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TOFI, any advice welcome.

Guzzler

Master
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10,577
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
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Good evening everyone. I have a question on TOFI and weight loss and would appreciate your wisdom.

Upon dx I was not overweight and couldn't understand why the dn suggested I lose half a stone. I had never been told that my weight was a matter of concern but on reading Michael Moseley's book I realised that, like him, I am a TOFI (Thin on the Outside Fat on the Inside). I learned about the dangers of visceral fat and started a web search that led me to this forum. I started the LCHF diet and within a month I had lost a stone.

Initially, I was pleased but I have continued to lose weight and noticed that my skin is now extremely loose. I have never owned a pair of scales so I do not know what my weight is now. I have an appt tomorrow morning with a HCA to have bloods and urine taken for my first three month HbA1c etc tests and I am really hoping for a good drop in numbers. I will make sure I get weighed at the same appt.
If I have made little progress in lowering my readings then I must obviously take the appropriate action but I am at a loss as to how to maintain weight while still working to lower bg. I have at least doubled my intake of fats which has assuaged my problems with hunger and increased energy levels but how do I stop becoming all skin and nobbly bone?
 
Guzzler said:
I am at a loss as to how to maintain weight while still working to lower bg.
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It can be done. I had to do it, as have others on the forum. However, it took me at least a couple of months to stop losing, stabilise, add a bit back as I was too thin, and maintain. I have maintained for nearly 3 years now. I had to add back more fat from protein sources mainly. Cheese, eggs, plus extra mayo (I don't like olive oil). You need to buy some scales because just like eating to your meter you will also need to eat to your scales. It really is a fine balancing act to find the right foods that stop more weight loss without adding more weight than you need to. This is why scales are essential (digital ones are best).

I started with more eggs, then added cheese (It hadn't been on my menu previously), then extra mayo, cream and admittedly a glass of red in the evenings. It was difficult, but I got there. As you don't want to increase carbs, all you have left are protein and fats, so you need to work with those. If you can't increase fats, then all you have left is protein. Eggs are a good way, maybe extra fish and especially the oily varieties.
 
Reactions: Yai
I lost about 3 st in 4 months and was looking quite thin (I liked it!), but then put on about 1 st again, and have stabilised at that weight. I just think my body knows what weight I should be at and will now stay around that figure as long as I don't go back to eating the way I used to.
I find nuts are a good way to stabilise weight. Though the merlot probably helped to increase my weight. I had given up alcohol for the first 3-4 months.
 
I switched to butter which I cook with and dollop on my veg. I eat cheese every day and eggs most days. I have always eaten the fat on my meat and I love nuts. The only thing that both of you have mentioned that I do not have is booze. I will occasionally cook with it but I am tee total.
Having said all that, your comments are encouraging in that when (WHEN!) I get to non diabetic numbers I will know now to try and raise the level of protein in my diet which will be no hardship as I would make the world's worst vegetarian. And I will get a pair of digital scales asap. Thanks lasses, you two Rock.
 
To be honest I would think trying to control your weight without a set of scales would be like trying to control your blood sugars without a meter both essential tools in the diabetes tool kit.
 
Guzzler said:
Ooops! Sorry, lad.
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I found that immediately I went full keto, my weight plummeted alarmingly. I got it back under control by slightly increasing my carb intake so that i was close to, but not fully, in keto mode. Now I can switch keto on and off just by a minor change to my diet, and I have been stable for a year now. I do not go mad on fat, but occasionally increase it if I drop more than 1 kg.

Because I am not in full keto, I do have higher bgl than I could have, but then again I avoid the hypo's I was getting with tighter control. My GP advised a target of 7 mmol/l and I am currently running at 7.2 An advantage of being at this level is that I can be relaxed about my carb intake so that the whole family share my diet with me without too much in the way of cravings. Even XMAS was largely LCHF

It works for me, and is another way of looking at things/
 
JohnEGreen said:
To be honest I would think trying to control your weight without a set of scales would be like trying to control your blood sugars without a meter both essential tools in the diabetes tool kit.
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Ordered a pair yesterday. I've never needed a set of scales but you're right, I need a pair.
 
Update. I had an appt with a HCA this morning to give bloods etc (HbA1c results should be Tuesday) but saw DN instead because they were running behind. My weight has not changed one ounce since last time I was weighed three months ago! I was flabbergasted, my clothes are hanging on me as is my skin. Good news, though. I just wish I knew how I maintained, more luck than management.
 
Weight, clothes, and shape are peculiar things. Recently I have noticed my jeans are getting a bit tight round the waist. I have to undo the button when sitting down. Previously they were more on the slack side. I weigh myself every few days, always as soon as I get up, and all weights are recorded. I have not gained or lost a single pound, but I know something is going on.
 
Resurgam said:
I have found that during the time I have been tossing out clothes as unwearable I have lost about 4 or 5 lb in total - just completely changed shape.
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Maybe that is what is happening to me. I can see bones now that I lost in 1983.
 
Strange, isn't it? I would have bet a small grandchild that I was still losing. Ah well, I shall see if my results have shrunk instead!
 
Over all I have lost over 8 stone. I had to throw out all my clothes and am now wearing my grandsons hand me downs as he has put so much weight on (muscle that is) he can't wear them any more and as he always shopped at Jack Wills and the like never paying less than about £60 for a shirt I've done quite well out of it.

Mind you he now says he thinks I look like an escapee from a concentration camp pahh!
 
Eight stone! I am impressed, well done.
 
Maybe you're washing your denims at too high a temperature; @Bluetit1802?
 
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