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Newcastle Diet



You didn't try to lose weight...you DID lose weight... Christ on a bike, 3 stone is a brilliant result.
You only put on 7lb over a few months...

Why not repeat what you achieved last time, it may be a tad harder but if you "only" lose 2 stone over the same period it's still a massive lump to shift.

Best if luck!


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Lolagirl said:
My doctor has suggested this diet to me and I am very tempted to give it a go. I have lost 2st so far but I've stalled recently.
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I mentioned the Counterpoint Study to my GP but he just sneered and asked 'who's going to do that?'

I said, I can see why you are in general practice and not in research. I had been expecting something along the lines that it was tough but if I'd like to give it a go ... One would think that a GP would like to be able to tell his peers that he has had, for example, 6 people on this diet and it worked for 3 of them, if only out of professional curiosity.

Well done to your doctor for being keen and supportive.
 

I did as you suggested and read, in particular, the Press Release, from which I quote "However, this diet is not an easy fix and Diabetes UK strongly recommends that such a drastic diet should only be undertaken under medical supervision. Despite being a very small trial, we look forward to future results particularly to see whether the reversal would remain in the long term.”

Also the work being done at Loghbourough and Leicester is looking at the effect of lack of exercise. I could not find any references or comments from these universities regarding the Newcastle Diet, but it would be interesting to hear from them.
 
Yorksman said:
Take a look at the full diet.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/di ... ecipes.pdf
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I took your advice and looked at the full diet. I note that the study only used the 'OPTI' brand products, and yet people are substituting supermarket 'own brands'. There does not seem to be anything in the Newcastle Diet information referring to alternative brands and so people should not necessarily expect the same results as the study, i.e. 7 out of 11 people being diabetes-free after three months. The 'cynic' in me wonders why Newcastle hasn't mentioned alternative products.
 

Hi Yorksman
Thank you for this information, I have now seen the short report which I read with interest.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/di ... ctions.pdf

I have now completed 5 weeks of 8 losing 15 kg so already have a 75% chance of reversal according to the statistics for long term diabetics and still have three weeks to go. I will be so disappointed if this doesn't work but at least i'll have the other health benefits of being lighter.
 
Day 38

2st 9lb lost so far, I'm sticking to the diet fine and feeling good. I'm overweight now rather than being obese as I have been for the last 19 years. I'm 14st 10lb

I'm exercising quite heavily, running, cycling, 10+ mile walking. This wasn't intentional and no doubt not advisable but I need to keep my blood pressure down sinse I stopped my medication and have slowly got fitter over the last few weeks discovering I can do more and more. I've decided that I might do the Sheffield half marathon one week after I've finished the diet.

I'm testing my blood sugar randomly about 2 or 3 times a week, because I don't have my own tester I use my dads if I call round or use my local pharmacy, my readings are constantly in the 4's.
 

Well it's been nearly 40 years since I was 14st 10lbs and that was when I was extremely active. I did get down to 15st 20 years ago, but then too I was in the gym 5 times per week.

I have slowed down somewhat since then

I've lost 23 Kg now and get readings in the 4s a couple of times per day. I am doing 3 x 10 mins either rowing or cycling, 1 session after every meal. I don't go hell for leather as I am sure something like an artery would break if I did. I already hurt my knee when I went too fast. So slowly does it and the exercises get easier and the weight slowly comes off and the readings slowly come down.

Best news is I still want to lose another 27 Kg so that would be interesting to see what the effect will be on my BG levels. I won't achieve 27 Kg of course. That would take me back to my schooldays but 20 Kg would be nice. Anyway, if you don't have anything to aim at, you stop making the effort.

If you are getting lots of 4s, you must be really very pleased. It must be a massive confidence booster for the final push. At some point you will have to think carefully about what you intend to eat after your fasting diet, to avoid slipping back into bad old habits. As far as I understand it, the idea of the diet is to normalise the liver and pancreatic triglycerides and restore the beta cell function. This should allow the remaining beta cells to produce insulin normally but, what it won't do is replace those that were initially lost. So, although weaker than what it used to be, the continued decline is halted. Just don't overstress it. Sadly we never get to know how many of our beta cells we have lost because the only way to find out is by slicing open the pancreas and although they have done it on people who have died, I am not too sure how helpful that is for us One reads things like diabetics have lost 50% of their beta cells by the time of diagnosis, but that is a very rough and ready guesstimate. If you spot it early and try to rectify it early, it would seem reasonable to suppose that it is a lot less. i think the figure must be heavily weighted downwards because of the sheer number of people waking around with diabetes, unaware of it, eating iced doughnuts and sweet and sour chicken.

Fingers crossed, things will be working normally when you have finished and limited indulgencies won't adversely affect you.
 
After 6 weeks and 2st 10lb lost I've come off the shakes today and reverted to normal food although I'll still be watching what I eat and ensure I'm burning far more calories than I'm eating.

I've registered for the Sheffield half marathon in 3 weeks time and will need to eat according to my training plan. Diabetes UK is the charity I'm raising money for through my employer, quite fitting really as they funded the Newcastle University research.
 
Hi everyone I'm on week 7 now and lost 19lb so far roughly 3.5lbs a week

I'm still on the shakes for brekkie and lunch and low carb meal but have been naughty a couple of times when I have been socialising hence prob why only the low weight loss but feel good and starting to notice in myself now

The Newcastle Diet is hard if you have a busy social life lol I find i am fine during the day at work but at home and weekends is hard but if you can lose by adapting the diet to suit your lifestyle I would think this is the best way to do it

Well done Drayman4 you have done so well !

I am hoping to get to the 2 stone mark by the 13th May and carry on with the adapted diet after my holiday and see what happens


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Tashaleigh1979

Very well done on your achievement. I have read the entire thread on here and seen your progress. Can you give me an idea of what your low carb evening meal looks like please.

Many thanks

Paul.


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Hi Paulgoldie

Thank you

I usually have virtually any fresh meat/fish grilled or baked with salad mainly and veg, I have been having a roast on Sunday minus the potatoes and Yorkshire just added more veg etc..

I have found when I am out having a meal I opted for chicken tikka with salad and if you have a wholemeal chipati they are low in carbs but I have only had this once though,

I'm not great at researching low carb foods and cooking extravagant meals lol so I basically check the carbs that sugar on the packets and limit myself to 150 carbs a day but you could do more or less to suit some days I do have less but I am in the habit of checking the packets now

Hope this helps I will keep you updated I'm basically going to keep going until I get to my ideal weight I think if you have a lot to lose this way is easier as it doesn't restrict you totally and you can still have a little bit of what you like

Slow and steady is the healthiest way to lose as drastic weight loss can cause problems and you may put it all back on if you don't watch what you eat


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Hi everyone,

I was 22 stones! Undiagnosed diabetes lost 2 stones for me (via the classical glucose 'flush-out' symptom) over about a year in 2010-2011!

Then at 19 stones 12 lbs I was diagnosed (July 2011) and I almost immediately started this diet in and lost over 2 stones by September 2011 (17 stone 8 lbs). My diabetes Type 2 all but vanished.

Since then, however, I have much back on and I know why - 2 Xmases and 3 holidays. Other than those 5 events I would be the same weight.

So now today I'm back on the diet and am staying on it til I get to my target weight of 14 stone 7 lbs. I'm currently 20 stone and 4 lbs.

Anyone else starting it now and want to trade progress updates?

Cheers,

Paul
 
Good luck Lounzer

I'm off diet after 6 weeks but might give it another go after sheffield half marathon in a few weeks.
Must admit, holidays and xmas have been my downfall in the past but I'm intending to keep it off this time.

6st is a lot to lose so you'll be on the diet a while, keep posting and you'll get encouragement from others. I've found the positive comments from others helpful
 

Hi, it was lifestyle which was my enemy too. About 4 years ago I was 18 stone and drank like a fish! I cut out alcohol completely as it was easier for me to have none and started eating 5 times a day. I got down to 13.5 stone in 6 months. I avoid 'packaged' food like the plague and a typical day consists of oats, milk and sliced banana (breakfast), toast with marmite or peanut butter (mid-morning), sardines and salad (lunch), toast as per mid-morning (mid-afternoon), 'normal' evening meal (fairly early). My GP, Diabetic Nurse and blood tests all seem to be very happy with me.

I found the weight loss frustrating as I hit a couple of plateaux on route, but managed to stick it out, as I understand a bit about the chemistry behind that. I know when I am going through a weight reduction period as I start peeing for England (too much information!). I can appreciate how difficult it is to 'graze' if you are working, but I feel that the gap between breakfast, lunch and evening meal is too long (more tradition than natural) and the long periods in between too tempting, hence the little and often approach. Whenever I feel hungry, I listen to my stomach and have a piece of fruit or slice of toast.

My exercise consists of walking the dog, which is 2-3 miles per day. The best news is that there is no diet to switch back from. I just continue on at a steady 13.5 stone. I could probably get away with a sensible level of alcohol even, but I can resist anything but temptation! Comments from people who know me ranged from 'you are looking really healthy' to 'are you ill'!!But, going from size 40 jeans to size 32 (at a push!) at the ripe old age of 62 feels good. Cliff Richard, eat your heart out!
 
Hi been looking at this as curious. Ive been low carbing and have done quite well. However I seem to have come to an impasse. So I have been looking and considering the newcastle diet, however Im wondering if instead of buying expensive meal replacement shakes that have in my opinion far too much sugar, could I not have my lower sugar lactofree milk with sugarfree crusha instead? I would look to have that for breakfast and lunch and then meat or fish with veg for dinner. I could look at taking a multivitamin as I understand the shop shakes do have some in, but they also have alot of ......cr*p too.
 
I discovered the Newcastle Experiment in June 2011, and read the research reports. As I had just been told by my Consultant at Addenbrooke's that I had to go onto Insulin, I decided to ask if the Diet would help me, and if so, could I try it.

My GP was doubtful, because of my CKD, but having read the Newcastle Reports said I should put it to my Consultant. In January 2012 I had my scheduled Diabetes appointment and took with me all the research papers. Following the standard system at the clinic, I first saw the Dietician who was very strongly against it. She said I had to follow a low-fat, high-carbohydrate, balanced diet, with a gradual weight-loss. I then saw the Nephrologist Consultant who read the papers, asked questions, and went to talk to the Diabetic Consultant. I was asked to join them; my Diabetic Consultant told me she knew the Newcastle Professor, that the results were very interesting, and that I should try it, with supervision specified by the Nephrologist. This consisted of 4-weekly Blood tests of Kidney and Liver function via my GP. Progress was to be reviewed by the hospital Diabetic team in six months. It was, and I was allowed to continue, and still am on the Diet after more than a year now.

Today, I have never felt better. My HBA1C is <6, my BP is <130/<80, my kidney function is slowly improving, and I have lost >40KG. My body-fat percentage is, unfortunately still high at 40.8%. My aim is to reduce my Visceral Fat to a health lever for my age, as it is now thought to affect natural Insulin resistance.
Last week I received a letter from my Diabetic Consultant saying "now your Diabetes is effectively 'in remission'" I was no longer to attend the Diabetic Clinic". The Nephrologist would continue to see me as part of his normal Nephrology Clinic. In short, Newcastle worked for me, with no significant side-effects at all.

We are all different cases, of course. I am not trying to say that it is for everyone. But it has changed my life, halted organ damage, and increased significantly my life expectancy. It's easy to post comments stating a personal mantra - I see several of those replies and comments which remind me of the dogged opposition of that Dietician. All I have done is report my own history; I am willing, if it would help, to provide fuller information if asked.

One other comment; I was given an iPad several months ago. I found several Diabetic Apps and tried one or two. I have used one for months now to record my vital numbers: BP, Daily Glucose after food, HbA1c, Weight, BMI, Body-Fat, and Blood Lipids. It records, charts, and analyses statistically, data for up to a year. The data and its easy presentation stunned the Nephrology Registrar, who immediately borrowed the device to Email himself a copy of the data. For me, controlling Diabetes is like learning to fly in cloud, it's not possible without good instruments - it kills you, just like Diabetes! We have had the finger blood meter for years now, but realtime data tracking is a vast improvement, showing in graph-form the daily fluctuations in Glucose and BP, related to each other by time. It has proved to be my artificial horizon for the Killer Cloud of Diabetes.
Good luck to you. Wizzco.
 

Hi, if you mean by 'impasse' that you seem to have stopped losing weight, then stick with it. I hit two 'impasses' which lasted three to four weeks each then started losing again, but this is all without the aid of diet substitutes. So, when I hit my target weight I just continued without having to change my diet. It does take will-power and patience and so I suggest you give the impasse a bit of time. I am not on a low carb diet as such, but rather eating little and often (5 times a day plus fruit etc.). Four hours between breakfast/lunch/evening meal is too long for me, hence the five times a day.

For the record, I dropped from 18st to 13.5st over a period of six months and held that for three years, UNTIL I STARTED ON THE WINE AGAIN!! So, now I am 15.5st (I am not a wine sipper!) but, at least I'm not back to 18st. Iam realistically expecting to be 13.5st by about September, so long as I stay off the wine!!

I have never, as yet, met anyone who has lost substantial weight through food substitutes and not put it all back on again, so I look forward with interest to hearing from all those trying the Newcastle Diet in about twelve months time.
 
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