Anyone improving their health following the Glucose Goddess hacks?

[Inkpotlover]

I'm putting this in Weight Loss Chat for traffic, because it's not about losing weight. I'm currently reading the GG book and finding it really interesting, because I've recently had blood tests show I might be insulin resistance and pre-pre-diabetic. My symptoms are many, but the worst are chronic energy slumps and needing daytime naps to recalibrate. Suddenly I'm very aware that my health is on its way to be compromised, if it's not already, so I'm looking at ways to improve it, and was wondering if anyone else has followed the GG hacks and felt better for it?

I've only just realized who the Glucose Goddess is...... I had encountered her on YouTube before. A lot of what she advocates makes sense.

Here she is in discussion with Dr Mark Hyman who opened my eyes to the importance of cutting out sugar:

Thanks @Tulpenkavalier - started watching that now.

Yes. I was diagnosed with T2D in April so implemented major changes. I have ACV in water before a meal, my plates are very veg heavy and low carb. Combined with fasting I lost 2 stone in 10 weeks. I've hit a bit of a plateau now though, although am losing slowly. I think I've lost over 30lbs now.

That's brilliant @Franticbutterfly !! Very impressive results.

I was hungrier earlier today so had the savour jam on toast. Can't say it worked anywhere near as well as yesterday's pile of steamed veg and omelette in keeping me steady and full, as I've felt like I wanted to eat again quite soon afterwards.

I had an apple (I know, not ideal) and now I'm having a bowl of steamed veg - this time with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Got me thinking about how I can do 'veggies' for breakfast (followed by something with protein etc) and then it dawned on me that we have a freezer and a microwave at work...could be a winner.

Wow, that's a significant amount of weight loss! Do you feel better as well? Has it made an impact on that? While I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope to lose some weight as a byproduct of doing this, mainly I just want to feel good again and rebuild my energy levels!

I didn't fancy eggs and spinach again so I tried the GG's savoury breakfast of Greek yoghurt, a few strawberries and blueberries and two teaspoons of nut butter. It says two tablespoons in the Glucose Revolution book, which seemed excessive! It was absolutely delicious though - possible breakfast to take to work?

I find it amazing I'm having no cravings for carbs. Mid-morning I had a gherkin, olive, some pickled beetroot and a bit of cheese because we were going out, then I've just had a big green salad for lunch with two chicken slices and a quarter of an avocado and a small handful of spicy nuts for dessert and I am stuffed!

I'll try that one @Inkpotlover - thank you! I feel really lucky to have the whole summer holidays (I think I mentioned already that I'm a teacher with older teenage children so lots of time for me!) to devote more time to really exploring and making the changes - and getting a good workable plan together for September.

I've also had notification that my ZOE testing kit is being shipped next week at some point, so pleased it is at the start of August rather than the end!

I tried the 'Jessie's Niçoise salad' - it was super easy to make and very nice. I got the dressing a bit wrong though through laziness with measuring...I think the Dijon mustard to lemon juice ratio was a bit off (too much mustard!). No tomatoes, potatoes or olives in it, which I found a bit odd for a niçoise salad. Anyway, I think what I've taken away is that boiled eggs and a dressing if Dijon mustard and lemon juice is a good idea on a salad.

Going to make Berry steady ice cream for after dinner. No idea what to have for actual dinner though as no hello fresh meals left! I have no doubt I can find something in the freezer!

I've finished watching the video now - really enjoyed it - thank you @Tulpenkavalier !

I'm interested in how important protein is at breakfast now - and where to get it from. Struggling with this a bit having watched game changers and forks over knives etc.

I'm going to have to be careful not to try and change too much at once and get overwhelmed.

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I think it’s sensible to ease into it - I know from my own experience that I tend to go hell for leather following something and then get bored too easily! I don’t want to do that this time so I am not going to stick to every hack religiously, just adapt. Planning to mix my protein and carbs later with some sushi!

I do feel really perky though, it’s quite disconcerting after months of barely being able to drag myself off the sofa!

Do I feel better? That's a hard question to answer. Yes I do because I don't have diabetic symptoms any longer (like feeling tired and needing to pee constantly). But physically I don't feel much different as I've always been an active person (although I do even more exercise now than I did). But, I still feel a bit tired at times as I don't eat very much especially when I do OMAD, for example, I've not eaten since I had an apple and peanut butter 22 hours ago and I skipped dinner (I don't usually do this but the family wanted pasta and I wasn't hungry so didn't make myself anything) also i exercise quite a bit (30 mins treadmill, 30 mins spin, 30 mins weights today). I still have a way to go though. I weight 192lbs and I'd like to be 35lb less than this. My weight barely changes unless I practically starve myself thanks to the diabetes, and a propensity to heavier generally...must be the Irish genes, I'd be the last one standing in a potato famine, I can basically exist on air and black coffee!

Thanks for the honest answer! That does sound encouraging in terms of easing diabetes symptoms like tiredness, which is what I'm most concerned by with myself. I take my hat off to you for managing to do OMAD on top of all that exercise!

@Inkpotlover I have tried all the various ways of fasting and have never really got to the "full of energy stage", I'm fine until about 2.30 and then I get lethargic.

I can't ever see me doing full keto, did it once and had major trouble in the bathroom (I have diverticulitis so have to be careful) and it's just too strict. I'm going for sustainable over perfection. I'll be eating this way forever so I need to make it as easy as possible.

Yes, you absolutely have to make this work for you whichever way you can because it IS a plan for life. I'm realising after just a few days that I want to continue on this because I feel miles better, but I also have to adapt it - for dinner I had M&S noodle salad that obviously meant carbs were combined with the veg but I didn't sweat it. I ate it at the same time as a piece of salmon but just had a glass of ACV water first.

I agree. Too strict isn't sustainable. My thinking is that eating whole foods, where I recognise all of the ingredients is never going to be a bad thing. I do miss carbs a bit, but only the good ones (a decent sourdough for example) and my tastes have changed loads, shop bought chocolate tastes of chemicals to me now (hotel chocolat is fine though 😉), I much prefer my yoghurt and strawberries.

Okay, this is weird! I slept in today until 9am, which is unheard of for me. I'm usually a 6am starter. I feel so rested! But not hungry. Which considering I last ate at 7pm last night is also unusual for me. @Franticbutterfly, is this the effective of flattening glucose spikes? It's like I'm on this even keel that I haven't experienced in years, both appetite and mood wise. It feels weird!

Yes could be. My glucose is very flat. I also noticed that I didn't get much pmt the last few months which might be a balancing of hormones.

I made the very berry ice-cream thing last night - note to self use the blender next time not the Nutribullet (as I had to add in some plant milk and then it was too runny). It was very nice despite the consistency and DS agreed too. I'll try again! Also freeze the Greek yogurt in small cubes not in a big lump...

I gave DS a glass of ACV in water to drink before our meal. He was not impressed at all and didn't finish it. Funny, I quite like it! I ate my dinner in order too. That got me thinking about starchy veg...I ate all the tenderstem broccoli first, then the chicken, then the potatoes & peas. My big pile of steamed veg starter I like has sweetcorn and peas in it too. I haven't come across info on this yet?

I also slept until 9 am - but I think that was because my neighbour left their car idling for 5+ minutes just before 6 am and it woke me right up, so then entered another full sleep cycle!

I still had [black] coffee on an empty stomach this morning though, and didn't go for that 10 min walk straight away. Something to work towards...maybe.

It is interesting that you feel so different @Inkpotlover !

I'm being cautious about whether this is definitely the reason mood is more even and I have more energy because it feels like really early days still! But I do feel better – no need for a post-lunch nap for four days running! – and I just navigated my teenager having a hissy fit meltdown without getting wound up or wanting to raid the snack drawer afterwards for comfort, which is a first!

I know what you mean about starchy veg. I think if in doubt, eat them last with the rest of your carbs.

Three days in a row without an afternoon nap for me too! I definitely feel better - mentally and physically. More motivation to get stuff done and less angst about it.

I've just been shopping and mucked out the fridge - the door shelf that had several nearly empty/past best Jam in has now been clean and has my new kimchi in it! No more jam! I could also be bothered to wash the berries in vinegar water and store properly...

I ate today at 11 am and 3.15 pm now 7.15 pm and not hungry at all. I read the bit in the book where she says that breakfast should keep you satisfied for at least 4 hours so had a bit more for breakfast and that worked. I wondering if this will naturally progress to 2MAD eating. We'll see!

I'm a big fan of frozen veg but I'm find it hard to get a good selection at my usual supermarket - keeps being out of stock. Might to an online food order at a different store and stock up the freezer just for veg (and preferably organic which is even harder to come by!). Ocado seems to be the best as they stock Pack'd ... I only recently realised that avocado froze well, and pack'd so some already frozen and chopped...

Struggled to get to sleep last night - I know I need to sort out my sleep hygiene. I've got a horrible habit of watching YouTube in bed on my ipad to get me to sleep and also spending far too long in bed as I get physically tired before I'm really tired for sleep. I've got a few problems to sort here really...and if I'm serious about making some change in my life I'm really going to have to do it.

I've got mixed feeling about starting ZOE now - will still definitely do it though! Eating those muffins for breakfast & lunch... Looks like a lot of the challenges are to do with these hacks too. Still, it needs to be done and it will be interesting seeing how my own body responds.

A huge thing I noticed when I had a cgm was walking after food reduced my blood sugar by loads and quickly (was doing about 30 mins, 120bpm heart rate - so quicker than a meander but not speed walking).

That interesting - and very timely - as I've just sat down after having brunch. You've inspired me to go for a walk around the block at least! Thank you!

Back from that 20 minute walk! I'm glad I did it but I felt really sluggish on it - I think because I overate brunch. Now I can feel a mild headache coming on.

I had a stir-fried mix of veg, mushrooms, tomatoes and 3 eggs for brunch. Still felt like eating afterwards so I then had a grapefruit and a handful of walnuts as I really didn't want to eat at all for at least another 4 hours. Still didn't cut it so had a few sourdough crackers with peanut butter and a coffee with oat milk (nearly finished that now, never to be bought again - back to nut milks!). I think that was a definite over-eat. I need to wait 20 mins before having another course in future.

I'm going to have go and find a project as right now I'm tempted by a nap and I really don't want to do that!

Well done! It's the little things that add up.

I had an interesting experience yesterday! Went to my MIL's for Sunday lunch – big chicken roast with all the trimmings – and while I didn't have ACV beforehand, I stuck religiously to eating my food sequentially. Then she brought out chocolate cake for dessert, which normally I skip to keep calories down. But this time – because I now know dessert is better than having something sweet/sugary on its own – I happily tucked into a slice. But within ten minutes I could feel my heart racing, which I assume must be from the glucose spike! It must happen all the time but I've never noticed it because I've never paid close attention to my body's reaction to glucose like I am now! It went away within a minute but it did take me by surprise!

That is interesting @Inkpotlover !

Thank you @Franticbutterfly !

I had a better night's sleep last night, so I'm hoping for a better day today. I did 2MAD (ish) naturally yesterday. I think I had brunch around 1.30 pm and dinner at 7 pm, but the dinner was followed by four eating episodes all about 30 mins apart...so not quite! Two eating windows then.

I made the Berry steady ice cream again but a bit better (still using raspberry vanilla protein power rather than plain though - will get some plain soon) and it had the right consistency this time. DS and I both really enjoyed it.