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?

Morning! Welcome to the thread!

I'm following GR to improve my health but others may see it more as a weight loss regime. I absolutely get where you're coming from about spiralling into a binge though. I wonder how many millions of women would never have started their very first diet, often in their teens, if they thought they'd end up 30 years down the line still yo-yo-ing with their weight? I definitely wouldn't have!

Here's to a gentler path to being healthy.

Hello! Lovely to have you join us. We're a small but friendly band!

Hi 👋 @Beenalongwinter

Hello all
Ive been eating this way for over a year and a half, followed it strictly for the first three quarters of year and the weight fell off, it is truly the easiest weight I have ever lost
I was 60 when I started it, have been' 'solid' of figure all my life, I have now lost 1.5 stone and most of it has gone from midriff. I am back doing the GG method now as a holiday is looming in September. I have kept up the salad before meals if I haven't done the ACV each time, Just start weak and build up but do always use a straw

Hi @SunshineLane & @Beenalongwinter !

Must get on a keep trying the recipes - think I'll try this chickpea stew for breakfast next!

@Inkpotlover 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.

Thank you - I think I was only saying that because it may not give me any extra insight than what following the glucose hacks does along with a CGM. I've signed up for 12 months of the app too. It really doesn't matter though in the big scheme of things and I may love it!

YAY brilliant @tootiredtobother ! How great to here a success story like this - thank you for posting that, really adds to the motivation! 😀

oh and meant to say breakfast is a fry up on a Saturday, all others are bio live plain unsweetened yogurt with blueberries, raspberries nuts and seeds and a sprinkling of cinnamon, which I think i read somewhere helps with bloating/water retention

at everyone

Thanks for the welcome! I'm going to try and follow each 'hack' pretty faithfully for the week to give it a fair shot and then decide which ones to continue, and relax about missing them occasionally after!

So I've got some breakfast vegetables to try this week- I'll let you know how it goes!

I already feel better today, but I suspect that's partly from feeling like I've got a plan of things to try and partly just ups and downs of moods.

@Breithaupt a friend of mine loved the Zoe thing and all the data it gives, and found it helped her be much more aware of what she was eating- if that's reassuring!

@DarthSaver Thank you! Yes, it is reassuring 😊

Great to hear you feel better already. Nothing like the power of feeling like you've got a plan!

The start of my message was supposed to say "waves at everyone!"

This morning I had cubes of tofu, cherry tomatoes, baby mushrooms and asparagus roasted in marmite and butter with avocado on the side. It was actually very nice but did take longer to make than toast!

I put a frittata in the oven at the same time so I can reheat it tomorrow. I'd rather have it made fresh but it's going to be a busy start to the day. I think I'll need to experiment to find out what works and keep the yoghurt/berries/nut butter as an option when I'm in a rush. I was worried it wouldn't keep me full enough, which is why I added egg to it yesterday (I baked it up like a cheesecake) but I will experiment with eating more of it!

I'm sitting here crying tears of happiness. My hba1c is 37. I can't believe I've done it in 3.5 months. 😭. I'm so happy!

Sounds lovely @DarthSaver !

On my 'to do' list today is to make a new recipe/new combination. I particularly want to do something with pulses. Think I will definitely make the chickpea stew, as I have the ingredients already.

I seemed to have settled into a pattern of two eating blocks and my need to snack in the evening has...gone! LOVE having a vegetable starter now - it seems to make such a big difference.

Well done @Franticbutterfly !!! 👏💐

I don't know what the number means but I get this is very good news!!! 🎉

That's wonderful @Franticbutterfly you must be so proud and such a relief-

And I'm using your good news as motivation to keep going

So relived. Just gotta keep it up forever 😂

Well done @Franticbutterfly !! That’s amazing.

i am definitely less snacky having a savoury breakfast and then coffee rather than 2 cups of coffee first thing. Funny how little changes make a difference. I am super thirsty though. No changes to the scales or extra energy… but maybe I should give it more than 3 days 🤣

I've got mild abdominal ache today - hopefully this means by gut bacteria are changing composition - in with the good and out with the bad! I'm surprised it has taken until now though. Maybe it was the bit of kefir I had last night? Who knows - just though I would share 😀!

I get a bubbly fizzy feeling in my tummy when I've had kefir.

It's gone now - I walked into town, and I think that helped and I realised on the way back it had gone!

Just stocked up the freezer with loads of frozen veg and veg mixes (e.g Picard Organic Ratatouille) and cooks ingredients (e.g. ginger and red chilli). I'm a massive fan of frozen veg now. Still buy fresh but the bulk is frozen - it has to bre realistic for when life gets busy!

I got a fitbit yesterday. Bit of extra motivation to get those steps up and love the sleep monitoring (as I'm working on that too).

Hope everyone else is doing ok?

Omelette for breakfast this morning- goats cheese and lots of veg. I enjoyed it while I ate but there was a bit of a cheesy after taste I was less keen on!

It did keep me fairly full in the morning but I'm feeling a bit rubbish this evening. I'm going to push on and see what happens when I've done a couple of weeks.

I'll check it the frozen veg, that seems like a good way to get it in!

I hope you enjoy the Fitbit, I got one recently and I'm very fond of it

Thanks @DarthSaver - I am enjoying the fitbit so far. Most interested in my sleep score the moment (I was looking to improve my sleep too)! Steps are going to be trickier as I am prone to plantar fasciitis. I can get them in but I must rest when I need to and not power ahead. I did 12K yesterday but when out on walks took breaks (I had a couple of warning shots yesterday, I think because I did a lot the day before) - I know there will be days when I will need to accept less than that, so I'll have to be fluid with my daily goals.

Hope you feel better this morning?

I checked the DPD app last night and it looks like my CGM will be delivered on Monday, so it will be testing day on Tuesday (on the assumption that this one works!) for ZOE.

Congratulations @Franticbutterfly, this is amazing! I'm not surprised you were so emotional to get the reading, that's some turnaround.

I've been away for a couple of days visiting my elderly parents and it was quite hard to stick to the hacks because I didn't want to upend their routine and the meals they had planned. I only managed one glass of ACV but did stick to a savoury breakfast, but overall I was probably eating more like my old way and I really noticed my energy levels dive!

Now I'm back on track and for the first time in I don't know how long I didn't snack at all yesterday. I had three square meals and nothing in between!

I am very conscious about the acidity of ACV on my teeth still (I have weakened enamel already, from teen bulimia) and I'm also now getting a bit of heartburn again, so I'm only going to have a diluted glass once or twice a day to see how I get on, rather than at every meal as a matter of course. I'm flattening my breakfast curve already by having GG's savoury suggestion of Greek yogurt with nut butter and blueberries so I don't feel I need it then, plus GG says in Glucose Revolution that it's for before something sweet and carb-loaded and that's usually just our main evening meal. I also don't want to get obsessed with feeling like I HAVE to drink ACV three times a day and then worrying if I can't, if that makes sense. It feels a bit diet-y fad to me and I'm not following GR to lose weight, just to boost my energy.

Anyhow, that's me for now. It's been good to catch up with everyone's comments and read how well you're all doing!

Good to hear from you all. My sleep is also poor @Breithaupt so I'm hoping to see improvements there if I can.

Interesting to hear you noticed a difference after a few days @Inkpotlover How long have you been following the method before that?
It sounds like you kept up with as much as was possible balancing your other priorities.One of the things I liked about the book was the pragmatic, "do what you can" aspect to it.

I have been struggling with energy crashes and spells of overwhelming fatigue, which was why I had a blood test to start with (the one that picked up pre diabetes levels).

It definitely hit me last night and again this afternoon, but at least it's Saturday so I can rest a bit more! I'm hoping GG helps and I need to get a good sleep routine going.

This morning I had a version of shakshuka: onions, harissa, chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, coriander, spinach and a poached egg. I wasn't a huge fan of chopping onions first thing in the morning but it was absolutely delicious! I have enough stew left for another breakfast in the week.

I've made my shopping list to have some more savoury breakfasts and I've got some vinegar in for when I start that in week 2

Your shakshuka sounds lovely @DarthSaver - I'll put that on my list of things to try!

Well my CGM turned up early! I've put in and and....it works!! So tomorrow is muffin day and then it will be on to some challenges.

I think I've been hungrier today. I think. It could just be that I haven't kept myself well occupied - just loafing around the house really. I went for a fairly short walk with DS in the morning, and then had breakfast around midday. I tried the chickpea stew for breakfast with some veg and some sourdough toast and tahini. I had less veg than usual and had it at the same time rather than 30+ mins before. Don't think it worked as well. I guess I can check that theory out over the next couple of weeks now!

Anyway, I ended up eating again around 3 pm - a salad and a small bit of chicken followed by and orange and some dark chocolate. Could be that breakfast wasn't filling enough or it maybe that TOTM is almost here.

I haven't eaten anything since I put the CGM in at 3.45 pm, so will be interesting to see what dinner does. Think I will go for a short walk after it as I've only done 4.6K steps today - I wanted to take it easier today (plantar fasciitis warning signs yesterday twice) but not quite that easy...

My blood glucose has been between 5.0 and 6.1 mmol/L since I put it on - so no food spikes at all really. I had an all plants vegan meal with veg (then a 30 min walk) and then later strawberries, kefir yogurt and nuts with a couple of squares of dark chocolate so I guess nothing that would be likely to spike it!

Decided I'm going to eat breakfast early today (8 am - don't usually eat until 11 am) and get the muffin-job done! Will be interesting to see what happens with the blood sugar now I have something to compare it too.