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Noooooo..... Fast weight gain. Aaaargh!

Amanda Gee

Amanda Gee

Member
Messages
18
Location
South west
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,
I suspected something was wtong just over a year ago so i bought a blood sugar meter and started testing. I found that certain foods... Rice, bread, ( Starchy carbs) gave me huge spikes.... Readings of 26 which took a couple of days to settle. I signed in here...( As Galathea). And followed a low carb diet. I managed to lose my sign in details which is why i am now Amanda Gee.

Doc put me on metformin, but it didnt make any difference, my blood sugars all over the place. Eventually i was sent to do a Desmond course in February of this year. It was there i realised that carbohyrates comprised of sugars and starches.... I looked up where the starches were processed and found that they were reliant on gut micro flora. Having never had any pro biotics, but having had antibiotics most years due to abscesses on my teeth, i figured it was tine to take some.

I did a month of VSL#3 and its made a HUGE difference. My blood sugar over the past three weeks has only a couple of spikes at 10, Every other reading has been between 5.8 and 7.8. Despite having eaten the odd slice of bread and a couple of cakes.....

Apart from the bread and cakes which were experimental, i have remained low carb..... I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.... Around 1200-1400 calories a day. I have a physical job as a gardener and i wear a fit bit.... I apparantly walk about 40 miles a week and the fitbit registers more strenuous exercise for somewhere between 45 and 90 minutes a day.

And in the last three weeks, i have lumped on a stone in weight....... I have been hypothyroid for about 30 years, but have always been on the case so am on a good amount of dessicated thyroid replacement.... i donT think that is my problem...... i feel fine.... But fat...

The stone increase has coincided with the stable blood sugars.

Any ideas? All help and suggestions gratefully received........ Thanks for reading this far....
 
Can you list last week's diet for us including drinks with a bit of precision, and size?
 
KevinPotts said:
Can you list last week's diet for us including drinks with a bit of precision, and size?
Click to expand...
Yes.... I had half an avocado with half a 160gram tin tuna and red onion for breakfast on three of the days, 1 slice of cheese on toast one day, 2 rashers bacon, tomatoes and an egg a couple of days. Other days i have 2 boiled eggs, a, with 1 ounce of grated cheese and a tablespoon mayonnaise for breakfast........

Lunch was crayfish tails with salad and a tablespoon mayonnaise for two days / couple of slices of ham with cream cheese for two days / A small fried fish and small carton of mushy peas from local chippie once / nothing one day and stewed rhubarb. 2 teaspoons sugar and a couple of tablespoons of double cream one day, as well as a cake. (Homemade c/w icing. Cupcake)

Dinners were.... Roast pork (about 75 grams) with steamed veg and gravy./ Lamb curry (homemade) with steamed cauliflower rice. ( not rice at all just cauliflower) and a large spoon mango chutney.... A cake... / Pork with mushrooms and onions in gravy. ( rest of the roast....). / lamb with crispy seaweed.. ( from takeaway. One carton)/ Spaghetti Bolognaise ( homemade) with steamed courgette instead of spaghetti... Cheese on top.

I drank a pint of dry cider one evening, no other alcohol all week... I dont really like it. I have a half pint of ff goats milk every day which i drink with coffee and i drink fizzy water. San pellegrino. About a litre a day atm but when the weather is hot i drink more. Most of my food is cooked from scratch and i dont have very large dinner plates.... I like veg but my husband doesnt so if he cooks veg is a bit light.....

I ate a medium punnet of black grapes for snacks but no other fruit apart from the rhubarb.....

If i fancy something sweet i have sugar free jelly with cream, but not had this for a few weeks ...... I dont generally eat sweets and i don't like chocolate......... I eat walnuts and brazil nuts but had none last week..... Usually i would have about 150 grams of nuts over the course of a week. I dont eat crisps, i do eat pork scratchings but had none for a few weeks.

Hope this helps? I'm now using the vsl3 every third day and no longer use the metformin...... In fact i gave up with it in january.

Thanks .
 
Sorry, what's vsl?
Have you always eaten that much dairy? I'd be bigger than my house if I did. Dairy is known to not only stall weight loss but it cause fast weight gain. Not for everyone but certainly for me
 
Well 14lbs in 3 weeks is very rapid weight gain and I can't see any cumulative impact that would load it on at that speed. Are you 20g of carbs only on LCHF diet? Probably not is my guess, so perhaps you're not adapting to ketosis and thus not tipping over the edge into fat burning, but I could be way off beam and I'm sure there will be far more experienced contributors who will provide some guidance.
 
Kristin251 said:
Sorry, what's vsl?
Have you always eaten that much dairy? I'd be bigger than my house if I did. Dairy is known to not only stall weight loss but it cause fast weight gain. Not for everyone but certainly for me
Click to expand...

VSL 3 is a probiotic, but kind of industrial strength.... The doc can prescribe it but its available ott. I got mine fron amazon.

Have always been heavy on dairy.......... Maybe i could cut it out for a while...... Except i will really miss the milk. What do you eat instead of cream and cheese?

Xx

.
 
KevinPotts said:
Well 14lbs in 3 weeks is very rapid weight gain and I can't see any cumulative impact that would load it on at that speed. Are you 20g of carbs only on LCHF diet? Probably not is my guess, so perhaps you're not adapting to ketosis and thus not tipping over the edge into fat burning, but I could be way off beam and I'm sure there will be far more experienced contributors who will provide some guidance.
Click to expand...

I tried eating no carbs.... But didnt tip over into fat burning..... In fact all year i have trued different things like no carbs, low carbs and the weight has stayed about the same give or take a few pounds........ Always hovers around 13 stones..... But the increase seems to be tied up with the bloid sugar being even and the increased workload.... Gardening has got really busy..... I thought the weight would be dropping off, not adding on... I am really really stumped and fed up with this.....

Am goung to do the brian mosely 800 cals a day low carb diet from saturday...... My husband is off to work for 3 weeks so i have to fend for myself........

Will let you know if there is any great break through..... All the fat has gone on round my middle.... I look like i am a round ball with arms and legs sticking out. :-(. Not really a beach look.
 
What's your BMI? Maybe given the amount of exercising you're doing you should be eating more? Also, I have been measuring myself along with weighing, as I find the gym work is making my muscle heavier although my shape is changing.
 
I am tempted to say... hormones? When did you last have a check up, think I would be tempted to go see the doc.
 
Amanda Gee said:
VSL 3 is a probiotic, but kind of industrial strength.... The doc can prescribe it but its available ott. I got mine fron amazon.

Have always been heavy on dairy.......... Maybe i could cut it out for a while...... Except i will really miss the milk. What do you eat instead of cream and cheese?

Xx

.
Click to expand...

Too much fat or protein can stall weigh loss and keep you out of ketosis. Sometimes it's the type as well and I said dairy is a huge culprit with weight gain or stalled loss. If you can ditch it for awhile it would be a good test. I would think you'd see the scale move within 4 days or so after elimination.

I love all dairy and miss it but if it's not in the house I don't think about it. I envy those that can eat it and feel good as well as not gain weight.

For milk you can use unsweetened almond milk. It's low carb. I loved the vanilla unsweetened. For cream and cheese I eat guacamole and nuts seeds for snacks. It's fatty and satisfying. I eat a whole avocado a day but I do limit nuts and seeds. Maybe a swipe of peanut butter on celery or. a few nuts. Dairy makes me crave dairy. If you need fat in your coffee like cream you could try a little butter or coconut oil. Different but you might like it. Personally I don't gob fat like I used to. I just use moderate/ normal portions so I am not looking for ways to add it. Keeps the weight down. I do not over eat protein either. About 5 oz a day divided into 3 meals. I keep carbs under 20 and fill the rest in with guacamole olive oil on salads and mayo on lettuce wraps topped with protein. In between meals a few nuts or olives or a swipe of guac. I need far less food than my eyes tell me.
 
I am thinking that much weight gain in such a short time screams fluid retention.
Are your ankles swelling? Any sign of bloating?

We can all develop food intolerances to anything, at any time, and sometimes that shows up as fluid retention.
Have you changed stock cubes? Or started adding any new seasonings or similar (I blow up like a balloon with soy sauce, for instance?).

I would be tempted to head straight to the doc, and ask for a checkup, including potassium levels...

And if your 800 cals don't result in weight loss, then press for more investigations...

Keep us informed, eh?
 
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Catlady19 said:
I am tempted to say... hormones? When did you last have a check up, think I would be tempted to go see the doc.
Click to expand...

Have had progesterone and estrogen measured.... Am past menopause, no idea about testosterone. I wondered about pcos..... Can it affect you post menopause? . I wonder how its checked?

Am off to see doc on friday..... To ask for tests re thyroid...... Can you think of other tests which might help?

Thanks....
 
Brunneria said:
I am thinking that much weight gain in such a short time screams fluid retention.
Are your ankles swelling? Any sign of bloating?

We can all develop food intolerances to anything, at any time, and sometimes that shows up as fluid retention.
Have you changed stock cubes? Or started adding any new seasonings or similar (I blow up like a balloon with soy sauce, for instance?).

I would be tempted to head straight to the doc, and ask for a checkup, including potassium levels...

And if your 800 cals don't result in weight loss, then press for more investigations...

Keep us informed, eh?
Click to expand...

Potassium...... Hmmmm. Off to look it up..... Not changed anything and no fluid retention... All the fat us round my middle though......... Can even pick my skin up so no myexodema which shows if thyroid meds are not effective.... A bit of a bloated tum but mist of it is just fat......
:-(
 
Ok..... Will give the dairy a miss from next week..... And i know you can get coconut cheese though not tried it yet!......

Thank you.
 
Thinking of you and really hope you get to root cause quickly. Keep us updated so that we can encourage you :)
 
Helss said:
What's your BMI? Maybe given the amount of exercising you're doing you should be eating more? Also, I have been measuring myself along with weighing, as I find the gym work is making my muscle heavier although my shape is changing.
Click to expand...


My bmi is currently. 32. Always being told i should eat more..... But never been that great at it......
 
Amanda Gee said:
I tried eating no carbs.... But didnt tip over into fat burning..... In fact all year i have trued different things like no carbs, low carbs and the weight has stayed about the same give or take a few pounds........ Always hovers around 13 stones..... But the increase seems to be tied up with the bloid sugar being even and the increased workload.... Gardening has got really busy..... I thought the weight would be dropping off, not adding on... I am really really stumped and fed up with this.....

Am goung to do the brian mosely 800 cals a day low carb diet from saturday...... My husband is off to work for 3 weeks so i have to fend for myself........

Will let you know if there is any great break through..... All the fat has gone on round my middle.... I look like i am a round ball with arms and legs sticking out. :-(. Not really a beach look.
Click to expand...
Hi there...I've been reading your post with interest...and I can relate to your 'situation'. I am gardener too...not only work wise but it is my hobby too...so plenty of physical stuff going on and instead of loosing weight, I've always been the 'strong girl'..not actually fat as such but never in the normal/slim category neither.
I'm type 2 with PCOS..so plenty of insulin resistance going on..:rolleyes:...and loosing weight has ALWAYS being real struggle.
BUT..I've finally found my magic formula and although I'm loosing some of the extra weight that is indeed on my middle too...it is VERY slow going...funny how fat has so strong 'teeth and nails' to hang on to..;)
LCHF has been really big help, brilliant way to eat to get my blood sugars under control but 'hair pulling' slow way to loose any extra pounds...and that's where IF and total fasting has come to rescue.
By increasing the hours between each meal will give your body a chance to bring your insulin levels down...and THAT will help with chance of loosing weight as insulin is hormone that will be the culprit for storing any carbs as fat tissue...and usually in the middle of our body! I need at least 5 hours between meals and sometimes miss the one meal totally by replacing it something quick and easy as creamy coffee. It is enough to keep hunger away and won't aggravate insulin production. Usually 2 quite low carb meals and snack or two (liquid or something solid) is quite adequate and will result slooooow weight loss..about 1 pound over 2 weeks..but add plenty of fasting hours and I can push the weight loss to come on to 1lb per week...though only occasionally.
I've also had to be very strict with my LCHF...as those teeny little additions of 'just spoonful of this and that won't hurt' all do add up...they are nice, but not necessary. Even when being on really strict low carb ratio..I don't need anymore food, I'm not feeling hungry as long as I keep those fat levels adequate.
Have you tried stretching your night time fasting hours little longer? It might be that it is 'only' down to little tweaks in your eating routine to flick your internal 'switch' into fat burning mode...and if your body is anything like mine..it is down to lots of trials and some errors too.
Oh...and don't pull your hair out with frustration...it is medical fact that it takes at least 2 weeks our bodies to adjust metabolically into new situations (that's if you manage to keep the new situation going on constantly)..with me it took little longer, it must be the insulin resistances fault.
 
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Fasting always helped me when I was a t2. Keeping protein moderate as well. Now I'm t1 and need my insulin in the morning to stop from going up but I prefer a vegetarian BF of 1/2 smashed avocado and celery. Keeps me going from 8-3. Then lunch is the other 1/2 with 2 oz protein and dinner is 3 oz protein with salad , lettuce wrap or some other veg with olive oil. Snacks IF needed are 2 or 3 nuts or olives. Amazing how little food we really need.
 
Being a newbie can you help me understand how you moved from T2 to T1? Thanks.
 
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