DoingTheCaveman

The happy dance

First off... your missing inch AND recent diabetes related good news are both really, really big developments. No need to downplay them, dear... I say well done, you! Even if you won't, I'm jumping up and down on your behalf!

Thanks Jennifer for this comment.  I'm not, really I'm not - I have been doing that 'happy dance' all weekend.

See...

***Doing the happy dance****Doing the happy dance***Doing the happy dance***

This entry is dedicated to anyone whose weight has triggered a serious health problem.  Mine, diabetes is a progressive disease, but these changing results are testament to the fact that you should never write yourself off.  It should never be too late. 

My own weight gain is probably only half as bad as for some, but I guess because underneath I'm quite petite, my body was overwhelmed and the health problems had begun to stack up.

(i) PCOS, (ii) several really bad episodes of cholecystitis and a couple of hospitalizations (leading to cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)). I was fair and fat but certainly not 40. I was 26 at the time. (iii) diabetes, (iv) hypertension, (v) finally totally deranged liver function tests.

As I said before all that was left was the stroke or heart attack. Apart from that, it wasn't the greatest or most dignified experience being an in-patient with a ward of confused OAPs.

I have to say not only was it the threat of insulin, but those LFTs that were the straw that broke the camels back; the fact that my liver was turning into fois gras, yuck, was pretty scary and particularly shocking when you're virtually teetotal.  This is when a sense of urgency *suddenly* hit me.

But as the doctor said to me on Friday a fatty liver, although is a problem associated overweight diabetics IS *completely* reversible with weight loss.  So deranged LFTs, well I can now cross those off too. 

It's great to know that there is a route to get better, better still don't even go there in the first place. I'm on that road now and wherever you are with your weight I am sure if you're on that road you can get better too.  Maybe a little too addictively I'm really enjoying the re-modeling and body-sculpting process, and there's no way, at my age, I'm prepared to accept compromised health any more. 

I really do look forward to seeing other tales of improved health and wellness.

***Doing the happy dance****Doing the happy dance***Doing the happy dance***

The big bad wolf

How many times have I re-joined a huge well known diet organisation, and failed.  Every magazine I picked up, what would I see, yet another inspiration story of a person who'd lost weight with that  brand - but afterall that's their marketing strategy in action.  Without naming it, I sure would know the name of this company, I mean it's probably the biggest *BRAND* in the weight loss industry.  But for every person you see succeeding, what's the betting there's 10 failing. 

Last time I returned I really began to resent the process - was all this *really* necessary! 

Whatever time I turned up, early or late, there was *always* a 45 minute wait to be weighed.  The evening was gone and I no longer had the energy to stay for the class I'd paid for. Would any other good business really expect a valued customer to wait in a 45 minute queue? What does that say about what the company *really* thinks about you. 

That queue, well it's all part of the marketing process.  Don't forget as queue you how pass all those tables of yummy interpretations of products that got you there in the first place; tables of expensive chemical loaded, 0 point  snacks, essential scales and calculators.  Then, perfectly timed for the New Year, their proven formula for weight loss suddenly morphs into a new and improved weight loss plan of, what is essentially exactly the same formula, disguised. 

But you've got to go -- weight loss just won't happen unless you're part of this group.  What a joke...

The diet industry is a treadmill aimed at desperate and therefore vulnerable people. It's a huge wolf in sheep's clothing; caring kind 'counsellors' who, of course, have have their own weight loss story (I don't denigrate that), but then have bought a franchise to earn a bomb, perhaps to claw their money back.  An industry makes jobs, they're not there giving up their nights because they care about you.

I shouldn't really discuss money here, but I've been there ... I've wasted so much money on diets in the past. But when I started to add up what I've spent on diets in the past, finally I saw myself for the pawn I was in the game. How gullible.  Remember that VLCD, well it cost me £40 a week. I repeat more than 3 months at £40 a week.  *Sharp intake of breath*.  How sad. That could have been a wonderful memorable holiday. I've wasted so much of my life with this weight problem and then been manipulated for the pain.

I don't in anyway mean to discount the efforts of anyone puts into a diet and is choosing to go for the support -- but you really shouldn't need to pay to lose weight.  Weight-loss is simply down to personal effort.   You need to work on understanding why you got fat.  You really can't do that if you're replacing what you were eating before with look alike food.

These are my tips:

1. Buy good REAL food, peruse the web; there's some fantastic informative free stuff out there.
2. If you do, therapeutically, feel you have to invest watch out for those Guru's who are *genuinely* interested in nutrition, fitness and health and buy *THEIR* books.
3. Read, learn, absorb everything you can about food and nutrition.  Here's a pointer.  If you want to know why you're fat look into the politics of food, supply and government subsidies (what's the basis of your food and why).
4. Form your own *free* diet support group.
5. Save a little for every pound you lose to invest in rewards and fun activities, along the way and for after you lose weight.  That's what I'm going to do.

The diet industry doesn't want you to lose weight.  That's why it's called diet *industry*.

I'm for the first time starting to lose weight and I'm doing this by turning my back on this industry - yeah - so there - two fingers up to the diet industry.

***ONE INCH***

I________I

Here is an inch.

Measured my waist today and I'd lost another inch.

Looking back at a December entry (22nd) I had a 40" waist and the last time, a month or so ago, it was 39". 

Today it was 38". 

So I've almost lost 10" on my waist.  BUT those bloody scales still won't budge!!

The turtle will get there

OK, lets face it my weight loss over recent weeks has been a tad slow.  However, *this* journey isn't simply a measurement of weight - it's about both the external AND the internal.

So, I'm pleased to announce my exciting news ...

I am no longer diabetic - well that's what my doctor said today.   

I won't delude myself, I know that once you have that diabetic diagnosis it can never be shaken off, no matter how well it controlled.  However, today's Hb A1c (3 month average blood sugars) has finally taken me into the normal range for a non-diabetic... thanks to the caveman diet.

All other investigations and blood pressure were also completely normal :)

I have to say, this clinic visit was a little overwhelming.  The doctor and nurse seemed a little over excited and bombarded me with questions about diet, lifestyle and management. 

I know, to the outsider it's must seem so strange - abstaining from foods we've learnt to regard as natural and normal.  But, in reality so many *normal* foods are adapted into our diet and with catastrophic effect, as I well know. 

I am still a work in progress; I still have a great deal of weight to lose, general fitness to improve and lost time to catch up.

Today though, I've come a step closer to one of my goals - being off ALL medication.  Actually, I admitted to my doctor today that I have, over the last couple of months, been misbehaving with my medication and have been more or less off it anyway!  I don't recommend this.  Coming off drugs *should* be done under a doctor's supervision.  From today though, with my doctors blessing, I'm going to start weaning on half of what I was *sometimes* taking :) 

BTW.  I'm always compliant with the BP medication.  It's just that for a while I'd noted that whether or not I took medication made absolutely no difference to my blood sugar monitoring, hence the self-prescribed wean.

On the trail of Stevia

Hands up if you've heard of Stevia - possibly not if you reside in the UK. 

I heard of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni the first time just a few months ago.  It's a naturally growing herb, it has zero calories and doesn't affect blood sugar, therefore apparently is safe for diabetics.  I hear it does have an after taste, but is used widely as a sweeter in Japan. 

There are so many diabetics and people struggling with their weight, surely it's the answer we've all been looking for. Where do I buy it? 

Unfortunately *definitely* not in the UK.

WHY?

On my quest for this herb I dug around some more and found that, although you can purchase it in the USA, apparently it cannot be marketed in a way that would indicates sweetness.... hmmm I see. 

Then I attempted to purchase it here, only to find there was no legal way in the UK and, like a drug, it's illegal even to possess it.  The reasons given, seem to me, to be no more questionable than some of the suggested side effects of aspartame and other sweeteners.

At the end of the day personally I feel frustrated that the informed choice to buy this food product is denied.  Obesity is projected to be entirely the fault of the individual...

• But why has sugar and dubious alternatives found their way into just about every food product? 
• Why are we struggling, hopelessly, to balance sugar and weight? 
• Why do we hear daily news reports of the huge obesity crisis?
• Why is there no stevia marketing campaign?

When there is a natural alternative to satisfy our sweet lust, why is it banned, who really has our interests in mind? 

So... how is February shaping up??? - Justoofat

Thanks for the nudge, Jennifer.   It's been a while since I last updated but unfortunately February's not shaping up too well, although this there's still time for this to change.  I weighed earlier in the week and had gained a little weight (weighed in at 88.5 kilos/195 lb).  No negativity though, as AllHeart reminded me this week there's always some fluctuation.  Exercise, is becoming my bugbear -it's not happening.  Maybe I have SAD, I'm absolutely desperate for the hours to change, and to be able to go out for some warm evening walks - gym equipment is so uninspiring.

This week work has been toxic. In fact the last 2 days and absolutely ruined the week. If it wasn't for the imminent house move and mortgage requirements I'd be handing my notice next week.  I know it's risky, but for me so far these spontaneous moves have always proved to be better than staying put.

Anyway, with doom and gloom in the news this week with food prices I leave you with an inspiring little clip -- well I liked it -- so inspiring enjoy.

January's progress

Remember the loss I reported mid-month, well since there's been no further progress. *Sigh* 

But, I do think someone's sabotaging my scales!!!

By this I mean physically I do feel as if I've lost weight.  The little things that most people take for granted have become so much easier to do.  For example, if something fell on the floor previously I'd have to psyche myself up before attempting to retrieve it - not laziness just pain.  Most worryingly for me my knees would shriek and it would be a huge effort to rise from a crouching position.  However, now I can easily swoop down, or crouch and rise without any effort at all.  Personally I feel a bounce has returned to my step, so I can now easily nip in and out of small spaces or run up steps - taking them two at a time (when no one's looking)!

I've received a number of positive comments this month.  On Thursday a colleagues said "you're melting away", to which I replied that she must be mistaken, I hadn't lost any more weight this month.  "No, no" she said "your trousers are really loose, maybe your fat is redistributing, but you've definitely lost weight".

Does fat redistrute, or is it my scales?

Well what's for February. 

1. I still have that 1/2 stone to lose to get to my first goal but I do know what I have to increase the exercise side of things to get there.  With my life upside down at the moment what's fallen to the wayside has been exercise -- it simply ain't happening at the moment. 
2. I see my general practitioner this month for my annual review.  I'm a little worried as my sugar may have crept up a touch.... there's only been the previously stated blip but I have eaten a lot of fruit over the last couple of months, not forgetting the dates.
3. Today I added another goal, and an ambitious one...

Over the last few months my eyes have been turning to a bright shade of green. Last year my sister moved to Devon and has been learning to surf - yes right through our British Winter!   I simply can't wait to join her.  Today, I was parked near the sea and someone out there kite surfing (which they do on our South Coast). Wow, the speed and the jumps, it looks so exhillerating.  Yes, I know you don't *have* to lose weight to have a go but you do have to sqeeze into an unflattering wet suit!

Off the production line

**** Bothered, very, very bothered *****

Sorry she's ranting again.... but watch this video below and hopefully you'll understand why.  I wasn't planning to put up a post today but stopped by at one of my favourite daily reads, modern forager and was shocked by this video that it's upset me enough to join in.

Yes, I'm on the paleo diet, so it's quite clear I'm not vegetarian but lately the question of where my meat comes from has been troubling me.  It may be that Jamie Oliver, Britain's favourite chef, has been spearheading a campaign recently on the issue with an excellent program recently 'fowl dinners'  posing the question - why are our chicken and eggs becoming  so cheap? 

Maybe I'm just being a sentimental animal lover, but are we so dissociated from the origins our food that we forget from where and what our burgers and drumsticks actually came from.  We must be, to allow what I see in that video to happen. I don't know, this video is from America and not the UK so I'm not 100% sure that this represents what happens in the UK.  However, wherever we may be, it's to satisfy our ferocious appetites that the raising of meat has moved out of the farmyard and to the production line.  I'm not saying don't eat meat, but by voting with your purse and responsible shopping could help towards a more comfortable life *and ending* for the animals we eat.

Halal or Kosher meat receives criticism - it's cruel.  But what makes meat halal or kosher, is a prayer that's said to God (Halal = 'from God to God') before the animals slaughter and paying respect for the creature that's about to die - hmmmm, I didn't see much respect in that video, just pure out and out cruelty. 

I was bought up in the country and we raised a few animals that, yes, did eventually come back to the pot.  But the lambs and chickens we raised on a small scale had at least frisked and frolicked before we ate them.  Maybe it's this experience that means that I want to know any animal I eat enjoyed it's short life, had been in the sun, spent time with it's mother and most importantly wasn't tortured and was killed quickly and humanely.