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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Anyone starting Zoe in November?

329 replies

alloutofcareunits · 30/09/2023 12:22

Not just about weight loss but thought this might be the best place to post the thread. I've just signed up and should be starting in November, wondering if anyone else is and wants to share experiences?

OP posts:
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38
Incogg · 14/12/2023 13:10

Cool, I hope mine come before Christmas then. Thanks to the pp who mentioned the Hb1ac thingy too. Looks like I’m not indicated for prediabetes.

bringmelaughter · 14/12/2023 20:38

Glucose monitor on and all prepped for testing day tomorrow. Fingers crossed I may get the results back before Christmas.

SkatieKatie · 15/12/2023 07:40

I've enjoyed using the glucose monitor so much I've ordered another one from Amazon. I really like seeing the results different foods and combinations etc have on my blood sugar. It also stops me snacking on sweet things.

bringmelaughter · 15/12/2023 08:57

Urgh, cookies this morning and I feel sick. Sipping water. I don’t think I ever want to eat cookies again. Except I’ve got to in 4 hours 🫣

SoySaucePls · 15/12/2023 09:04

The first set of muffins I couldn’t finish. They were disgusting and I was gagging on the last one.

second set are ever so slightly better

thinkofablinkingnamewoman · 15/12/2023 10:24

SkatieKatie · 15/12/2023 07:40

I've enjoyed using the glucose monitor so much I've ordered another one from Amazon. I really like seeing the results different foods and combinations etc have on my blood sugar. It also stops me snacking on sweet things.

I'm thinking of doing the same in a month or so. I'm 10 days past my results and I do feel better, though I've just got COVID which isn't helping! Very much enjoying the fact that my blood fat score is pretty good so I can keep eating my beloved cheese!

ErrolTheDragon · 15/12/2023 12:11

I'm curious how they work out the scores for the day.

Yesterday my actual meals came in well over 75, but I'd logged a couple of cups of tea which score 66 as snacks. The day was rated overall as 74. The average of the meals and snack values was 76... so it seemed like there isn't weighting according to the size of each meal/snack and/or maybe snacks are penalised?
I feel like maybe there should be a separate 'beverage' classification in the logging. Confused

SkatieKatie · 15/12/2023 20:12

bringmelaughter · 15/12/2023 08:57

Urgh, cookies this morning and I feel sick. Sipping water. I don’t think I ever want to eat cookies again. Except I’ve got to in 4 hours 🫣

I couldn't believe how hard it was to eat those bloody cookies! They were awful and I gagged a couple of times! Black coffee got me through it.

Greenthread · 16/12/2023 08:11

I struggled with the blue cookies! I never thought I’d find it hard to eat cookies 😂

i’ve not had a good week, I’ve have a few Christmas nights out and the food was not Zoe-friendly. I’ve put on 1lb. But that’s life isn’t it? I should be able to be more on it going forward until Christmas.

bringmelaughter · 16/12/2023 10:07

Wow look at this! No food this morning, just water. 1 hour of heavy weightlifting (think like strongman stuff) and my blood glucose is higher than after the cookies.

Anyone starting Zoe in November?
Original poster
alloutofcareunits · 16/12/2023 10:30

@bringmelaughter I noticed similar, I walk my dog first thing before work every morning, when I get home my blood sugar was higher than on waking! Someone explained that the glucose is released to provide the energy for the exercise, I literally get up, pull on joggers and a coat and head straight out, no water, tea or anything.

OP posts:
SoySaucePls · 16/12/2023 17:47

bringmelaughter · 16/12/2023 10:07

Wow look at this! No food this morning, just water. 1 hour of heavy weightlifting (think like strongman stuff) and my blood glucose is higher than after the cookies.

That’s completely normal. Please don’t worry!

bringmelaughter · 17/12/2023 16:21

Thanks @SoySaucePls its really interesting. I guess it’s a sign that exercise is forcing my body to makes stores available to use.

Feeling motivated so far. Not enjoying logging as the logging feels more clunky than Nutracheck which I’ve used before. Looking forward to trying some challenges.

How’s everyone else doing?

SkatieKatie · 17/12/2023 21:10

bringmelaughter · 17/12/2023 16:21

Thanks @SoySaucePls its really interesting. I guess it’s a sign that exercise is forcing my body to makes stores available to use.

Feeling motivated so far. Not enjoying logging as the logging feels more clunky than Nutracheck which I’ve used before. Looking forward to trying some challenges.

How’s everyone else doing?

I agree with you about the logging - clunky is a good description. I have used my fitness pal in the past and found that much easier to use.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/12/2023 21:24

I've not tried food logging since ancient times before you could scan barcodes so it seems fine to meGrin. I've been having to eat out a lot (we're having to deal with a situation away from home) so the AI generated recipes are useful to get something more or less right for cafe meals.

hippospot · 19/12/2023 16:36

Well I'm in week 3 of logging (post-results) and it is proving to be useful.

I'm doing well for eating window, plant diversity, fibre and % processed food.

I've been focusing on my blood sugar control which is poor, but unfortunately I've been told off (!) for too much fat. I suspect it's that I've eaten dairy at lunch and snack and it tells me that fat levels take 6+ hours to go down. So today I've adjusted my meals a bit to see if timing makes a difference.

The problem with reducing carbs and sugar a LOT is that something has to replace them! I was replacing them with CHEESE, ooops!

I'd say I'm marginally less hungry than before Zoe. I don't feel that same anxiety about needing to eat every 2-3 hours. I hope that means my blood sugar isn't as erratic as before.

How's everyone getting on? If you have "poor" blood sugar control I'm particularly interested. My score is 37 for blood sugar control.

TerribleWoman · 19/12/2023 16:49

I have not logged the last few days and noticed that I think I can "get away with it" if I am not logging it. Not eating as much crap as before, but for example drinking two glasses of wine of an evening.

I am def not as hungry as before and def feel better overall. I need to reduce my nut intake though as I am not losing weight and want to do so! I was hoping that reducing my hunger would reduce my calories enough to lose weight, but sadly it has not :(

Greenthread · 19/12/2023 20:12

I don’t think I’m doing that well. I’m scoring between 50 and 70 most days. The highest I’ve scored is 71. My meals are generally ok, they are between 70 and 90, but then I ruin it all by having a mince pie that is 20. I try to boost the score of the mince pie by having it with some fruit or something but that will bring it up to 40 at most and my score for the day is way down.
I am feeling pretty down to be honest. I feel guilty if I eat my normal treat food but i am craving it so I end up eating it.

Incogg · 19/12/2023 21:29

I must admit, when I signed up to Zoe I didn't realise it would involve weighing and tracking and chasing numbers :( I'm already fed up with logging my food.

SoySaucePls · 19/12/2023 21:38

Greenthread · 19/12/2023 20:12

I don’t think I’m doing that well. I’m scoring between 50 and 70 most days. The highest I’ve scored is 71. My meals are generally ok, they are between 70 and 90, but then I ruin it all by having a mince pie that is 20. I try to boost the score of the mince pie by having it with some fruit or something but that will bring it up to 40 at most and my score for the day is way down.
I am feeling pretty down to be honest. I feel guilty if I eat my normal treat food but i am craving it so I end up eating it.

Don’t worry. This was me a few months ago in July when I did the program. But it changed the way I view food. I didn’t like the way my blood sugar spiked when I had those two chocolate biscuits.

I turned to dark chocolate which helped a lot. No sugar spike and Zoe liked it for me.

Then in September I gave up all the sweet treats. I just stopped. After 48 years of eating sugary food.

I do still allow myself dried prunes, figs and apricots and a tiny amount of honey on my plain yogurt.

By combining any of these with a small portion of nuts I’m back in the 70s and life is good.

I do feel better for it. Much more steady in a lot of different ways.

So give yourself time. It takes time to adjust and make these sorts of big decisions. You’ll be ready for it at some point.

SoySaucePls · 19/12/2023 21:40

Christmas is the worst time as well.

This week I’ve caved in and eaten a small smidge of choc panettone which is my kryptonite.

It will be easier when this period is over!

ErrolTheDragon · 19/12/2023 22:00

DH and I have been gradually switching to darker chocolate... we've finally got to the point of actually liking Montezuma's 100%, which scores 75 for me. I don't want much at a time. A couple of squares plus some hazelnuts scored 90HaloGrin

Vanquishedagain · 21/12/2023 15:23

How’s everyone getting on? I’m now about 3 weeks post testing and still keeping up with the logging. I can see things getting challenging over the coming days though (so many nice things (sub 50 score!) to eat in the house!
I wondered if people were interested in sharing recipes? I just made the crispy chickpea, quinoa and carrot salad from their recipes and although it was a bit of a faff the tahini/miso dressing really elevated it and for me it scored 91 points. And I feel very full and content!

SoySaucePls · 21/12/2023 16:09

one of my best learnings has been to open a bad if ready cooked lentils or chickpeas or beans instead of having boiled potatoes (which I love) as they spike my blood sugar.

Vanquishedagain · 21/12/2023 16:46

Yes the pouches of ready cooked lentils have been a godsend