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 tested all the hacks using a cgm and the only effective ones for me were the acv and exercise. The pairing with fats and food ordering reduced the spike a little but actually made the blood glucose remain higher for longer so increasing the a1c reading.

I don't like taking acv as I am worried about the long term impacts on tooth enamel and on my oesophagus however I am making a conscious effort to do more exercise which makes a huge impact on the metabolism of carbs and also doing strength training to increase my muscle mass as muscle is a good glucose store.

I'm really looking forward to my ZOE test arriving this week and getting on with the challenges @Bubbles254 - definitely interested to find out how my body responds to these hacks.

Yeah, the ACV and teeth is concerning. It's got me thinking about vinegar on chips etc too now! Just googled pH of apple cider vinegar and it is 2-3, I dilute it 1 part to 20 approx but that would only reduce it down to 3-4 really. The pH of carbonated drinks is approx 3-4. Just looked into it a bit and it seems that it is the combination of acidity and sugar that really damages enamel (one place said 100x worse but not sure how true that is!). I'm concluding it is like drinking a diet coke/sparkling water but no where near as bad as a regular coke etc. I think I'm hoping that it doesn't work very well for me now!

I'm going to have to slowly increase my exercise - I think the change in lifestyle is going to take at least a year to achieve. Plan at the moment is simply to be active after meals and on waking (walk or at least housework) and add some daily strength training it at home (starting with low duration and low weight just to build in the habit).

I did my initial WI today. I know this isn't for weight loss but I definitely need to lose weight and I expect to lose weight, especially as I am combining it with a massive decrease in alcohol calories, mild IF (as a lifestyle not a temporary diet) and avoiding (but not eliminating completely) UPF and sugar. The plan is to just going to WI on the 1st of the month (or thereabouts), and take any loss as step in the right direction.

I like having a vegetable starter with meals but after that the whole eating foods in order...not sure that is going to be a realistic keeper, as it is nice to have a combination with each bite - probably more realistic to change the ratio of the combination as the meal progresses. We'll see!

How are you getting on @Inkpotlover ?

@Breithaupt I'm doing well, thanks! I'm only following the hacks as and when they suit the situation, rather than following them slavishly. I'm really mindful that I don't want is for this to feel like a diet I have to stick to, that I'm just doing it to feel better. For instance, last night's dinner was chilli with rice, so of course I didn't try to eat it sequentially! Like @Bubbles254 , I am also concerned about tooth enamel, so I'm sticking to 1-2 tablespoons a day, the widely recommended limit for ACV, rather than with every meal. My digestion feels so much better though – I suffer from Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity and regularly have a runny tummy – and I'm definitely starting to be more active because I have more energy!

How about you?

Also, having my greens or a salad first means I am eating less carbs because I too full up, so that's a good thing regardless of whether eating sequentially flattens a glucose spike!

Glad to hear that @Inkpotlover !

I got up at 7.30 am this morning but haven't eaten yet, or felt hungry, which is good! Also, I didn't feel the need to eat after dinner last night beyond some of the berry steady and a strip of dark chocolate - an improvement!

@Inkpotlover I use a straw to drink the acv.

I'm definitely going longer between meals with far less snacking in between.

I'm doing that now too. Hopefully it'll offset the teeth stripping!

ZOE test kit arrived! I've got the CGM on now and I start tomorrow...

Did the food questionnaire thing (long and tedious) based on what you've eaten in the last month. Found it really hard to do accurately as some things I used to eat a fair amount but haven't at all in the last week and vice versa with other foods, as I've improved my diet. It will have to do!

Honestly though, now I've started this way of eating anyway - I'm regretting signing up for ZOE. Should have just got a CGM! Oh well. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong...

Well this is turning out to be irritating all round!

My CGM needed to be scanned after it had been in an hour. After an hour each time I get an error message when I scan it to say it failed and to replace the sensor. No option to try again, so I re-set it as it if it a new sensor and same thing has happened again. Three times in a row now...and dare say the fourth will be the same.

ZOE FAQ say to contact them in their chat if this happens...then it will take up to 2 days for them to reply! So everything will need to be re-set now and I'll probably have to re-freeze the muffins. Think this was an expensive mistake. All it has done so far is irritate and demotivate me after just following these hacks etc was going so well...

I know this isn't a ZOE thread but I heard of the glucose goddess book through zoe and obviously the food suggestions have strong links.

@Breithaupt That is very disappointing. Sorry to hear it didn't work. I'm sure they'll sort you out a new one.

I am having my hba1c test to find out if there have been any changes to my blood sugar based on the changes I've made. Feel a bit nervous about the outcome as I've tried so hard and want it to show in the numbers! That said, nothing would change my WOE (for the worse) so I mustn't get disheartened whatever the result.

Thank you @Franticbutterfly ! Unsurprising, it happened again so I’ve re-scanned it again (as if it was new) but this time won’t try scanning to read until the morning. Doubt that will work - will just have to wait for reply. You’re right though - it will get sorted.

Good luck with your blood test results! When are you testing/when will you get the results?

@Breithaupt I would think my test results will be in by Friday or Monday. 😬

Can I join the chat?
Blood test came back as pre diabetic on Monday and my GP recommended glucose Goddess as a simple way to explain blood sugar.

I've got the Glucose Goddess method book, which has the four week plan. I haven't properly started yet but the first week is savoury breakfast and I've had yoghurt eggs and almonds/almond butter for breakfast with a few cherries... It was ok!

I think it will be a mindset thing for me to get used to vegetables first thing in the morning. I'm going to try an omelette tomorrow.

Good luck with test results- and the Zoe sensor!

Welcome aboard! Sorry to hear about the blood test result but you're in a good position now to do something about it and it's great your GP has suggest GG as a starting point.

Greens for breakfast is definitely a mindset thing and not one I'm managing to do on weekdays when I'm rushing around in the morning! I am having full-fat Greek yogurt with nut better and blueberries though, which is one of GG's savoury suggestions, so I'm not worried. It's also the beauty of her hacks – you don't have to follow them religiously at every meal, just use them as and when. I've been sticking to the ACV and green salad before lunch and dinner and finding I'm feel fuller a lot sooner than I did.

I need to cut back on alcohol too. I almost wish she said white wine DOES spike glucose as it would make it much easier to give up!

Ugh, how annoying that after waiting for it to arrive, it's not working properly. Hope you get it fixed today!

I mean nut butter. Although better also fits in this context!

Hi @DarthSaver - great to have you in the chat too! Yeah, vegetables for breakfast takes some getting used to. I love it now though (did it a couple of years back due to Chef AJ promoting it) - definitely helps that I don't eat until later in the morning though. Thank you for you good luck message regarding the sensor!

@Franticbutterfly Not too long to wait then - fingers crossed you're be able to see a change for a good motivation boost.

Hello @DarthSaver 👋 welcome!

Thank you @Inkpotlover - I've given myself a talking to now. I just need to be patient and carry on doing what I was enjoying doing before (these hacks!) until it is sorted. Doubt it will be fixed today - best I can hope for is they send a new one out today and I get it tomorrow, so I can start Friday. I think that is unlikely though! If Oh and stop over-thinking whether it was a complete waste of money or not !😊

You're investing in your long-term health - I wouldn't call that a waste of money. You can still do the hacks alongside it, can't you? It sounds like there's quite a bit of crossover between Zoe and GG, because Tim Spector is quoted on the cover of GR endorsing it.

Good morning! I received the book weeks ago but only opened it yesterday and got straight to it. I had to do the grocery shop anyway and I was surprised it was such a gentle start. I’m not a breakfast person so I made the chickpea stew when I got home with a fried egg. Delicious! I portioned it in to 3 as I don’t think my stomach could handle that much chickpea 😬 have had the stew and an egg this morning.

I’ve followed the harcombe method before and I know cutting sugar works. Managed to drop 70lbs cutting sugar and reducing carbs. I’ve gained probably 20lbs I’m not happy with but worse then the weight is the PMT and the pain. Definitely a hormonal link with my diet.

I’m sick of jumping all in, falling off the wagon and then spiralling into a binge. I’m hoping this more gentle approach will be a lasting change and refresh.

Place marking as I am following GG and thinking about Zoe or CGM. Hello everyone.