Week 10 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the finishing line!

[BIWI]

Morning all. Sorry for the late start to the thread, but I slept in. Then hungry cats had to be fed before I could deal with this!

Anyway here's the spreadsheet for its penultimate outing

Hopefully all good news to report - but never fear, if last week hasn't been great, you still have a few days left to sort that.

Looks like it's going to be a more settled week weather-wise, and hopefully we really will be seeing more and more signs of spring to cheer us all up.

Here's to a great last week

My brain is not working this morning so all these double posts because I can’t remember to put everything in!

Am already downing the water today and have steak and dirty celeriac fries on the menu for dinner so no wrongness today.

A friend of mine was diagnosed T2 this week and is very upset but I lightened her gloom a tiny bit by donating one of my SLC loaves from the freezer. She knows it’s low carb time and will go straight for healthy low carb options as she’s done it before, but obviously when you’re told you’re now diabetic for life it’s a massive blow.

She’s had a hugely stressful two years and on her own admission has leant heavily on the Wrong Food.

Thank you for the thanks!
Actually forgotten what I came on to say!

@Dailyhandtowelwash

My brain is not working this morning so all these double posts because I can’t remember to put everything in!

Am already downing the water today and have steak and dirty celeriac fries on the menu for dinner so no wrongness today.

A friend of mine was diagnosed T2 this week and is very upset but I lightened her gloom a tiny bit by donating one of my SLC loaves from the freezer. She knows it’s low carb time and will go straight for healthy low carb options as she’s done it before, but obviously when you’re told you’re now diabetic for life it’s a massive blow.

She’s had a hugely stressful two years and on her own admission has leant heavily on the Wrong Food.

I’m type 2 diabetic and my daughter is type 1. Yes it’s a shock but it’s perfectly possible to live a healthy and long life. Advise her to join Bootcamp (if you’re comfortable with having a RL friend in the group)!

It’s a lovely, sunny day here (albeit very, very windy). Beautiful to look out on the hills bathed in sunlight, whilst waiting in for the replacement nail lamp Mylee had to send out because the first one that arrived was smashed to bits...

Thanks, @Ninkanink. I suspect my own efforts are just postponing the day I am diagnosed myself. I wouldn’t have any issue with her joining but she doesn’t use any social media beyond a bit of Twitter. I don’t think she’d be able to keep up with the threads!

If you low carb as a matter of course for the rest of your life, with the odd mindful day off here and there, you will likely never be diagnosed - prediabetes is ‘reversible’ in the sense that if you eat right your body can and will cope just fine. I controlled my diabetes for years with just a careful low carb diet however I take metformin now just to help with the odd major indiscretion.

I’d be really interested in whether metformin helps me lose weight as I think insulin resistance is my issue. My GP thinks my HBA1C is too low though, but I suspect it’s only low because of my fasting/low carbness though rather than my body being able to deal with sugar appropriately. But I’m not going to experiment!

Too low for metformin, I mean. Not too low. It’s sitting at the bottom of what diabetes people think is the start of pre-diabetes but the NHS is fine about.

As you lose weight (if you still have a fair bit to lose) your insulin resistance should hopefully right itself to an extent. Low carbing will also help a great deal in and of itself.

@Dailyhandtowelwash

Too low for metformin, I mean. Not too low. It’s sitting at the bottom of what diabetes people think is the start of pre-diabetes but the NHS is fine about.

It is possible to reverse type 2 with low carb, as in keep the HbA1c low enough to not be officially diabetic/considered to be in remission. My sister in law did it, but unfortunately didn't stay low carb for more than 6 months. I'm not sure there's enough research to say whether the actual insulin resistance goes away, but you can certainly stay off medication if you want to.

I'm pre diabetic been as high as 44 before, last blood test I had was 12 months ago and think was 42. Now I'm low carbing and no sugar would love to know what it is now. Did ring GP and ask for blood test but they wont test me.

Really @cheeseisthebest? That’s ridiculous. A blood test costs so little and is preventative. I have an annual HBA1C because of GD which is NICE guidelines, but I did see a GP at one point who tried to refuse me because ‘GD just goes away when the baby is born’. As she also told me that there was no way that the suddenly perpetually-thirsty DS I had taken to see her could have T1 diabetes as ‘neither of his parents has diabetes and it’s hereditary, and by three it would already have developed’ and told me a finger prick would tell us nothing, I just ignored her entirely. (DS was fine, thirst vanished suddenly while we were in the week-long waiting period for him to have a fasting blood test ).

My weight loss is so very slow that I do think insulin resistance is causing me proper issues (I have other markers for PCOS but because no fertility issues cannot access a scan, sigh) so would love a trial of metformin to see if it made any difference. But no chance at the moment.

I know its ridiculous isnt it. I spoke to the receptionist who just said well the GP hasn't asked for one. They dont know that I'm eating the way I am and I'm clearly predisposed to it, both my parents are pre diabetic too.

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome.
Once I have got myself sorted with lists and meal plans in my shiny new notebook I will be back. The spreadsheet of beauty will definitely help.

@Ifeelmuchlessfat that is just what I needed to hear thank you.

Dailyhandtowelwash fasting also improves insulin sensitivity so you may well not need the metformin any more anyway.

Cheeseisthebest I've ordered blood tests from Thriva a couple of times. It's something like £20 plus an additional £5 for each test you want. Alternatively find a friend with a glucose meter who'll let you use it as a one off.

I do like a shiny notebook Timetobuckup.

@StuntNun my HBA1C and weight are still both too high for me to feel comfortable so would like to see if metformin helps with losing weight.

@ouchmyfeet

WARNING - embarrassing soppy post alert

And given that we are coming to the end of this bootcamp I really want to say thank you to the posters who have made it so effortless for me, you honestly have changed my life and I couldn't be more grateful. I'm sure I will forget a few but I have eternal gratitude to so many of you for your collective efforts* @StuntNun @ShagMeRiggins @venusandmars @cheeseisthebest @ListenLinda @Lyrata @AthelstaneTheUnready @RagzReturnsRebooted @prettybird @MilesJuppIsMyBitch @Oneborneverydecade @nowlook @Doilooklikeatourist and of course *@BIWI**

Can't believe I missed out @Ninkanink I'm sure there are others too

I've been struggling a bit this week. I'd introduced alternate day fasting with the end result that I began eating more carbs on non fast days. Not meals but snacks.
As a consequence I've realised how much of my self worth has come from being in control of my diet this last 8 months, because suddenly I feel like I'm out of control and failing. I have that same fear many of us probably do, that one slice of toast and its game over. I'm worried that I won't be able to pull myself out of this rut.
I have gone back to 16:8 for now and I'm trying not to be too hard on myself. Part of me thinks it's a good sign for maintenance if I can eat a biscuit (or two) and not gain.
I'm only about 7lb from target and my bmi is 22, I'm so close. I just thought that by this stage I'd have lost my sweet tooth but now I realise it's always going to be a struggle.
Apologies for the self obsessed ramblings

Glad to have been of help @ouchmyfeet

I think I'll start accurately recording my food here for accountability

Starting tomorrow though because we have a special meal tonight to mark our 7th wedding anniversary. The menu is:

Brie & smoked pancetta croquettes
Smoked Spanish paprika potatoes
Harissa glazed jumbo quail
Burrata, pesto and olive oil
Mini sautéed chorizo
Spanish olives and feta
Cured meats
All prepared and delivered by a local young chef I'll admit I know nothing about

[quote Dailyhandtowelwash]@StuntNun my HBA1C and weight are still both too high for me to feel comfortable so would like to see if metformin helps with losing weight.[/quote]
You can buy it online, from the (? Dodgy) online pharmacies. You just tell them you've got pcos and pay a bit for the prescription and then pay for the drugs. I know people who have done this (I am not a Doctor and am not recommending this, just saying).

I think it was @MrsOmelette with the chocolate mug cakes? I've just made one, as I worked through back pain all week and ignored the free easter eggs, cakes and chocolate I was surrounded by.
www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/paleo-low-carb-keto-chocolate-mug-cake-recipe/ and had it with cream.
I wasn't expecting much. Oh. My. Gods. That will have to be a max once weekly thing or I could get dangerously addicted. I haven't had breakfast other than my creamy coffee and won't be having lunch as that's enough calories (I'll have lots of veg for dinner) so I'm not feeling too naughty. But knowing I can have something like that, when everyone is having cake or pudding, rather than give up and join them is going to be helpful in the future. Especially for maintenance.
Only problem is all the expensive and difficult ingredients, but actually aside from the Erythritol (which I used as a sweetener) it wasn't particularly specialist. I get ground almonds in Lidl. The Erythritol is pricey but I don't use much at a time so it should last ages.

If anyone likes Joules and Seasalt clothes there's a big sale on Ebay at the moment and they're giving an extra 20% off code, so bargains to be had. I've got a few dresses in my basket despite rarely wearing dresses, but they have pockets!

@Oneborneverydecade that sounds amazing!

Ha, @RagzReturnsRebooted. Thanks for the drugs tip!

Have finally, finally GONE FOR A RUN! Just a couple of slow miles but my first since December so I’m counting that as a win.
Also putting my running leggings on reveals that, very improbably, I possess a thigh gap. How very odd body shapes are.

Aaaawww @ouchmyfeet But we all support each other

Today's earrings: I think I bought these in South Africa which means they're at least 13 years old as that's the last time we went (but probably more).

@RagzReturnsRebooted they are definitely a useful/quick/cheap way to feel included/not deprived but limiting is wise 😁.

I've managed to extend my earring supply for the month by another three days by finding out on the Interwebs that you can restore tarnished silver using boiling water, baking powder and tinfoil! Rose-shaped silver, newly non-tarnished earrings today. I'm still persisting with my plank challenge as well, up to a mighty two minutes 11 seconds. I haven't lost any weight at all this Bootcamp but my arms and legs are looking much slimmer than they did at the start so hopefully I've lost fat and build muscle as planned.