Low Carber Ad Libitum August Initial Check-in

FIT_Goat
FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
We officially start on Wednesday. To participate, check in (on Wednesday) with your starting information.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10684394/day-1-check-in-starting-information

Replies

  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    That link doesn't work for me. Do I need to just wait until 8/1? I'm nosy and just wanted to look LOL
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    edited July 2018
    That link doesn't work for me. Do I need to just wait until 8/1? I'm nosy and just wanted to look LOL

    You have to be a member of the group to see it. There's nothing there, yet, anyway. But, don't worry, after the first week I will be posting stats along with the link to the next check-in. It will be aggregated, so no one has their weight or stats exposed. But, there will be charts and stuff so we can get the basic idea.

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/127716-low-carber-ad-libitum-experience <- if you're going to join the challenge.
  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    Thanks @FIT_Goat I just requested to join.
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    Be sure to weigh in tomorrow morning. If you started early, you can put your start information in, just make sure you tell me what your starting date was. And, you'll be updating on different days than most people.
  • kimberwolf71
    kimberwolf71 Posts: 470 Member
    I may have missed it in the original discussion post since there are so many comments, but are there a maximum number of carbs you are suggesting for this?
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    I may have missed it in the original discussion post since there are so many comments, but are there a maximum number of carbs you are suggesting for this?

    No. Any low-carber is welcome to join. In general, if someone is not being successful, I do recommend they try lowering their carbs before giving up. So, if you're eating 80g a day and not having success, maybe try 70 or 60 and see if that helps. The very long video that I posted in the original thread is not a ketogenic way of eating. He requires way too many plants to be considered keto.

    If anything, it is a focus on food quality and not quantity. The same amount of carbs and calories from chicken and spinach is going to have a very different impact on your body than from an Atkins bar.
  • macchiatto
    macchiatto Posts: 2,890 Member
    I realized I have a Holter monitor attached to me right now that I won't be able to take off until after breakfast tomorrow morning, so that may affect my start weight a little. I might go by a Thursday morning start weight instead. (I like to do the first thing in the morning, no clothes, after using the loo but before eating or drinking anything, just to avoid as many confounding variables as possible.)
  • PaulaKro
    PaulaKro Posts: 5,768 Member
    macchiatto wrote: »
    I like to do the first thing in the morning, no clothes, after using the loo but before eating or drinking anything, just to avoid as many confounding variables as possible.
    I do the same thing, but only because that's my lightest time of the day, hee hee.
  • 2Bhealthier2
    2Bhealthier2 Posts: 128 Member
    Hello! I haven’t been here in a long time but I need to be here. So ready for the low carb. What stats are we required to have and how does this work? Sorry for all the questions but I really need this.
  • chinatowninchina
    chinatowninchina Posts: 1,279 Member
    PaulaKro wrote: »
    macchiatto wrote: »
    I like to do the first thing in the morning, no clothes, after using the loo but before eating or drinking anything, just to avoid as many confounding variables as possible.
    I do the same thing, but only because that's my lightest time of the day, hee hee.

    why oh why would you do anything else? Unless you know you aren't going to eat or drink anything until later and then you might be lighter!!! :)
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    Hello! I haven’t been here in a long time but I need to be here. So ready for the low carb. What stats are we required to have and how does this work? Sorry for all the questions but I really need this.

    Just weight and carb goal, and weight is optional. You can just tell me change in weight. I get into the basics for how/why in this post here: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10682877/ad-libitum-august-18
  • belleflop
    belleflop Posts: 154 Member
    *knock knock* the top link still doesn't work, permission denied. How do I get on this train?
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    Join the group first. The group link is right above this one.
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    So far we have 28 people who have checked in and begun. The average weight is 212 pounds, but the range varies and we have people with little/nothing to lose and others with more than 100 pounds to go. I'm pretty excited to see what the next week is going to bring.
  • 2Bhealthier2
    2Bhealthier2 Posts: 128 Member
    I will join you all in September, August 1st I was on a mini vacation w/the hubby and we were in a car accident. I've been a bit off since that happened. I wish you all the best!
  • papa369
    papa369 Posts: 31 Member
    I'm new to this group, so please bare with me. I'm T/2 Diabetic and take Metformin and 4 shots of Insulin a day. I'm a 68 year old male. I'm married (37 years). I'm having trouble keeping my Glucose numbers under 200. I eat less than 50 carbs per day and I average 5,000. steps a day. In the last 6 months I've had 2 strokes. The 1st ended up with me totaling my car, and give me a slight brain injury. less then a month later I had a second one. Now I take a ton of medicine and shots. Any suggestions on how I can get my Glucose number back down. Before the Strokes I was able to do 10,000. steps a day and my last A1c was a nice 5.3. Now I can't seem to do anything to get my numbers down. I'm starting to feel really depressed and I don't like that. If you have any ideas I'd be happy to send you what I eat every day. I just want to be happy again. Thanks for listening to me Jim
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    It is going to be hard for you. Things don't turn around in an instant. I would suggest limiting the carbs, obviously. That will help. Beyond that, it's going to take time and consistent work. I would stay on all the medicines until things improve.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    papa369 wrote: »
    I'm new to this group, so please bare with me. I'm T/2 Diabetic and take Metformin and 4 shots of Insulin a day. I'm a 68 year old male. I'm married (37 years). I'm having trouble keeping my Glucose numbers under 200. I eat less than 50 carbs per day and I average 5,000. steps a day. In the last 6 months I've had 2 strokes. The 1st ended up with me totaling my car, and give me a slight brain injury. less then a month later I had a second one. Now I take a ton of medicine and shots. Any suggestions on how I can get my Glucose number back down. Before the Strokes I was able to do 10,000. steps a day and my last A1c was a nice 5.3. Now I can't seem to do anything to get my numbers down. I'm starting to feel really depressed and I don't like that. If you have any ideas I'd be happy to send you what I eat every day. I just want to be happy again. Thanks for listening to me Jim

    :( I'm sorry that you have gone through that.

    You can lower carbs all the way to zero if you still need to lower your blood glucose. Are you testing BG at home, before and after meals (30, 60, and 90 minutes)? I recommend using a blood glucose metre so you can learn, and record, which foods affect your BG the most or least.

    I eat almost as a carnivore with almost zero carbs on most days, and that keeps my BG very steady.

    Have you increased your salt? When you lower carbs you will lose water weight and electrolytes. If you do not replace lost electrolytes (sodium ie. salt) you may experience, fatigue, moodiness, brain fog, nausea and stomach upset, headaches and muscle aches or spasms. That could affect how you are feeling a bit. Some medications can cause depression. too. :(
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    papa369 wrote: »
    I'm new to this group, so please bare with me. I'm T/2 Diabetic and take Metformin and 4 shots of Insulin a day. I'm a 68 year old male. I'm married (37 years). I'm having trouble keeping my Glucose numbers under 200. I eat less than 50 carbs per day and I average 5,000. steps a day. In the last 6 months I've had 2 strokes. The 1st ended up with me totaling my car, and give me a slight brain injury. less then a month later I had a second one. Now I take a ton of medicine and shots. Any suggestions on how I can get my Glucose number back down. Before the Strokes I was able to do 10,000. steps a day and my last A1c was a nice 5.3. Now I can't seem to do anything to get my numbers down. I'm starting to feel really depressed and I don't like that. If you have any ideas I'd be happy to send you what I eat every day. I just want to be happy again. Thanks for listening to me Jim

    @papa369 Talk to the medical professionals who are familiar with your medical history. Please do not take internet advice from well meaning individuals who are not medical professionals and know nothing about your medical history.

    Speaking as someone who has "heart issues"....I have no experience with diabetic meds and up until October 28, 2018 when I had a heart attack, I was med free and seemingly an average-weight picture of health and happiness. I now have a pacemaker and am on a cocktail of heart medications. I spent 12 of 20 days in two EXCELLENT hospitals with a vast collection of cardiologists (and other medical professionals) fine tuning my meds (and pacemaker).

    While I don't disagree with the general statements of @nvmomketo...NONE of it may be an option for you: cutting carbs more. Increasing salt. Meds causing depression. NONE of it.

    I know that none of my meds have a side effect of depression but the mere fact of having a heart attack and no longer being my 64 year old invincible self can be pretty depressing. My biggest fear is that this pacemaker or meds will quit working and I'll have a stroke. Stokes scare me more than heart attacks. I imagine you are especially fearful of another stroke given the brain damage one of yours caused and knowing it could have been worse. Or there might be another. I hope whatever limitations you are experiencing can be improved upon with therapies (physical or otherwise).

    What sort of aftercare are you receiving? Surely you have (or had) medical personnel guiding you regarding your diet for diabetes in conjunction with your recent strokes/heart issues.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    :) Yes. What works well for one my not apply to another. Absolutely.