Blood sugar diet and fast800 thread 20

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Thread 20, can you believe it?

"I have a theory though that to provide enough food for everyone it surely has to be grain based as that’s how the agricultural industry grew alongside population increase."

Big subject. As farmer's son, obvious to me that (a) much land, even in UK's favourable climate, not suited to arable crops, and (b) herbivores good at converting grass that grows anywhere to tasty meat/milk. Also, herbivores provide fertiliser for crops. If you don't have manure, you need artificial fertilisers - expensive, energy-intensive supply chain, dependent on fossil fuels. Silvopasture was our past, maybe, maybe it is our future.

Re population, obesity growing rapidly & globally, even in developing countries, which suggests famine not problem it was 30 years ago (stats support this). That is, most countries already have an excess of calories.

Over past few months, have been pleasantly surprised at tastiness of some non-meat dishes in Blood Sugar Diet recipe books, e.g. yesterday's chickpea chilli. Nevertheless, still prefer a bit of meat/fish in there, even if just a taste.

Personal approach: eat meat, but higher quality. Very seldom buy meat at supermarket, nearly always butcher = locally sourced animals. More expensive? Maybe, not sure, but quality far better. Higher cost of higher quality meat is natural disincentive to buy so frequently. Example: love lamb, or joint of beef, but costly so is very rare treat.

Also tend not to spend on other pricey items - overseas holidays rare, cars both elderly, seldom eat out. Very much not "keep up with Joneses" lifestyle. Frankly, though earn decent living, cannot see how so many families seem able to afford big holiday abroad every year, new car every few years, takeaway every week, etc. Yet see so many argue they can't afford decent ingredients, or that ready meals are "cheaper". Priorities massively out of kilter. Must have some link to obesity.

Maybe Michael Pollan comes nearest to truth? "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants".

How's everybody's Friday going? I'm not calorie counting yet - only on day 2 of no sugar and that's by far the harder battle currently. Bought some marshmallows and choc digestives for the kids to for smores later and have had to hide the biscuits in the cupboard because I wanted some so intensely. Had four strawberries instead and a pint of water and left the room. How long before the cravings ease?

Things are going well here - food has been great and I’ve done a 60min HIIT workout with my PT which burnt a fair few cals!

@CanWeComeIntoTheOutNow my Friday is going ok, thanks! I woke feeling grim because we drank wine last night and didn't get enough sleep, but felt surprisingly chipper all day. I haven't really calorie counted but I've had a very low carb day (mostly cheese and salad, tbsp of dressing). Just been for a horrible muggy run in the heat and it was hard work. And now it's the weekend!!

I've been doing a bit of pondering as I like to do... it's my birthday Sunday and i always get a bit pensive and introspective. I don't have a close family and I don't have a lot of friends and I am always starkly aware of it at this time of year.

I'm going to do something quite bold I think; after the weekend is over I'm going to have a bit of a life reset/overhaul type thing. One thing in particular I've been meaning to do is a social media detox, so I think I'll be ducking out of the thread for a week or so. (So please please someone restart a new thread when this one ends!) I'm going to put my scales in the loft and eat just real food and have a few weeks off drinking before I go on holiday. That will be 20 days; not 20 days free for all eating though, oh no, but 20 days where I can really think about my health and how I actually feel, not about numbers on scales. Cutting out processed food and sugar but eating plenty of the good stuff but not analysing it all the time.

Talking to my friend today has really made me think about how bloody long I've been doing this and how, not obsessed exactly but obsessed i am. Do I want to start another year that's going to be another year on another diet? One thing I've learned on lockdown is that I'm not wholly in control of my food intake, and that it hugely affects my mental health, not the food itself per se, but the feelings all about it. I'd quite like to be able to eat something without the wheels in my head doing sums.

Sorry for my ponderings! I'm reading this back thinking it sounds morose, but actually I feel excited about it.

Good on you newaveragebear - I haven't ever really been on a diet before, so this was new for me, and have gotten some great support, so thank you. I am making an effort to sit down with the family and have a meal, at least once a day as everyone seems to be going back to normal - DS with his running training, DD with music and DD2 with her friends and music.

Personally, I have come to the realisation that my body just doesn't do well with bread, pasta, rice etc. Am wondering about the evolutionary reason for foods that don't have much nutritional value? Maybe just to keep us from feeling hunger?

Lockdown was interesting - look at what was in short supply; bread, flour toilet paper read somewhere that it's a typical British response to a crisis. Bake. . But it felt like being in hibernation and the trips to the supermarket were almost like a hunt where one came back victorious if managed to get basics.

So, I understand the need to take a step back and being reflective.

I quite like fasting and will definitely be part of my life now, along with some of the good habits on the BSD diet, green veg, lean protein, potion sizes.

Hope to see you soon

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 you see, I have been 'on a diet' my whole life. Forever. Probably since childhood, definitely since 2003 (when dd was born). Granted, this is the least 'diety' diet I've ever been on, being real food and healthy choices etc but it's still exhausting. I've been thinking about it for a while, but maybe now it's time. It's scary; I'm giving up my security blanket a little bit. I don't trust myself not to eat a million calories a day

It's scary; I'm giving up my security blanket a little bit. I don't trust myself not to eat a million calories a day

@thenewaveragebear1983 But if you do, at least you now have the tools to recover. Leap into space, maybe, but with safety rope.

Friday weigh in - 10 stone dead. Never have I been so happy to put on 2lb. Right week of poor decisions (but fun!) and easing back in damage control week done. Back on it for 5 more weeks - 7lbs to goal. Doable I think.

Today’s efforts:

V small bowl left over chicken lime laksa soup (other half had generous seconds the night before)
Morrison meat balls w/ bulgar wheat
A g&t
Like 5 Pringles but I’ve stopped that nonsense now with a cup of tea.

Having a takeaway tomos night - that I can’t get out of. No point pretending I can do that on 800 cals but maybe on 1200 and if stuck to 800 rest of week should be all good.

Need to really plan and track this week. Food shop tomos so better get on it!

And thenewaveragebear1983 good for you - what you’re saying makes sense. BSD is great but all encompassing. And in some ways it’s seems like it’s done what it should for you. You know you look fit & toned and worked hard for that muscle tone.. so fighting the scales that reflect said muscles when you could be having the occasional cake and not beating yourself up makes sense. I hope that comes across ok! And I hope you have a fantastic birthday weekend and that we catch up with you at some point... :)

So another loss this morning. That’s three pound in about five days I think so im happy. For me keeping it low carb seems to be the thing that’s made the real difference. Weirdly even though I’m really old I’ve never really counted carbs. I’ve tried Atkins and not lost weight but keeping protein low/moderate and keeping starches/grains very low seems to be the order of the day.

Yesterday I had to two courgettes spiralised and mixed with a boil in the bag fish in a butter sauce with sunflower seeds sprinkled on top.

Then dinner I had three small eggs scrambled with mozzarella sprinkled on top with salad. I was by no means perfect and also had a teaspoon of almond butter, some milk and a roast beef slice lol. So I might need to crack down more on the naughtier bits as time goes on. I’m prepared for that though. It’s a journey of new habits.

"It’s a journey of new habits."

Very much so! I made a pudding last night, so another day over budget, which is a habit I must snap out of. Now that I'm close to goal weight, starting to get lazy. Need a week of discipline. If @thenewaveragebear1983 is going to be holding well-earned radio silence for three weeks, maybe all of us others should step up and keep the chat going until she bounces back refreshed and reinvigorated.

I did want to ask advice on what to do if you finish your meal but still don’t feel satisfied. That’s when I ended up having a spoonful of almond butter or some milk. Does anyone else get that and what do you have in place of a pudding or piece of fruit?

"Does anyone else get that and what do you have in place of a pudding or piece of fruit?"

Do get it, but get it even when not hungry. Stomach usually feels full after evening meal - had creamy fish bake last night, felt satiated. Think craving is purely psychological in origin, not driven by need. Mouth just wants something contrasting, maybe?

If have any calorie budget left, enjoy small piece of good cheese, but needs to be weighed carefully as quite calorific. Raisins, nuts, etc. are same - caution required. Quarter of an apple would probably do trick (sweet, but only 15-20 cals), but apples go brown when cut, so hard to save remainder.

Ideally need to get out of habit of expecting dessert, of course, but have struggled with that.

@justanotherneighinparadise ideally not fruit. That 'not satisfied' feeling is partly a conditioned response to always eating something sweet after a meal. If it's genuine hunger, that's different but it's unlikely to be (as you've just eaten a meal!). Sometimes though I eat and think 'that didn't touch the sides' or 'that wasn't what I wanted' in which case some sharp cheese can finish off the tastebuds a little bit. You can have Greek yoghurt and a few nuts (I like pecans because they taste very sweet) and a few berries as a proper pudding. Or a herbal tea? Mint or liquorice I find are nice and sweet tasting.

Thanks all for your kind words. I will be back I promise. I think I just need to give my head a good clear out! Lockdown has not been great for me. I'm not going to go off the rails and eat loads of sugar though, quite the opposite. I think I'm going to just go 'abundant whole foods' , no calorie counting, stick to no grains and try and cut out alcohol completely for a few weeks. And break my addiction to my bathroom scales!

And yes, as @outwest says, please do keep the threads going. They have helped so many people over the years, I joined in thread 3 I think. They aren't 'mine' and it would be lovely for someone to restart the next one if this one fills up, feel free to copy/paste the opening posts.

Today I'm really looking forward to a normal day. My dc are going to granny's and dh and I are going out shopping and for lunch, a meal tonight in an actual pub...oh my! So excited! Off to bootcamp this morning, think this is my 7th one in two weeks and I am not aching all over any more. Small mercies and all that....

Have a great day you lovely lot

Come back soon! 🤞

I’ve just had such a lovely big lunch for hardly any cals/ carbs. I’ll attach a photo.

Fish and sauce - 120 kcal 6.2g carbs
Bare naked protein noodles- 45kcal 0.3 carbs
Mangetout - 14kcal 1.1 carbs
Sprinkling sunflower seeds - not sure lol

So my estimate would be around 200 cals, maybe s bit more. Carbs around 8g. Really chuffed!

Who knew??

Interesting. Read somewhere that he has/had longstanding problem with insomnia, but did not look into it as not an issue for me.

@Justasecondnow - It depends the type of takeaway - it is possible of you get Indian - Chicken Tikka for example, and a bit of Tarka Dhal is fine.

My sleep deteriorated once I had children and isn’t great now at 45. I find sugar keeps me awake as I feel ‘wired’ low carb does seem to help with my sleep. I’d be interested in reading the book.

@thenewaveragebear1983 you’ll be missed!! I think it’s easy to become ‘obsessed’. Some time out will do you the world of good. You’ll be impressed to know that I did Adrienne’s yoga AND a 30 min session of Emi Wong (after saying I would back in January following recommendations from yourself and @PhoenixMama, I think). Both good. Also had an hours brisk dog walk and a bit of a hit of tennis with the kids. So a lot of exercise for me! Broke my fast at 1pm with a burger and veg (courgette & pepper). Dinner was BBQ ribs and chicken wings and salad and corn cobs. Mortified that corn cob is 32g carbs!!! One blinking cob!! Rather annoyed.
@justanotherneighinparadise Does anyone else get that and what do you have in place of a pudding or piece of fruit? I’m pretty sure this is a sign of insulin resistance. I get this loads and haven’t had a pudding after dinner routine since I was at school. I try to ignore it as it can set off a bit of a snack fest. I find a drink of tonic helps (sometimes no gin). I think it’s wanting a different flavour in the mouth as @outwest says. It’s certainly nothing to do with hunger.
Im more than happy to keep an eye on the threads and start new ones as this has been a huge support for me. Also my first ‘diet’.

Closing at 780 cals-ish.
Miserable rainy day, couldn't get anything done outside.
Usual breakfast of black coffee, resounding 2 cals.
Lunch was chicken noodle soup, 285 cals.
Dinner was peppered mackerel with stir-fried cabbage (280), plus half can of chickpeas, roasted (150), and mouthful of somebody else's cheese pasta (maybe 10g of each, so 18+43).

outwest - Am making an assumption that the, 'someone else,' was a child's pasta dish? The leftover on the kids plates was so difficult not to eat while cleaning up. (and besides it doesn't count if one is standing, right?) I've now asked the children to do their own dishes or at least shove it into the food bin

Have been so grumpy today - took DS for running training, and him and DD2 had sandwiches en route. Then him and DD1 went for a cycle ride, but he asked for prawn curry, which I made. He then gets back and said he didn't have time as he was going out to play football with his mates

outwest - Am making an assumption that the, 'someone else,' was a child's pasta dish?

Er no comment have right not to incriminate self mumble mumble

Long time lurker here.. Hope I can join this amazing, supportive thread.

Brief bg: I did this around 2 yrs back, and managed to lose 9kg.
Body fat, muscle mass etc was in good order.

Then life happened and emotional consequences thereof.and .had some health setbacks too ...Did maintain it alright for an year, within a margin of 2kgs or thereabouts: primarily by doing TRE, and avoiding the obvious carb heavy stuff and avoiding snacking. These had become a habit more or less.

This time last year gained a lot..Small things, but they soon add up and more importantly, set off cravings, leading to further damage;
Simple case : Coffee with milk and 2 sugars ; I had this every morning; and soon, it will be another and another..by afternoon, I had already had 560 calories in just those coffees!! It wasn't just that..it led to constant grazing.

So, I was back to square 1 as it were

After a few false starts, started on 8th June; when I started: needed to lose 14kgs to get to normal weight range (at least as per BMI method).
Have lost 3kgs..Yes, it has been painfully slow, the weight loss.
I have kept to 800-900 and done an hour's walk 95% of this time. No major blow outs either. But, plodding on..As without this, I would have not lost those 3 kgs either and who knows might have added more..!

For me, this time around,
it has been about the process !

The weight loss will happen eventually,...or at least, I hope it will. Another 11 kgs to lose.

My first target is 5kgs and I will be hugely happy to get there, that will be ; Yes, I am 43, its going to take longer, for sure. Body has been at this weight for nearly 18 years now. So, got to be patient!

But, I can safely say that I am more with the process despite the slow slow loss. I am finding it hugely educational this time and just being mindful to see what foods trigger cravings and what doesn't and those sorts of things. Also, I am coping hugely better with not falling into the trap of emotional eating this time. With age comes wisdom, perhaps

I am vegetarian and don't eat eggs either; not vegan though. But, over time, have worked out choices that are low carb and keeps me full for longer. Don't drink alcohol; so, in a way, have it easy. But, its the snacking, portion sizes and dealing-with-hunger/cravings ..!

Doing TRE for 15-16 hrs every day and have made the tough transition to black (or nearly black ) coffee .

Great to see so many of you making this journey to healthy eating and fitness. Have a good Sunday everyone and hope to keep posting, not just reading

Sorry folks ..Thats turned out to be a very very long post!