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!

My results are in, and I basically suck. Blood sugar control - Bad. Blood fat control - Poor.
But my poo is exemplary.

Anyone had both bad blood sugar and fat? What have you ended up eating?

@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool well this just means that the only way is up I suppose! When were you supposed to receive your results? Wondering if they came earlier than the date on app indicated?

Is it what you expected at all? I'm sure mine will be equally as bad tbh

@BusyBeeBB you can buy them from Amazon / boots / loads of places

Mine were due on the 11th, so a few
days early.
I’m not too surprised at the blood sugar - the sensor showed all sorts of crazy peaks and dips - but I was hoping my fats might be a bit more
average. Sob.
What I don’t quite understand is why, if my gut microbiome is do exemplary, the rest of me is so shite.

@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool so gut biome very good then? Hmm.

How can you measure that your blood fat level is improving? I take it that would be another blood test down the line

I've a feeling I'll be joining you very shortly. Were you emailed the results or found them in the app?

@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool
Well done for your great 💩

@BatFaceOwl The results are emailed. It’s weird, though - you don’t get the full food recommendations until you officially start your “program”. Presumably this is so they can take the subscription fee before giving up the good stuff.

@LulooLemon At last, something to be proud of! Maybe I’ll get a certificate. 😂

What are they called? I've signed up, but my test is not until June, so I wonder if I can at least buy sensors and start to get an idea of how things work and what I'm like re: insulin sensitivity, as diabetes runs rife in my family.

@BusyBeeBB have you signed up to the full program where they send you one?

I don't think I'd buy one before the program as it'll just make little sense without the guidance and program to go alongside it

I signed up to do the test for nearly £300 and a membership afterwards, but it will start in June. Is that what I should have done? I ticked no for sharing my data, though...

@BusyBeeBB yes you'll get your sensor in June with your pack so I really wouldn't try and start now from a testing point of view

Morning, has anyone made the Zoe bread that they shared on Instagram? I'm keen to give it a bash but will have to buy most of the ingredients so don't want to bother if the verdict is that it's not very nice.

Hi there, reading the thread with interest and also being told it will be June before I could start.

Could anyone who has completed the initial stage advise what the most valuable aspects were of the program. Did the stool analysis add anything of value to the change in your eating habits or was it more about the Blood Sugar monitoring?

i have read all the Zoe blurb as well as these posts and still haven’t totally got my head around which aspects of the programme I will find most useful.

I have tried a variation of it. I can personally take it or leave it. Though I found it makes for a good cracker substitute when toasted for like bruschetta. My friends cannot get enough of the recipe and make it regularly!
I don't actually get my kit until April but implementing and learning from those I know in the process already!

I started in December - for me the gut analysis was the most important as it explained why I had so much stomach fat, despite being a healthy BMI. I was missing the good gut bacteria that handle visceral fat - and had MASSES of the bad one associated with visceral fat.

Since starting I have lost 4kg, the waist:height ratio is now good and I have tons more energy.

I have massively increased the variety in my diet, love the Zoe bread. As someone said upthread, I'm never hungry these days, even eating Zoe friendly cake and biscuits. It's been a revelation tbh.

@DianeBrewster Wow! 😲

@DianeBrewster Do you have a recipe for the Zoe bread? I’m a bit perplexed about what I’m supposed to be eating, bread-wise, as only gram flour is approved for me.

It's on their instagram and Facebook - here's a screenshot. It's small and dense but delicious. I also made a bread using red lentils (photo attached) Soak overnight, purée to a thickish paste - like a runny cake mix. Leave to ferment for a few days if you like a sourdough type flavour. Season well, I added seeds, like nigella, and bake. Excellent with dips and soups.

Thank you, @DianeBrewster !

Well I got my results and all I can say is

Oh Batface... I have a feeling I'll be joining you in your dismay when I get mine. 🫤

@LulooLemon hmph. I doubt you'll be as bad as me. I sort of expected it tbh but seeing it in black and white was quite the shock

Blood sugar control - poor

Blood fat control - bad

Microbiome diversity - bad

Made me quite pleased about the poor as it's graded excellent, good, poor , bad 😀

Oh oh hang on! I tell a lie - I read the gut one wrong

My microbiome is actually ok. Medium and at the high end of that so 'almost' high.

So that's something I suppose

If blood sugar control is bad and blood fat control is bad, is there anything a person can do to improve them?

Or do you just have to suck it up and choose food accordingly?

I’ve a horrible feeling it’s mostly a case of sucking it up and choosing food accordingly. And exercising.