It’s great to see so many stories about our journeys to where we were on starting this, as well as our journey together on this.
This is my story.
Put on my first diet at age 10 or 11 (in very early 1960s) – the usual sheet from GP. Before that sweets were my reward, even for being good at the dentist! But was never slim while at school.
Started work, got married, had children. Was put on fat-free diet because of gallbladder problems. Of course when it was removed I was told I could eat anything, so I did. During my pregnancies I had gestational diabetes, but nobody said that was a good indication I would become diabetic in the future.
Through the years I tried Weightwatchers, Slimming World, Rosemary Conley, a liquid meal replacement (you mixed the powder with diet lemonade and after one such ‘meal’ I couldn’t face food for a few days!). And many other diets. New Year would find me prowling the local book shop to see what new diet was being released. I was sure I would find ‘the one’, the one that would work – this time. I spent a fortune on slimming clubs and their products, magazines and diet books. Sometimes they worked, but not for long. I’ve lost that weight so many times!
Around 2007 was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, controlled it with diet and after a year was told they’d done the test incorrectly and I wasn’t!!! Then in 2009 moved to a new area and diagnosed type 2 again. Around this time I tried Weightwatchers and Slimming World again but although I followed the plans strictly I lost nothing, except money. I found a book on low-carbing and lost weight successfully, but life got in the way. I read Atkins, Dr Bernstein, and various other books but they were much stricter.
At quite a low point I found Dr Mosley’s book at the end of last year, discussed it with my diabetes nurse and started the plan on 19th December.
Before this way of eating, I was always looking for the next meal – panicking if food wasn’t nearby. Now I can miss lunch without any anxiety, I’m not panicky when travelling, my mood is much better, thinking clearly now the ‘carb fog’ has lifted. More energy, joints don’t ache. And an irritating cough I’d had for ages has completely gone!
At last I’ve found something that works and is sustainable long-term ๐