• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Diet Doctor Low Carb Challenge

Brunneria said:
Haha! Not 'dim' at all!

If you have ketones in the blood and are in a state of 'nutritional ketosis' * than you must be eating a Ketogenic diet. Doesn't matter how many carbs there are in the diet. The general idea seems to be that under 50g carbs a day = ketosis. But i don't think that is very helpful, because there are other varables which can much things up. Too much protein. Too little activity. Illness. And so on.

Ketones can be measured, so in theory we can test for ketosis, and adjust carb and protein and fat intake accordingly in order to fine tune it. Ketostix (urine test), prick blood tests (strips are expensive!) and there is a breathalyser thingy too (£100+ as a one off payment. But the amount of ketones present isn't always helpful. The longer we have beet in ketosis and the more efficient our bodies become at using ketones, then the less are found in urine. After all, they are used as fuel, so effient fuel use means less are dumped out of the body as waste.

So to (finally) answer your question :D i would guess that labelling a meal as 'keto' probably just means 'eat this and similar meals all day, and you will probably be in ketosis'.

*nutritional ketosis is when you are eating low enough carbs that your body switches from glucose burning to fat burning as its main fuel. This is a very different thing than Ketoacidosis, which happens to people (usually type 1s) when they have a combo of too high blood glucose and not enough insulin.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for that answer - I'm glad that I'm sort of right in that there is no actual thing as a keto dish, just a very low carb dish that could help you get in to ketosis if the rest of your diet is equally very low carb.

It makes it a bit easier when searching new recipes to get the language right. All this while I've just been looking for very low carb and now - deep joy - I can start looking for keto recipes.

OMG - I got a text from Mr C asking could I make one of my low carb date and walnut cakes for him to take to work as, at his new workplace, they have a thing on a Monday where they take it in turns to bring in cake and they all have liked the look of my date and walnut. This is BIG STUFF. I am a woman who has consistently failed at baking since attempting 'O' level cookery when my victoria sponge cake turned out good enough to be used as a discus. I'll probably do something daft now like forgetting to put in the baking powder.
 
Doing my Baking Happy Dance for you!

And just wait til you try the coffee and walnut slab (I have decided to stop calling it a cake because cakes aren't usually the weight and density of very heavy and solid things. Therefore, I re-christen it A Brick).
 
I have no idea what is going on. Only had breakfast and a light lunch so far. Breakfast 1g carbs 45g fat 26g protein. Lunch 1g carbs 31g fat 54g protein. So negligible carbs and I've had 2 hrs in the pool.
Went to bed on 6. 8 got up to 7.1 - fine not that much of an increase. Then got the usual increase pre breakfast - up it went to 8.4 which is worse than yesterday. Had breakfast of 2 scrambled eggs, 2 bits crispy bacon and a chicken sausage. Decided to check to see what is going on. Tested at 30 mins down to 7.4. 1 hr rise to 7.5 , 1 hr 30 still 7.5 , 2 hrs 6.5. Seems like a good breakfast for me.
Dropped to 6.1 and hung about there. Tested when I was going to deliver the boys home which was 1 hr 30 mins after that very low carb lunch and I was up at 8??? 30 mins later it is 8.2???
I have no idea what is going on. Is there not enough fat ? Is it a reaction to intensive exercise on next to no carbs and not enough fat?
I feel OK now so I don't think it is illness but I seem to be struggling to get back into the 5's. Dinner tonight is going to be a chilli trout fillet (the salmon recipe but with trout) and a bag of spinach since I managed to get fresh spinach at M&S. Again carbs are negligible.
Total for today is probably <10g carbs.
I am seriously wondering if I should be visiting the doctor but I know that they will want to up the medication and I don't want that without trying. I was down in the 5's before I got that rotten cold - just can't get back there. Any bright ideas ladies?
 
maglil55 said:
I have no idea what is going on. Only had breakfast and a light lunch so far. Breakfast 1g carbs 45g fat 26g protein. Lunch 1g carbs 31g fat 54g protein. So negligible carbs and I've had 2 hrs in the pool.
Went to bed on 6. 8 got up to 7.1 - fine not that much of an increase. Then got the usual increase pre breakfast - up it went to 8.4 which is worse than yesterday. Had breakfast of 2 scrambled eggs, 2 bits crispy bacon and a chicken sausage. Decided to check to see what is going on. Tested at 30 mins down to 7.4. 1 hr rise to 7.5 , 1 hr 30 still 7.5 , 2 hrs 6.5. Seems like a good breakfast for me.
Dropped to 6.1 and hung about there. Tested when I was going to deliver the boys home which was 1 hr 30 mins after that very low carb lunch and I was up at 8??? 30 mins later it is 8.2???
I have no idea what is going on. Is there not enough fat ? Is it a reaction to intensive exercise on next to no carbs and not enough fat?
I feel OK now so I don't think it is illness but I seem to be struggling to get back into the 5's. Dinner tonight is going to be a chilli trout fillet (the salmon recipe but with trout) and a bag of spinach since I managed to get fresh spinach at M&S. Again carbs are negligible.
Total for today is probably <10g carbs.
I am seriously wondering if I should be visiting the doctor but I know that they will want to up the medication and I don't want that without trying. I was down in the 5's before I got that rotten cold - just can't get back there. Any bright ideas ladies?
Click to expand...
And 30 mins on again we're at 7. A fair drop in 30 mins.
 
@maglil55. Big hug coming your way because I know how frustrating it is.

I know you said you had got a new meter - have you done tests on them both at the same time? I only ask because a while back the DN gave me a new meter that was rubbish, it always gave a reading that was at least 1.0 above my old one. I went to the DN because I didn't know which one to record. We did a check on me with both of mine and hers and the new one was out of synch with both hers and mine (which were very similar). So she binned it and told my to carry on with the old one.
 
It did occur to me. Next test I'll use both meters. Test strips are in date and it's the same box I've been using since yesterday. Pre dinner it has jumped back to 7.7. I've buttered the spinach, added asperagus and a mixed salad with a couple of santini tomatoes, boiled egg , bacon bits and Helmanns so let's see what that does. The figures are not a disaster just inexplicable and it is so frustrating as you know.
 
And I should have been on Fat Head pizza today but I was so cheesed off I just wanted something I could do that was tasty and required no thought so the salmon recipe it was. I am totally stuffed!!
 
Chook said:
@maglil55. Big hug coming your way because I know how frustrating it is.

I know you said you had got a new meter - have you done tests on them both at the same time? I only ask because a while back the DN gave me a new meter that was rubbish, it always gave a reading that was at least 1.0 above my old one. I went to the DN because I didn't know which one to record. We did a check on me with both of mine and hers and the new one was out of synch with both hers and mine (which were very similar). So she binned it and told my to carry on with the old one.
Click to expand...
New meter is reading at 6.7 old one 7.5???
I don't have enough strips and lancets yet to use the new one. I'll do another check tomorrow to see if I get a similar result.
 
OK I've done another couple of tests on both meters. Depending on which one I believe I either went to bed on 6.7 and got up to 7.5 then went swimming still haven't had breakfast and am 7 or - old meter bed on 7.6 got up to 9.2 and after swimming am 8???
Going to chemist to see if they have control fluid for both.
This is one heck of a difference and obviously means almost all my readings have been within range and when I was in the low 5's potentially it was high 3's low 4's .
At least I know that it does stop going up in the morning at some point without breakfast just don't know when as I was in the pool for hours. Will be Brunch today I reckon.
 
That is a BIG difference. Did you get the control fluid from the chemist? I would think the lower one is more likely to be correct given the amount of carbs that you're eating. I don't think there is anything that either you or I can actually do (more than we are actually doing) to stop this DP, I was told that I can go back on insulin injections any time I want and I always have some in the fridge 'just in case' but I really don't want to and I don't think that these slight highs on part of the day is enough to offset the misery I had on insulin injections.

I've joined in with the walnut experiment. I had a couple just before going to bed last night and another couple when I woke up - it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference to my FBG but might have affected the after breakfast increase. My FBG was 6.3, then 2 hours after my eggs and bacon breakfast it was 6.5 (surprise! I was expecting it to rise much more like it normally does). I then missed a test because we took the dogs for a fairly long walk (for me) at Cleethorpes beach (new dog loved swimming) and I'd made myself a little 7 grapes and 5 walnuts snack/lunch bag. When I got home at 2.45pm my BG was 4.8. I'm surprised really because I thought the grapes might have affected it but I suppose the walking (hobbling) reduced it. :)

Anyway, due to the aubergine shortage, we are not going to have the dinner Mr C had planned (he's cooking tonight) but we ARE going to have the dinner on the DD Challenge - crispy coated jerk chicken with coleslaw.- the crispy coating is crushed pork scratchings.
 
OK so the last 24 hrs haven't been DD, although they have been excellent. Out to lunch then out to breakfast. Stuck to low carb, but also high protein (yum). It'll be crackslaw this evening, which is out of order, but the mince has the shortest date, and I don't want it going to waste.
 
Just to clarify
I was confused as to what the term DP was, I wikki'd it and found it has a load of sexual connotations, which made me smile, but I think on this thread it means Dawn Phenomenon aka Liver Dump.

There is a school of thought that some have mentioned (by Jason Fung, I believe) but they missed out the follow on advice regarding the use of fasting to reset the metabolism. I am lucky that my weight has plateaud at my ideal weight anyway, so I just keep it in trim by varying my fat intake
 
Chook said:
That is a BIG difference. Did you get the control fluid from the chemist? I would think the lower one is more likely to be correct given the amount of carbs that you're eating. I don't think there is anything that either you or I can actually do (more than we are actually doing) to stop this DP, I was told that I can go back on insulin injections any time I want and I always have some in the fridge 'just in case' but I really don't want to and I don't think that these slight highs on part of the day is enough to offset the misery I had on insulin injections.

I've joined in with the walnut experiment. I had a couple just before going to bed last night and another couple when I woke up - it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference to my FBG but might have affected the after breakfast increase. My FBG was 6.3, then 2 hours after my eggs and bacon breakfast it was 6.5 (surprise! I was expecting it to rise much more like it normally does). I then missed a test because we took the dogs for a fairly long walk (for me) at Cleethorpes beach (new dog loved swimming) and I'd made myself a little 7 grapes and 5 walnuts snack/lunch bag. When I got home at 2.45pm my BG was 4.8. I'm surprised really because I thought the grapes might have affected it but I suppose the walking (hobbling) reduced it. :)

Anyway, due to the aubergine shortage, we are not going to have the dinner Mr C had planned (he's cooking tonight) but we ARE going to have the dinner on the DD Challenge - crispy coated jerk chicken with coleslaw.- the crispy coating is crushed pork scratchings.
Click to expand...
The new one is correct. He didn't have control fluid - have to contact Life Scan - but he tested me on their machine and it agrees with the new Verio. Told me it is not unusual for the coded meters to be out by as much as 4 pts and I have had mine a while. He has given me a box of 50 strips which he'll deduct from my prescription next week once I get to the doctors to get it changed. It looks like about 70% of my tests over the 2.5 months have been 7.5 or less (in some cases a lot less ). Of the remainder about 15% was probably just above 7.5 and the rest was these really weird figures which, although high, we're not as high as I thought.
As for today , as I said I didn't have time for breakfast and it turned out I didn't have lunch either. When I came back from swimming quick visit to toilet and a quick test - down to 7 - right back out and only just got back. 5.2 on new meter 6.4 on the old - there is no consistency in the gap either. On top of not having eaten I also noticed I'd forgotten to take my meds as well! Too late now for some of them so will just soldier on. At least I have strips now.
Going to have the remains of last night's chilli trout for now as it will be about 7 pm before we eat as other half is at the football. Tonight is the pork chop which will be with green beans and avocado. Supermarkets had no lettuce today but still have 1/2 a salad bowl and got more spinach as well.
 
Brunneria said:
OK so the last 24 hrs haven't been DD, although they have been excellent. Out to lunch then out to breakfast. Stuck to low carb, but also high protein (yum). It'll be crackslaw this evening, which is out of order, but the mince has the shortest date, and I don't want it going to waste.
Click to expand...
I had to do that too - got out of sync so it was a case of who has the shortest date.
 
Ohh - no, it definitely means dawn phenomenon on this thread. Just googled DP and I see what you mean. :woot:

I have tried fasting and my BG stay at a reasonable level until I stop then they go back up again. As I mentioned in an earlier post ob this thread, I'm thinking of maybe adding in one or two fasting days each week but I wanted ti give the Diet Doctor Challenge a chance to work.
 
DP hahahahahahaha!

Warning - for those of us who bustled off to Google DP, do not, under any circumstances click on images.

Returning to the subject at hand:
OK, so I have had crackslaw many times now. Usually by seeing an interesting idea like 'blue cheese crackslaw' and then winging it. So I suspect it is fair to say that I have bodged it. But there's never been a failure, and apart from Mr B sniggering every time we speak its name, crackslaw is welcome in our house.

But... can anyone explain why the DD crackslaw recipe is so blummin cumbersome? Fry off the cabbage, remove from pan, add mince to pan, fry off the mince, phaff with the spices, return cabbage to pan, fry off for 3 mins... honestly, what hassle!

I just got a big pan, added the mince, fried it off. Added spices. Stirred. Added cabbage til cooked, then dumped it and the cheese into a casserole, and bunged it in the oven. Half the washing up of the official DD version.

Am I missing something? Is there some awesome taste explosion that only ignites if we leave 3/4 cooked cabbage cooling on a plate for 10 mins while the rest of the dish tap dances in the pan?
 
Brunneria said:
DP hahahahahahaha!

Warning - for those of us who bustled off to Google DP, do not, under any circumstances click on images.

Returning to the subject at hand:
OK, so I have had crackslaw many times now. Usually by seeing an interesting idea like 'blue cheese crackslaw' and then winging it. So I suspect it is fair to say that I have bodged it. But there's never been a failure, and apart from Mr B sniggering every time we speak its name, crackslaw is welcome in our house.

But... can anyone explain why the DD crackslaw recipe is so blummin cumbersome? Fry off the cabbage, remove from pan, add mince to pan, fry off the mince, phaff with the spices, return cabbage to pan, fry off for 3 mins... honestly, what hassle!

I just got a big pan, added the mince, fried it off. Added spices. Stirred. Added cabbage til cooked, then dumped it and the cheese into a casserole, and bunged it in the oven. Half the washing up of the official DD version.

Am I missing something? Is there some awesome taste explosion that only ignites if we leave 3/4 cooked cabbage cooling on a plate for 10 mins while the rest of the dish tap dances in the pan?
Click to expand...
I changed it as well - steamed the cabbage then added to the pot which had everything else in it. Chucked in cabbage and cheese and bunged it in a Pyrex dish. Last of the cheese and into the oven you go.
Now you've said "don't look at the DP images" I have to go there. Even 50 shades didn't go that far.
 
But I told you not to...!

Now I understand my error. We have been egging eachother on about how we don't follow recipe instructions, and then I give you an instruction.

Oops. ;)
 
i haven't looked at the images..... yet! We have small children visiting so probably not a good idea.

I didn't enjoy the crack slaw but wull give it another go when green cabbage is back in season. I've never much liked savoy and white cabbage just seemed wrong somehow.

Do NOT bother with the crispy coating of the jerk crispy chicken. Mr C followed the recipe exactly and the pork scratching coating mostly slid off during cooking. Next time I think I'd rub with oil and sprinkle over the jerk seasoning then bake. We had it with a 'superfoods' salad (mixed green leaves and shredded beetroot) and home made guacamole instead of coleslaw and we really enjoyed it. 2 hours later and my BG is 4.7. The guacamole was one avocado and half a tomato each plus olive oil, lime juice, coriander abd hot pepper sauce.
 
Back
Top