A last ditch effort...

[Lilian]

I think Slim Fast has too much sugar in it. I think if you try a company called Slim & Save (online), they make shakes etc. similar to the Cambridge diet which have all the nutrition in and about 15g carbs per pack. They also include all the vitamins and minerals you will need. There is the opportunity of using just the packs, or two or three packs a day with a small meal. The packs are quite reasonably pleasant tasting too. There is another one call Diet something or other (sorry cannot remember off hand) but I believe they have both, packs with all the vitamins etc. for total use or some very low calorie, but to also have meals as well. There is one called Exante but personally I do not like the taste of their stuff, but many do. They are a French company. Slim & Save also have a support person who can be very helpful. Probably got a facebook support page as well but I do not know for certain. Just to add it takes a few days to get used to eating so little although nutritionally you need no more. After that it becomes a lot easier, because as you are getting full nutrition your body is more satisfied. You could have a porridge in the morning, a soup for lunch or a meal pack, a shake for tea and a bar in the evening. The only thing is when you introduce food back again you have to go gradually so as not to put the weight all back on again.

 

[Ditto]

Thank you for that information Lilian. I didn't know about all that stuff, I thought it was just Cambridge Diet or SlimFast.

I'm trying low carb again. Fed-up of myself. I wish I had some staying power.

 

[Toucan]

Good to hear that you are going to return to the low-carb plan. It is more likely to lead to a more sustainable life-style in the long term.

It can be difficult to get the motivation to re-start though.
I usually try to think through what I am going to do differently this time to stop coming off the tracks. Maybe think through what worked well and that would be good to do again, what didn’t go so well, and what tactics can you use to avoid that.
Above all be kind to yourself and stop beating yourself up if it doesn’t go quite to plan, it happens to us all, and the main thing is to get back on track as quickly as you can.

In practical terms, I think you said that you were clearing out all the ‘undesirables’, so that’s good.
I tend to do a food plan for the week, and make sure I’ve done all the shopping for what I need. Usually put in some flexibility and ‘emergency’ options to cope with the unexpected.
My life tends to be full of lists! And I have a ‘distraction’ list that I use when I feel tempted to eat something off-plan. For me it’s things like: tidy out that rubbishy drawer that I can never find things in; phone a friend I haven’t been in touch with for a while; catch up on some reading; tackle that weedy patch in the garden; other tasks that I have kept putting off. This usually makes me forget about being hungry and by the time of done it may be meal time anyway.

Nothing is more motivational than success, so when it does go well give yourself a pat on the back.
I have yet another list of ‘rewards’ – some small (non-food) things that I can have when I have stuck to plan, or reached a goal. Currently on my list are some new herbs for the herb patch and warmer socks.

Best wishes Ditto, just hope that there is something in my ramble that helps.

 

[Ditto]

All good ideas, thank you. I do need to distract myself from the thoughts of food. I ate a lot of food yesterday but was still hungry on going to bed. Crazy. Day 2 is going well up to now... 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

All good ideas, thank you. I do need to distract myself from the thoughts of food. I ate a lot of food yesterday but was still hungry on going to bed. Crazy. Day 2 is going well up to now... 🙂

Well done Ditto! One day at a time... small steps 🙂

 

[Jodee]

Good Luck Ditto, losing it then maybe switch to weight watchers you can basically eat a lot of food on that and all you would need to watch would be the carbs again. I think once the body starts to lose weight gradually it keeps on doing that if you stick to the plan. Here's to the slimmer trimmer, good bloods and glucose levels for you.

 

[Ditto]

Good grief I couldn't do Weight Watchers. I was in at the start when it was a 'proper' diet, 7 fish meals a week, then they sold out!

I can only just about do low carb and that's only my version of it which is rubbish. I eat too much!

 

[Jodee]

Good grief I couldn't do Weight Watchers. I was in at the start when it was a 'proper' diet, 7 fish meals a week, then they sold out!

I can only just about do low carb and that's only my version of it which is rubbish. I eat too much!

Reducing the carbs is a good starter 🙂 and I think you can eat as many of the low carb veg you like as the body metabolises these much better than other carbs. Just gradually reduce the portion size a teaspoon at a time progressing to dessert spoon etc. I don't think it works if you try to go one extreme to the other.

 

[Ditto]

I think you're right. I do always go to extremes and it never works.

 

[Wirrallass]

When I was first dx I would serve my dinner on a side plate in an effort to reduce portion size. I also drank a tumbler of water about 10-15mins before eating my meals ~ my stomach felt quite full before I'd even started eating 🙂 Lately I've been making home made soups & blitzing them. My stomach doesn't feel ~ or look, as bloated now.

DittoJan good luck with your quest to overcome your food addiction ~ I know it can't be easy for you whilst simultaneously attempting to keep your carb intake to the minimum.
Take care and don't give up ~ I have faith in you that you will succeed no matter how long it takes🙂
WL

 

[Wirrallass]

Ditto as you can't walk far outside without your 'Sholley' why not try out Leslie Samone at home? She has two DVD's in particular that I believe would encourage you to exercise without taking a step outside🙂

Perhaps you could put LARGE stickers on your fridge and food cupboards to remind you to do Samone's workout maybe once a day to start with. Take it slowly at first then build up over a period of time that suits you. You will need to muster as much motivation as you can to not only get started but to continue thereafter. Baby steps.

Also here's a few more pointers for you:~
When you feel hungry in between meals try drinking a large tumbler of water instead of eating.

When your hunger is shouting "I want food" then perhaps you could fill yourself with ie scrambled eggs ~ omelettes ~ or eggs in any form🙂

Are you still listening to Paul or has he been glued to the book shelf?🙂

Good to see you have shed a few pounds Ditto, well done you.
Take care.
WL

 

[SueEK]

Keep going @Ditto we truly are all behind you whichever diet you do x

 

[Ditto]

You will need to muster as much motivation as you can to not only get started

I haven't even got the motivation to get the DVDs.

Thanks for the input guys, it all helps. I'm doing okay anyways, no choice, somebody in a telly prog who was supposed to be dying of liver said it was a sordid way to go and that just about sums it up. If I pig out I suffer, it's just not worth it. The symptoms are proper nasty. If I sat down and thought about it I'd just be crying so I'm not thinking about it. Anyways at least I'm not worried about the Type 2, that's not got time enough to get me, the liver will, but I'm also worried about my blood pressure again. Don't fancy a week in hospital like happened that time, but my head is killing me. Will phone docs tomorrow.

 

[SueEK]

I haven't even got the motivation to get the DVDs.

Thanks for the input guys, it all helps. I'm doing okay anyways, no choice, somebody in a telly prog who was supposed to be dying of liver said it was a sordid way to go and that just about sums it up. If I pig out I suffer, it's just not worth it. The symptoms are proper nasty. If I sat down and thought about it I'd just be crying so I'm not thinking about it. Anyways at least I'm not worried about the Type 2, that's not got time enough to get me, the liver will, but I'm also worried about my blood pressure again. Don't fancy a week in hospital like happened that time, but my head is killing me. Will phone docs tomorrow.

You sound really pixxed off Ditto, wish I could help. Please let us know how you get on tomorrow xxx

 

[Ditto]

No, I'm fine. I just enjoy a good moan. I will keep y'all informed, never worry, I seem to like talking about me. 🙄

 

[Eddy Edson]

No, I'm fine. I just enjoy a good moan. I will keep y'all informed, never worry, I seem to like talking about me. 🙄

Moan away! Like Sue says, people are rooting for you.

 

[Wirrallass]

Here's a link that I think you may be interested to read.

https://www.healthline.com/health/fatty-liver-diet

You have a lot to contend with simultaneously Ditto ~ bgs; weight; food addiction; and your concerns regarding your liver. That's more than enough for you to deal with at any one time. I'm understanding how difficult it must be for you to process all your health issues. I'm worried for you and appreciate that your struggling to find a happy medium.

You seem to be managing your bgs quite well so take some pressure of yourself and just concentrate mainly on your liver and weight. Don't be afraid to open up to your GP ~ have a good ol' chat with your GP and aĺay your anxieties to her/him. You know you have our support but I believe you need medical support now.

Take care and keep your chin up hun {{{{HUGS}}}} all is not lost yet🙂🙂🙂
Love WL x

 

[Grannylorraine]

Ditto

Stop beating yourself up, some of us find losing weight harder than others. I am pleased to see that you have decided against the slim fast/Cambridge diet. I know slim fast is not a suitable thing for a type 2 diabetic.

I was also told by a liver specialist that these meal replacement diets that usually cause a rapid weight loss in the first few weeks, can cause problems with the liver, as a lot of the fat then ends up clogging the liver and contributes to fatty liver.

I also tend to favour a low carb way of eating, not as low as some, but what works for me. I do however only lose about 1 - 2 lbs per week, which is actually what docs recommend, this has lowered my HbA1c, yes it is slower than some and I do still fall off the wagon like I did last night. I think the problem is we want instant results, well I know I do. But whatever you choose to do, it really needs to be a lifestyle change, not a diet. A diet implies you do it until you reach your goal and then stop, when what we need is a way of eating that is sustainable throughout our life.

I wish you well as I know it is not easy, we are human and I know there are times when I crave a burger and chips or a huge sugary dessert, and whilst mostly I don't give in to those cravings sometimes I can't help myself and do, like I did last night, or like when I take my parents on holiday to Norfolk, I still have my fish and chips treat, although mum and I now share a piece of fish, and a portion of chips does three of us these days.

 

[Ditto]

Thank you peoples, for the time and effort you've put in, some good info and advice, I appreciate it.

Funny about the SlimFast. I first had liver trouble back in the day, it started up after I'd been on a SlimFast diet and lost two stones. I was otherwise quite fit, walking miles every day and just having an evening meal and the two SlimFasts, breakfast and lunch, but was in horrendous pain around my middle. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the SlimFast that added to my 'fatty' liver.

I would just like to lose two pounds a week, but even one would do, as fifty two pounds off a year would make me a different person.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Also forgot to mention, how much water do you drink? Drinking more water can help with weight loss, I try to drink about 2 - 3 ltrs of water a day, I limit coffee to 2 cups before lunch as the caffeine interrupts my sleep and I don't drink tea at all.

52 lbs a year is a tremendous amount to lose, imagine the difference that would make. I think we see all these fad diets, that promise us to lose loads in a short space of time and we then become unrealistic in our goals. I want to lose the weight and be slim, so I expect to wake up the next day and be slim, but we know that is not going to happen, plus comparing ourselves to other people who may lose weight easier, my daughter lost a lot more than me in the same space of time, but she is 1/2 my age, lives in a second floor flat and has a manual job. I sit down at work all day, and despite the fact that I can run 10 miles get tired climbing the stairs to her flat.

It is hard but we (and I am including my self in this sentence), need to just focus on our own individual journeys, they doesn't mean not supporting or celebrating others on their journeys, but remembering that their journey is right for them, ours is right for us.