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Metformin and Weight Loss
- Thread starter Rachox
- Start Date
Bluetit1802
Legend
That isn't really a good test because you had to travel to the surgery and have your blood drawn. Anxiety and stress will have played a part. At home, in relaxed circumstances, it may be different. Worth another try - with a coffee and cream first thing. Apparently this still counts as fasting.
Lots of things to consider. I do love coffee with cream and I gather cream doesn’t count as breaking a fast so I may give that a try one morning when I’ve no where to be, so I can relax at home. I’ll tell hubby I can’t do any housework that day as I have to relax cos @Bluetit1802 said so
Bluetit1802
Legend
Lots of things to consider. I do love coffee with cream and I gather cream doesn’t count as breaking a fast so I may give that a try one morning when I’ve no where to be, so I can relax at home. I’ll tell hubby I can’t do any housework that day as I have to relax cos @Bluetit1802 said so
Great idea, you can blame me, I don't mind!. I never do any housework in a morning. It isn't good for my sugar levels. Genuinely. When I look back at my excel sheet records at any higher than normal before lunch readings, there is always a red comment flag, saying "cleaning all morning" It was very noticeable when we were trying to sell the house and had viewers that afternoon! I just had a coffee with cream as soon as I got out of bed, before anything else, and then nothing till lunch time. I did this for about 18 months, eating in a 6 or 7 hour window. It helped significantly - not with weight loss as I was maintaining, but with morning insulin resistance.
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Controversy alert!
Personally, for me, fasting is fasting, with clear fluids only, to the extent of water, tea, herb teas of black coffee, but to be honest, everyone has to set their own parameters.
My only other comment would be that on either a single day, or the first of a multi-day I'd want to be keeping myself busy, rather than relaxing at home.
Personally, for me, fasting is fasting, with clear fluids only, to the extent of water, tea, herb teas of black coffee, but to be honest, everyone has to set their own parameters.
My only other comment would be that on either a single day, or the first of a multi-day I'd want to be keeping myself busy, rather than relaxing at home.
lindijanice
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 432
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
Hey @Rachox perhaps before going back up on the Metformin, you might consider trying the 5 day turbo soup soup plan found on IbreatheI'mhungry site. It's sounds like a good way to kick start things - I start it tomorrow and am hopeful it will get my weight loss going again and be able to get down to one Metformin/day...It is not starving! Bacon/eggs/avocado for bfast; soup for lunch and supper; snack of celery and either tuna salad or egg salad. AND it is only for 5 days! Hope you will have a good look at it and think about giving it a go....You have worked so hard to get where you are medication wise, it would be nice to see you being able to decrease the Metformin.....Blessings/L
lindijanice
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 432
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
Really?? That is quite within the healthy range...I'm surprised you would think that is "high" @ringi, may I ask why you think that wouldn't be "good"/ If I hit 6.1 I am very happy with that result. Or are you meaning specifically for Rachel? Just inquisitive/L
@Rachox I’ve already made a few specific suggestions and some more great ones from others above. A couple of other things spring to mind. Agree with @DCUKMod on the keeping busy while fasting - for me it’s so much easier to forget about food when out and about or otherwise distracted.
Secondly since you’ve found a way of eating that allows you to control BG and maintain weight, it seems you’re in a position where you could make some changes that are temporary and purely for the purposes of getting your weight where you want it. Would that help mentally with doing things you’re not comfortable with permanently?
Secondly since you’ve found a way of eating that allows you to control BG and maintain weight, it seems you’re in a position where you could make some changes that are temporary and purely for the purposes of getting your weight where you want it. Would that help mentally with doing things you’re not comfortable with permanently?
Thank you for your suggestion, I don’t like the thought of a savoury only diet and I easily get bored with eating similar food continuously, only five days I know but it’s not for me. I wish you well trying it yourself x
Thanks for your further thoughts, but I did a lot of reading about Metformin and weight loss last night and by bedtime I’d made up my mind to ask to go back on 3 Metformin as the optimum dose for weight loss is between 1000mg and 2000mg, I will use it as a temporary measure to try to lose the last stone and a half. I hope that my GP agrees now I’ve decided!
I am happy that my way of eating is controlling my blood sugars and keeping my weight stable whilst taking just the two Metformin and I guess that’ll be my future strategy.
Hi,
I don't think anyone has yet mentioned another feature of Metformin - that it lowers insulin resistance.
My (basic) understanding of this is that the body uses insulin to both store energy in cells as fat, and if we have insulin resistance, then we have raised levels of insulin floating about. A side effect of which is that accessing energy from fat stores is also blocked by high insulin.
So if we have high insulin and insulin resistance, Metformin's action to lower IR has multiple benefits. It allows us to get better glucose regulation, which drops our blood glucose, while also allowing more energy to enter and exit the storage in cells. Obviously the exit function is what we want if we want to lose weight!
I have read in several places (the KetoDudes forum is one that springs to mind) how the reason people stall in their weight loss when low carbing is often because they hit an insulin resistance 'ceiling', whereby the IR itself is blocking the body's ability to access fat stores.
Having said that, Metformin is by no means the only way to lower IR and break a stall. Exercise is the biggie. Although the IR lowering effects are temporary, and (for me) only ever last until my next intake of carbs, even if that is only 5g of the little blighters). Fasting is another major IR lowerer. The longer the fast, the better, with 3 days seemingly a key kick starter for weight loss (according to Jason Fung in his FastingIR blog posts. He has excellent references for this). And then yes, Metformin has some IR lowering effect.
Hope that helps.
Personally, if I could get someone to prescribe me Met I would take if for the IR lowering benefits. Better than exercise, any day! But with my dodgy guts, I think it would be a dodgy proposition, at the mo, and anyway, no one will prescribe it for me. The spoilsports.
I don't think anyone has yet mentioned another feature of Metformin - that it lowers insulin resistance.
My (basic) understanding of this is that the body uses insulin to both store energy in cells as fat, and if we have insulin resistance, then we have raised levels of insulin floating about. A side effect of which is that accessing energy from fat stores is also blocked by high insulin.
So if we have high insulin and insulin resistance, Metformin's action to lower IR has multiple benefits. It allows us to get better glucose regulation, which drops our blood glucose, while also allowing more energy to enter and exit the storage in cells. Obviously the exit function is what we want if we want to lose weight!
I have read in several places (the KetoDudes forum is one that springs to mind) how the reason people stall in their weight loss when low carbing is often because they hit an insulin resistance 'ceiling', whereby the IR itself is blocking the body's ability to access fat stores.
Having said that, Metformin is by no means the only way to lower IR and break a stall. Exercise is the biggie. Although the IR lowering effects are temporary, and (for me) only ever last until my next intake of carbs, even if that is only 5g of the little blighters). Fasting is another major IR lowerer. The longer the fast, the better, with 3 days seemingly a key kick starter for weight loss (according to Jason Fung in his FastingIR blog posts. He has excellent references for this). And then yes, Metformin has some IR lowering effect.
Hope that helps.
Personally, if I could get someone to prescribe me Met I would take if for the IR lowering benefits. Better than exercise, any day! But with my dodgy guts, I think it would be a dodgy proposition, at the mo, and anyway, no one will prescribe it for me. The spoilsports.
Thanks Brunneria, that very helpful. That’s what I was reading about last night which made my mind up. Exercise is a difficult one for me with my arthritis, I do try to walk 30 mins per day but that doesn’t seem to make an awful lot of difference
Thank you everyone for your comments especially your contribution @Brunneria, you have all helped me weigh up the options. I went with my gut instinct in the end and my GP agreed that I could increase my Metformin back to 3/day. Inview of yesterday’s headlines about prescription costs for diabetes he acknowledged that a few more Metformin would be a drop in the ocean and that I’ll be saving the NHS in the future by hopefully dodging complications.
I’d also made some tentative enquiries a while ago about joining my practice’s PPG, my GP introduced me to the Deputy Practice Manager who signed me up there and then, first meeting 29th this month, preceded by an Oxford City all day PPG forum on 20th! Lunch provided but the Pracice Manager said it would probably be a ‘beige lunch’, unsuitable for me, so I will go armed with snacks!
I’d also made some tentative enquiries a while ago about joining my practice’s PPG, my GP introduced me to the Deputy Practice Manager who signed me up there and then, first meeting 29th this month, preceded by an Oxford City all day PPG forum on 20th! Lunch provided but the Pracice Manager said it would probably be a ‘beige lunch’, unsuitable for me, so I will go armed with snacks!
“Modem” dugs for type2 cost at least ten times what Metformin does, insulin costs even more.
Complications like people going blind and having legs remove etc cost much more. Along with more hospital nights even for treatments that are not directly related to diabetes.
Complications like people going blind and having legs remove etc cost much more. Along with more hospital nights even for treatments that are not directly related to diabetes.
