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memememeiii

Well-Known Member
Messages
147
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Dunno. Strange question.
Hello.

I hit the heaviest weight I have ever been - 230 pounds - over Christmas, have been miserable with being over my 'threshold' heaviest at 225 for weeks if not months...all due to work and life stress that I have obviously chosen to accept. I binged over Christmas once the stress was off - a master's degree I'm finishing, I'm an English teacher in a profession that has reached epic proportions re. teacher stress (the only profession to have its own 'distress line' and it's because over 60 people a year in teaching kill themselves). I volunteer in a charity three hours a week on a distress line, though not the aforementioned one. I'm over-busy. Simple as that. But it's derived from having to make a living and pay bills. If it's not this excuse or reason, it's some other. I'm also addicted to the good taste of junk food, and that started easily 15 years ago when I lived across from a small supermarket and used to binge my face off on chips, ice cream, chocolate, candy and snacks over a Friday night session with my TV. I've known I was poisoning myself the whole time I've been eating like this, and still can do...it came to a head at 230 pounds, and I decided in the new year to lose this weight once and for all. And...to reverse diabetes which started in Jan 2012, two years after a major breakup in my life. Clearly, we have an emotional journey to go down as well as a physical one. I have already gone through almost 6 weeks of the Newcastle Diet in 2012 and 'reversed' the diabetes I have - ONLY to put it back on and regain the diabetes. So, I am diabetic and fed up. That's a good thing. I started the diet again Jan 3rd and am 18 pounds down as of the morning of Jan 13th. Not bad. I expect this to slow, but I'm working out, doing the shakes and a salad daily and determined to stick with this. I've heard from the Newcastle team and have been told I should see 'reversal' at -15 kg. So, on with the show.

I would appreciate any encouragement and support you can offer.

At this time, I'm supplementing myself with plenty of meditation in the mornings, particularly Deepak Chopra and Oprah's 21 Day Meditations for Perfect Health which are - to be honest - outstanding. I'm also listening to Louise Hay's meditations (can be found on YouTube) because as ick as they can seem, they address core patterns and I aim to change myself completely in this regard. I do not trust food anymore - and that's another reason for doing this once and for all. I want to eat again, and enjoy it. Because despite what people say, and the evidence, I don't believe it. Well, I do, but I'll binge. I love food!!! So, I'm keying in on the major question of what BALANCE looks like for me. I also read Geneen Roth's books on eating, as she's bang on and it's about just ... eating. I presume mindfully. Watch this space and thank you for the support here!

Meme
 
Well done you!! I think what you are doing is amazing!!
I did the Cambridge 3 years ago and managed to lose 6 stone it was incredibly hard but I did it and it was the best thing I have ever done!
Keep going and know that every day you are a step closer.
I wish you all the very best and look forward to hearing about your progress

Bex
 
Welcome to the forum

Addiction is a powerful thing for many ... for me, it was easy. I knew the cr*p foods were bad for me so I dumped them. I'm not perfect by any means, but getting there and have not given in for 8 months.

That weight loss is great so I'm not here to pat you on the back but lightly kick you in the rear (if you're not already doing that yourself) so you continue in your fight. You want encouragement?

You go it

Recognition and address are the two most critical issues. Keep goin' Mike
 
Well done with what you have achieved so far. I've been looking for some resources for relaxation so I'm going to check out the ones you mentioned.
Can I just make an observation - I felt tired just reading your message - you do sound very hyped up and it reminded me of how I was when I was teaching.
What I want to say to you is calm yourself right down. You are very self-aware and know you are stressed, but knowing is not enough. Keep trying with those meditations.
You have labelled yourself as someone who loves food, but maybe it's the stress that's talking. This doesn't have to be your identity, find something else that you love. How about healthy living, some type of activity?
Can I also say that I think you are using the Newcastle Diet as a sort of crash diet that will be the answer to everything. You can't just do this diet and then go back to eating whatever the **** you like. Sorry.
I hope you will keep posting on this forum because there are lots of great people to encourage you and help you out.
All the best
nancy
 
Hi and welcome. You're obviously doing some of the right things with the weight coming back down. I don't know whether you saw the BBC2 Horizon programme last night? Quite a bit of what it said fits in with the experience of many on this forum. In general, use proteins to make you feel fuller; fats will also help that way. Keep the carbs down and have low-GI ones when you can. Obviously veg is usually good but don't have too many of the root ones. Just a word of caution that traditionally many diet experts have recommended avoiding fats and haven't mentioned the problems carbs can be. This is now changing so take account of that in the information you review. Let us know how you get on over the coming weeks.
 
HI and welcome Well done for taking yourself in hand and being determined to change your diet, loose weight and get the diabetes under control.
As someone who has never been addicted to sweet stuff fast or junk foods I don't really know what that is like but I imagine that it is very difficult to wean yourself off them so well done for doing that and for the weight loss. Whatever you are doing is working for you and that is what's most important it is all good so keep up the good work
 
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Wow. I feel welcomed! Finally, the silence in my life around this issue is gone! Okay, on with Day 14 - I have to say - this week has sort of flown by. Week 1 was a bit of a moany hard one. In my head, I mean. I found myself crying daily. Now I marvel over my slightly shrinking size. Last night I held my gut and breasts in hand and stood in front of the mirror, observing two things: I'm slimming down and happy about it. I've been miserable, feeling my gut push into my face when I sit on the sofa at the end of a long day, unable to wipe my *ss properly, unable to see my toenails to clip them, unable to do a number of things...and now I see the end of this in sight. It's a temporary 'crash diet', yes, absolutely...but I have an exit plan and a plan to change my life which is a follow-through to this. Secondly, I felt the weight of my own obesity in hand and thought: if I stood here for 15 minutes, I'd really know how much weight I'm carrying. I go to physio for my back - I'm sick of this. I've been suffering plantar's fascitis in my feet for years. I'm tired of that. The benefits of coming back to a reasonable size is are obvious.

But I haven't had anyone to talk to about all this. And I know that support is going to be a huge help, because I'm not deluding myself: I also know that the addictive taste of food 'out there' in the world is going to require a plan. I'm curious as to how you all deal with EATING OUT. I am a great lover of this. It is one of life's pleasures. I am also aware of how much food is, after months if not years now, tasting better to me. I'm enjoying my daily salad!!! Regarding my own question, I envision going to restaurants and immediately having half the meal packaged to go home. Ordering starter sizes. Splitting plates. Exercising after. At home, I envision eating off of smaller plates. Eating slowly and chewing more. Some of these tricks and tips have been recommended by therapists I've seen. Ahhhhhhh...then there is just staying in the NOW and being mindful...I'm not there yet.

I am 210 today. My scale is, as they all are, dodgy, and it usually logs the correct weight the first time. It can be wrong, but I'm fairly sure that's the correct weight. So, I'm at the end of Week 2 of the Newcastle Diet - what is the Cambridge diet? - will have to Google that - and that feels good, and I'm now impatient. I might have to stop weighing myself. That would be like trying to get myself to stop checking Facebook compulsively. I don't see it happening. But weighing can be easier to kick, I think, as a daily habit. I only do it once.

Shirataki noodles - I bought 50 packs of them from an Oriental supermarket in Leeds - cheapest online anywhere in the UK - before I changed tactics and decided I needed drastic intervention now. After I come off of this, I will be homecooking with more protein, as you all say, and this is one strategy for dealing with my LOVE of noodles. I love noodles and pasta. Slimming World says you can eat them as long as you stop when full. THAT is another rather hard little thing to master. As I said, I don't trust anyone but the body builders anymore. Just kidding. But I have done loads of research into diet, and I ran a Biggest Loser Club for two years with a staff in the Middle East and everyone lost weight but me - I gained. I know loads about diet. I just don't practice it. But this is to change...

Ideas for the exit strategy coming out of the Newcastle Diet in six more weeks (hurray!) would be great. I actually have 100 pounds to lose, so I won't be done losing yet.

Now, I woke at 5 am to meditate and go to the gym, and to the gym I must go. Bidding you all adieu, and thank you so much for writing to me. It truly lifts!!!
 
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Thanks, Bex. Your inner stamina...must be something. Tell me about that and the Cambridge Diet.

Mike D, I absolutely agree with you, and a kick up the backside will be great. I do understand and know that phenomenon of being recognised, and then suddenly doing an 'about face' on myself. I find self sabotage a TRULY STRANGE THING.

Thanks, everyone.
 
Hi mememeiii, big welcome to you,wishing you strength and stamina for the road ahead,keep posting :)
 
As another member has kindly pointed out, you DO seem somewhat in front of the "end game"; i.e. a bit ahead of yourself. That's fine, but please understand this is not a race but a determination to hit a finish line that is RIGHT for you. It won't change overnight as I'm absolutely convinced your brain must be in tune with your body (and reverse). Sync them quietly and within the boundaries of what is good for you.

Now for the hard message. Slimming World can sing and dance all they want about what is and what is not good for diet and BS control and unless I'm sadly mistaken, I think you are suspicious of their claims ? I would be as well as pasta and noodles are NOT good for you.

You are obviously determined and THAT is half the battle. Mike
 
Hi Meme

Well the Cambridge can be done in two different ways. Firstly, you replace all meals with milkshakes that you buy from a consultant although I believe they now do soups and cereal type bars too, and in total have four a day. The other way is to have three shakes a day and then have a very prescribed meal. Which is basically a carb free meal. I chose this option as I have a little girl and didn't want her to think that not eating at all was a good idea and meant I could still sit and enjoy a meal at the table with her.

As for my inner stamina , well I'm not sure where it came from at the time , but I'm guessing it was sheer desperation as I was so unhappy that life didn't seem worth it at the size I was. It's still a struggle now , I have kept most of the weight off but I do fluctuate a fair bit and then have to reign myself back in again ( something I am trying to do at the moment )

Good luck with your journey , you CAN do this!!

Anytime you need a bit of support just shout

Bex
 
Try having smaller portions of the pasta and noodles than you have eaten previously and you could be fine with them not everyone has to give them up completely
 
I have found that those sort of carbs are addictive and stimulate my appetite, so if I ate them I would be fighting a constant battle with myself. Better not to have them at all - there are plenty of other good things to eat. For example, I got myself a Lakeland julienne peeler to make courgette spaghetti and I find that I can enjoy "spaghetti" bolognese without that bloated feeling afterwards.
 
I was thinking, if you really enjoy food, could you turn that to your advantage by thinking up some really good low carb recipes? Get creative with the things that you can eat. Turn it to your advantage.
 
Smaller plates is a must!

I have always had small plates... And your stomach and expectations reduce alongside the plate size.

Eating out? If I do which is rare, I tend to just swap the chips for extra salads... I also tend to end up eating veggie meals. I'm not vegan though.

Takeaways.. Very rare, but if I do then I don't have any rice or potatoes.. But do love the chicken peanut satays and just plain old chicken curry.

It's also very important to have support. You have got heaps of that here.

Keep us updated on your new lifestyle.. Good luck
 
Hi again. I eat out quite a bit but as I'm on insulin it's easlier but I still need to avoid gaining weight. I usually have a starter ather than dessert and I try to have a lower carb starter. I do have pasta but I know it's not good for me and don't do it too often; I have to take more insulin for it which tells me that it's very carby. So nothing is off the menu but have the carby things by exception or very small portions. Yes, do be careful with the well-known diet clubs like SW, ND and so on. They are all good in many ways but most still live in the past where fat was bad and carbs were OK. This has never been true so watch out for carby foods. Protein is fine. Given time I'm sure you will find the right foods and menus and look around the forum for some of this info. Do ask if you want specifics e.g. egg and bacon is fine for breakfast but branded cereals usually aren't and only one slice of wholegrain toast if any.
 
Good to get on this site! Very clear and appropriate advice re. diet. You're right...you can get lulled into complacency by the various bits of info out there. Shirataki noodles, for anyone interested, is essentially a SUPER low calorie noodle that is primarily fibre! It's made from Japanese yam, and I would love to know people's take on this food. It acts as more of a cleanser than anything, rather than 'real' food. No idea - yet - of the nutritional value of it, but it's 8 calories per a 200 mg serving. When cooked enough, they are more than palatable - despite various thoughts about it as being chewy, etc. I have tried them with Chinese stirfry and with Italian tomato sauce, two of my staples. (You can tell I'm waiting to get to the day when I can eat real food again. Plain protein shakes are for the birds.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ewer-calories-burn-eat-sounds-good-true-.html

These are the cheapest in the UK, for anyone who thinks they can eat them: I've looked.

https://www.orientalmart.co.uk/japanese-products/noodles/koganezawa-shiritaki-shiro--yam-noodles-

The other diet I looked at right before diving into the Newcastle diet again is the Tim Ferris diet, which I may pick up on when done...with this phase...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/expert-reviews-timothy-ferriss-4-hour-body

I got tired of it, but I think it might be good for awhile, or I'll be trialling some variation of a few things. Anyway, and, yes, I'm putting the cart before the horse. I guess it helps me not dwell on what I am seriously missing right now. Weirdly enough, it gives me inspiration and preps me for the future.
 
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Okay. I'm 15 days done with the 8 week Type II Diabetes Reversal Diet recommended by the Newcastle Researchers. 22 pounds down. I have to say, I have had to grit my teeth, cry to my partner and friends when necessary (when frustrated or in fear of the future and this big question of how to create a lifelong dietary change - in particular - that I could possibly love), go to sleep more when fatigued or frustrated and ... I have come through the two weeks a stronger person. Mindful of the need to connect here and now, constantly, with what is good and healthy.

ie. Am I working out today? Am I drinking enough water? Am I overworking at work and stressing needlessly?

What am I going to do about all of these things? I know full well how far I have to go. Baby steps. Baby steps. But the one thing that is absolutely FIXED in my mind. I'm NOT reverting back to old bad habits.

So, passionate about coffee, and after two weeks of NO coffee on this diet (my choice), I had an espresso with NO sugar or sweetener in it - and actually enjoyed it. New things to discover. I hold on to that as a potential plus, no, as a definite plus - because I have to.

Can you relate?

MM
 
This is not weight watchers. How has your BG responded to your diet?
 
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