Newcastle study- old guinea pig

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
I will be starting the diet on Monday 19th September. I have run it past my GP and she thinks it's worth a try. I will post the starting figures on Monday- frequency of testing will depend on whether I can get the test strips and lancets on prescription. Fingers crossed.
 

pixor

Active Member
Messages
38
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Are you taking a sulphonylurea? My diabetic nurse told me that if I was then NICE guidelines are that I should get test strips to make sure I don't have a hypo. Ironically, going on this diet now means I don't need to take one, so I am no longer eligible!

My diabetic nurse sees the benefit of my measuring regularly, however, and has said she will put my case to my GP that I should still get them. In the meantime she prescribed me 3 months supply :)
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Not on anything for the diabetes-30 years of various combinations of anti epilepsy drugs make me wary about taking anything extra. When first diagnosed didnt need it according to the guidelines at the time, and when they shifted the goalposts a couple of years ago I refused to go on metformin, largely because noone could tell me how it would affect everything else, and having taken 20 years to stabilise the epilepsy I was not about to risk my precious driving licence. So there's no obligation on the GP to prescribe the strips though it would be nice if she felt sufficiently interested in the results to do so. Not holding my breath though!
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Well, a resounding silence from my GP on the test strips and lancets, so I'm on my own.

A scary 15st 5 lb on my new digital scales this morning- 6lb heavier than the old mechanical ones, which has been a bit of a shock- I last weighed this much 18 years ago after baby no 2 and it took 18 months to shed 5st then- bet it will take a lot longer this time.

I did the full set of tests today to set a base line but will probably only do that a couple of times a week- the strips are expensive and I have a head like a sieve and probably won't reliably remember to test- specially the 2 hours after eating ones. ( Last weeks FBG ranged from 7.4 to 9 going up to 11 2 hours post meals at times, but it was a busy week and meals etc were all over the place.)

Day 1
FBG 9.7
slimfast and a cup of green tea
2 hours later 10.7

pre lunch 9.8
slimfast and green tea
2 hours later 9.4

before supper 8.2
slimfast and a bowl of salad (plus all the water during the day)
2 hours later 9.8
Bedtime 7.5
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Took fright at post breakfast reading so did all the tests again today- seems to have evened out in the end.

FBG9.4
Slimfast and green tea
+2 hours 11.7 !!?

lunch 9.1
SF&GT
+2 hours 9.4

supper 7.8
SF and salad
+2 hours 8.7
bedtime 7.2
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

OK the latest figures:-

21.9.11
FBG 8.5
+2 1/2 hours 10.2
bedtime 8.4

22.9.11
FBG 7.9
+2 hours 10.3
bedtime 8.3

23.9.11
FBG 7.5
+2 hours 11.3
bedtime 7.00

24.9.11
FBG 7.9

Bit up and down at times, but no longer freaking out over the odd high reading- seems to be going in the right direction. Will do a full set on Mondays, but morning and night the rest of the week.
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

i wish you the very best of luck. I wouldnt say it was easy but it is doable. It would be interesting if you felt able to post some of your results?
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

End of week 1
Weight 14 st 9 lb a loss of 10 lb

25.9.11
FBG 7.8
+2 hours9.2
bedtime 6.5

26.9.11
FBG6.8
+2 hours
10.00
lunchtime7.7
+2 1/2 hours6.2
supper 7.4
+2 hours 10.6
bedtime 6.8

Very pleased. Not found it too difficult to stick to. Headaches Thursday , Friday and Saturday were the only effects I suffered. Dont quite understand why the post breakfast readings are rather higher than the other post meal results. I found that raw veg or salads with chunks of celery tomato carrot beansprouts etc were more satisfying than cooked veg- perhaps because they take more chewing so you feel more as though you've had a meal?

However this mornings FBG is 8.3 ? Not so encouraging, and no reason I can think of- SF and bowl of salad last night.
 

viviennem

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,140
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Football. Bad manners.
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Well done, Minn - great weight loss, and as you say, the BGs are heading in the right direction. I wouldn't worry too much about fluctuations so long as they're reasonable.

Is there any 'rule' about how much water you're supposed to drink? Drinking plenty of fluids can help with headaches.

Keep it up!

Viv 8)
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

3 litres of water a day and I'm drinking it! Sticking like glue to the published diet sheet- it's easier that way. I think it's just the normal start of diet headache- I have a friend who has done every diet under the sun and she reminded me that she always gets a headache in the first week so that's probably all it is- I've been ok since Saturday.
 

blacksmarty1

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Hi Minn

The headaches do go away and then you start to feel really good and healthy as you detox the body.
I have just finished 8 weeks on this program and have had great results so far. I am going on with the program as I need to lose a little more and need to have a blood test which I can't do till later in October.
I was never on any meds anyway and I would prefer not to get to that. My Bg which I do 3 times a week or so is very steady at around 5.1 to 5.4 now and when I started was around the 5.9 to 6.9 mark. I have lost 33 lbs over the 8 weeks but I am still in the obese category thats why I need to do more.

I found that by week 2/3 I had got into the program really well and it was easy and because it had a projected 'end' and it was easy to see the finish line to keep more on track.

I hope you and any others who are 'doing' or who are 'going to do' it the very best. I have found the people on here very helpful and their support was very inspiring to me.

regards Diane
 

Patch

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,981
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

I feel like a bit of a wimo when I hear other peoples results! I (only?) lost around 24lbs on my 8 - 10 weeks on the diet. From a starting point of 241lbs, that's almost EXACTLY 10% of my original body weight.

Anybody else willing share their weightloss as a %age of total body weight (I know some are sensitive about their weight, and I'm not looking to embarrass anyone!)
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Thanks to everyone for their comments- it's really helpful to have the input and support. I was pleased with the first week's weight loss, but for me it's a bonus- what I really want is for the BG to stabilise to get the HCPs off my back! Patch, I think I'm lucky in having a space of 8 weeks when there's nothing happening- I've turned down a few invitations ( and got out of a boring formal lunch- the silver lining!). If I fall off the wagon it takes a lot to get me back on until I'm well into it so I'm trying to give it the best chance I can. % of body weight- well you have my figures. I suspect the BMI would require me to lose 1/3 of my body weight which is :cry: really scary!
 

blacksmarty1

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Hi Patch don't be so hard on yourself you did do the whole 8 weeks and got a great result. :D

You wanted to know start and finish points so here goes I have been diagnosed about 3 1/2 years, never been on medication.
start weight 239 lbs = 17st 1 lb (I was 20st 6 lbs 6 years ago)
finish weight 206 lbs = 14st 10 lbs
loss 33 lbs = 14%
Didn't do much exercise as I suffer from the old chestnut 'mind is willing but body is weak' :roll:
I hope to change that on this next phase. I am going to try and rope in as many mates as I can to come and join me to do a little exercise, which will help to motivate me to do the same. :p

Hope this helps you as we were at similar weights and losses through-out.

regards Diane
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Patch-I totally agree with Diane- hope my post didn't imply otherwise. If I had a weekends socialising during the 8 weeks as you did I would never have got back on the diet this side of Christmas if ever. This is only half way through the 2nd week for me and the weight may well stop coming off. I just hope that my BG comes down as far as yours did- GP wants a blood test 2 weeks after the 8 weeks is up and I am hoping to be able to shock her.
M
 

blacksmarty1

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Hi Minn yes I agree that is the real goal after all we would all wish to be free of the diabetes for good!!!!

Diane
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

End of week 2
Lost another 5 lb- tailing off as anticipated but still ok.

27.9.11
FBG 8.3
+2 hours 10.4
bedtime 6.3

28.9.11
FBG 6.5
+2 hours 9.2
bedtime 6.8

29.9.11
FBG 6.8
+2 hours 8.0
bedtime 6.3

30.9.11
FBG6.3
+2 9.2
lunch 6.7
+2 6.7
supper 7.2
+2 8.4
bed 5.8

1.10.11
FBG 5.7
+2 10.2
bed 6.2

2.10.11
FBG 6.3
+2 10.1
lunch 6.0
+2 8.4
supper 6.0
+2 9.9
bedtime 6.0
figures are coming down though I'd be happier if they were a bit more consistent. Nice to get below 6 though it might have been the hot weather.
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

Was rather tired last night so I just put in the figures. The second weekend was really hard- family all eating pizza and bread and cheese and drinking wine- had to hang on to my little black book of figures and stick to my guns. I knew someone once who descibed herself as someone who 'ate to live', whereas her sister 'lived to eat'. I think I'm like the sister- would give a lot for a bit of cheese on toast or a plate of scrambled eggs at the moment.
Last time I did a diet like this (18 years ago- modified Atkins type of thing) I do remember that the weight came off my face and arms and legs first- this time it seems to be coming off the torso as my ribcage is reappearing, which seems to indicate that it is similar to the people in the study.
 

minn

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Re: Newcastle study- new guinea pig

End of week 3.
Lost another 3 lb- still tailing off.

4.10.11
FBG 6.3
+2 9.0
bedtime forgot

5.10.11
FBG 6.4
+2 9.8
bedtime 6.4

6.10.11
FBG 6.3
+2 9.8
bedtime 6.4

7.10.11
FBG 5.3
+2 9.1
bedtime 6.9

8.10.11
FBG 6.5
+2 9.5
bedtime forgot

9.10.11
FBG 6.2
+2 forgot
bedtime 7.1

10.10.11
FBG 6.2
+2 hours 7.2

So far week 2 was the worst- psyched up for week 1, had to really try week 2, this last week with 2 weeks invested was easier. On to week 4. Next weekend will be the test - unexpected visitors that cant be put off- food to prep and wine will be around- exactly what I was trying to avoid. So far I have been absolutely angelic in the face of pizza, chocolate and wine, but actually having to cook will be tough.( Ive been feeding the family on ready prepared stuff). Not always remembering to test when I'm busy or tired.