I have been away from the site for a while. Well another update, and my experience with LCHF has come to a close.
To be honest after the eight weeks and the move to a 5:2 diet, the weight loss slowed to almost a halt. I experimented with Intermittent Fasting - by far the worst thing I did. It kept my sugar level high for two whole days. Shortly after that, my sugar levels started creeping higher and higher despite less than 25-40g carbs a day. I would regularly wake up with an 8.0 + sugar level. I had to start injecting for meals that had zero carbs. I increased my lantus to 20. So despite brilliant results in the 8 weeks, and temporary normalising of sugar levels I can't seem to find a way to make it work longer term - not unless I want to have 800 calories a day for ever. I am most disappointed that my insulin resistance seemed to worsen.
I will say overall it was not very difficult to live on the LCHF diet and initially the benefits were great, but no sustainable for me.
But the 180 turn had another reason. I had an angiogram taken that showed a worsening of my arteries and blockages despite perfect cholestorol, loss of weight and normal blood pressure. I am sure that LCHF contributed to the worsening of arteries. Actually it has been scientifically proven to worsen arteries previously but I didn't want to think too much of it at the time as I was convinced LCHF was 'the way'. Of course, I do know that diabetes alone does a lot of damage itself.
I have heart disease now and need to focus on this. I want to avoid by pass surgery - so, I have decided to embark on a new journey. I am following the Esselstyn/Neil Barnard diet. This is totally plant-based (i.e., vegan) with zero oil/nuts. Yes it is drastic. I have been on it over two weeks now. Despite now eating almost 170-200g of carbs a day, my sugar levels have been very stable and I am losing weight again. I am wary of what carbs I eat. I still don't eat bread, potatoes, pasta or noodles. I have tried some brown rice and quinoa. I eat oatmeal. I do inject a little for my oatmeal and brown rice, but waking up to 5.1 sugar level again every day is great. I am learning which beans/pulses work for me and which don't. Eating fruit is wonderful again and it doesn't affect my sugar levels ( if I have only one fruit at a time!)
The change was mentally hard at first, but eating at home has not been a problem. I do miss chicken and I am still going to eat Christmas dinner! My wife says my skin is glowing and I am looking younger, so there are some positives! Trying to eat vegan with no oil when travelling for work has been REALLY HARD. There is literally nothing to eat at restaurants. I end up going to M&S and buying salads to eat in my hotel room.
Note I went on the new diet on 15th October.
My Stats:
Weight loss:
Start date 17/7/16: 98.2kg
31/7/16: 91.2kg
11/08/16: 88.1kg
22/8/16: 86.1kg
7/9/16: 83.5kg
22/9/16: 81.3Kg
03/10/16: 80.5kg
15/10/16: 79.7kg
04/11/16: 77.0kg
Average Fasting blood sugar
Start date 01/7/16 to 17/7/16: 7.5
18/7/16 to 22/08/16: 5.2
22/8/16 to 7/9/16 : 6.0
7/9/16 to 22/9/16: 6.3
22/9/16 to 15/10/16: 7.8
15/10/16 to today: 5.7
Humalog:
Start date 17/07/16: 60 units per meal.
Today: 10 units for breakfast and 10 units with dinner sometimes.
Lantus:
Start date 17/7/16: 80 units per night
Today: 20 units per night (went down to 10 units and crept back up to 20).
.
Metformin:
No change - 1000mg per day
To be honest after the eight weeks and the move to a 5:2 diet, the weight loss slowed to almost a halt. I experimented with Intermittent Fasting - by far the worst thing I did. It kept my sugar level high for two whole days. Shortly after that, my sugar levels started creeping higher and higher despite less than 25-40g carbs a day. I would regularly wake up with an 8.0 + sugar level. I had to start injecting for meals that had zero carbs. I increased my lantus to 20. So despite brilliant results in the 8 weeks, and temporary normalising of sugar levels I can't seem to find a way to make it work longer term - not unless I want to have 800 calories a day for ever. I am most disappointed that my insulin resistance seemed to worsen.
I will say overall it was not very difficult to live on the LCHF diet and initially the benefits were great, but no sustainable for me.
But the 180 turn had another reason. I had an angiogram taken that showed a worsening of my arteries and blockages despite perfect cholestorol, loss of weight and normal blood pressure. I am sure that LCHF contributed to the worsening of arteries. Actually it has been scientifically proven to worsen arteries previously but I didn't want to think too much of it at the time as I was convinced LCHF was 'the way'. Of course, I do know that diabetes alone does a lot of damage itself.
I have heart disease now and need to focus on this. I want to avoid by pass surgery - so, I have decided to embark on a new journey. I am following the Esselstyn/Neil Barnard diet. This is totally plant-based (i.e., vegan) with zero oil/nuts. Yes it is drastic. I have been on it over two weeks now. Despite now eating almost 170-200g of carbs a day, my sugar levels have been very stable and I am losing weight again. I am wary of what carbs I eat. I still don't eat bread, potatoes, pasta or noodles. I have tried some brown rice and quinoa. I eat oatmeal. I do inject a little for my oatmeal and brown rice, but waking up to 5.1 sugar level again every day is great. I am learning which beans/pulses work for me and which don't. Eating fruit is wonderful again and it doesn't affect my sugar levels ( if I have only one fruit at a time!)
The change was mentally hard at first, but eating at home has not been a problem. I do miss chicken and I am still going to eat Christmas dinner! My wife says my skin is glowing and I am looking younger, so there are some positives! Trying to eat vegan with no oil when travelling for work has been REALLY HARD. There is literally nothing to eat at restaurants. I end up going to M&S and buying salads to eat in my hotel room.
Note I went on the new diet on 15th October.
My Stats:
Weight loss:
Start date 17/7/16: 98.2kg
31/7/16: 91.2kg
11/08/16: 88.1kg
22/8/16: 86.1kg
7/9/16: 83.5kg
22/9/16: 81.3Kg
03/10/16: 80.5kg
15/10/16: 79.7kg
04/11/16: 77.0kg
Average Fasting blood sugar
Start date 01/7/16 to 17/7/16: 7.5
18/7/16 to 22/08/16: 5.2
22/8/16 to 7/9/16 : 6.0
7/9/16 to 22/9/16: 6.3
22/9/16 to 15/10/16: 7.8
15/10/16 to today: 5.7
Humalog:
Start date 17/07/16: 60 units per meal.
Today: 10 units for breakfast and 10 units with dinner sometimes.
Lantus:
Start date 17/7/16: 80 units per night
Today: 20 units per night (went down to 10 units and crept back up to 20).
.
Metformin:
No change - 1000mg per day
