal 'allowed weight' (!) and dress size - if I continue to gain weight I will be very unhappy this time next year. You know me though, I'm very changeable, in two weeks I'll have fallen off the wagon again!

[Oblomov17]

Lunch. Cauliflower curry, with Morrisons Moroccan cauliflower cous-cous.

[tobee]

That looks very yummy Oblomov