ND done, 5:2 fast didnt work now ND with a twist

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

tree-peony said:

ah, THERE you are....

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Sorry, couldn't get this done last night. But yes, here I am. I bouncing like Tigger today... :lol:

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Thursday May 17 - day 25

Lunch
Pre BG 5.5 + 2 hours 5.5

Dinner
Pre BG 4.7 + 2 5.3

Supper
Pre BG 5.2 +2 Won't be done today.

Fluid

Water 2.5L
Tea black 2 cups

Exercise

45 minutes medium effort

Verdict after day 25

Feeling pretty good again today. I am seeing a reoccurring pattern with my BG's and so am wondering if this is going to be my stable figures? I can't complain as they are well in the normal range, and now seem quite unaffected by exercise. Weight is fluctuating again this week, and finally the losses do seem to be slowing. Perhaps I have reached a level my body is happy with. I can't be sure until weigh in on Monday. The following Monday will be interesting, as I will have added an additional solid food meal the precious week, so my calories and carbs will still be very low, but obviously higher than they are now. I will watch those figures with interest.

My highest FBG level has been 5.5 this week, while I would like between 5.0 and 5.3 or lower, I can live with an odd mid range 5 now and again.

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

collie said:

Just recently diagnosed and after reading the Newcastle research from a couple of years back found your post - you're on the Newcastle diet to try and reduce diabetes symptoms/levels and then not take medication or are you taking medication? My doctor wanted to put me on metformin but asked if I could try for a month on diet alone - so have been on low carb diet and tried to exercise a bit more. 8.9 on diagnosis and trying to get down to levels where medication not required. Do you just take a shake(liquid) and if so are you under doctors/specialist care monitoring or just off own back - sorry for so many questions. Trying to find someone who takes on patients to follow the diet / exercise regime. Thank you and congratulations on what you have achieved.

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Hi Collie. No worries about all the questions, only by asking questions do we learn.

I only take Metformin 500mg x2. I am happy to remain on that dosage or maybe drop one tablet a day, for the heart protection the medication offers. Added to that, it's a very safe drug, so I am ok taking it.

On Sunday it will be the end of week four. In the four weeks I have lived on nothing but three shakes a day, and lots of water, with added no added sugar squash. I have also had between 2-3 cups of black tea. That is it. As from Monday, I will be adding a solid meal to the three shakes, and will continue like that for another 4 weeks. My Doctor is fully aware of what I am doing, thankfully he is very enlightened and a forward thinking GP who will support very low carb diets, and alternative approaches.

Please do ask away. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I can share my experiences. That was the reason I began this diary, so if people wanted to see day by day how it feels, and how your body copes, this could give them an idea, remembering and taking into account we are all different.

If I were to offer any advice to anyone trying the ND it would be; this diet is not for everyone. It takes will power and determination, especially in the early days. Exercise is a must, for me, it really helps me to have a feeling of well being. Realise you will have really good days, you're also going to have some hellish days. But I would say at least try it. It's not a cure, but my BG's show it works. I am only ever in the 4's and 5's even FBG. I can't remember the last time I had a six. Hard work, but worth it!

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Friday May 18 - day 26

Readings today. I have a new meter, so just for today I will post the figures from my old meter and new one. Tomorrow and subsequent readings will just be my new one. Each test was taken at exactly the same time using the same drop of blood.

Lunch
New meter Pre BG 4.9 + 2 hours 4.6
Old meter Pre BG 5.0 + 2 hours 5.7

Dinner
New meter Pre BG 4.2 + 2 5.1
Old meter Pre BG 4.6 + 2 5.9

Supper
New meter Pre BG 4.8 +2 5.3
Old meter Pre BG 5.1 +2 5.8

Fluid

Water 2.5L
Tea black 3 cups

Exercise

No treadmill today, but as I was at the GP surgery, I decided to have a good old walk around the village, get some fresh air and do some window shopping. Possibly about 30 - 45 minutes walking around (it was lovely).

Verdict after day 26

I am feeling back to how I was in the early days. Lots of energy and no hunger pangs. I do wonder if the blip I had was just residual from the tummy bug I had. In any event things well and truly back on track.

Tomorrow I am having a huge baking day. I need lots of nice low carb goodies, so am making loads of stuff and freezing it. I think I am planning ahead in the best way I can. As I am almost at the end of four weeks of a purely liquid diet, I am more than ready to have solid food into my diet now. From Monday, my days food will be:

Lunch - shake
Dinner - proper meal (this will be a protein meal but will have less than 200 calories. Monday for example is a chicken salad, a small piece of chicken and lots of salad greens.
Supper - shake
Snack - third shake.

My calories from Monday will be around 655 - 700, where as they have been around 504. The shakes are 168 calories each, so I will only be adding around the same intake as an additional shake. Each day I will have some protein, with the rest of the calories made up with salad or green veg. I have bought a new pair of kitchen scales to ensure weights are exact and I don't exceed what I am supposed to have. This will be my diet for the next four weeks.

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Saturday May 19 - day 27



Lunch
Pre BG 4.9 + 2 4.7


Dinner
Pre BG 4.4 + 2 4.9


Supper
Pre BG 4.9 + 2 5.4


Fluid

Water 1.5L
Tea black 6 cups

Exercise

Weird day exercise wise, but perhaps a step (no pun intended) in the right direction. Late morning until middle of the afternoon was spent baking, so on my feet all the time, and walking around. Once I had everything cooled I wrapped it, bagged it and froze it. Then made dinner for the family (not me yet - boo hoo). After dinner we got tidied up etc and then decided to go for a walk with the dogs. The plan was just a shortish walk, but we ended up being out for a long time. Poor dogs walked until they wore away their little legs and hobbled on stumps :lol: They all came in, huge drink, and have slept since So, I think I walked about ah hour and a half to an hour and three quarters, out in the fresh air. - Lovely.

Verdict after day 27

Fine, no hunger at all, constipation gone, feeling bright as a button, but so looking forward to food on Monday. Just one more full day of shakes, then three shakes and a meal - yipee!!


[edit to add] Supper +2 reading.

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Sunday May 20 - day 28



Lunch
Pre BG 4.4 + 2 5.5


Dinner
Pre BG 4.5 + 2 5.5


Supper
Pre BG 5.0 + 2 still to do


Fluid

Water 1.5L
Tea black 6 cups

Exercise

None, due to pain and slight inflammation of my knee, possibly caused by a little too much yesterday.

Verdict after day 28

Well, here I am, half way through, and my last full day of just shakes. I can't deny I am so relieved to get this last four weeks done, and be able to have real food again. I won't lie, the last four weeks have not always been easy. Times I have craved food so badly, it became all encompassing, but I didn't cheat, I have stuck to the absolute letter. 3 shakes daily, with only squash or black tea. WOW! On reflection the last four weeks have gone by really quite quickly. Times when I was in the middle of this, and wondered if it would ever end, but it has. I think if I had not had my daughters needing dinners cooked, and able to snack and doing it around me, it might have just been a touch easier. On the other hand the support they and my fiance have given me has been invaluable, as it kept me going through darker days.

Would I recommend this diet? Absolutely I would. I think it is a chance to give your pancreas the best chance possible. I think if I were to offer any advice it would be, it's not always easy and some times the urge to cheat is seriously challenging, go into this determined and single minded. The thing that stopped me cheating was my absolute terror of complications, pure and simple. If there is something about your condition that scares you half to death, keep that at the forefront of your mind the whole time, it does help. Keep busy, I found on days where I was really busy that it all seemed easier. Slacker days were where I found it tough going. Use any means possible to get you through, I used my treadmill to work off frustrations, or I would post them.


Confessions week 1 - week 4

Yes, in week one the two sticks of celery, and this past week a cup of coffee with a little milk. Apart from that, I have stuck 100% to three shakes a day, with black tea and squash.

Weeks 4-8

I will continue with three shakes, but will also be adding a proper meal for dinner. I seriously can't wait for tomorrow, my first proper meal in 4 weeks. My daughters think I may not be able to manage much, due to stomach shrinkage, I hope they are right. I am also curious as to me BG levels.


Would I do four weeks just shakes again?

In short yes, if I felt my BG were out of control and needed reigning in again. At least I would know what to expect, but yes, for me it's a no brainer.

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

andrewk said:

Congratulation on your results so far. It's difficult to see how they could be any better.

Andrew

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Thank you Andrew. I am really pleased with the results thus far, I would be classed as non diabetic with them, but as you and I know, it's only the ND that has got them to the point they are.

I have an appointment June 27 for a fasting FBG for my HbA1c test, and feel that should be somewhere in the 5's. My GP thinks the 6's so I want to impress him with a 5 if I can.

Seriously though, I truly can't wait to have solid food again. Four weeks just shakes has me chomping :lol: at the bit, for the real deal :lol:

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

andrewk said:

On the basis of the readings you've posted, I'd be surprised is your HBA1C was more than 5.5. I'm looking forward to seeing your blood test results.

Andrew

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Yes, me too. My 30 day average is 5.2 and 7 day average 5.0. If I don't get into the 5's I think I will throw a tantrum :lol:

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Thank you Catza and TP, not long now, I'm like a kid at Christmas :lol:

I am very curious as to how or if my figures will change. It's partly nerve wracking, and partly real excitement as well. If they stay about the same as they have been then I know I have cracked it, and the visceral fat has all gone and my poor old pancreas is working a bit better, if they are not so tight, then a rethink may be in order. I am not going to think anything about it all today, just wait and see.

Weight loss this week 7.1 pounds.

Catza, I LOVE the emotiocons :lol:

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

My daughters are laughing, I am in total shock. I weighed 100g of chicken breast and grilled it (116 calories). I then added some lettuce, celery, cucumber, one tomato, a small slice of red onion and a couple of spring onions, enough to make around the same as a shake (it ended up being 158 calories in total). I actually managed to eat: all of the chicken, a quarter of the tomato, about 2 slices of cucumber, half a stick of celery, half a spring onion, about quarter of the red onion, maybe 2 lettuce leaves. My stomach has shrunk so much it's unreal. My plate to all intents and purposes looked like I had eaten hardly anything at all, there was just a gap where the chicken had been.

I still have two shakes to face today, if I manage one, I will be lucky. I am certain, there is no way I will manage 2, I am as stuffed now as I would have been having a full Sunday, or Christmas lunch pre diagnosis.

I can say in my case 110% your stomach shrinks big time!!

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

catza said:

Wot, NO pudding !!!!!!!!! I hope you enjoyed what you did manage to eat after all the anticipation.


I ate something similar this evening, chicken thigh with lettuce and a couple of slices of cucumber, oh, and a pickled onion.
My big meal of the day.

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I thoroughly enjoyed it thank you. I made mine while waiting for my daughters in the oven, so mine was sitting waiting. I was salivating looking at it, it was REAL food and all mine :lol: What I can't get over is how tiny my stomach is. I mean, I literally could have had it on a saucer. My 12 year old who has a tiny appetite must have eaten at least twice what I had :shock:

Re: A Geordie trying the Newcastle Diet

Monday May 21 - day 29



Lunch
Pre BG 4.7 + 2 5.2


Dinner (solid food meal).
Pre BG 5.1 + 2 4.9


Supper
Pre BG 4.9 + 2 5.3

3rd shake
Pre BG +2 Didn't manage today


Fluid

Water 1.5L
Tea black 6 cups

Exercise

None again due to knee, but it does feel better, so should be able to get at least some done tomorrow - yippee.

Verdict after day 29

First day with real food was sooooooooo nice, but a real shock (see previous post about stomach shrinkage). It took a couple of hours for the feeling of fullness to ease. That may be down to the fact I did eat all the protein, which does keep you fuller for longer. Now I have had the first meal, I am quietly optimistic the ND has worked, my +2 hour levels were lower than my pre meal reading. My 'I'm full stop eating' button is really working, and although I ignored it just enough to finish the chicken, I know I would have been sick, had I eaten any more, so that has really started to work much stronger. I am also very confident, that just one proper meal will make the last four weeks a doddle. I can't believe what a huge difference just one proper meal can make. Ironically, while just on shakes, mostly I didn't feel too deprived, I realise now, I was

I am so proud and pleased I did four weeks shakes only, but I am glad it's over. Even so, should the need arise, I would do it again. The benefits (so far) are better than I could have hoped for in my wildest dreams, with FBG's in the 4's every day, and my daily readings as I have recorded. Also the weight loss, which I am certain has made a big difference. All I can hope for now, is my BG's stay the way they are for the next 4 weeks and beyond. That was and is my goal, and I can now only hope it comes to fruition.

[edit to add] Supper +2