ZOE NUTRITION NEW THREAD- anyone want to join in?

[LisaLovedUp]

I've started a new thread as my previous one was titled for techie stuff.
If anyone is fairly new to this please join in and we can share!

I am now on Day 4. All tests done and now recording my food each day. It takes me ages as my phone is slow (needs replacing) and some things I eat aren't listed (it relies a lot on packaged foods.)

eg yesterday I made a veggie curry and the only options were branded readymade ones so I just had to pick one I felt was close enough, rather than itemise every veggie in the one I made.

I noticed this as some 'negative' feedback on another platform.

Has everyone/anyone done the advanced health questionnaire? I started it but gave up. I felt it was more for their data gathering (which is fine to an extent) but also very intrusive and I didn't want to give my personal medical history when it may not be 100% safe from hackers.

I'm going to feedback on this to them.

My blood sugar readings so far are in the 4 - 5.4 range mainly although on a couple of mornings it was below 4. The highest was 7.3 after a sweet dessert ( a one-off for me - out with friends) plus ice cream.

Any tips from more experienced users welcome!

Hi
Has anyone got a referral code please?
Thanks

@Sundayscented joinzoe.mention-me.com/m/ol/ud6fj-9746352440

I'm thinking about signing up to this. Can I ask how the blood sugar sensor works? Does it just stick onto your skin with tape / glue? Or with mini needles? Feeling a bit squeamish about the practicalities.

Don't worry- it' s fine!

If you look online (nothing to do with Zoe) for the Libre freestyle blood glucose sensor, there are some photos and there is also a youtube video of how to apply it.

It didn't hurt me.

The sensor is the size of a 10p coin.

It fits into a 'cup' that's in the kit and you press the cup against your arm and the sensor is pushed into place. There is a tiny needle in it but you really don't feel a thing. You then cover the sensor with a big sticky patch, provided.

Then you use your phone to scan the sensor several times a day (at least once every 8 hours.)

Thank you. That's really helpful.

I got my results a week ago. Sugar processing terrible, fat processing poor, gut health good. Which I knew really, because otherwise I wouldn't be over 100kg and on statins even though I cook everything from scratch, eat loads of veg and exercise daily.

This first week has been a challenge. I've battled my weight with low-carb before, which I could do for a bit because of the culinary compensations of eating fat. But I score so badly for carbs (including brown ones) and meat that I am really having to focus on pulses. I've managed to score 75+ on four days so far, and have lost 1.5kgs ( I know it isn't meant to be about weight-loss, but this is important for me). I am finding it interesting and helpful for now though, although the novelty may well wear off. And we are off to the pub tomorrow...

That's interesting @MsRinky. I've signed up for February. I suspect my sugar processing won't be great. Do they offer any suggestions for how you can improve it as opposed to just not have sugar or are you just stuck with it? I don't have processed sugar anyway, but I do sometimes have carbs and fruit and would like to know what difference does they make to me. Well done on your good gut health though!

Box received today and I have scheduled Sunday as my test day as I will be staying close to home. I've been doing the Zoe intermittent fasting exercise for the last couple of weeks but plan to go back to my Normal eating pattern whilst I am doing the Zoe Nutrition tests, except for when I have to follow the instructions.

I'm keen to read about others' experiences. I am a normal weight but store fat around my middle. I wonder whether my fat processing will come back as an issue, although this could also be a carb issue or just my genetic body shape.

I can't say I'm looking forward to the muffins. I don't have much of a sweet tooth and they look a bit bleeuuurgh. Eating all of them at once is going to be a challenge. Looking forward to fitting my Libre tomorrow and hoping I may be able to convince my fil who has T1DM to get one as he has been putting it off.

Hi, thanks for starting this thread, it will be really good to hear about other people’s experience of the process. I had the last day of my cgm on Tuesday and am now basically just waiting for my results…

I've just finished the 2 week testing phase so waiting for results too.

Agree OP, the food logging is really not good at all. I ate out a couple of times and didn't know how to log it and they just said "log as closely as you can" when I asked about it.

I'm also struggling to add my recipes unless I'm actually eating one. I'd like to get organised and save the meals I eat most often but it doesn't seem to be possible. Again, the chat was no help and just said it will be easier when I get my results. I'm pretty unimpressed with the customer service so far given what I've paid but I'm hoping the results will give me some useful insights. Pretty sure my blood sugar control will be awful.

Oh, so glad to see some other newcomers here.

I'm still on the BGM and about 10 days in.

I was shocked and sad to find that the highest reading so far 7.9 was after what I thought was a fairly healthy chicken roast dinner. I had ONE small potato, peas, cabbage, carrots, gravy and chicken.

My glucose was higher than with a veggie curry & brown rice, followed by a small mince pie and ice cream!

CHALLENGES- HOW'S ANYONE GETTING ON?

I haven't done many of the challenges simply because it really mucks up my eating patterns. I don't really want to eat dry bread, or porridge made with water - always have eggs for breakfast or yoghurt/ fruit.

I tried a slice of gluten free bread for breakfast and that whacked up my glucose. very fast. Have I repeated with it with my other chosen food- nut butter- no, not yet. Oat cakes with nut butter seem fine - BGC staying around 4.5

I find the choices pretty hard to go with - the quantities are much higher than I'd normally eat (I'm a size 8-10) , so any of the challenges I am reducing to 1/3rd of the amount.

I'm on a low carb diet anyway, and think that's what suits me, but I guess I'd like to know if eating fat or protein before will reduce my glucose scores.
I guess I'm slightly lacking in enthusiasm to muck up my usual meals by trying the challenges.

Anyone here done them?

Blood glucose- can anyone help here?

I talked to them on chat and didn't get much of an answer.

I wanted to know if the actual score was important, or if the rate at which it fell was more important.

There is some info online that any increase after eating should be no more than 1.9 on your fasting score. (ie a small spike.)

Anyone know anything?

I was the same with the challenges, didn't want to muck up what I normally eat by testing so I didn't really do them. I was also quite shocked at the spike I had after potatoes, it was higher than the 3 slices of white bread!

Interesting @FancyFelix Today I have tried toast and nut butter for breakfast so I am combining fat/ carbs. Will see if that is much different to carbs alone.

I knew anyway that all carbs in any shape or form will raise BG but it was still interesting to see that a savoury meal- fish fingers/ small handful of oven chips- raised it as much/ more than a sweet desert (mince pie/ ice cream- small portions.)

I'm still waiting to discover HOW high a spike is relevant, or if it's more about how quickly your body clears the glucose (and how often you are putting your body through the spikes every day.)

I’ve tried to add a photo of some information I had on one of my daily ‘lessons’ around blood glucose from Zoe, which seems to suggest anything between 3.9-7.8 during the day is fine.

With the challenges, I did 1 or 2 (and found that exercise after carbs had a really good impact on flattening the curve) but mostly just used it to try out the foods I regularly eat. I often don’t eat breakfast so it changed my daily routine too much to start adding in oats or bread first thing.

Libre now implanted! My DH 'helped' me to apply ( I think he enjoyed it). He then told me the needle was massive in it and I still don't know if he was joking 🙈

It feels a bit weird now it is in, but I'm sure I'll forget about it soon.

@MadameLeotta That's great, thanks. I think all my readings are within those limits. I'd need to check as there may have been one 7.9, but it always falls very quickly back to my 'normal' level of around 4.6

@Wazzzzzuuuuuuup Yes, I had DH implant mine too! I was dreading it but it was fine. (The needle is tiny.) I had to cut some of the patch away because it was too far under my arm (bingo wing area) and kept pulling. I now forget it's there, so you will get used to it. I reckon the worst bit will be pulling the plaster off.

Hi everyone, I'm at the end of my testing and need to take my sensor off today (putting it off as feeling a bit squeamish about it). In a bit of denial about losing my sensor as I've enjoyed looking at it although in honesty I've learned very little despite being fascinated. I'm wondering if my reaction to potatoes is bad too as my two biggest spikes were after eating fries. I've found it harder to isolate food items like that to test so assume getting the scores will make that easier.

I was really unwell for the main week of tests with a really horrible gastro bug so hoping that hasn't screwed up my results, particularly my gut bug test. Eating the muffins while feeling vommy was very difficult and I still feel queasy thinking about it.

Sorry to hear about your bug @texican - what rotten timing.
I guess you should maybe tell them about that and they could offer a re-run of the gut test when you are 100%?

Like you, I don't feel I've learned much with the sensor but it's confirmed that any carbs- in savoury or sweet dishes- have the same BG value for me, mostly.

So fish fingers covered in refined carbs are pretty much the same as a small mince pie!

I was shocked at the spike I got with 1 slice of gluten free bread ( 7 and a bit and VERY fast), whereas oat cakes are okay for me and my reading didn't budge much over 4.6

I also had a bit of a spike nudging 7 with lentil pasta ( better than corn pasta I assumed.)

really pleased to find this thread (good old MN!) I've just done the poo sample and eaten the breakfast muffins - god that was a challenge! I don't eat breakfast, have been doing the Zoe IF study so generally not eating until 1pm, and even when I do - never muffins. Frankly I though they were foul and I am not looking forward to the lunch muffins.

I feel lightheaded and low energy - a quick scan of the blood sugar shows it's dropped right down - though mine seems to be (so far) very low, dipping below the "normal" band 4 times already. Cue massive googling session on low blood sugar!

I was going to walk the dogs this morning, as this is not "strenuous" exercise- but it will probably be a very short walk as I really feel bleugh. Hopefully that will wear off.

I was very nervous about the blood sugar monitor - but it genuinely didn't hurt at all, not so much as a pin prick. Just felt the pressure of the applicator.

@TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish Good luck! Yes the muffins were awful BUT the lunch ones are lighter and easier IMO.

I was also so hungry having eaten only the horrid refined carbs of the brekkie ones that I tucked into them!

I hated that day as it really messed up my eating. The calories of the 5 muffins almost equalled what I'd eat in a day !

I was desperate to get some 'real' food later in the day.

I read one of the lessons that said 41% of people have glucose levels below 4, first thing in the morning. (Mine's been 3.9 a few times.)

And that it is normal.

Don't exercise too much as this day is supposed to be a put your feet up and watch the clock till after lunch.

Well I've now had the lunch ones - and yes, a bit easier to eat, but I had to force them down as I really wasn't hungry. Really really looking forward to real food tonight!

It's telling me I don't need to track Black tea and coffee in my journal - what journal? Should I have a journal?

Hi All,
So glad o found this thread 🙂
Has anyone found a clear schedule of what happens when?

I've scheduled my day 1 for tomorrow, and inding it a right faff looking through the FAQs to have some idea what to expect. It would be nice to have a clear schedule in one place, to be prepared for what happens and what foods to have ready etc, but I haven't been able to find that. So glad to take screenshots from the app to have some idea. Is it just me who's missed something really obvious??

Sorry for the fat-finger typing!

Hi @SallySailor I agree. My feedback is going to include the suggestion that there should be a copy of the timeline online, as a doc, to print off, or read at least, showing the schedule, rather than relying on the app.

I would have liked to see a complete timeline of the first two weeks without having to log-in to the app every day and get bite-sized info.

Here goes...

Day 1 is about applying your sensor and it calibrates overnight. Not much else.

Day 2 is quite heavy. I think, you start by collecting your poo sample, but this can be the next day if that works better. (or you might do it on Day 3 - sorry- have forgotten already!)

Breakfast - eating the muffins for breakfast and not doing much else before lunch (more muffins.) They say a bit of gentle walking is okay but nothing too energetic as it will mess with the blood test results.

You eat your muffins for lunch and allow a few hours (app tells you) before doing your blood test.

You don't eat any 'real' food that day until you have eaten all muffins, so that brings it up to about 2.30pm (or did for me.)

You need to post the poo and blood sample off ideally the day they were collected, or next day latest.

There's quite a lot of timing involved in eating the muffins, leaving the gap between them, taking blood, getting to the post box, etc.

I work from home and would advise anyone doing this to wait for a weekend or take holiday as you can't possibly do it from work.

Meanwhile you log all your meals on the app- this is for 3 days only, minimum, using their data base of foods. You need to log when you ate the food, how much (grams etc) and what you ate/drank. This info goes back to them along with your samples .

The tricky bit of this is their app includes a lot of ready meals, so homemade versions are harder to log. I spent ages trying to log a homemade veggie curry ( didn't exist on the website) and in the end had to choose a packaged version that was near-enough.

You also have to give them some info about what your typical day's food looks like- breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snacks.