It's Offtober! The "lose 7lbs" in October challenge thread

[BitOutOfPractice]

The last thread inspired us to shift the pounds so let's kick October's butt too!

Link to the September thread here

for BOOP. That sounds nasty!

Today is no 1 fast day. The plan is to eat nothing all day and then have a normal-sized dinner. Let's see if I manage that!

hello yes it was! My kids both had to have the blood sugar test when they were born too. I didn't have GD but my kidneys didn't work properly when I was pregnant. Well done on the weight loss! My DB was diagnosed with diabetes this year, which leaves me as the last woman standing. It did motivate me to really quit the sugar, but I've slowly gone back to it. I was tested and my bloods came back On and I think it made me complacent but I really can't wait for it to happen to me before doing something about it.

I thought it might have been raised, gosh so scary when they took the old chap for the amputation isn't it? He appeared to be in shock to me. I will finish watching it tonight. Really pleased that you aren't pre diabetic and true it's better to do everything to stop it than wait for it to happen. Those blood sugar tests for the babies are horrendeous to watch, sorry you had to go through it as well. How's your brother coping with the diagnosis? Hopefully it's pushing him to do something about it? I never thought sugar is so toxic. I grew up surrounded by sugar cane plants as my parents were sugar cane farmers. We used to chew unlimited canes during the summer, never knew what an absolute killer it is.

Night sad to hear about your grandfather's leg Hope your mom sees you as motivation and does something to work on it.
BOOP really sorry about your lovely dad. Sorry you are still suffering from the frozen shoulder. Perhaps you have to feel worst before feeling better? Please take it easy on yourself as you have lots going on right now.

Theres another bit later on in the programme that's really when it comes to amputation.

My brother seems to be trying to do something and has lost quite a bit of weight. He was doing the Blood Sugar diet, but the 8 weeks has finished so I hope he sticks to it. The problem is that he lives quite close to my parents. They have been diabetic for many years, and don't seem to be able to give up the sugary stuff. their house is stuffed with cakes and biscuits. My DM will take the kids to McDonalds for a treat, for example, won't eat any food but will have a caramel sundae for lunch. Every time!!! For some reason, they seem to have not had may complications from it so far. I'm wondering whether they have become more resistant somehow, as it's so common in their families maybe they have developed some sort of genetic resistance. My DM seems to be in complete denial about my DB, telling him that he can just do what he likes as long as he takes the medication.He is married, but they both eat really badly. It worries me. I live quite far away, so have tried sending him stuff and telling him he doesn't want to be on tablets for the rest of his life when he's only 40. But I suppose I can't really talk if I'm not leading by example! I've given up telling my parents, but my DB is younger than me. I hope he finds his own way to control it

Blimey that was really long! Bet you wished youd never asked

So sorry to hear about your littl'un Hello - is he perking up at all? How horrid for you all

BOOP You don't need a fishy slap, you need TLC! It's so hard to diet when you're feeling tired and fed up, I think you're doing amazingly.

plum I hate it when people are judgey about weight loss and diets. I try not to bang on about it to people unless they're interested / in the same boat because it's just a boring topic for most people (which is why I so love this thread!) but it's weird how people react when it's even brought up in real life. I remember when I first gave Low Carb a whirl, and I was actually actively covering it up in the office because I had one colleague who was so sneery about any diet anyone was on unless she personally approved of it. It was like working with Davey in Love in a Cold Climate. I'm absolutely sure there's something slightly nasty and sabotagey going on whenever people do it.

When I was losing weight earlier in the summer I was pretty proud of my progress and mentioned to my best and oldest friend and bridesmaid how proud I was for laying off the booze for 11 days straight (not an achievement for most people I'm sure, but a Friday and Saturday evening without a glass of wine is something I hadn't done in years!) and I was really pissed off and disappointed when she responded, in horrified tones, "why? You're not ... ON A DIET are you?" as though that were the most unheard-of and bemusing thing on earth. I had already told her I was carrying a stone extra, and she knew I was getting married in a few weeks, so it was just downright irritating. I don't mind the old "oh but you don't need to lose an ounce silly, you're perfect!" talk, which is also unhelpful but well-intentioned; but sneering or gasping at the very idea and interrogating people's choices is just not cricket in my opinion.

(I should add that said best friend is quite amazingly thin, and I know that she exercises heaps and I'm pretty sure that she watches her weight quite closely, although it's not something we discuss. I won't allow myself to believe it of her, but I couldn't help suspecting the discouragement was motivated by a sort of "it's OK for me to do, but you're my chubby friend and I'd prefer you stayed that way" thing.)

I hear you Quim - for years I had always been slightly "curvaceous" and I think they felt that the group dynamic had changed - I was two stone thinner and had really started to pay attention to my skin care and clothes and while I was really chuffed for myself felt they were just a bit meh with a sceptical raised eyebrow,

Now when I eat less if we are out for dinner they try and ignore it I but can see them checking out whats on the plate and being a bit judge pants - I ignore it - knowing that I won't feel like crap after the meal or fit to burst - new manta is " this is not the only food on the planet, you don't need to finish it all"

Fortunately i work on my own most of the time - so the only person who could judge is my boss, and he wouldn't notice if I came into work naked - Saw a colleague in the summer who I hadn't seen for 6 months, and he was so complimentary about how I looked - not in a sleazy way just really sweet - said to my boss who was reading the paper - "doesn't Plum look great" boss turns round - and went "um yes" clearly confused and slightly scared by the question!!!! grin] bless him!

Oh not at all raised, it's very fascinating to hear about how others do! Really good that your brother stuck with the BSD, good on him for the weight loss as well. It really isn't an easy diet to stick to so all the kudos to him. I think it's the 5:2 after the BSD?. It's fascinating that you say that your parents have become resistant, just out of curiosity, are they very active? I ask because my father is the same, despite being diabetic he has no complication and has a very sweet tooth. He eats sweet things by the bucketload! I put down the resistance to his active lifestyle. In his 80s he still rides a motorcycle albeit it's an old broken one and grows loads of vegetables so he's always on the go. The thing about the tablets is that, if he can't get rid of the diabetes, it only gets worst and he could end up on insulin and yea you are right, it's really not right as he has a young family to think about. I suppose your mom really doesn't know what to say?. I think a lot of people don't really understand what damages diabetes can do like my parents, they don't understand it at all. I hope he finds a way to control it too. I am sure once you have got yourself steadfast on the healthy eating wagon, he will follow lead!

Quim thank you for asking, think it just needs to pass through him
I got three words for you: Haterz gonna hate

Well my DM isn't active really at all, and it's her family that has the deepest rooted medical history. It saw off her mother and one of her brothers, and her two surviving brothers both have it. My Dad is quite active though, and spends a lot of time walking and has started doing Tai Chi at the age of 80! They are both on insulin though so they know that the tablets aren't the end of it. i think they see it as inevitable, like something that just happens in old age. Its very difficult to get them to change their diet. When I went on low carb bootcamp, my sugar cravings disappeared for the first time in my life! So I definitely think its the carbs that cause the sugar highs and lows that lead to sugar cravings. its almost impossible to get my parents to listen to that though. I've told my brother, but Im not his mother or his wife and he's a grown man!

Yep I get you, my dad sees it as inevitable and something which happens in old age as well. My parents have a similar mindset to yours it seems. Your dad is doing very well too, tai chi is so impressive! He must be so strong! Good way to maintain strong muscles and bones. True think your brother needs to change by himself but guess it doesn't stop you worrying huh. It's been great exchanging stories, this is what I love about these threads, fascinating to hear about other people. As your have done the low carb before, think you will do great again as you know all the basics already. You will easily lose over a stone by the end of this year!

Your Dad sounds like a dude, Hello.

I must admit that I know very little about diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. Thankfully I haven't had to find out too much about it.

Quim, my DH is naturally thin and also the kind of person who can eat half a bar of chocolate and put the rest back for later.

Obviously he doesn't have the same "chubby friend" dynamic that you have with your friend, but he just doesn't GET it.

He's all "just eat everything in moderation" as though it is THAT simple.

There wouldn't be any fat people if everyone had his metabolism and relationship with food. But he doesn't see how lucky he is.

It is annoying when people don't recognise their good luck and try to turn an accident of genetics and disposition into a virtue on their part.

I have barely eaten today. Had breakfast, then worked, then went to the shops, then for a run, had a biscuit with chocolate spread when I got back, but no real time for a proper lunch.

Feel though.

What is 16:8? I thought it was a type of IF where you fast half the time, but clearly not.

Doin - 16:8 is when you only eat in an 8 hour window and fast for the other 16. So eating between midday and 8pm, or 10am and 6pm - End up with a late breakfast at 10, then lunch at 1pm and then dinner at 5pm - means I get to bed without bloating or indigestion which I can on occasion suffer with!!! I love it when I stick with it - it really works for me.

Oh that sounds cool.

Yes, I can see how that might work for me.

Scary how prevalent diabetes is. My DM was diagnosed as pre diabetic a few years ago. She has such a sweet tooth, which largely developed when she quit smoking. However, she abided by all the advice and is no longer at risk which is brilliant.

Continuing good health is a brilliant motivator!!

Hallo Yes, it is really interesting and helpful sharing stories! I wonder if the mindset is cultural because of the prevalence in certain communities of diabetes? My parents are of Indian heritage, and i presume yours are from somewhere Indian or Carribbean, because of the sugar cane!

The Low carb i found difficult at first, but got into it quite soon. Im a bit worried that apparently its more difficult the more times you try and then fail and start again, but we'll see. Its better to try it out!

Thanks DIT he's awesome. Good you don't have to learn about diabetes, stay away from it
Rshard really glad your mom got it under control and I concur good health is such a good motivator to keep going!

raised we are people of the Indian descent although it's hard to say from where exactly as history is a bit fuzzy going back 150 years. I do agree yes that the mindset is largely cultural. I think it's somewhat considered "normal" to have sugar ( that's what diabetes is known as!) and the difficulty is not being able to go back in generations to trace the diabetes in our families as we don't have any records. My brother passed away last year due to diabetes related diseases, grew an infected toe, got an abcess, started losing his sights etc. and after two years decided to have himself checked at the doctors and that's when it was found out that he had diabetes. But it was too late as by the time he passed away, he was completely blind, kidneys had failed etc. That's when we all became aware of diabetes and my dad got himself tested. I don't know ,it's shit this disease. Fucking diabetes. Diabetes is said to be linked to obesity but that's not true at all in our case. None of us have a weight issue, we have been blessed with good genetics that we never had to watch what we eat. I only developed a weight problem in the third trimester when I developed diabetes and started the insulin. I literally blew up overnight! So it's not true to say that only overweight people get diabetes! I think more needs to be done to raise awareness about this silent disease. Grim fact is diabetes kills more than cancer.

For myself I did try the BSD but I couldn't do it due to the cultural influence of having carbs with every meal. What I do though is reduce the amount of carbs and I found that does work in my favour. Keep posting so we will know how you are doing! I am sure slowly you will get into a routine and it won't be as difficult as the start iykwim. Sorry for the long essay

hello I'm so sorry about your brother. That must have been terrible for all of you.
Yes it is an awful disease.

're the low carb it was difficult at first, but I quite like cauliflower rice and if mixed with sauce like curry or Bolognese, it's quite nice, and my kids prefer celeriac last to proper mash now! The bread is my downfall and no satisfactory substitute could be found!

Cor this thread moves fast! I have been reading the comments about sugar and it has definitely got me thinking - my sugar intake is still too high. Do people slowly cut down or go cold turkey? Any tips would be good! Two handfuls of haribo today when tired just show i need to get a grip on it otherwise i won't lose anything this month and when i try so hard in other areas it feel so unfair even though it was my fault! Hope that makes sense.

Wah. I should have known better than to stray from the thread. First three days of October were Overeaters Anonymous territory. Today has been marginally better. I have had to pep talk my way through the enormous craving for chocolate I have in my head allllll day! Chewing gum and guzzling water just about got me through it, as well as a busy afternoon at work.

i did laugh at the pp who said her DH could eat half a chocolate bar and save the rest. Who are these people?! How do I learn to be like that?!

Oh no ginger. But well done for giving yourself a pep talk. I always find that chewing gum always makes me feel soooooo hungry.

I've just been for a very blustery stomp along the sea front. Blown the cobwebs away and fed the Fitbit!

Who are these people?! How do I learn to be like that?!

They are unnatural freaks to be shunned at all costs.

In 16 years together none of it has rubbed off on me.

I am impervious.

So sorry about your brother Hello

Just remembered that my mother was pre-diabetic (or headed that way) and has turned it around.

Bad habits creeping back now. Must keep an eye on her.

Just catching up after a not particularly good weekend (foodwise, the weekend itself was great which is the problem!) Right back on it now though. I keep trying to cut back on sugar but I think I'm a proper addict. Am currently trying the 'two squares of dark chocolate' in the evening to stop the cravings but the box of sweets I keep at work for the students is always temptation!
(And Pony keep trying with the Pratchett - I hooked DD with Tiffany - she's partial to a witch )

All this talk of diabetes. It's right through my family. My mum and sister have type 1, my dad and several aunts have type 2. My brother and I don't have it yet. I have pics which is apparently related to diabetes, but I produce too much insulin rather than too little. It can, and often does, lead to full on diabetes in later life so I am fairly resigned to getting it at some point, I'm just trying to push that point as far as possible. Surprisingly, only my mum has any complications, the rest of the family are absolutely fine. My mum has nerve damage to her feet, so needs to take special care of them and make sure she doesn't damage then because she can't tell how bad any injury is.

I've had another pretty good day here. I'm leaning to eat like a slim person :) but I still need daily hypnosis to reinforce the rules.

Doin my colleague used to pronounce, "THE WAY to lose weight is eating little and often", as though she were fucking Moses descending from the clouds with a tablet of wisdom.

She also simultaneously proclaimed to have never actually been on a diet (The Horror), but obviously she was the World's Leading Expert on diets.

(She was the World's Leading Expert on any topic which happened to come up. She once gave me a long lecture on peanut allergies... in response to my telling her I am allergic to peanuts )