Zoe Nutrition Testing

[Wombat27A]

Not sure this is the right place for this...

Anyone else doing the Zoe Nutrition Testing?

My results were poor, so now I'm tackling my diet. I thought it was pretty good but it's clear it needs a major overhaul. So much information but finding it good.🙂

Yes, that’s right. The glucose monitor is in your arm for 2 weeks, there’s also a blood finger prick test to do and poo sample. I seem to remember if you don’t have a compatible phone they will send you a sensor reader to read the glucose monitor with and you have to post back to them when you’re done. I’m not sure how you’d see the up to date graph of your glucose levels if you don’t have a compatible phone. Maybe the reader can show you?!

The monitor is also useful to see how your normal diet effects your blood sugar if the two weeks. This is the bit that has been a massive eye opener to me! I’m just at the end of the two weeks now.

Hello lovely ones. Checking in to say hello, fine out how people are doing.

Interesting chat re hrt - I had drs appointment on Friday actually but we have discussed a few lifestyle changes first plus done thyroid checks as I am in a grey area symptom wise. Then back in a few months. Dr was very interested in Zoe and asked lots of questions. She was interested in the cgm and the poo results especially.

I got a message on the app that the gut busters were changing. Didn't really make much difference except to our walnuts higher up which I am allergic to.

I am still finding it hard to manage in real life. I am having g quite a few work meetings/events which involve lunch or alcohol or very long days and good choice is limited. But I'm trying to do better not perfect (so dark choc almonds rather than crisps and flapjacks). I had a shite couple of weeks and felt weight go back on with the refined carbs and sweet treats and felt heaps worse which was interesting.

I do think the glucose monitor is really additive and I'd recommend finding some way some how to get the app to work. It's hugely helpful to see individual blood sugar responses.

Thanks both!

I wondered using my partner's phone would work BUT would that mean his data (name, phone no etc) would be collected and not mine.

I think that using your partners phone would work because you have to download a different app to read the monitor and the Zoe app gives you the log in details to link them together as you. So if one or both of the apps are on your partners device I don’t think it would matter.

@JulietDorney I think @psed is right and the app can be registered to you. Seeing the blood sugar responses was so helpful, it's been a huge plus for me.

@lugeforlife I had my thyroid levels checked too before I started HRT, I hadn't realised so many symptoms were also possibly thyroid related.

I'm travelling next week and I think will have varying levels of control over what I eat. Hopefully more options than my last trip which were very skimpy on any vegetable matter. I'm planning on a good breakfast at the airport at least, I've never had high hopes of plane food, never mind for Zoe. Although I did see a Glucose Goddess post on eating in the right order, so I'll keep that in mind next week. I'm a bit nervous of feeling ropey if too many carbs are involved so hopefully that will strengthen my very weak resolve!

Thanks both!

I have another question!

I've 2 days now before my invite expires and I'm still wondering whether to shell out £300 (minimum).

The doubts I have are

• I'm not overweight at all BMI at the low end

• I've been doing the 30 plants a week now for around 7 months, following Tim's ideas

• I have some food intolerances (dairy even lactose free and gluten )that I manage.

• I don't eat many carbs anyway (I put weight on very fast if I eat carbs), I'm in my 60s and tend to be apple-shaped if I eat too much.

• I'm a bit worried about scoffing 3 muffins as they are shown as over 1000 cals just for them, and in a normal day my calorie intake is around 1500, and I don't like really sweet food.

My plan for joining was to see how my body reacts to glucose and how my gut microbiome is, but in reality I can't see what changes I'd make to my diet compared to what I'm doing now.

Any ideas?

to see how my body reacts to glucose and how my gut microbiome is

I think that it really depends on how much you have already leaned about this area. If you are entirely new to the subject, the Zoe package is comprehensive and the info packages in a way that is very easy to absorb.

Based on my own experience, as someone who has been following all the Zoe nutrition information I could get my hands on, reading Tim's book and following the podcasts, now I have seen the results and experienced the coaching, I would not sign up for the whole study.

The most useful things for me were the continuous glucose monitor, which can be purchased direct from

https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/products/mobile-app-librelink1.html

The gut tests were also interesting but didn't show anything different to others I have tried over the recent times. There are now also loads available, as a one off or on subscription I've used a number of different ones including chuckling goat Google will throw up a range along with some articles which clarify the limitations.

I have made some radical changes to by way of eating and am not keen on making any more changes at the moment. I was interested to see that it performed well against the tests but I did not bother with many of the 'challenges' suggested by the programme because I knew what impact they would have and that I would not feel well for the experience.

That's really helpful @FinallyHere .

I've been listening to the Zoe podcasts etc and T's youtube videos etc for ages, as well as reading a lot of his research papers.

I can't see how many changes I could make really, as I've been doing the 30 plants for a long time ( some foods do upset my guts, like the onion family, and I'm not keen at all on fermented foods but try to have some.)

I'm wondering though about my fat control as there is CVD on my mum's side of the family. she was put on statins after a mini stroke in her 80s, and both her brother and mother died from CVD (quite young.)

Does the testing help with that? (Or would I be better off saving £300 and buying more oily fish with it?!)

Oh yes, there was a fat test, sorry forgot to mention that. My results were entirely in line with what I expected there too. I suppose it is a good sign that the Zoe project results confirm what I had rather painfully and slowly worked out about my own body but know I know, there really isn't much for the Zoe people to add.

Is the fat test a blood finger prick

Yes, fat test finger blood sample. Took me a while to get enough blood to fill the sample receiver.

Thanks so much for all your help today!

I'm still sitting on the fence but slightly on the 'won't bother' side.

I had real issues trying to get a finger blood sample for an iron test- have very small hands and there was no way I could fill the phial!

I guess that although the info from Zoe might be interesting, I'm pushed to think of what I'd change with my food now as I eat really healthily anyway.

Hi, following this all with great interest as I signed up earlier in the week (went for the 4 months coaching option) and am excitedly awaiting the arrival of my box! They’ve suggested it’s taking 2-3 weeks at the moment though, so that’s a pain, and I’m wondering if the postal strikes might interfere with it too. Anyway I’m reading along whilst I wait 👋

Ps I have 3 referral codes if anyone’s wanting to sign up too.

@MadameLeotta It might come quicker. Enjoy!

Fingers crossed it'll be quicker @MadameLeotta

Thanks - I really hope so, just want to get going 🤩

Hello does anyone have a referral code please?

Are you sorted?

If not pm me, as people still haven't used mine. 😁

Nosey to find out what radical changes you made?

Checking in.
I'm on Day 5 now.
Random musings:
I'm doing this to get a general health check and some pointers on weight management.
I've completed the tests.
The worst one for me was probably the first batch of muffins.
I had some difficulty with the blood test and went through three fingers and lancets - but it's ended my fear of doing these types of tests in the future.
I'm enjoying the glucose monitor. Yesterday I started to feel really hungry, did the test which showed I was in the red, so that was interesting.
I've abandoned my diet during this to try and see what normal eating looks like for me.
I'm looking forward to the gut results!

@GrimDamnFanjo

Nosey to find out what radical changes you made?

The cgm showed just how much simple sugars and starches spike my blood sugar and just how long it takes to me to recover from that sort of 'shock'.

I've not really eaten anything sweetened since then and have also swerved bread, rice, potatoes etc. I have managed to develop a taste for unsweetened stewed rhubarb, which makes a great accompaniment for roast duck.

I've eaten at least 30 different foods each week, mostly based on a FLGV (full load green veg) with some meat and butter plus oil & vinegar dressing
and drunk loads of water.

All of me feels much better than I have done for ages. I'm sleeping really well. My skin has cleared up and I'm the only person I know who hasn't picked up any bugs like a cold over the summer and into autumn.

I've always been a slave to my sweet tooth. That is no longer true, I'm very glad to say. I finally (sic) feel like a responsible adult

It's compatible with the Zoe recommendations but a bit more radical.

Wow!
That's amazing!
You've made some really well informed changes.

Did you do any of the food tests or did you monitor your regular diet..

@Wombat27A lovely, once you finish with the coaching do you lose access to the tracking? I had assumed so but my coaching today said 'will you keep tracking once it's over'. I

@lugeforlife

I can still track, just put in tonight's tea, eek. But tonight's tea was a bit of nostagia and to use up some bacon. :-)

It does ask for the daily check too.

I'm interested in what full load green veg, sounds interesting?

I think my diet is changed for the better, not perfect but definitely different.