I'm Looking For Inspirational Stories Or Before And After Photos Or Both - Can You Possibly Help?

Diabetes.co.uk meeting/event
Date - Saturday 1st September
Place – Birmingham (venue and times to be announced in the next few days)

I'm currently working on putting together the above low carb high fat (LCHF) event. It's an event open to anyone, especially those interested in learning more about diabetes and about the LCHF way of eating to control blood sugars, reverse diabetes or put it into remission and enjoy a life without complications. I haven’t organised such an event before so it is a bit of a learning curve.

It seemed a good idea to have a get together and try and get as many forum members there as possible whilst at the same time trying to spread the LCHF word. Massive thanks to those who are helping any which way, really could not do it without you. An amazing team effort. Diabetes.co.uk are supporting us massively by sorting the venue, providing food and generally helping with putting it all together. They are also arranging for a photographer to be there together with their PR team. Those attending who feel comfortable with it are going to get into a photo with our BIG clothes/trousers/skirts to show just how great this way of eating is and showing how good we now feel having got our blood sugars under control. We are hoping to reach a total of 100 stone weight loss. Diabetes.co.uk have confirmed that we can include weight loss and HBA1c details for people who are unable to attend but want to be included and I feel confident we will reach that target one way or another.

I would love to receive your inspirational stories if you are happy to share your journey so far (I am sure most have an incredible tale to tell, even if it is not massive weight loss, it might be just a few pounds but you have reduced HBA1c levels, got your blood sugars under control, you have experienced improvements in your health or you are just feeling fantastic with this lifestyle change). The more the merrier for our event.

If you are happy to send me before and after photos of your journey too that would be amazing. Or you can send me both your story and the photos that go alongside. Diabetes.co.uk have asked for as many photos as possible for the event hence this status. At the moment I am thinking of putting them in some sort of booklet to hand out at the event (please say if you don't want them including here) , and maybe also having some of the photos on a white board at the event (same applies). Faces can be blurred out if you prefer, not everyone is happy to go public!

If you are happy to share with me you can PM me your story/photos. Alternatively if you prefer not to send them to me directly you can link them on this thread, no names or personal details need to be given. There is an existing thread for before and after photos where you can post also. Just let me know if you are ok for me to use them for our event. I understand people may have reservations and that is no problem at all.

Your story will without a shadow of a doubt inspire others who may just be starting out on their journey just as you were inspired by other forum members. And even better as it will be written in your own words coming from the heart. A very personal account.

Thank you for your time.

Existing thread for before and after photos:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/sharing-inspirational-photos-after-lchf-anyone.145539/

 

Just a very quick update on the planned event on 1st September in Birmingham, DCUK think they have the perfect venue for us and are hoping to get back to us with details very soon so I expect to put out further details in the next day or so. I will also give you a run down of where we are up to with everything. Exciting times. DCUK will be designing invitations. Very official it will be that said the events that they run are relaxed affairs, I love the sound of that. Thanks for all your input everyone, it really has been amazing.

 

ANOTHER VERY QUICK UPDATE (I have guests arriving this weekend so limited time - sorry)

Sorry for bold and CAPITALS Im really not shouting.

FIRSTLY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP/ADVICE ON THIS - INVALUABLE

DATE - Saturday 1st September - planned event (informal) supported by DCUK.
NB - FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ON EARLIER THREADS CONFIRMED YOUR ATTENDANCE AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE DEFINITELY ATTENDING SO THAT DCUK CAN SEND YOU A PERSONAL INVITE - THANKS

VENUE
We now know the venue will be central Birmingham. Although the actual venue is still to be confirmed. Because of this we are not yet sure of maximum numbers that we can have there. If you are interested please let me know as soon as possible.

DAY BEFORE
Some of us are going up the day before to make the most of the event, please let me know if you would like to go the the day before and I will give you further details.

The event will be coordinated by DCUK who have been amazing in sorting venue, lunch and general assistance.

SCHEDULE

• Lots of people there experienced in LCHF woe to chat to (it will be an informal event). People who have succeeded very well in reaching their goal of gaining control of BS usually with the added bonus of weight loss.

Lots of info to pick up:

• How to reduce HBA1C to enjoy life without complications
• LCHF receipes including breakfast, lunches, meals and desserts (please send any you would like to be included to me or if you prefer please add them on this thread)
• Cholesterol information as many people worry when setting off on this woe that it may have detrimental effect on them
• Inspirational stories for you to read about - if you are happy to share your journey in the booklet let me know on this thread
• Before and after photos - please let me know if you would like to inspire others by sharing yours.
• Exercise ideas
• Fasting and how it can be incorporated into your lifestyle
• the importance of monitors and finger pricking

THE MAIN EVENT AT THE EVENT!


We intend to have a photo taken of how we look after following this woe and with our BIG clothes on. It will be obviously linked in to the fact that we have taken control of our Diabetes and reduced our HBA1c levels significantly to avoid future complications with this woe. It's not just about 'look how much weight we have lost'. Only for people happy to have their photo taken - there will be a videographer, photographer and PR team there to capture the event, this will help spread the word far and wide about how amazing the LCHF woe is for Diabetics, and for people who generally want to have better health. This is a fantastic opportunity and our chance to get the message across to a wider audience. T-Shirts may be provided by DCUK for photo (to be confirmed)
***Anyone interested in joining in on the BIG photo please let me know as soon as possible***

Really looking forward to meeting up with fellow diabetics, I feel there is very little support for us out there in the community, and to this brilliant opportunity to spread the LCHF word and, fingers crossed, it will have the desired ripple effect!!!

 

5.9 today - a relection on the past 3 days, I have had family here staying with me and consumed more wine than I should have! Enough said

UPDATE ON THE EVENT

DATE - SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - BIRMINGHAM

I have now had the venue details confirmed to me by DCUK and I am very pleased to announce the details are as follows:

VENUE: A HEALTHY EATERY IN BIRMINGHAM (PERSONAL INVITES WILL CONFIRM FULL DETAILS)

It looks perfect for what we need. A small and informal gathering. I phoned them to discuss our requirements this morning and they confimed that part will be sectioned off for us so we will have our privacy. The other part will still be open to the public but it seems to be quiet at the weekend. We can move tables to suit our needs. There are 2 toilets including one with disabled access. There is also a room available if we need to change. The lunch menu will be available to us but possibly just 5 options to choose from which they are currently sorting with DCUK who will speak to us before finalising. The good news is there are lots of options for us including eggs!

PARKING - available close by and also on side steets around and about

TIME: 12 NOON UNTIL 3PM (however we can get there from 11.30am onwards). There are several attending who are staying over the night before and we will be on hand to meet and greet across the area if required, for example at the coach station or grand central train station, if anyone wants help getting there, or a bit of company. After the event if we decide we are really enjoying ourselves and don't want to dash off there is a lovely pub nearby.



EVENT ITSELF - There will be an introduction by someone from DCUK followed by plenty of time to discuss and chat about everything and anything! Very easy, relaxed atmosphere. We are hoping to have several new comers to the LCHF woe that we can share our knowledge with and help along their journey as we were helped on ours. The plans are to have our various leaflets and booklets we are currently working on to hand out and to be photographed. DCUK will no doubt be adding these as links to the site fo future reference as ebooklets. I have ordered some name badges so we will all know who is who. I plan to do a Q&A sheet for anything we don't have the answer to on the day. They can then be followed up.

There will be a PR team there and photos/video will be taken. If anyone isn't happy with that please don't worry you won't need to get in the photo/video.

Invitations are currently being designed by DCUK and those who have confirmed their attendence will be receiving their invites very soon. I have a couple of people who have said they are interested in coming that I haven't had a chance to get back to yet due to family commitments (I have had family staying with me for 3 days so practically had come to a standstill) but I will be contacting you soon. Apologies for delay.

I do still have a couple of spaces if anyone would like to join us. Please let me know as soon as possible.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THE LCHF WORD OUT THERE AND WILL BE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT. IT'S JUST SO EXCITING.

LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING EVERYONE VERY SOON. AND FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT DON'T WORRY WE ARE HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME.

 

EVENT UPDATE

INVITE IS READY

Ohhhh yessss the official invite is ready folks

I received it yesterday together with a call from DCUK. I will shortly be working my way though the list I have compiled of those who have confirmed and some who are yet to confirm that they would like to attend.

Your invite will be with you today

DCUK called to go though the finer details of our event with me and I would like to share that information with you now.

I spoke to a lovely lady called Teresa for about 15 minutes. They are right behind us on this event and looking forward to it as much as we are.

Teresa (who seems to be a'big boss' and has worked with DCUK for many years) will be there with Charlotte. Charlotte launched the LCHF program in 2015. (I think it's Charlotte Summers after checking Google). Charlotte speaks at events globally. She knows all about diabetes and is currently working on the following:

1) hypo awareness program

2) T1 program

3) health care professional program

As you can imagine things are very busy. They have done events in the community before and gave me Newcastle and Manchester as examples, however not for the last year due to their heavy workload. But they see this as a great opportunity to get the LCHF word out there to deal with diabetes.

A lady called Charlotte will be doing a talk on the day. I’m looking forward to that. Looking at her You Tube videos (if it is Charlotte Summers) she is an extremely competent speaker and extremely knowledgeable.

GOODIES/FREEBIES

DCUK will sort name badges, pens, goody bags, info booklets for the event. They will try and get t-shirts and she mentioned them having something like 'fingertips of steel' on haha. But this might not be possible due to budget constraints but she will get back to us on this one. They are available to buy should anyone wish to do so in the meantime.

VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER

There will be a videographer/photographer there on the day. Teresa emphasised it would be very informal. They will do group pics. But would like to do individual videos also of anyone who is happy to have a chat on film about their LC journey. It seems they just ask a few questions. 'How do you find low carb' 'favourite recipe' and similar questions.

Teresa has sent me a link to some existing videos so you we can get an idea how they roll!

If you scroll down on https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/

to: Be a success story you will see some videos. Also some stories to read. The videos were filmed at previous events.

The pics and videos will then be used to promote LCHF for DCUK if people are happy for that. And obviously nobody needs to be videod/photographed who doesn't want to be.

The local and national press will be contacted re our story. We may yet be sitting with Holly and Phil on the This Morning settee, I'm sure we can all squeeze on!!! Of course I'm joking. We won't all be able to fit on! Have you seen the size of it!

She said they will total weight loss on the day for those involved. It might be 15 stone 20, 30, 50 but the amount doesn't matter. She thinks it's great us all getting together to do this. I do have a list of people's weight loss and I'm sure I can get it to 100 stone (people who would have liked to attend but for whatever reason can't), all on LCHF and having taken control of diabetes. I'm wondering if it's worth trying to collate a list of peoples HBA1c before LC and after from forum, maybe in the ask a question thread, to try and capture more stats to use as more evidence of how successful this woe actually is, that said that could involve a lot of work.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES AND BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES

They love hearing inspirational stories of how the LCHF woe has helped control BS as well as helped with weight loss. I said we have a booklet of about 20 journeys coming at diabetes from every angle. TOFI (thin on the outside fat on the inside). Linked by genes. Disabled diabetics. Late onset. Multiple health issues. Extreme weight loss etc. I said we had before and after pics too

RECIPES
She loved the idea if a recipe booklet and they have their own nutritionist who would Be interested to look at that one.

CHOLESTEROL AND MONITOR INFO

I said we may also have an info leaflet on each of these time permitting (no pressure on those involved just if you can manage it)

ATTENDANCE
Teresa asked me if those who are coming can email Elena (details are on the official invite) with confirmation of their attendance and any dietary requirements. I laughed and said 'Well we are all diabetic'. So any vegans, nut allergies etc needs to be highlighted.

Teresa said a massive thanks to us for making their job so easy!! And for all our hard work. So once again thank you everyone for all your help in getting this off the ground. I could not have done it without your help and support.

NEXT EVENT

Teresa said they are very keen to arrange another event after this one which is really good news. A different area next time but not sure where yet.

 

EVENT UPDATE – SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - BIRMINGHAM

It's all coming along very nicely. Which is just as well as it's only just over 2 weeks away! It's very exciting.

• We have the venue booked (menu still to be confirmed)
  
  
• Hotel rooms booked for the Friday night for those arriving the day before
  
  
• We have guest speaker on the day (DCUK)
  
  
• We have their PR team on hand for the event. Hoping this is really going to spread our LCHF woe to control BS message.
  
  
• We have had invites produced and they have been sent to all interested parties
  

***PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE AND HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONFIRMED THAT YOU LIKE TO ATTEND ASAP AND I CAN SQUEEZE A COUPLE MORE IN IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ***

• @Rachox has finished the Blood Sugar leaflet and it's looking fab….u…..lous. It's just perfect. Says everything and right to the point.
  
  
• @shelley262 has almost finished the low carb recipes with hints and tips booklet and it is already looking amazing, I really love how she has put it all together, it's making me want to start cooking!! Jam packed with great info.
  
  
• I have done the first draft of the Inspirational Stories booklet and will be sending it to all those included for them to check, to see if they are happy, want to edit, add, send pics (some have some haven't either way is fine obviously) etc. This should be out over the next 2 days to you.
  
  
• I have reached well over 100 stone on my 'we kicked diabetes' butt and shrank ours at the same time' spreadsheet. And really this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many many more.
  
  
• I have name badges and am thinking of adding both forum name and first 'real' name and will contact to confirm where I am not already aware. Obviously it isn't compulsory to give names.
  

THE PHOTOS ON THE DAY

This is how I see it going. We go to the venue in our nice gear, we will be in a group photo (those who wish to be in it) showing how we look now. I'm wearing something that shows off the weight loss well! And there will be a photo where we pop on our big trousers (or skirt etc. as the case may be) to show how much we have lost whilst putting our diabetes into remission/reversing/controlling (this may be a small amount or a large amount, it doesn't matter). I got rid of all mine so will be popping to a charity shop or Primarni to pick up an item in my old size. DCUK did say that t shirts may be provided for the day but it was going to be down to budget. There will be an opportunity to answer a few simple questions on video (should you wish to partake) these may be added to the DCUK website as a way of helping and guiding others. I personally love to hear real people's success stories.

QUESTIONS

1) I'm thinking of doing a life size eat well plate for what we are advised to eat and one for what we eat to keep our blood sugars controlled!! But the what we should eat would vary from person to person on here, some do keto, others various amounts of carbs, proteins, fats so it could prove difficult. Has anyone any ideas on this? Might have to leave it.

2) I was hoping to do a leaflet on simple exercises, from armchair to high power. I won't have time, and probably not the best person to do this as I really only walk! I might just have to leave this to one side and maybe think about it for the next event Have to think about copy write too. Anyone have any ideas how we could do something on an A4 size sheet for example to keep it simple?

Can I just take this opportunity to say a massive thanks for all your help. Could NOT have got this off the ground without all the help I have received. You are such an amazing bunch of people.