Today I drove into Vancouver to St. Paul's Hospital where the Heart Healthy Program is starting a double blind study of a new weight loss drug. It's only numbered so I don't know the name of it and I could be given a placebo instead of the test drug but that's the chance you take with these things.
This is a test for a new drug for OBESE Type 2 Diabetics who are taking one diabetes medication (I take Metformin). The tests I underwent today will help determine if I meet the criteria for the study which will last a little over a year. I was there for 2-1/2 hours and after the program coordinator took all my medical history, weighed me, got a urine sample blood samples, blood pressure, etc., I then had an interview with a dietician (tiny little thing...aren't they all?) who asked me what I normally eat in a day and then she offered suggestions on how to modify my diet to be more heart healthy and help me lose weight. I was surprised that she was ok with me being on a low carb plan but she does want me to increase my consumption of veggies and low carb veggies are ok with her. She recommended that I cut down on eggs but not to the proverbial 2 a week. She suggested Egg Beaters or those Omega 3 eggs in a carton. She also recommended that I eat more fish. It was her opinion that if I did as she suggested AND increased my activity, I should lose weight. DUH! Gee, I didn't know that. Anyhow, I am to make a sincere effort to get an hour of aerobic exercise a day, whether it's in the pool, on my stationary bike (which I've used once) or walking. I will try for a combination of activities.
I then had an ECG and a consult with a doctor who took my blood pressure again and measured me and then I was done. I hadn't eaten since 7 pm Monday night and it was now 1:30 Tuesday. Can you believe that I was still standing? Only on Atkins could a person survive that long without food. Funny, but I mostly craved water even though I was allowed to have water during the fasting period. I was just so thirsty I stopped and picked up a bottle of water and a small bag of almonds to tide me over on the ride home.
Anyhow, I will find out on Thursday if I made the grade but I think they were very pleased with the ECG results and my BP was in the vicinity of 120 over 60 on six separate tests and my heart and lungs sounded good. I will keep you posted. The ideal result would be that I'll be given a new miracle drug that will make me instantly skinny.

this sounds great, linda. and you have a great chance to do something healthy for yourself, and to help others. this sounds like the study they've been recruiting for around here as well. so, it's a big multicenter study and the results should be very helpful.

now, all YOU have to do is take care of yourself. please???

Congrats, Linda, I hope it goes well for you!

That is nice that she okayed what you are eating. My endo's office is ok with it too, but what I hear from anti-low-carbers is Noooo, Dieticians are against it!

Well, she wasn't ok with the amount of bacon I eat. She suggested that nasty turkey fake bacon....or ham, which surprised me. She also would prefer if I'd use margarine instead of butter but I told her if I can only have a wee bit of fat, I want the real thing on my veggies. I've realized for some time that I just can't eat the amount of fat that is allowed on Atkins and still lose weight so I've already been cutting down on saturated fats but I refuse to give up my butter. Heck, how bad can 2 tsp a day be for a person?
The hardest thing for me is the exercise. I'm aching just from walking the three blocks to where my car was parked...at $4 per hour. Good thing they pay $20 a visit. Next time I will take the Skytrain into downtown Vancouver. I was going to go that way today but I didn't allow myself enough time to get to the Park & Ride, the bus ride to the Skytrain stn. and then the bus ride from the train station to the hospital. I can drive it in an hour and the bus-train-bus method would take about 90 minutes, but I'd save on the hassle of the downtown traffic and parking.

Wow! Terrific BP results!
Re the exercise, when I come out there, can we share the one hour on the bike? Five minutes each and then switch?

LOL, the bike is in the guest room, Ruth. Be my guest! You can even watch tv while you pedal.

Linda,
Even when I was on a low fat diet, I think I ate 2 tsp of butter a day. I agree about eating too much fat causing a person to stall. At least, it does with me. I envy the people that say they can eat alot of it. Like drinking a small glass of cream, which I've done. But only once or twice, ok maybe more, but not that often.

I don't know why the medical community continues to want to push fake food and things like margarine. I think they've been brainwashed for so long, they just don't know what good food is anymore.

Hey Ruth, nice new avatar ya got!

Glad you noticed, Jennifer. Still a PDW but in "the retriever cut", not the lion cut like the other one. My girls look just like the avatar on a "good fur" day .

LindaBC, can you tape the YATR or some other soap for me? Harry never lets me watch TV! Whine! Whine! Maybe I should swim to Nanaimo?

I am still having headaches from the 250 mg Metaformin and some other effects. Sounds like Dieppe in the bedroom, sez Harry! Anyhow, bed will fix it all.

Nighty night!

Way to go Linda! I'll be glad to hear how things are going during the year! I hope they are going to tell you what this wonder drug is!