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Welcome @memememeiii! I think you have found what I suspected is the major flaw with the Newcastle diet. The flaw is, after you're done with the Newcastle diet and you've lost a bunch of weight and reversed your diabetes, what then? Go back to "healthy plate" eating, counting calories, low fat processed food, etc. until you need to do the Newcastle diet again? That doesn't sound like any way to live a life!!

Well, I've never tried the Newcastle diet, but for decades I was very successful at losing weight by a low calorie, low fat diet. So successful I can't remember how many times I got it to work. Yes, I am making a bit of a joke, like "Quitting smoking is easy - I've done it dozens of times".

A year ago I was where you were at. Near my lifetime maximum weight and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I knew I could lose weight on my now familiar low fat, 1800 calorie a day diet, so that's what I did. As usual the pounds came off, but obviously it was not a pleasant way of eating. Then I had a breakthrough. My A1C dropped a bit, but not much in my opinion at the time. I got a blood glucose meter and saw immediately what my low fat (and therefore high carb) diet was doing to my blood glucose levels. Yikes! Maybe whole meal bread and pasta and high bran breakfast cereal wasn't as healthy for me as I had been told!

So, I began to reduce the carbs and increase the fat in my diet, as well as total calories. Lo and behold, I didn't start gaining weight. The pounds kept coming off. Then this past November, I read the book "Grain Brain" and cut out all grains, pretty much the only source of starch in my diet by then (the author made a pretty good case that our modern grains cause alzheimers and other brain diseases). My carb intake dropped to less than 50 g a day, the calories went up to around 2700/2800 and the pounds really began to drop. I felt great. A month ago I joined a gym and I'm afraid I'm becoming a gym rat, going 5 times a week, but I feel even better. I recently reached "normal" BMI, which is great, but I still feel a little chubby. And I shouldn't neglect to mention that my blood glucose is normal and I'm off all meds.

Anyway, I applaud your will power to go on the Newcastle diet again. However, for long term control, consider a low carb diet.

This website gives a good explanation on how to do it: http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

Good luck!
 
Hi everyone.

I am off to see my doctor in two weeks, and will have a new blood test and compare those results to the last set. I don't feel the need to monitor my blood daily or even weekly. Right now, I simply want to see major impact over time. But I shall keep you posted.

At the moment, predictably, my weightloss is plateuing. I'm ramping up the exercise this week and started with an intense workout yesterday - to build muscle. Also did some cardio for about 40 min.

I've posted some videos on other threads that are very compelling re. why exercise is critical to managing this - I'm sure you all know, but one video offered a great visual of how the BG is affected by exercise.

MM
 
Thanks, NoCarbs4Me. I totally agree with you, and my exit strategy and new lifestyle will be about ramping up the other foods and monitoring carbs.

LL.
 
I have to say, I'm mentally struggling with the 'losses' I perceive around food - eating out and favourite foods. I really am. Not sure where I'll go with that. Working on my mindset and paying attention.
 
Hi MM

IMHO, you must monitor. No "ifs" no "buts" no "maybes". Again, settle down :) Mike :)

How in the heck will you ever know the rise and falls? A guess?

.... and good evening.
 
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