Anyone starting Zoe in November?

[alloutofcareunits]

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?

They are cookies and they are horrific. I washed mine down with huge mugs of black coffee but genuinely wondered if I'd get through them. Once they're done though I found everything else pretty interesting!

Eek!

Sorry @Vanquishedagain - don't be put off. I've not got a sweet tooth and I hate white chocolate so they really weren't aimed at me. The lunchtime ones aren't as bad I promise!

Thanks @thinkofablinkingnamewoman
Cookies consumed - washed down with two mugs of black tea and 2 glasses of water. Was gagging towards the end…..

Well done! I found the lunchtime ones easier - I think because the colour made it so obvious they weren't real food if you see what I mean. I might even have pretended they were alien food I had to eat to save the cosmos......😉

Could I ask a few questions, after the initial phase is over, what does the membership provide? Do you continue to get the CGM patches and access? Finally, how long have each of you signed up for?

@Incogg I can't remember any of the details but the CGM is 2 weeks only. Following that you get feedback and support for another 3 months I think. I have asked if I can get another CGM as my glucose was much worse than expected and doesn't tally with my most recent HB1AC in September. It's possible that anxiety contributed. Those cookies really f**ked me up!

@Incogg I've paid upfront for 12 months, mainly for the ongoing coaching support. I realise this is a lot of money but had received a small windfall and felt that it was a “now or never” opportunity to get some permanent habits in place. I’m not sure it’s the best decision but what’s done is done …

Thank you both. So does the initial cost include three months follow up?

I've signed up for four months. I believe I'll receive microbiome and blood fat results in about three weeks.

Of those of you who have worn the CGM for a week or more, how often did you spike into the orange zone, or crash into the red zone? I'm really interested to know how I compare to other people. I was mostly eating my usual reasonably healthy diet, and I spiked about three times above 10, and crashed afterwards to 3. something (and felt terrible).

@incogg I've paid for the year in a fit of enthusiasm. Not sure it was the widest move but I felt unusually motivated so went for it!

In terms of glucose, I've had the sensor on for a week. No spike above 9 and nothing below 4 except for two overnight drops when I think I must have lain on it as it popped back up afterwards.

I spiked once over 10 after eating some lebkuchen, no surprise there really. I mostly stay around 4-6. I went down to 3 the first night wearing the monitor, but I think that was a blip, as it hasn’t happened since.

@hippospot I just had my worst spike up to 10.8. I had pasta with parmesan for lunch as an experiment. It went up to 9.8 then an hour afterwards i had some crystalised ginger for my sore throat. Then 21 yr old DS made me livid and guess what? 10.8! I did some squats and it started coming down. Was a real eye opener re effect of stress. I got real time feedback.

I changed my upper limit to 7.8 (read it somewhere that this was a better level for non-diabetics...)

I've spiked above it once nearly every day (sensor on for 10 days now). Stress definitely contributes massively - my highest spike of 11 was lunch on a very horrible day at work (the same meal a few days earlier didn't go above 7.5)

But today - no spikes at all and all readings under 6.8.

I ate (in case it helps anyone):

Breakfast - 2 slices toasted sourdough, smashed avocado, 2 fried eggs
Lunch - full fat greek yog, kefir, chia, flaxseeds, peanut butter, banana
Tea - salad, hummus, coleslaw, falafel, roasted cauliflower, 2 squares 80% choc

@2bluecookies. Interesting. If I put my upper limit at 7.8 I would be in the red all the time. Weirdly, I have found the best way to control my glucose levels is by drinking champagne or wine!! The only days my dinner hasn't gone up to 8 or 9 but remained at around 6 have been days where I have had alcohol with a meal.
85% dark chocolate also does move the needle one bit - happy about that one.

Isn't it fascinating! Strangely I find on waking my bs is around 5.6 but I the n walk the dog for 30-40 min and my blood sugar goes up to around 6.8 despite having not eaten or drank anything at all! How is that?!

@alloutofcareunits
Because your liver is producing extra glucose in response to the exercise. It uses stores of glycogen.

@Memeapple I wouldn't have thought of that, it drops when I run but I'm out a bit longer then and the higher intensity clearly has a different impact. Thank you

Thank you to everyone who answered my questions. After thinking about it for a couple of years(!) I've made the leap and signed up for four months. They say my kit is being posted in a few days, I thought that there was generally quite a wait.

Having read the thread you all seem a very healthy bunch! I'm afraid my sugar habit is terrible. How have you found your eating habits changing?

@Incogg
Yes, my habits are changing. It's not just about sugar. For me its all carbs. They cause spikes of around 9.5, much higher than I would have hoped. I'm not sure i'll eat a piece of cake again!

What motivates you @Memeapple ? I mean, I already know biscuits are dreadful for me, will lead to all sorts of diseases, and yet I still eat them.

@Incogg Fear! I have realised I have become glucose intolerant and I know if I don't get it under control I will be diabetic. I'm thin (BMI 20) so I never would have known. Uncles and aunts on both sides of the family had diabetes and my father is prediabetic. Those spikes are terrifying. I was expecting a normal post prandial peak of 7.8 so when they kept going up to 9.5 the freaked me out. I am very afraid of diabetes, it rots your insides.

I really hope that seeing the spikes helps me to change my behaviour.

Hi all, can I join?
I am a few weeks ahead. My blood sugar and fat control are both poor (32 and 30 respectively), but my microbiome is good - and I started the way of eating last Monday.

My fasting bloods were consistently over 6 (after the first two days of lots of low blood sugar readings, while it calibrates) so definitely prediabetic. This has sprung me into embracing the advice wholeheartedly. I have also had bloods and cholesterol done at the doctor and am getting a 15 min high intensity workout on my exercise bike several times a week (as well as walking the dog).

My goodness I feel so much less lethargic already. I don't get the peaks and crashes that used to have me fighting to stay awake in the afternoon. I solved my breakfast problem by mostly not bothering with it, (I have Greek yoghurt with nuts in when I do have some) and eating two meals a day which are mostly plants and protein. I do like the 90 second keto microwave bread though.

Nuts, seeds and avocados seem to be best foods for me. Which is good as I love nuts and can snack on them (but try to not snack excessively).

I have lost 2 kg but just feel "better." And since it seems like my health is at stake, I will be carrying on.

Hi, I’ve done all my tests and got my results now and I’ve been trying to eat ‘good scoring’ food for the last 3 days. My god, I am hungry. I’m scoring between 50 and 60 every day. All I can think about is food and how I can’t eat what I want to eat cos it will reduce my score!