Thanks everybody for the encouragement and recommendations. I appreciate you Chickie friends so very much. Thank you fatmad for the reminders from JUDDD and Dr. Fung. I will keep that in mind as I move forward.

I am not doing Richard Simmons plan or 1000 cal for a week then switch to higher cals. I have dieted long enough that I don't really think I need that. However, I did take his plan and this GOLO life plan and took good ideas from them to make up my own food plan. I still want to do IF and will continue using it and just adjust things around it.

My FBS was down to 167 this morning and weight back down below 220 a tad to 219.4. What I did different yesterday was I that I took the berberine and Blood Sugar Support pills the way I was doing before. Then I took three GOLO Release pills as instructed. My calories yesterday were 1296 for the day and I did 15 minutes exercise.

Taking fatmad's reminder about eating same # of calories every day, today, my calories will be 1469 and I have done 25 minutes on the bike already today. This will still be within the BMR 1600 calories, but not quite so low as to cause my metabolism to slow down. I appreciate the reminder to not eat the same calories everyday.

My breakfast will usually be pretty much the same as I really enjoy my eggs and bacon with very little changes although once in a while I do change it up. Just got in a habit because I am basically a routine person. My evening meal or snack is mostly protein or a protein and a carb. I will alternate choices between NF Greek Yogurt or Light cottage cheese or string cheese with occasional fruit and or nuts. I just eat enough to take my pills.

This will all be done within a 7 to 8 eating window. The days I don't need the evening meal/snack, I will skip it in order to work up to longer fasts.

fatmad I think my problem was that I was trying to fit in more fiber and as we know, I've never done well when eating more fiber. I know what they say about the importance of all that fiber and I do like a lot of it taste wise, but my body just doesn't do well with it. I will still keep some in my plan, but it will be at a minimum.... just what my body will tolerate.

I shared all this with my Daddy this morning even the fact that the test I took showed me as being in high stress. Bless his heart, he asked me why I was so stressed out. I couldn't tell him that the diet, trying to be there for him taking up the slack that my sisters can't or don't do, so I just used our finances as part of it which isn't really untrue. Just a lot of things come together at the same time since we moved here a few years ago this time of the year. We can do it, but when on a set income we do have to work at keeping things under control.

I can honestly say that I am starting to feel better. I know enough about following a plan that I need to give it a few weeks to let it really take hold so I am committed to do just that. I feel that I've just been tweaking things with these new pills. I am very hopeful that things will work fine.

Pipsicle There really are a lot of good health and wellness plans out there and I have had to just figure out which one or in my case combinations will work for me. It has been a real journey for me. In fact, we have all made this journey which has led fatmad and Carol Sue to eat the way they do. You are doint the right thing and will find what works for you as well. I always tell people that this has to become "your" journey and you have to find what works for you and never give up.

I saw you want to lose 5% of your weight by the end of the year. One year I set my goal to lose weight before I saw my doctor in February. I actually made it through the holidays with a good weight loss. I was thrilled when I went to see my doctor and while most people had gained, I had a really good weight loss. I too would love to do that again this year myself.

Carol Sue Sorry the wrist is bothering you. I never know what causes some of my aches and pains. I had such back pain last week but never knew why. I think some of it had to do with me being more active and twisting and bending and turning cleaning, but I think the other pain was caused by eating too many fiber starchy carbs. For me not exercising can also cause some of my aches and pains. I'm not saying that is your problem, but those seem to be problems for me. Having experienced all these problems the past few weeks just made my body weak and achy. I've kind of learned what I have to do to succeed and to keep my body functioning healthier. Now for me to just do it.

Hope everyone has a great day today.

Trish, I am wondering if you added too much fiber too fast. I was just reading a book today that emphasized starting out slow and gradually increasing to avoid gas and digestive issues. I know I don't get enough fiber when I'm not eating enough veggies. I do need to watch that. I want go add a small portion of lentils back like I was doing way back when. I drain the lentil soup and freeze the beans in small bags. That way they do have some flavoring from the soup ingredients. Sometimes I even eat the lentil soup as is. I also want to go back to eating hummus, which is garbanzo beans, and adds fiber. I will probably eat it with celery sticks as I used to put it on crackers, which I don't eat anymore. I like them, but find that I eat too many. I used to buy the Fiber Select Wheat Thins but they stopped making them and I can't find a lower carb higher fiber cracker. I used to make my own hummus, so I know what's in it. The commercial brands have a lot of preservatives in them. I might start with a package from Aldi's and from there go back to making my own. We need fiber to feed our good gut bacteria.

Some of my pain could probably be relieved by exercising more. DH is continually telling me that. He doesn't exercise, but he is very physically active just in daily living. I am not. I was very tired today so I mostly sat around and even took a nap for a couple hours. I am embarrassed to say that I only have 885 steps on my Fitbit and might not even reach 1000. I had 5000 two days in a row this week, but today has been a very sluggish day for me. I don't think exercise would effect the pain in my wrist, though. I don't know what that is unless it's carpal tunnel or just garden variety arthritis.

The book I'm reading right now says that eating low carb for too long can make you less tolerant to carbs, in other words, make it worse. The more you eliminate carbs the fewer carbs your body can handle. They compared it to someone who goes on a vegan diet and doesn't eat meat, then if they try to go back to eating meat they get very sick from it because their body is not used to it. I'm not really sure what this is all leading to in the end, so we shall see. I like reading this different stuff, then I pick and choose what I think is true and what I think is not true. This theory seems to be believable. But they are not talking about eating sugar carbs, but healthy carbs like root vegetables, which are usually not included on a low carb diet. They are actually saying that no food groups should ve eliminated, but I'm paying more attention to the information referring to carbs.

I also want to read up on Vit B 6, because this book says that a shortage of Vit B 6 in the body could lead to clogged arteries. It also has a section about how our ancestors ate butter and lard, but people's health declined when we started using other fats like Crisco and oils. DH uses butter, but I cannot convince him that Crisco and oil are bad. Sometimes I think we are too old to worry about that at this point. I know my heart is already damaged. Maybe all the books I read just confuse me more.

Pipsicle: glad to hear from you. How can we support you in you plan for weight loss? What method do you want to use? The first step of course is making the plan, and of course, sticking to the plan is important. I think we can help with support for you to stick to it.
Trish, Webber Naturals makes something called Fibre 4 which is low FODMAP. Many types of fibre can cause irritable bowel symptoms. As with a lot of FODMAP foods, it can be dose dependent. So increasing the fibre, especially suddenly larger doses can certainly cause the bloating etc you have been dealing with. Not everyone can manage it. If you need fibre, maybe try the low FODMAP one.
Carol: I think movement and exercise helps a lot of types of arthritis, so maybe the slot machines were helpful that day. Having fun is also good for pain. You are very good and careful with your pain meds, and I feel the same. If we can do without them, thats better for us. I'm still constipated from that codeine. It was the right thing to do and now that I'm feeling better, I am glad that I don't need it, and it will sit in the cupboard for a while again. I had 3-4 in September when I hurt my arm. Before that I can't remember when I last took some. The prescription is 2 years old, was only for 20 tablets, and there are still 10 left. I am also very careful with tylenol, since I am allergic to aspirin and advil and Aleve. But I avoid having it unless I really need it. You are wise to use yours only when its important.

I had a lot of carbs earlier in the day, some chips and some home made fried rice. And I checked, and no, didn't spike my sugars. I seem to be able to handle the carbs better. I think its the weight loss. I think if you have just been low carb, but still having a lot of insulin sensitivity and haven't lost much weight, you may be more sensitive, because of the insulin resistance still being there.

Pipsicle, one of the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia is not to "try" to sleep when You are not tired or sleepy. I suspect after that long nap you needed to re-adjust things. I was often waylaid about exercise because of sleep issues. Another of the CBT principles is to get up same time every day. or by a certain time. If you just have the occasional issue, not biggie. I am now making sure I am up by 730 every day unless I worked in the night. I hope you don't get all out of sorts with sleep now.
But I am off to bed myself now, pretty tired.

weight is up this am, as I start another fast. I'm still constipated, although things are moving a bit in the right direction, as in OUT.
I think in addition to feeling bloated etc. when things slow down, we absorb more of the calories from foods, and since yesterday was rather high carb, I'm getting all the sugar and calories. but FBS is fine.
A bout of insomnia, I am up way too early, before 5 am today. Back tender too, probably from not having a great sleep. I'm yawning now, of course, but have to leave in an hour for a meeting at the hospital.
We have had freezing rain and some snow here this weekend, I get snow tires on Wednesday. Stay warm everyone

Wt 194 FBG 113

I FORGOT to eat dinner last night. LOL I had a big lunch so I was not hungry at dinnertime. DH ate some leftover cabbage rolls, one of the few things he will eat leftover, and I figured I would eat later when I got hungry. I didn't realize until this morning that I did not eat. I recall that back in the day, not eating dinner kept me in maintenance.

Mad, when I play the slots, I hit the button primarily with my left hand. It's the right wrist that hurts. I don't have much pain at all today. That might have something to do with skipping dinner last night. I did not sleep well, though. Woke up around 3AM and tossed and turned the rest of the night.

Weight today was the same as yesterday so kept the 219.4 staying below 220. FBS was 159 so it is coming back down. Keeping the other previous pills and just adding this other one is working fine. When I can weigh the same 2 days in a row and my FBS can come down then I know things are working.

I ended up with more calories than planned yesterday as I decided to make it kind of a high day. I think I will try to do a semi-JUDDD thing by alternating up/down days working within 8:16 hrs. In fact, I may work at making UD within 8 hr eating window and DD within 5 or 6 hr eating window.

We are going to see Daddy today. I plan to go out to see him and come straight back home. I have pulled bbq pork in crockpot for our dinner when we get home. My calories today will be around 1000. I could make it a little lower, but I am showing it around 1000 for MFP. I am printing out all my daily food plans and keeping them in a folder for future reference. As far as I know my exercise will be walking as DH has just changed my plan about going straight to Daddy's and right back. He says we need to go to Office Depot before we come home. So I will walk around while he gets what he needs.

DH FBS was 147 today. He is doing great with this new pill. Thank God. Plus he woke up earlier and wanting to go to Home Depot means he is feeling better too.

Carol Sue and fatmad Sorry about the insomnia. I have to say I am sleeping good, but just liking that I sleep so long. However, when I wake up, I'm ready to get up most of the time and hope that will continue to be the case.

Pipsicle Hope you are doing well today.

Y'all have a great day.

I have had a great eating day today. I did manage to eat just 2 meals today and I have not had any problems doing it. I did get a little hungry once but it didn't last very long. I've been drinking plenty of water. I only took 2 of the new pills since they are to be taken only with meals, but was able to take the other ones I always take. The berberine is only to be with meals and was originally 2 pills a day unless you needed 3 so I should be good there. My calories were a little over 1000 calories a day. My goal is to fast from today until we eat tomorrow at 3ish if I can make it.

Today is day two of fasting, once I get to supper time I will be extending the fast longer than I have done before.
Feeling fine so far, and things are moving with the bowel, so feeling MUCH less bloated and yuck. That will teach me to overdo the carbs! and take codeine, LOL.
Feeling very clear headed. Going for a walk in a bit. Slept great last night. So today, all in order.
No work scheduled, though I am on call. Will just putter around the house for the most part. No big news
Trish, glad you are finding your way with 2MAD and JUDD.
Carol, thinking of you and hope you are pain free today,
Hello Pipsicle and Sanddove and our other friends out there.

Wt 194 FBG 118 That was at 6AM. At 9AM it was 122, but I consider 6 to be after the DP so I am going with that one. Mine goes up for a while as the day goes on even if I don't eat.

I slept straight through until 6AM which is unusual for me. My Fitbit says I woke up often during the night but everyone wakes up lightly but doesn't realize it. I was not aware of being awake until 6.

I'm glad the two of you are doing well. I did not have any pain yesterday or none so far today. I don't know why but I'm not going to complain.

Weight was 217.4 and FBS 160. Not bad. I am fasting today until lunch time. That will give me a 22 to 22.5 hr fast since I ate last. I'm feeling really good. Couldn't decide if I wanted to exercise today, but I have a lot of house work and laundry to do today that is keeping me moving so may just use that. Can't finish out MFP for today if I don't eat anything else until tomorrow at breakfast. It would be nice if I could alternate OMAD and 2MAD. This is my goal at this time, but I will see how it goes. I will allow IE to show me when I "need" to eat and when I don't. I have felt pretty good this morning. If I eat only 1 meal today, I won't be taking but one of the GOLO Release pill and one of the Blood Sugar support pills. I did take 1 berberine this morning because I don't have to eat with it and I remember reading Dr. Julian's book on IF saying to go as long as you can without eating breakfast after taking it. I will also take one before our lunch. I am very happy with my progress.

I really am interested in doing an extended fast to work up to get the healing benefits fatmad has told us about from Dr. Fung's book. I am very inspired by your progress fatmad and the weight coming down I experienced this morning has got me pumped up to do this.

Carol Sue So glad you are pain free and the 194 looks good. I don't think I ever see my lowest FBS reading so I am very glad when I can get a lower reading of any kind.

I had DH check his weight last night after his shower and it is about where it always is. He bounces between 135 and 138 so he is keeping the weight steady. FBS was 166 which isn't bad. He doesn't always clean his hands before reading so not sure if the higher reading is even real. Sometimes I can't believe he ever worked in a hospital. But then of course with his job he usually used gloves. He is so picky about other things but not when checking his FBS. It took a long time for me to even get him to do what he does so I won't complain.
I have always used alcohol to clean my fingers before checking and I read on a diabetic site that this is wrong. Strange to me since nurses always used it. It said wash hands with soap and water so that is how I clean them now. I can't really tell the difference, but will do it as it saves money buying the alcohol swabs.

Pipsicle, Sanddove and lurkers

Have a blessed day.

Trish, I bought alcohol swabs but stopped using them for blood sugar checks. I wash and dry my hands before checking. One time I did not and got an unexpected high reading. Washed and checked again and it was much lower. They say that anything you have on your hands can register. When I went to cardiac rehab the physiologist there would wipe with alcohol, prick you finger, wipe that off with tissue then check with the next bead of blood. I think he was wiping off the alcohol residue. I don't know if that matters.

Congratulations on such a good fast! That's great. You are definately headed in the right direction.

I have lasagna in the oven. The noodles in lasagna don't raise my blood sugar much. I think it's because all the meat and cheese offsets the carbs. I don't eat a lot.

Trish, I am surprised that your DH doesn't have a weight problem because he takes Glimiperide. It is known to cause weight gain, and I blame some of my inability to lose weight on it. I also eat too much!

My lasagna didn't turn out as good as usual. I use mozzarella cheese, but usually add some shredded taco or mexican blend cheese, which I forgot to buy. It seems to add a certain zip to it. It was good, though.

I haven't had any diet soda for a few months because I ran out and was watching for it to go on sale. The sale prices weren't good enough for me so I didn't buy any. This week I bought a case of diet cola at Aldi's. It's an off brand, but was less than $3 for a 12 pack so I figured I would try it. It's good enough. I don't drink it every day anymore but do like to have one occasionally. This will save me a lot of money. I prefer the bottles that coke comes in rather than the cans. I can drink a little bit and put it back in the refrigerator with the lid on. That can't be done with cans. But the money saved on the generic soda will make up for that.

Carol Sue When I used the alcohol swabs, I always wiped the alcohol real well with a Kleenex so it really shouldn't be a problem. I checked it both ways this afternoon before lunch and the reading was 1 pt less when I used the alcohol. So I don't think it matters.

I have been drinking my 3 c coffee each day since I started this plan and I can't remember when I had a diet soda. Water has become my drink of late. I am mostly trying to keep enough water to keep myself from becoming dehydrated.

I managed to eat the one meal today. I had a bad reaction to taking the second berberine. I had taken one this morning before my coffee and thought that it wouldn't be a problem taking the second one so many hours later before lunch. From now on when I do just 1 meal, I will take only 1 each around meal time. I just had awful cramps and spent a lot of time close to the bathroom. It wasn't diarrhea still a problem. I know from now on what not to do.

I still managed to keep the calories low today and haven't had anything to eat since our lunch. I have to say that I really believe that the GOLO Release pill is doing what it said it would do to keep me from being hungry. I haven't even been tempted to eat this evening. I happy with the results so far.

We are not going to the store until Thursday. Churches in town are having special Halloween parties etc for kids tonight and tomorrow night so don't feel it is necessary give out candy to kids. I haven't bought any candy and won't be in the stores tomorrow to be tempted so I will have slipped through this holiday without any candy. YAY!!!. I think what really helped was when DH told me a few weeks ago not to buy any because he didn't need to eat it because his BS was high. It is funny how I wouldn't dare bring it in to tempt him, but I probably wouldn't have held out on my own. That is why it is really good when he is working with me on eating right.
At least he is more understanding of what I need to do.

I will make tomorrow a 2MAD and a UD on Calories.

Good night.

I have never used alcohol for BS tests. The research shows that you have to wipe, with friction for 60 seconds. The only time I have ever seen this done right is when I give blood. They actually use a timer. Then they let it dry for 30 seconds at least.
I usually don't use the alcohol for blood draws, I give the client the choice after the discussion about it, Almost no one chooses for me to do it. Then I do it right.
I am cold tonight. I was working outside cleaning my car inside after picking it up from the mechanic. I got cold and haven't managed to warm up since. Its raining out, so we don't want to get in the hot tub to warm up.
Trish, congrats on your first extended fast.
There are a few things that help as you continue. Having a little plain salt and/or a magnesium supplement really quells the hunger. I still use fat to help. Using whipping cream in my tea, I haven't had to do anything else for fat. that gets me through.
This is my longest, I'm over 50 hrs now.
Carol: sorry about the lasagna. I have made it using eggplant or zucchini strips for noodles when I am doing low carb. I don't use the commercial shredded cheese any more, it has added gluten and or cornstarch to keep it from clumping. but I can see the advantage of a nice zing to the sauce.

Good night friends, sleep well.

fatmad You know I haven't been able to take CTC magnesium because it causes potty issues, but the nice thing about this new GOLO Release pill is it has it in it and evidently it is a different kind and just enough to keep me regular, but no potty issues. So maybe that is helping with the hunger. I have a list of the ingredients and what they do so I need to read it again. DH likes a lot of salt so I use salt on the meat and fish we eat, but I do not add it otherwise so hopefully I am getting enough. So far I have not ha any leg cramps which is usually the sign I'm not getting enough.

Thanks for your help.