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low carb weight loss

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centaur68

Well-Known Member
Messages
56
Type of diabetes
Type 2
hi.
very new to all of this & looking around sites about LCHF eating I see a lot of people have dropped BG levels & lost weight .. I'm going to get a meter (against GP advice) to test myself but have severely restricted carb intake & stepped up exercise for 10 days but no change in weight.. does it take a while to change or am I doing something wrong somehow?
Thanks
 
Hi @centaur68, it does take time for results to start to show. It took about 4 weeks before I started losing weight, then I lost 1-1.5 lbs a week. Some lose faster or slower than others. Stick with it and you should start losing.
 
You might need to let your metabolism adjust before you see weightloss, as if you have got a lot of insulin in your system that really makes losing weight an uphill struggle.
One thing I have always had to consider is that there are some foods, grains and potatoes and high sugar fruits which seem to prevent weightloss, but lower carb foods with the same number of carbs were fine.
I take a multivitamin and mineral several times a week - to try to ensure I have all the micronutrients.
Something I did straight after diagnosis was to have several meals with no carbs at all. That seemed to start the alteration fairly quickly.
Perhaps if you post details of what you are eating there might be a tweak or two you could try.
 
If you have stepped
Up exercising you may be inadvertently eating more. I find gentle exercises to be better. Walking or swimming don't get hungry after that
 
Hi @centaur68 .. and welcome
You have made a good move coming here and you seem to have a positive strategy. Since joining this forum, the folks here have given me so much info, advice and support that I am now much more confident about the journey ahead. So ask your questions and be assured that you will receive the answers that you need .. It's still early for me but, in my experience, it gets easier .. very quickly ..

You are correct about low carb .. and the reality is that managing and controlling your diabetes through exercise, diet and testing your Blood Glucose seems to be the best way forward for many people. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..

I have tagged @daisy1 for you and I would suggest that you read up on the Low Carb Program in the information that she will soon be sending you. You might also find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. and the following Diet Doctor websites ...
Low Carb Intro and Information
Low Carbs in 60 Seconds

I note that you are planning to get a meter for testing and I suggest that you try the website at:
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/
for the SD Codefree meter, which costs £12.98 (you don't pay VAT) or:
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
who distribute the TEE 2 meter, which is free.
I have both for comparative purposes and I have never found any significant difference between them. Unless you are prescribed test strips by your doctor (unlikely), the costs of testing comes down to the ongoing charges for test strips and lancets. I'm testing 3-4 times a day which works out at around £10 to £12 per month for either of the two packages above but, more importantly, I now know what my BG levels are .. and I can now manage them
Hope this helps
 
centaur68 said:
hi.
very new to all of this & looking around sites about LCHF eating I see a lot of people have dropped BG levels & lost weight .. I'm going to get a meter (against GP advice) to test myself but have severely restricted carb intake & stepped up exercise for 10 days but no change in weight.. does it take a while to change or am I doing something wrong somehow?
Thanks
Click to expand...


I think it takes time to start , but also that one also need to keep track of not eating more calories than one do burn .. to know ones maintenance levels is important ...

you could use this one ; http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/DietMakeupCalc.php
 
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thanks everyone, good advice.
AM1874 - thanks Daisy had already sent me info. been reading lots since diagnosis a few weeks ago
 
probably silly question but should I be counting calories as well? ie calorie deficit
obviously hi fat is more calories
 
I have not been counting calories and have lost nearly 5 stone on LCHF. I have coffee with cream, lots of cheese, butter, olive oil - all high calorie.
 
I've never calorie counted but rather macro counted

I keep carbs below 20 per day and all from above ground veggies, avocado and a few nuts
Protein I keep MODERATE. .8-1 g per kg LEAN body mass. I eat 5-6 oz per day divided
Fat I eat to satisfaction and no more.

I eat one avocado ( or more) per day, some mayo on canned tuna or salmon, olive oil, olives and a few nuts.

Fat calories can add up fast and if you want to lose fat and burn it off your body you can keep fat moderate. Otherwise your body will notngo to your fat stores for energy.

There are foods that do seem to stall weight loss for some or many. Dairy ( cheese cream yogurt) and grains of all kinds. Nuts as well. Some of us need to watch our fat portions and some need to eat lots. I just watch all portions and have found a diet and routine that keeps my bs and weight happy. You will too with some trial and error
 
Calories don't seem to count for me - if I compare my calorie intake when I was dying on low calorie diet sheets and my present intake then there must be negative calories, as otherwise I'd be putting on weight every day.
The answer must be that when eating low calorie I cut down on any waste of energy, lower core temperature, restrict available energy, encourage sleeping. When eating low carb I feel great and go out for walks, engage in spontaneous housework - I even dance, so it is pretty obvious which state I prefer.
 
I have found that low carb is doing wonders for the BG levels but, for me personally, the weight loss is very slow.

I've been diabetic many years and only just switched to low carb so am happy to get the BG under control first and then tweak to try and accelerate weight loss. I've lost 9 lb in 3 months but reduced my hba1c by nearly 20
 
How many pounds do you want to lose? I was really fat about a year ago (75kg). I was following Isa Living 30-Day weight loss system + low carb diet and gym. Those pills boosted my metabolism and overall energy level. But the first results I noticed only in a month. So keep working on yourself. PS now my weight is 55kg:)
 
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Muntijay - no figure, just fat loss..
really pleased, I posted this 3wks ago & have now lost 10lbs with noticeable fat loss, back in the gym properly with supplements & am nearly back to my old muscle mass & definition (not bad for 48)
 
This is written based on someone having Type2 with insulin resistance (e.g. told to take Metformin).

For the first few weeks forget about weight loss and just try to control the curbs you are eating and build exercise into your day to day life. You need to find a “controlled curb” system that works for you, lets you control your BG and that you can keep to for the rest of your life.

You then need to reduce (or stop) any meds that result in your body producing additional insulin (along with insulin), this has to be done slowly as you prove your BG is under control and ideally with the help of your doctor.

Once you have done the above, then and only then think about weight lose. I am using intermittent fasting, where I miss two meals on one or two days of the week while also doing a long walk (over 15 miles if flat). This allows me lose weight while eating in a way I can keep doing for the rest of my life. Other people find they just lose weight on low curb without having to try, or they start to control how much food they eat.

Losing weight is nice, but controlling your BG is what will stop you needing a wheelchair and white stick.
 
The very nature of type 2 diabetes is to make weight loss difficult - you have excess insulin sloshing around, it prevents easy access to energy reserves, exercise makes you feel exhausted and everyday living leaves you weary.
I have just begun to see small amounts of loss again after the initial drop when I started low carbing again. I have now got normal numbers for my 6 month testing, and I think that is why it is happening.
The good thing is that even without a lot of weight lost I saw my shape changing, My clothes became too large, I have had to buy new ones or get to the ones hanging on the rail in the spare bedroom - even my latest lot of shoes became loose as my feet shrank.
Possibly if I'd taken up something energetic then I would have seen greater weightloss, but at the age of 66 I feel that I really don't have the time for all that.
 
Resurgam said:
The good thing is that even without a lot of weight lost I saw my shape changing,
Click to expand...

Same here, my weight has not changed much in a few years, but my body shape has, I can now get into clothes that have sat in the wardrobe for a few years as they were too small. I'd like to see numbers drop but I'll take what I can get :)
 
@seanj67

Looking at your med list I expect that the Gliclazide is making it hard for you to lose weight, so if by reducing your curb intake you can lower your BG, so safely reduce your Gliclazide you may find losing weight a lot easier. Intermittent fasting (e.g. 5:2) may help with this, or if you have lots of commitment (and the required medical support) the Newcastle Diet. (Test your BG often as it may go too low with you taking Gliclazide.)

(Both Meforrmin and Forziga make loosing weight a bit easier, so ask if you can increase the dose of them.)
 
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