This seems very egocentric replying to my own post, but I forgive myself!
Following last week's pledges I report the following:
I weigh 3.5kg less than last week.
I have been on Newcastle diet, using Tesco Ultraslim and vegetables.
I have been to 2 aquafit sessions, 1hour and 40 mins total time in water.
I have only once followed physio exercise recommendations.
I have had blood test for HbA1c yesterday and booked appointment for results after bank holiday.
I did find the first three days on Newcastle difficult. Not hungry, but so very cold. That has passed. I am not going to beat myself up about not doing the physio exercises because I excelled in the swimming pool, exceeding expectation of duration of time on aqua exercises.
If you don't mind a fellow traveller joining your thread in support, I've been on the Newcastle diet since Tuesday and I'm astonished at the results.
My BG is now in the 5s each morning (it used to be higher 6s and 7s) and it stays low through the day. I've had the odd bout of tiredness, one episode of feeling cold and a headache all day on Day 2. Apart from that, and immense curiosity and comment from colleagues, friends and family ("ohhh... that's
really severe!"), I've not had any particular problems.
I'd been toying with the idea for a while but things always seems to get in the way - dinners out, birthdays, etc. etc. Last weekend, I thought what the hell and decided to go for it. My GP, who's absolutely great, was with me, saying he couldn't see anything in any of my tests that should stand in my way, so I felt now was the time.
Oddly enough, I've not had the hunger that I'd expected, despite having the big appetite which got me into this mess in the first place. I'm using Tesco Ultraslim. (BTW, the Strawberry and Banana and Mango packs have much less carbohydrate in them than other flavours. There are 28.2g of carbs in the mango and the strawberry and banana -v- 47.7g in, for example, the vanilla, the difference being made up by protein) and stir-fried veg or vegetable soups for the evening meal. I am drinking at least 5 pints of water each day which has kept me perfectly regular, which had been one of my worries, beforehand).
So far, I've lost 9lb in 5 days; I feel good on it all - better in fact than I've felt for a while. I've still got plenty of energy and I'm sleeping very well.
The thing that's really astounded me though is that the pains I've been having in my hands and feet for a long while now have disappeared. They went on Day 2 and haven't been back since. I'd like to think that improvement is going to be sustained. It's by far the longest period of time I've been free of them, so I'm hopeful.
My big concern now is how to successfully walk the fine line between being obsessive, and a pain in the neck to everyone around me, or becoming bored and giving in to temptation. I keep telling myself that I've got to give it my very best try, no matter what, but the next 7 weeks are certainly going to be interesting.