I do think things change when you get older too, and that the things that work for one person do not necessarily work for another. Every body is unique.

Mygoalz: The crazy thing is, when I was in my late 30's, I lost almost 40 pounds doing low carb, and I felt great doing it. I really didn't expect 16 years to make such a profound difference. I am coming to realize that things change. :) You would think I'd have figured that out by now! Are you doing a low carb plan?

Same here, LurchMomma, my body does not respond the same way that it used to. Yes, I am using a LCHF diet combined with intermittent fasting. I'm less concerned with how fast the weight comes off than I am in controlling my diabetes (Type 2) without the medications and feeling healthier.

Diabetes Soapbox Backstory (Please skip if you are uninterested): My diabetes diagnosis happened in a 5 minute session with a doctor who said, "Well, you're a diabetic now. We'll be putting you on three different medications and everything will be fine." (Out the door, none of my questions answered.) Switched doctors, but took the metformin. Then, I started to draw the line when two different doctors insisted I go on blood pressure lowering meds because they "would protect my kidneys" - which showed no sign of decreased function or compromise on my lab tests. The metformin was making me feel ill at that point with little benefit, and I already have low blood pressure naturally. To quote one doctor, "Well, we'll just try the lowest dose then. You wouldn't want me to get in trouble with the insurance company." (Well, yes Doc, actually I would like you to make a decision based on my body's needs and NOT what the insurance company wants you to write a script for instead.) I started doing research, a lot of it, and learned some disturbing things about all those meds they hand out to diabetics... the chief things being that the medications do not actually improve long term outcomes for diabetics, that the three medications they put people on initially cause a cascading effect which results in ever increasing doses of each to get them to continue to work, AND the current research on diabetes (early 2000s and on) actually shows the current recommendations of the ADA (American Diabetes Association) are based on outdated theory and make the disease worse. So, I'm bucking the recommendations until I can no longer control my diabetes through diet and exercise.

Mygoalz: How long have you been diabetic? How is your HgbA1C? I am a nurse (LPN) and I know that Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) is often prescribed to protect the kidneys from damage to related to diabetes. I know one of the concerns is that renal damage can be asymptomatic before renal impairment becomes obvious. I'm sure you are watching your BUN and creatinine closely. Are you able to control your diabetes successfully with diet and exercise?

Hi LurchMomma! I was diagnosed about 2 years ago. The first 8 months I was not responding well to the medication (Metformin) they gave me. It made me sick to my stomach and I was starting to get headaches with no real difference in my BS. When the answer was to increase the dose and also go on more medications, I started doing research. I'm happy to report that I have been able to successfully control my diabetes through LCHF diet, intermittent fasting, and exercise. (The only time it went out of whack last year was completely my fault because I started stress eating junk.) The intermittent fasting is definitely a key part of the strategy.

I'm not anti-meds if lifestyle changes won't work at controlling my BS, but I have closely monitored my numbers, even going to the local hospital to order the tests on my own to track my progress, and since my sugars are under control I don't agree with taking the meds at this time. (My doctors were "here, pop these pills" and then walked out the door. Doctors who have no time to discuss my health and diagnosis with me just don't need my business.) As to the medications to lower my blood pressure, I already have problems with getting dizzy or feeling faint if I stand up too quickly, sit too long, don't drink enough water, etc... My pressure is regularly in the lower 90s over low 60s. Therefore, they really need to give me a better reason to start taking something that could lower it than that's what the insurance companies say that's what they should prescribe. I'm going to a new doctor in two weeks who is a DO, and I'm hoping she will be open to working with me on this. We shall see.

Mygoalz: Incredible that you have such low BP while being overweight! Mine runs like that when I'm slimmer, but it has been borderline hypertensive recently. How much weight have you lost since stating the LCHF/IF? What kind of fast do you do? All meals in 8 hour window type of thing, or the one meal a day type? What do you do to keep from eating during fasting hours? I know what you mean about medication. I am 53 years old and don't take a single pill. If my BP gets to where it runs high, I will take an antihypertensive med. I don't want to have a stroke. Just one more reason to drop weight.

Good morning! Hope everyone is doing well. My BP had climbed to a level where my PCP prescribed antihypertensive meds for me last year but I'm hoping it drops enough with the weight loss that I can get back off meds. Another motivator for dropping this weight!
My appetite has increased over the past 2 days and I've met my calories+. I've stayed under 20 grams net carbs and stayed on plan with my food but can't help feeling a little guilty? Ugh. Wish I could separate food from my emotions once and for all. It's PMS week for me so not sure if it's related or all in my head...

Good Afternoon:

Boop: I am an emotional eater as well. And I'm certain these sputtering hormones aren't helping either. LOL. I lost 10 pounds right away doing LCHF, but couldn't get out of bed....

Hello to everyone else!

Hello all,
Busy continues. I haben't had much time to read or post. I did have a NSV (non scale victory). Sweet little pastries were being served and I passed them up for fruit. I am doing pretty well staying away from sugar.
Hope you all are doing well.

Sorry for the delay in responding...
 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We've had company.

Lurchmama, I was just lucky with the low BP. My grandfather's was so low the doctors said he should be dead, and my mother took after him. My BP has always been low, and I seem to have passed it on to my daughters...so it just runs in the family.

As to the fasting, I rotate my meals. I don't eat breakfast, and 2 or 3 days during the week I skip lunch too. I know much longer fasts are possible, but that was enough for me before. Dinner time is important to us as a family and I don't like to miss it. I also don't want to set any precedent in front of my youngest that could lead to an eating disorder. (I have been careful to share the research behind using intermittent fasting to control blood sugar with her and don't hide checking my blood sugar before meals so she knows why I'm choosing the drink broth instead of eating larger helpings at some meals.) If I know I'm not going to be home at night because of a work function, I will plan ahead and make that time a 2 day fast. As to what do I do during the fasting time, I drink a lot of water, or have some tea or homemade bone broth. I also still have my coconut oil. Truthfully when I'm not stressed, it's not too hard for me and I don't feel very hungry with all the liquid I consume. (I read the hunger cravings tend to last about 15-20 minutes before they go down, and for me that's true, so a hot drink I have to sip works pretty well.) My downfall is stress... but then, it doesn't matter how much I eat or how full I am, I want to eat something sweet.

I lost 35 pounds last year very easily doing LCHF, and my sugars were in completely in control without meds. Then I stress ate junk and gained 20 back. (Completely my responsibility there.) I started my second go round doing LCHF/IF about 2 weeks ago, and I've lost 8 pounds so far - so I'm almost back to where I was before I "fell off the wagon". Energy's good, sugar's good, less bloated, and I'm feeling better overall... my body is telling me I'm on the right track.

QUOTE=LurchMomma;5324918]Mygoalz: How much weight have you lost since stating the LCHF/IF? What kind of fast do you do? All meals in 8 hour window type of thing, or the one meal a day type? What do you do to keep from eating during fasting hours? .[/QUOTE]

Good job
 

Good for you, glynne! Non scale victories are important.

Hi all!

Well I am surprised to say that I saw my parents today and actually got some positive comments regarding my appearance. Wow. I'm a little annoyed with myself that it matters so much to me. Ugh! Of course my father made a comment to the effect of I must eat a lot of salad because I'm "on a diet".

Yeah....I eat a lot of salad along with butter, bacon, eggs, steak, avocado, etc.
Believe me. It's not even worth trying to explain this way of eating to them.
I'm going to continue doing what's working for me and try to let go of this need for other people's approval. Definitely a work in progress!

Hello Ladies:

Gayle: Way to go! Lately, I haven't even been trying to resist. That comes to a screeching halt tomorrow! ;)

Boop: Hang in there! I think it's hard not to want to please your parents. I think it was Meg Ryan, in "French Kiss", who said, "Even people who hate their mothers love their mothers". :hug:

Mygoalz: Great draw on the BP gene card! How do you make your bone broth? :?:

Have a great night everyone! Monday cometh..... :dizzy:

Hi friends,

I am new to this forum and have to introduce myself multiple times. I am pasting my introduction from another thread if that's OK. I am very excited to meet you all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Everyone,

Very nice to meet you all! I am 50, a school teacher, mother to a 22 y.o. son, and recently widowed.

Our family went through some very tough times with my DH's cancer diagnosis 2 years ago and his struggle and passing. In the last 2 years, I paid zero attention to what/when/how I ate and the end result is over 30+ extra lbs. on my already heavy frame.

I have been somewhat successful on Low Carb and am now combining that with Intermittent Fasting.

I'm looking forward to know everyone and give and receive support to help all of us achieve our WL goals.

Hi Eliza! Welcome. Looking forward to getting to know you. :)

Lurchmomma Thanks for your reply. I love that 2 of your quotes are from Stephen King & Dean Koontz books by the way!!!

Hi Eliza, and welcome! I'm a school teacher, 50, have a 22 year old too, and I'm doing intermittent fasting. :) What do you teach?
Boop: I'm not sure, on some level, we ever stop wanting some type of parental affirmation. However, wanting and depending are two different things. It doesn't sound like you are depending on it, so good for you!
Lurchmama: I'm not much of a cook, so I can honestly say if I can do it anyone can. We did invest in a good quality pressure cooker, which helps speed up the process A LOT, but you can do it with just a big pot and lots of time. (At the very least, I would invest in a strainer basket that can sit in the pot while the broth cooks.) I use the bones of leftover chickens we cook or I can also buy beef bones from my local grocery store. I learned that I had to ask someone in the meat department for soup bones because they keep them in the freezer in the back. They give me a big bag that keeps me in soup bones for a while. We also keep the leftover trimmings from vegetables and such in a bag in our freezer to throw in the pot too. So, bones, veggie bits, and some seasoning in the pot. Cook it. [depending on the type of pot used 2 hr. (pressure cooker) or low simmer in big pot (10hours?) ] Pull the strainer basket out and discard the bones and soggy veggie bits. Let it cool, and store in the fridge or the freezer. I'd give you a link, but I'm not allowed to post those yet.

Bah, I blew it today. Stressful day, won't bore you with the details, I was feeling pressured and didn't even think about it until after I had snarfed some junk. Sigh... irritated with myself. Here's to tomorrow.

Good morning all.

mygoalz Sorry to hear you had a stressful day. Hope things are going better.

I'm starting my morning late and having my first cup of coffee. I'll be heading over to my daughter's in awhile to feed and visit with her cat. They will back from vacation late tomorrow night. I've spent the past few days on the boat or in the pool. Today looks like rain and thunderstorms so maybe a good day to read or watch a movie.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing? My losses have slowed down this week. I've been bouncing around between 227 and 228. I am eating on plan and trying to practice patience.

My daughter and grandson are back from vacation. I spent the whole day with them yesterday. :) I am currently drinking a cup of coffee and procrastinating starting my day...It's not helping that it's cloudy and gloomy outside.

Hello Ladies:

mygoalz: Thanks for the bone broth tutorial. I've been reading about the benefits of it, but I've never had it. I don't have a pressure cooker, but want to get an "Instant Pot", which I've heard is good for everything from pressure cooking to making yogurt. I used to make my own yogurt every week until lightning blew up my stove. LOL. I can light the burners with a match, but there is no way to light the oven. I hope your stress has eased up! :bubbles:

Boopchick: I hope you are doing well. It seems as if I saw in another thread that you are making good progress! Keep it up! I'm glad you like my quotes. Funny that my favorite books are the Bible, then Stephen King and Dean Koontz! :D

Eliza Jazz: I hope you are able to heal and focus on your health. :hug:

Hello to anyone else passing through!

Hello :)

Hope you are all well. Seems this thread isn't quite as active right now. Everyone is busy with life I am sure. I am still chugging along eating on plan trying to enjoy each day as it comes. I have been losing at a slower rate this month but I continue to lose inches and getting into smaller sizes in my closet so I am trying not to be impatient with the numbers on the scale.

Have a great Thursday!

Hello all,

Finally getting a chance to catch up on stuff and get here. I haven't had a chance to read, hope you all are doing well.

Had been doing some sight seeing with our granddaughter. Then the last couple weeks we had Hurricane Harvey visit Houston, then after that the flooding. Our house was ok, and our daughter's house right around the corner ~ sits up on a bit of a rise, so her's was ok. Their neighbor's house had about a foot of water in it and my daughter and her family helped them move stuff up trying to keep it out of the water. Our son, didn't fare as well. His apartment had about 2 feet of water in it. He had tried to move some of his stuff upstairs, but was only able to get part of it up before it was too late. Thankfully they got out and got the cats out and were safe and ok, but he lost most of his stuff and his car is totaled.

We have spent the last week helping him get what could be salvaged out of that unit and he was lucky to be able to get another unit in the same complex ~ on the 3rd floor. So we helped him get his stuff moved in there. We finished that on Tuesday, now have been working on helping him get his stuff unpacked. Even though he lost a lot, he is way better off than some people in Houston.

Now new storms are bearing down on the Caribbean and Florida. Much of the Northwest is burning. Earthquake in Mexico. I feel so bad for all the people who are being affected by those. Praying for their safety.

So, kind of pooped here. Gonna get on to trying to catch up on some other stuff.

Hope you all are doing well.

Take care