Blood sugar diet thread 9

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Shiny new thread for the blood sugar dieters!

Good luck why ! I'm so glad you asked your GP's advice. and non-BSD friendly for you

Good luck Why!!

Dh made me lunch. For work. It's a huge salad! I haven't been eating any breakfast, this week. So, I think this will be ok.

Looks lovely oblomov

Went to a garden centre this morning with a friend and ended up having smoked salmon and scrambled egg in the cafe, which sounds like it should be nice but it was actually a bit dry and limp. And now I’m really hungry as well so I’ll probably have a small salad for lunch. Tonight we have chilli (made a few weeks ago and frozen), but not sure how many cals it was, so it looks like today will be one of those educated guess kind of days with regards to tracking. It always makes me a bit wary of the weekend when Thursday goes awry as it means a four day run of not being quite on it!

Talking about maintenance, I'm kind of wondering whether instead of 2 weeks on two weeks off (which sounds hard to me), I was wondering whether a 5 days on, 2 days off (i.e. the weekend) might work? I feel like I am getting to the point where that's what I'm doing informally anyway. Sat and Sunday were definitely not 800 cal days!

Anyway, I finish next week, gunning for my 2 stone. 3 pounds to go!

What I mean is, if you ate 800 cals 5 days a week, and 'normally' for 2 days a week, would you expect to lose or just not gain?

London, I would expect to lose on that.

Maybe 5:2 in a relaxed way.
5 days relaxed but not silly, not carbs all the time, just a bit relaxed. Not ding it strictly, but worrying about it.

And then 2 days at 800. Or 800-1000. Or just a tighter, more aware day. You might not need to go as low as 800.

I suppose it depends on what you eat on the 2 days. I’d personally find 800 x 5 days too restrictive as maintenance (I can barely manage it at the moment!). I envisage a sort of med style/low carb x 5 days and 2 days ‘fasting’ ie. 800 cals as maintenance.

There’s so much to take into account: your metabolism, exercise, etc plus if you do want to reintroduce carbs such as bread, pasta , or even biscuits and chocolate (which is totally reasonable as this is forever we’re talking about!) then it’s important to consider not just their actual calorie impact, but the impact they have on things like your ability to control how much if other things you eat, how it affects your metabolism, and your insulin levels etc. I know that if I reintroduce 2 days of eating anything I want (so bread, pasta, chocolate etc) then those 5 days on plan will be like week 1 detox over and over again. I don’t want to live my life permanently struggling to control sugar cravings so I know, for me personally, I cannot introduce it as a weekly feature if my diet even in maintenance. Sucks don’t it? But does it suck as much as being fat? I don’t know!?!?

Yes, I understand what you're saying Bear, I don't want to continually be in carb/sugar detox.

On the weekend, I had a "chocolate incident" when a whole tube of Mini Eggs fell into my mouth. Repeatedly. I actually had a hangover of sorts on Monday and Tuesday. So you're right, I think finding a general life balance on the mediterranean version of carb intake (cf the british version which is basically slap everything between 2 slices of bread) is going to be important.

That cycle can be very hard to break also, so I find that once I’ve broken the spell it’s harder to claw back, and each break gets progressively more difficult. It’s the addictive cycle, not the calories, that I would find difficult in that 5:2 scenario. So while there will be times when I have the foods, I do plan to try and keep them for high days and holidays, and weigh up the consequences for having them.

It would be interesting to accurately record a week of ‘free eating’ and really see how many calories in vs out. I daren’t risk it though! Usually if I go freestyling I don’t record as I’m ‘off plan’; on my ‘on plan but eat more’ days I can easily eat 1500 calories (but I eat well and feel stuffed and satisfied on that!). According to Fitbit on the days I run I expend about 2400 cals (but I don’t believe that entirely as I think it’s overestimating- if I was burning that many more than I eat every day I’d be losing more than 1lb a week , even the last few weeks which haven’t gone up plan)- so it could be possible to completely not count the 5 days and do 2 days at 800 and comfortably maintain.

Who knows?! Need to get there first, obviously!!

Urgh. There was wine. Today is definitely a blew-the-diet day. Oh well, the occasional glitch happens, back to 'normal' eating tomorrow.

Sucks don’t it? But does it suck as much as being fat? I don’t know!?!?

It definitely doesn't suck as much as having Type-2 diabetes.

Very I cracked too. Wine. Maybe chocolate. I blame Dh- it’s the end of the tax year and he always turns into this horrible, cranky, moody teenager old grouch. I always forget this will happen because he’s normally so relentlessly cheerful. So he came home with wine, and chocolate.

Oh well.

Did a weigh in to survey the damage and it seems to be ok, I’ve been yo-yo ing around the 11.5-11.4 mark for the entire month really, and it’s totm for me which usually means a bit of water retention, so I’m not too concerned. I’m noticing a pattern of eating too many calories though, and perhaps neglecting other healthy habits, so I’m going to take stock over the weekend and plan for a good week ahead. Unfortunately, as I have been all my life, I am totally at the mercy of my hormones for a week every month, so this could explain why this last week has been a bit of a write off.

Anyway- forwards! Dc at grandparents today and overnight, and I’m planning to crack on with a few diy jobs round the house. If the weather stays dry I might venture outside for my first ever run in public, but we’ll see.....
Have a great day everyone!

I'm doing some DIY as well Bear, and having a massive spring clean of the boys room. I've discovered both my sons still have most of their Halloween sweets!

I've got my small one off sick today as he woke up with a temp, and of course he's now bouncing off the walls, so I also might go out for a walk with him.

Btw did anyone see in the news today that you can reduce your risk of cancer by 40% just with lifestyle changes? Got to be worth it for that reason alone.

I'm impressed by your DIY-ing bear and london . I have lots of projects you could finish for me if you're feeling motivated I'm still under instruction not to carry anything as is DH which is so frustrating as we had planned to redo DS' room so we have boxes and furniture all over the place.
I did well yesterday then caved and had an ice cream at night. Interestingly I'd managed some walking and the calories burned almost balanced the ice cream but that was a lucky co-incidence rather than planned.

Sorry to hear others have had 'incidents' with wine and chocolate. I didn't mean to set off a trend!

Today has been much better: am over my 850 cals/30 gr carbs target but not too horrible. Will be fully back near target by tomorrow. This has been a hideous week in terms of work stress, which is finally letting up a little now (hence last night).

But the good thing is that yesterday's 'blowout' (some wine and a small slice of cheesecake) was actually quite small in proportion to what would have been normal everyday (over)eating just 12 wks ago. Neither the wine nor cheesecake ended up being as good as I thought it would be, so I think I can face down those cravings better in future and stick to one glass of wine tops. And I DIDN'T end up saying, ah, you've gone over for the day, so just have some crisps or pick up some chips at the way, way too convenient chippy on the corner on the way home. So, small victories despite messing up.

Now that work has calmed down, I need to get back to two meals a day, one of which is very late breakfast/early lunch. It makes no logical sense, but I definitely end up less hungry/munchy-prone overall when I skip breakfast and don't snack, then have a good lunch at 11:30/12 noon. Go figure.

What does everyone have planned for the weekend? Hope LO is feeling better londonista

We’ve just had steak and salad, and are off out tonight as we have no dc for the night! Woohoo!

It’s such a rarity that I’m not going to worry too much, I’ve been busy all day so haven’t eaten much- plus I ran a whopping 10km today which is by furthest by far- and I really felt I ran well, I was on fire! Knackered now though, and will be sore tomorrow.

But a big sit down, crunch the numbers, focussed meal planning session is long overdue because I kind of know I’m winging it right now, and I’m maintaining. However I want to lose, so it’s time to get back on plan properly on Monday

Mil noticed I’d lost weight today and was interrogating me and advising me not to lose too much. I wanted to tell her that I’m technically still overweight and to bugger off but I didn’t. I told her I’m going to lose another stone, by May, and to do it I’m going to eat lettuce and run every day. Said in my best serious face, I think she actually believed me!

Lost the thread for a while but back now. Gained 100g last week but lost 0.7kg this week. I’m also in a pair of jeans at least a size smaller and in tops I haven’t worn for years - great. I’ve been really hungry the last couple of weeks and eating too much greek yogurt (!) but there are worse sins to have. Keeping low carb though, which seems sustainable for me. Luckily I don’t have a sweet tooth. I hadn’t had a drink since 1/1 but had a glass of wine this week while out for my husband’s birthday. I didn’t really enjoy it and had a headache the next day so not ina rush to do that again.

I’ll start a thread on this, but I’m coming back to the UK (from Oz) for a short visit in a few weeks. Here I cook from scratch but I’ll be at my parents with a tiny cluttered kitchen and no decent knives etc. So what lovely BSD-friendly ready meals have you come across in M&S, Sainsburys and Asda? And where I can I get ready-made courgetti and cauliflower rice?

Hi oldnew,

Some of my cupboard/freezer staples are:
Cod/Coley portions In various sauces (eg cheese, parsley etc)
I love the merchant gourmet french puy lentils pouches (check labels as some other varieties have rice and sugar in)
Some of the Birdseye inspirations fish range are good and are low carb (but do have v small amounts of sugar in)
Cauli rice I have seen in most supermarkets but I don’t like it so don’t buy it.
Also most of the big supermarkets now have a ‘prepped veg’ range which often includes courgetti, squash noodles, stuffed peppers, (Asda do some nice stuffed mushrooms too) - that sort of thing.

As an aside, it’s bloody freezing here- you’ll need to bring warm clothes if you’re used to the Aussie sunshine!!!

Just about to sit with the dc and blow the inside out of some eggs to decorate- so once they are settled crafting I’m going to plan some meals for the week ahead!

Thanks - yeah I’m hoping it’s warmed up a bit by the time we get there but will be buying coats on eBay if not as we don’t actually own any!

Quite pleased with this little beauty and its associated shopping list! I’ve streamlined my food this week (always works better for me) so I will have the same shake each day which comes in at 200 cals. I’ve then planned out my evening meals, factoring in some Greek yog and raspberries most days (because otherwise I’ll just eat it anyway, on top), and then I’ve planned in some 200 calorie snacks/small meals for the days I run (either to have as a lunch, or to have in the evening as a supper). I have also counted in some wine. Most days I’m undercutting by a few calories so have a bit of leeway.

I’m planning to follow this to the letter next week; I do tend to be less tempted when I can’t ignore the calories, so by working it all out in advance hopefully that will help.

Wow I'm stealing some of that Bear!
Halloumi fries - tres posh, deffo trying those.

I went to Westfield today and I had a complete make up overhaul while the kids were in Zidzania. It was awesome and nice to treat myself with something other than food.

I've got my nieces his weekend, and oh my god, hats off to those of you with more than 2 kids. Are you not constantly doing laundry or cleaning up the kitchen?? This is honestly the first moment I've had to sit down all day, and it's going to be short lived because I've got to corral the small ones into bed soon.

But on the plus side, being so busy I actually barely noticed feeling hungry.

Halloumi fries are amazing, but very moreish.

Went a bit wrong yesterday, don’t quite know what’s got into me. From the moment I woke up I was just in grazing mode, and just seemed to nibble all day. Nothing too horrendous, but I bet the calories stacked up!

I realised I didn’t include milk in my menu plan, so that will add 50 cals to each day (or I’ll have to cut down on coffee???!??) My great week starts today though- I am not weighing myself this morning, I’m going to just concentrate on my food and see if that helps refocus my mind a bit. I’m hiding the scales until next Sunday to do my end of March weigh in! I re-read the book yesterday too. Have any of you read any other books about the science of low carb/sugar free? I’d like to read something to motivate me!

I’m going out for a run with my friend today, we’re hoping to do 5km but I’m not used to running outside so we’ll see how that goes. I treated myself to new running trainers yesterday as an incentive as my old ones were an embarrassing 12 years old!!

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Sainsburys Saag Paneer is good for something microwaveable.

Otherwise I tend to get the kind of things that need putting in the oven, and then trays of roasted Mediterranean veg and other veg to go with them. Antipasti works well. Hummus and falafels.

Well my first day of being super strict has gone well! I’m closing the kitchen on 900 cals, 45g carbs. I’ve done a ridiculous 23k steps today, which included a 6k run with my friend. We’ve been gardening this afternoon which has bumped the steps up!

Stuck to my plan, pretty much exactly today, except instead of fruit and yoghurt I made a sugar free raspberry mousse. I have frozen 4 little portions (135cals each) to see if they will make a little ice cream type pudding.

I’m hungry though- I haven’t snacked at all and it shows that I’ve been mindlessly grazing on lots of bits here and there in recent weeks/days. Still, despite the hunger, I’m really pleased with today.

Well done bear