Struggling to lose weight - help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emma46477 · Jan 19, 2015

Hi
I was diagnosed with type 2 6 years ago. However, they now think I was always type 1 and I was misdiagnosed. However since I have started insulin I am really struggling to lose weight. DSN put me on victoza a year ago and I didn't lose any weight. I have tried weight watchers, slimming world..and ended up putting weight on!!!! I am at my wits end..Im being really good with my diet but nothing is working. DSN suggested the 5:2 diet which helped me lose a bit of weight but I couldn't complete most of the 500 calorie days because I would get a hypo or feel unwell because I hadn't eaten.
Does anyone have any ideas please...getting frustrated!!!

himtoo · Jan 19, 2015

Hi @Emma46477

it is a great question and 1 that I struggle with as well.
it seems really easy to say just eat less and exercise more but with that 3rd invitee to the party ( insulin) things always seem to get a bit complicated for me.
hope some of the lovely people on here can provide some insight or experience

AndBreathe · Jan 19, 2015

Emma46477 said:
Hi
I was diagnosed with type 2 6 years ago. However, they now think I was always type 1 and I was misdiagnosed. However since I have started insulin I am really struggling to lose weight. DSN put me on victoza a year ago and I didn't lose any weight. I have tried weight watchers, slimming world..and ended up putting weight on!!!! I am at my wits end..Im being really good with my diet but nothing is working. DSN suggested the 5:2 diet which helped me lose a bit of weight but I couldn't complete most of the 500 calorie days because I would get a hypo or feel unwell because I hadn't eaten.
Does anyone have any ideas please...getting frustrated!!!

Do you carb count Emma, or are you on fixed doses of your insulin? I think without carb counting, it could be quite hard to do the 5:2; just because of the dramatically different eating plans/patterns.

I see you've done Slimming World and Weightwatchers, but have you tried a straightforward reduced carb diet? Whilst I'm not a T1, I found reduced carb to suit me down to the ground, and I lost the weight I needed to extremely quickly. I do know a number of T1s have been very successful in this way of eating, and found over time (because of the reduced carbs) they used less insulin.

There's lots of information on the forum relating to reducing carbs.

Edit: Just to add the following link from this site: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/5-2-intermittent-fast-diet.html

Diamattic · Jan 19, 2015

There may be a lot of other factors involved with your situation.

I have been able to loose weight by just eating a reduced calorie diet, and lots of exercise. I don't believe in a lot of the trend diets, i would think the first thing anyone should try is simply to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, excercise regularly (about 3 times a week doing something that gets your heart rate up over 130 BPM) and to count your macros (Calories, proteins, carbs, and fats). While doing this make sure that your take in LESS calories that your burning every day, and you should be loosing weight. The bigger the difference is the faster you should the lbs drop.

Adding Type 1 to the mix is an extra hitch because you may need to adjust your basal insulin during workouts if your on a pump, or eat something before the workout if not. Which means that you need to account for this snack in your total daily caloric intake, and either need to eat less later in the day, or workout more to burn off the calories.

The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and you will learn to make more efficient choices like when you need a BS boost to eat a banana instead of crackers, or have a low carb meal following the gym because you ate carbs to boast your sugars before the exercise.

Good weight lose is something that will happen slowly over like 4-6 months, not quickly. Fast drops are usually due to drastic lifestyle changes that cannot be sustained and thus people tend to put that weight back on when they stop the 'drastic' dieting.

Also, a big thing we T1Ds tend to struggle with is overeating when we go low. Its very hard to feel low and ONLY eat that 20g of carbs. Our body screams for the entire fridge, but you have to be strong and say "Nope, you only get 1 single apple with 20g of carbs, that will bring my 3.2 up to a 6.2 and then back to normal'

If you can't loose weight on a calorie reduced diet, paired with exercise, over like 4 months then you may have some medical issues causing this, thyroid issues can lead to weight gain, so perhaps a doctors visit is worth it ?

NoCrbs4Me · Jan 19, 2015

I'm not a T1, but struggled to lose weight. I was very successful losing weight with a low calorie, low fat diet - it's worked many times. But it was only temporary - after months of starving I would fall off the wagon and all the weight and more came back. Then, at my heaviest weight in my life I tried a high calorie high fat low carb diet and boom! It worked! Lots of T1s on the forum eat a low carb diet. They just need to adjust their insulin to match their meals.

And, no, a low carb high fat diet is not a "fad" - it's the way we used to eat up until the 1980s when the low fat diet recommendations came out in the USA. How well did that work? The USA is now the most obese nation on earth! And all the other western countries insanely followed the USA and changed their dietary recommendations to match that of the most obese country in the world and are quickly catching up. The real "fad" diet is low fat high carb - an extremely unhealthy way of eating.

himtoo · Jan 19, 2015

Diamattic said:
There may be a lot of other factors involved with your situation.

I have been able to loose weight by just eating a reduced calorie diet, and lots of exercise. I don't believe in a lot of the trend diets, i would think the first thing anyone should try is simply to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, excercise regularly (about 3 times a week doing something that gets your heart rate up over 130 BPM) and to count your macros (Calories, proteins, carbs, and fats). While doing this make sure that your take in LESS calories that your burning every day, and you should be loosing weight. The bigger the difference is the faster you should the lbs drop.

Adding Type 1 to the mix is an extra hitch because you may need to adjust your basal insulin during workouts if your on a pump, or eat something before the workout if not. Which means that you need to account for this snack in your total daily caloric intake, and either need to eat less later in the day, or workout more to burn off the calories.

The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and you will learn to make more efficient choices like when you need a BS boost to eat a banana instead of crackers, or have a low carb meal following the gym because you ate carbs to boast your sugars before the exercise.

Good weight lose is something that will happen slowly over like 4-6 months, not quickly. Fast drops are usually due to drastic lifestyle changes that cannot be sustained and thus people tend to put that weight back on when they stop the 'drastic' dieting.

Also, a big thing we T1Ds tend to struggle with is overeating when we go low. Its very hard to feel low and ONLY eat that 20g of carbs. Our body screams for the entire fridge, but you have to be strong and say "Nope, you only get 1 single apple with 20g of carbs, that will bring my 3.2 up to a 6.2 and then back to normal'

If you can't loose weight on a calorie reduced diet, paired with exercise, over like 4 months then you may have some medical issues causing this, thyroid issues can lead to weight gain, so perhaps a doctors visit is worth it ?

thanks @Diamattic
it is just the great big unknown for me -- for 35 years i did not gain weight but the last 7 have been hard -- psychology plays a huge part when it is all you know like me

Emma46477 · Jan 23, 2015

himtoo said:
Hi @Emma46477

it is a great question and 1 that I struggle with as well.
it seems really easy to say just eat less and exercise more but with that 3rd invitee to the party ( insulin) things always seem to get a bit complicated for me.
hope some of the lovely people on here can provide some insight or experience

AndBreathe said:
Do you carb count Emma, or are you on fixed doses of your insulin? I think without carb counting, it could be quite hard to do the 5:2; just because of the dramatically different eating plans/patterns.

I see you've done Slimming World and Weightwatchers, but have you tried a straightforward reduced carb diet? Whilst I'm not a T1, I found reduced carb to suit me down to the ground, and I lost the weight I needed to extremely quickly. I do know a number of T1s have been very successful in this way of eating, and found over time (because of the reduced carbs) they used less insulin.

There's lots of information on the forum relating to reducing carbs.

Edit: Just to add the following link from this site: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/5-2-intermittent-fast-diet.html

I will have a look at the website and get some low carb ideas. I have only been told to have only 50g carbs per meal. And I adjust my insulin dosage. Thank you for your help.

Emma46477 · Jan 23, 2015

Diamattic said:
There may be a lot of other factors involved with your situation.

I have been able to loose weight by just eating a reduced calorie diet, and lots of exercise. I don't believe in a lot of the trend diets, i would think the first thing anyone should try is simply to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, excercise regularly (about 3 times a week doing something that gets your heart rate up over 130 BPM) and to count your macros (Calories, proteins, carbs, and fats). While doing this make sure that your take in LESS calories that your burning every day, and you should be loosing weight. The bigger the difference is the faster you should the lbs drop.

Adding Type 1 to the mix is an extra hitch because you may need to adjust your basal insulin during workouts if your on a pump, or eat something before the workout if not. Which means that you need to account for this snack in your total daily caloric intake, and either need to eat less later in the day, or workout more to burn off the calories.

The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and you will learn to make more efficient choices like when you need a BS boost to eat a banana instead of crackers, or have a low carb meal following the gym because you ate carbs to boast your sugars before the exercise.

Good weight lose is something that will happen slowly over like 4-6 months, not quickly. Fast drops are usually due to drastic lifestyle changes that cannot be sustained and thus people tend to put that weight back on when they stop the 'drastic' dieting.

Also, a big thing we T1Ds tend to struggle with is overeating when we go low. Its very hard to feel low and ONLY eat that 20g of carbs. Our body screams for the entire fridge, but you have to be strong and say "Nope, you only get 1 single apple with 20g of carbs, that will bring my 3.2 up to a 6.2 and then back to normal'

If you can't loose weight on a calorie reduced diet, paired with exercise, over like 4 months then you may have some medical issues causing this, thyroid issues can lead to weight gain, so perhaps a doctors visit is worth it ?

Hi thank you very much for your great advice!!!! I will try and carb count and do more exercise..yes you do want to eat the entire fridge!!! I start panicking when I am still experiencing the hypo symptoms after 5 minutes!! My DSN still hasn't told me how to adjust my insulin or that I need 20g carb. They said 5 jelly babies and carbs when Im back to normal. I have had my thyroid checked and its slightly abnormal but nothing they can treat. How much should the basal insulin be reduced if I do 30 minute power walk??
Thank you for your advice and I will watch the weight drop off following your plan!!

Emma46477 · Jan 23, 2015

NoCrbs4Me said:
I'm not a T1, but struggled to lose weight. I was very successful losing weight with a low calorie, low fat diet - it's worked many times. But it was only temporary - after months of starving I would fall off the wagon and all the weight and more came back. Then, at my heaviest weight in my life I tried a high calorie high fat low carb diet and boom! It worked! Lots of T1s on the forum eat a low carb diet. They just need to adjust their insulin to match their meals.

And, no, a low carb high fat diet is not a "fad" - it's the way we used to eat up until the 1980s when the low fat diet recommendations came out in the USA. How well did that work? The USA is now the most obese nation on earth! And all the other western countries insanely followed the USA and changed their dietary recommendations to match that of the most obese country in the world and are quickly catching up. The real "fad" diet is low fat high carb - an extremely unhealthy way of eating.

Hi I will concentrate on reducing my carbs and see where that gets me. It seems weird that the high carlorie was ok for diabetes. My DSN said low cardb, low carlorie, low fat diet..what else is left to eat??!!!!! Is the high fat the polyunsaturated fats?? They are the good ones aren't they??

NoCrbs4Me · Jan 23, 2015

Emma46477 said:
Hi I will concentrate on reducing my carbs and see where that gets me. It seems weird that the high carlorie was ok for diabetes. My DSN said low cardb, low carlorie, low fat diet..what else is left to eat??!!!!! Is the high fat the polyunsaturated fats?? They are the good ones aren't they??

Saturated fat is good. What's The fats that are bad are things like margarine and highly processed vegetable oils - the stuff they tell to eat instead of saturated fat. Shouldn't your DSN have told you what to eat as well as what to avoid? Anyway, I found that the diet that is healthy for me is pretty close to the complete opposite of the "healthy" plate diet, except for how much protein to eat. I have my first appointment with an endocrinologist on Monday, so I'm looking forward to his perspective.

Totto · Jan 23, 2015

Emma46477 said:
I have had my thyroid checked and its slightly abnormal but nothing they can treat.

Of course they can. With they I suppose you mean your doctor who has noticed your thyroid levels are abnormal but has decided that he/she doesn't care but is willing to refer you to a dietician, prescribe pain killers, statins, anti depressants and the all rest while telling you it is normal to be tired and you need more exercise. Christ, and we are told to trust these people!

Go back and raise hell until youare put on 50 mcg of Levothyroxin with a plan to increase the dose every six weeks until you feel good.

Diamattic · Jan 23, 2015

Emma46477 said:
Hi thank you very much for your great advice!!!! I will try and carb count and do more exercise..yes you do want to eat the entire fridge!!! I start panicking when I am still experiencing the hypo symptoms after 5 minutes!! My DSN still hasn't told me how to adjust my insulin or that I need 20g carb. They said 5 jelly babies and carbs when Im back to normal. I have had my thyroid checked and its slightly abnormal but nothing they can treat. How much should the basal insulin be reduced if I do 30 minute power walk??
Thank you for your advice and I will watch the weight drop off following your plan!!

You have to count more then carbs, you have to count calories as well. Most people only need to eat roughly 2000cal per day. So count every last calorie your putting in your body - liquids, solids, meals, snacks, jelly babies and after a couple days you will see where you stand. Most women should start seeing some weight loss at around 1500 -1700 calories, the lower you go the faster it will come off.

You need to do some diabetes work yourself - eating jelly babies for every hypo is not healthy at all lol Why not try an apple? or small glass of orange juice?

Some doctors are great and know a lot, some doctors are lazy and bitter and don't really care about you... If my doctor told me "every time your low eat this candy - Thats everything."
I would switch doctors straight away. Thats bad advice, and i agree with the thyroid issue - its either normal or abnormal. If its abnormal there should be some type of treatment involved, don't just accept they whole "Lets just wait until it gets worse" BS.

If you brought your car in for repair and they said "Oh your brakes are kinda bad, lets just wait until they get worse to fix them" you'd tell them to do it now. Why wait until you almost kill yourself to fix your breaks? So why wait until your thyroid is so bad that you NEED treatment to get it. Start now, and maybe it wont even get worse!

The 'Power walk' questions is highly dependent on what your heart rate is at, and how hard your working your muscles. I can't answer for you, you will need to test out different amounts yourself.

I have found that a lot of diabetes adjustments i have to make all on my own. Doctors will only give you a starting point and its up to you to adjust your insulin, adjust your carbs, and your excercise and diet on your own, in small amount and see how it works. Small changes should be easy to handle.

tim2000s · Jan 24, 2015

In terms of hypo treatment, apples are far from ideal. The mix of carbs and fibre doesn't digest quick enough. I still go with dextrosols because they don't appeal like sweets but have a very quick effect like jelly babies. To treat a hypo always use quickly absorbed sugars in the first phase.

LucySW · Jan 24, 2015

I use Carbs & Cals for carb/other logging http://www.carbsandcals.com/products/carb-and-calorie-counter-app/

And I've found Jenny Ruhl's nutritional calculator very helpful for choosing a basic framework. Try it out with serious levels of carb - even 50 or 60 grams a day will probably give you good results. http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/33614154.php

Jenny Ruhl's book is also very good. And the website.

Emma46477 · Feb 6, 2015

NoCrbs4Me said:
Saturated fat is good. What's The fats that are bad are things like margarine and highly processed vegetable oils - the stuff they tell to eat instead of saturated fat. Shouldn't your DSN have told you what to eat as well as what to avoid? Anyway, I found that the diet that is healthy for me is pretty close to the complete opposite of the "healthy" plate diet, except for how much protein to eat. I have my first appointment with an endocrinologist on Monday, so I'm looking forward to his perspective.

HiFoe example...I had scrambled eggs, lean bacon, mushrooms and baked beans (without sauce). Then had 3 raw carrots..my Bms before bed were 7.5 and in the morning 11.4......don't understand..I have not eaten anything 'bad' at all!!!! Seeing Gp tonight..my dsn is a waste of space and I have just found out I do not have a consultant diabetologist!!!

Emma46477 · Feb 6, 2015

Totto said:
Of course they can. With they I suppose you mean your doctor who has noticed your thyroid levels are abnormal but has decided that he/she doesn't care but is willing to refer you to a dietician, prescribe pain killers, statins, anti depressants and the all rest while telling you it is normal to be tired and you need more exercise. Christ, and we are told to trust these people!

Go back and raise hell until youare put on 50 mcg of Levothyroxin with a plan to increase the dose every six weeks until you feel good.

I am seeing the GP tonight after having loads of bloods taken..I WILL raise hell!!!!! thanks

Emma46477 · Feb 6, 2015

Diamattic said:
You have to count more then carbs, you have to count calories as well. Most people only need to eat roughly 2000cal per day. So count every last calorie your putting in your body - liquids, solids, meals, snacks, jelly babies and after a couple days you will see where you stand. Most women should start seeing some weight loss at around 1500 -1700 calories, the lower you go the faster it will come off.

You need to do some diabetes work yourself - eating jelly babies for every hypo is not healthy at all lol Why not try an apple? or small glass of orange juice?

Some doctors are great and know a lot, some doctors are lazy and bitter and don't really care about you... If my doctor told me "every time your low eat this candy - Thats everything."
I would switch doctors straight away. Thats bad advice, and i agree with the thyroid issue - its either normal or abnormal. If its abnormal there should be some type of treatment involved, don't just accept they whole "Lets just wait until it gets worse" BS.

If you brought your car in for repair and they said "Oh your brakes are kinda bad, lets just wait until they get worse to fix them" you'd tell them to do it now. Why wait until you almost kill yourself to fix your breaks? So why wait until your thyroid is so bad that you NEED treatment to get it. Start now, and maybe it wont even get worse!

The 'Power walk' questions is highly dependent on what your heart rate is at, and how hard your working your muscles. I can't answer for you, you will need to test out different amounts yourself.

I have found that a lot of diabetes adjustments i have to make all on my own. Doctors will only give you a starting point and its up to you to adjust your insulin, adjust your carbs, and your excercise and diet on your own, in small amount and see how it works. Small changes should be easy to handle.

I love your post..it has made me laugh!!!!! You are absolutely right!!!! Never thought about counting calories as well..... My DSN told me to either have 5 jelly babies or 120ml lucozade and that's it!! I am finding that they are usless!!!!! Just found out today that I don't even have a consultant diabetologist!!!! I will tell him about the example of car brakes and see what he says..Could you be my DSN or doctor..you seem to know hell of a lot more than they do!!!!!

Emma46477 · Feb 6, 2015

LucySW said:
I use Carbs & Cals for carb/other logging http://www.carbsandcals.com/products/carb-and-calorie-counter-app/

And I've found Jenny Ruhl's nutritional calculator very helpful for choosing a basic framework. Try it out with serious levels of carb - even 50 or 60 grams a day will probably give you good results. http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/33614154.php

Jenny Ruhl's book is also very good. And the website.

I will have a look..thank you..hopefully Ill be slimmer before you know it!!!!

Totto · Feb 6, 2015

Emma46477 said:
I am seeing the GP tonight after having loads of bloods taken..I WILL raise hell!!!!! thanks

Good luck! Don't let them fob you off. And get a print out of you results

Diamattic · Feb 6, 2015

Totto said:
Good luck! Don't let them fob you off. And get a print out of you results

This.

Since my initial visit to the emergency room I have made sure to get copies of all of my blood work results so i could go through it myself. I had to look everything up to understand it the first time, but now its far less likely that the doctors can blow me off or miss anything because i know i will double check it haha

@Emma46477 I am still very new to diabetes as well, i was just diagnosed last May, and I am in Canada, so our system seems much different then yours. I am not sure which i would prefer, but my doctors and consultants started by teaching HOW to make my own adjustments and pretty much told me to just adjust everything on my own as I need too and only make appointments If i can't figure it out on my own. That seems fine for me to be honest.

As far as weight loss goes, i have always been an avid fitness enthusiast and have put a lot of thought into weight loss and health, and from what i have found, weight loss can be had in 2 ways:
1 - Count calories, protein, carbs, and fats. And make sure you are eating less calories then your body needs each day. This will ensure your body burns fat to energy everyday rather then storing fat from the calories your intaking.

2 - Exercise to burn calories, which essentially is the same as Number 1, just ensure at the end of the day your total in is less then your total out.

So that means you can eat take out at 1000 calories, and go to the gym to burn 400 calories, OR just have a 600 calorie meal and skip the gym. At the end of the day, in terms of weight loss its essentially the same.

Struggling to lose weight - help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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