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Original poster

ZOE NUTRITION NEW THREAD- anyone want to join in?

509 replies

LisaLovedUp · 20/11/2022 08:37

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!

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SierraSapphire · 31/01/2023 08:55

@MrJellyBelly Ah yes I didn’t mean the muffins I more meant the other challenges. I’ve got some specific stuff like I take berberine for blood sugar level, so I’d be interested to know whether that actually makes a difference, and also things like the difference between sourdough bread and wholemeal bread if there is any. It’s more like I would rather interpret the challenges in a way that fits more with what I actually eat.

I’ve just put the blood sugar monitor on in preparation for the muffins tomorrow!

texican · 31/01/2023 09:15

@SierraSapphire I didn't do any of the challenges (apart from the muffins) but if you continue to log all the food you have in the two weeks with the CGM you will get more detailed info on those foods with you report. I found that more useful than forcing myself to eat loads of dry toast or plain rice when I don't normally eat either anyway. I get the concept though and can see why it could be interesting.

SierraSapphire · 31/01/2023 09:27

@texican Yes that's exactly what I mean - I pretty much never eat rice or pasta, I have some bread occasionally, but I don't eat much in the way of carbs. I would be interested to eat something, e.g. veg chilli one day on its own and one day with a bit of rice added to see if if makes a difference, as that's more a real life question that I have, but I think we pretty much know that sequencing or combining other foods with carbs reduces their impact. Good to see it will be helpful for the stuff that I actually eat.

UtahGirl12 · 31/01/2023 12:29

Thanks for the referral codes. I’m still very undecided. I think I would have signed up immediately if it had been instant. I’m loathe to shell out what is for me a considerable amount if cash now when I won’t see anything till June! I’m going to delve a bit more into Tim Spector in the meantime, whilst I decide.

MrJellyBelly · 31/01/2023 17:41

UtahGirl12 · 31/01/2023 12:29

Thanks for the referral codes. I’m still very undecided. I think I would have signed up immediately if it had been instant. I’m loathe to shell out what is for me a considerable amount if cash now when I won’t see anything till June! I’m going to delve a bit more into Tim Spector in the meantime, whilst I decide.

Hi @UtahGirl12 - a good place to start is with the Zoe Podcasts, they are accessible and easy to watch on YouTube to get a sense of what Zoe is all about. Otherwise, if you have the time, then his books are well worth a read, they are quite heavy going at times but it was through reading his first book called 'The Diet Myth' that I became convinced that personal nutrition was the future, and that was before Zoe was even on the radar in the UK.

Like or loathe Zoe, I think personalized nutrition will be the norm in 10-15 years through a variety of companies. I think it will leach into the health service and become far more accessible and cheaper than it is now too. It's just logical, we all react differently to the food we put inside us and the old-fashioned message of calories- in-calories-out or 2000-25000 calories per day for a woman/man irrespective of your circumstances is just plain wrong nowadays.

That's just my learning and experience of trying it though - others will no doubt have different experiences.

UtahGirl12 · 31/01/2023 18:50

Thanks @MrJellyBelly . I’ve just downloaded the Diet Myth on my Kindle now, and I will also listen to the podcasts. I’ve also started following the Glucose Goddess on Instagram after seeing her recommended on the Zoe fb group. My husband is Type 2 diabetic and I’ve been fascinated with what I’ve seen so far!

LulooLemon · 07/02/2023 17:04

Just received my kit and I start tomorrow! Any tips welcome 🙂🙂🙂

LulooLemon · 08/02/2023 12:18

Blood sugar monitor on, breakfast muffins forced down.

I'm craving something fresh for my next meal, but I guess it will have to be more delicious Zoe muffins. 🤨🤣

thekingfisher · 13/02/2023 08:29

Anyone else just started ? I've just competed the first muffin consumption. Was OK until about halfway through and the last half were definitely a test!
Has anyone got results back yet as curious to get a sense of the information I'll find out.

LulooLemon · 13/02/2023 08:45

The lunchtime ones are easier 🙂

thekingfisher · 13/02/2023 12:18

Thanks ! - just eaten them 😓that was a bit of a challenge.
Had to wash them down with some black coffee but done now!
Just for blood test then all done for the day .... phew !

UtahGirl12 · 13/02/2023 12:27

I won’t get my pack till June so living vicariously through this!

FinallyHere · 13/02/2023 13:35

focus more on analysing the meals that I normally eat in with a few experiments in varying the ingredients or timing.

@SierraSapphire

This is exactly the approach I took.

In the months between originally signing up and receiving the kit, I stumbled upon a way of eating which seemed to really work well for me. I was much more interested in finding out how this way of eating scored than doing their standard tests

I found the glucose monitor very helpful, the zoe scores less so. Having read every scrap of info I could get my hands on before starting , there wasn't anything fields the app could teach me.

SierraSapphire · 13/02/2023 14:11

Thanks @FinallyHere - that's what I did in the end. There weren't any massive surprises for me. Some reassurance that dark chocolate after meals doesn't seem to make any difference, neither does my protein smoothie although it does have a banana in it. Granary bread seems to have the least effect out of all the breads I've tried (I don't eat much bread anyway) and also have some Bio and Me granola that doesn't do much. Some snacks that were nut-based I hoped would not have much effect but they did, disappointingly! Also the coconut milk that I have because it's organic and doesn't have all sorts of crap in it spikes my sugar quite highly (the rice I suppose) whereas the one with sugar and additives doesn't (has oil in it I think). I finish tomorrow and then just need to wait for my results. I think I eat a "cleaner" diet than Zoe allows for but it will still be interesting - especially the microbiome results.

FinallyHere · 13/02/2023 18:50

Glad you found it worked for reassurance @SierraSapphire

I too find eating more strictly low sugar than Zoe advocate works for me now. I suspect that if may have something to do with my stage in life, as I am now much less active than I was even in my twenties.

OldTrot · 14/02/2023 17:14

Can anyone advise on when the gut health / blood test results come back? I know they say to allow 6 weeks but what were people's experiences?

Thanks!

Neolara · 17/02/2023 14:46

They told me my results were due on 24th Feb, but the arrived about a week ago, nearly 2 weeks earlier than predicted, and about 3 1/2 weeks after testing day.

despondentatwork · 23/02/2023 23:30

Popped my Libre sensor on 15 mins ago all geared up to start tomorrow...and put my own details into the Libre App THEN read I was supposed to add the ones they provided. Have I ruined it?? No option to edit & as I've scanned the sensor I don't think it'll pair with the app if I delete and download it again??? Bugger.

Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 24/02/2023 06:39

@OldTrot my results were one day late, but this was over the Christmas period. It seems a lot of people are getting their results in less than 6 w currently

Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 24/02/2023 06:40

@despondentatwork message the team on the Zoe app. They may be able to link the details you registered with your zoe account

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 24/02/2023 07:41

Glad to have found you guys. I signed up in January and was told I’d have to wait until April… <drums fingers on table…>

Good to get an insight into what’s actually involved.

Sooverthemill · 24/02/2023 09:43

Does anyone have a referral code?

towardsexperience · 24/02/2023 12:56

@Sooverthemill joinzoe.mention-me.com/m/ol/gj8pg-7d9e4c9d9c
Feel free to try mine if youd like. I think theyre still doing a free month for you and the referee when you sign up. x

BusyBeeBB · 27/02/2023 09:10

Hi, I´ve just signed up to Zoe, did you all just do the study or also the follow up membership? If you only did the study, was it helpful on its own?
If you had the membership, was it worth it, what exactly does it add to it?
(I was hoping the blood sugar monitor would be added throughout, but its only by reading this thread that I realise that´s only for the first two weeks now, and I´m regretting signing up for the very expensive membership!)

Anythoughts?

TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish · 27/02/2023 13:06

BusyBeeBB · 27/02/2023 09:10

Hi, I´ve just signed up to Zoe, did you all just do the study or also the follow up membership? If you only did the study, was it helpful on its own?
If you had the membership, was it worth it, what exactly does it add to it?
(I was hoping the blood sugar monitor would be added throughout, but its only by reading this thread that I realise that´s only for the first two weeks now, and I´m regretting signing up for the very expensive membership!)

Anythoughts?

Honestly

I consider this the single biggest investment in my health that I have ever made. I'm late 60's and had resigned myself to a thick waist for life. I've lost over half a stone since xmas, my waist to height ratio is now in the normal range as most of it has gone from that area.

I feel energised, healthy, never hungry, loving the renewed interest in food, not missing the foods that I should only have infrequently, have rediscovered foods that I'd got out of the habit of eating.

Trying not to sound like an evangelical preacher to friends and family Grin

The people who seem to be struggling (I'm in a FB group) are those who are complaining that they can't carry on eating the food they've always eaten and they were "fine" on that diet. 🤷🏼‍♀️ well why did you join the programme?

If someone isn't happy with their diet and general health, and is willing to make the suggested changes, then I think it's a great programme. It really doesn't tell you to do anything that other nutritionists are not saying. Eat more plants, whole foods, less meat, avoid highly processed foods etc.

BUT the testing tweaks that for your body. So my fat handing is bad, I am learning to only eat animal fats in the evening so that my body clears them overnight. I have a bad microbe that is associated with visceral fat - working on feeding the good ones etc.

Like anything you will get out of it what you are willing to put in.

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