Hello. New to the site and the diet. Glad to find a forum where I can find the like-minded and, I hope, some personal accountability.
My story: My diet has been low-carb for the most part for the last 15 years. Except when it isn’t. The plentiful carby treats at grad school, and spending too much sedentary studying are my downfall. Had lots of mysterious weight fluctuations for years, no matter my diet and activity level, caused by an auto-immune disease that has been present (and misdiagnosed) for decades. After a major procedure that treats the problem but causes weight gain, I packed on 80 extremely resistant pounds, trading one life-threatening condition for another one. Diabetes just kills you slower.
After months of increasing A1C results, I was increasingly irritable, lethargic, struggling to sound compos mentis when called on in class, and letting chores and errands pile up until the last possible moment. Things were falling apart, and I was facing a rough round of final exams that were going to be disastrous if I carried on this way. I needed to kick-start a reversal, because nothing I was doing the “low and slow” way was making a difference.
My GP called with my latest batch of lab results and said, “A1C up to 7.2. You’re officially pre-diabetic. I know you won’t like it, but it’s time for some Metformin.” She agreed to let me think it over. I gnashed and grumbled and finally called back a few days later to say, “Okay.” To my surprise, she said, “You know what? This is a big step. You’re in the middle of finals. Stick with the low-carb diet, walk as much as you can, and we’ll re-visit this in a month.”
Stumbled upon the 8 Week BSD in Audible.com, listened, listened again, did the preparation, and called the GP for permission. She said while she loves the Mediterranean diet, she doesn’t like the ELC aspect, and believes low-and-slow weight loss preferable to what she thought would be quick and profound results (that she is sure I’ll gain back shortly). Fortunately, she reluctantly agreed on the conditions that I keep a meticulous diary of the usual stats and have a full check up within a month.
Maybe she’s agreeing so I can be her guinea pig? Whatever it takes to get permission, I say. Both my parents are Type-2, overweight, and struggling with blood pressure. I’m not going down that road. I’m committed to doing this and want to lose 40 pounds by June 27 before moving on to 5:2 to shed the rest.
Using all the recommended gadgets and apps. Six days in, this is what’s happening (including yesterday’s 1400 calorie consumption offset by a day of serious physical labor in the yard):
Female, age 40
Weight: -14 lbs (mostly water but, I’ll take it)
BP: 117/56 (and I quit the bp/diuretic!)
Fasting Bgl: Down from 129 to 113 mg/dl
Waist: -3.5″
Average pulse rate: 77 to 80 BPM
Upsides: Already feel miles better in less than a week. Gone from lethargic & “down” to getting work done I’ve neglected for months. Accidentally cut down on caffeine. Better focus on study. Happy to hop on the treadmill a few times a day to catch up on “fun” reading/podcasts/DVR. Already been able to tell a plant-based-diet evangelist sibling to NAFF OFF with the constant hassle about how great it is (maybe some day, but not now, ok?). Even though I gobbled an extra 600 calories of veggies & protein yesterday while doing some hard yard work, I saw no change on the scales (I’m a little…constipated, should have had more H20). My fantasies of not being health-handicapped by one thing or another all the time are feeling less fantastic with each passing hour.
Downsides: Everyone else telling me it’s crazy. My parents, when I told them what I’m up to, were worried rather than hopeful. “800 calories?! That’s so dangerous!” I’ve turned down a few invitations “out” and one offer to bring me dinner. When I explain what I’m doing, it gets the same reaction as my parents’ with a few well-meaning bits of advice about what I really should be doing instead. Thanks and take care, I say.
One obese colleague, determined to lose weight before we both go overseas for a fellowship in July, looked excited and interested when I told her what I was up to on day 1. I think she is waiting to see if I die before she gives it a try herself.
I hope that if I’m successful – and I believe I will be – my parents, friends, and GP will give the Fast 8 a hard look and maybe change their minds and even give it a try. I’m already collecting the information sheets to hand over with my diary and statistics when I see the doc in three weeks, and can’t wait to see her reaction.
That’s it. I’m so glad to find such a wealth of information here from others doing the Fast 8 as well. All the best to you, and thanks for reading.