Out on my broomstick and flying light as a feather

[moonwatcher]

Well done on the loss Susie, and fantastic news on the move!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks Moonie - did you mean to post this on my thread? Sorry for the kidnap, Lisa-Ann

 

[moonwatcher]

Thanks Moonie - did you mean to post this on my thread? Sorry for the kidnap, Lisa-Ann

Oh b######! Oops! No. Sorry Lisa-Ann - just put minis on my new phone and still getting used to how it shows the posts!

 

[Jonsgirl80]

Well done on the PTTLS, I did it a few years ago and wanted to do the PGCE but my old workplace wouldn't support me and at that time I just couldn't fit it in otherwise - boo! It's something I've toyed with time and again over the years because i feel my degree is going completely to waste but every time I decide to apply something gets in the way and now I'm happy and settled at work there seems no point.

Anyway, when I looked into it the last time at the beginning of this year there were all sorts of incentives and grants available to encourage people to do the PGCE either full or part time - as you say you could convert to masters later if you wanted. I'm not sure when the closing date for applications is but it's something you could look into maybe?

Boo to the evil colleague stealing your thunder like that - some people have no morals at all - I would be doing murders I swear!

Susie's right - that nurse knows nowt! My stepdad was diabetic and he was advised by his nurse and specialist to follow a low carb diet and when he went for his last check up - no sign of diabetes! So it does work. Xx

 

[Kat1e]

Agree - not impressed by nurse advice. Stick with low carb and you will control blood sugar!

Also re statins - please dont get shanghaied into taking them without doing the research. Lots of recent studies seriously questioning their value - issues of big pharma pushing, huge issues about what they actually do plus potential side effects. If you want to read up on statins & cholesterol etc suggest Marks daily apple - lots of info - as he has done lots of research and that will inofrm you so can ask the right questions.

Xx

 

[MessyJ]

Hi Lisa Ann, just subscribed to your diary and read through your old posts. I really enjoyed reading about the 10 things that inspire you to lose weight. Some of them really clicked with me, like enjoying travelling and the summer weather because you're comfortable in summer clothes, rediscovering your love of shopping because you can find lovely clothes in your size and know what suits you and being comfortable having your photo taken.

Best of luck on reaching your goal and realising these ambitions.

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Morning love

Gosh what a strange meeting with the nurse! Why not ask to see your doctor and talk through it, they have to be clear with you on whether you do actually have diabetes or not But at least low carb is an excellent woe to follow if you do or are borderline (despite what the nurse says, she knows nowt!) - as Katie said on another thread, low carb definitely helps as it reduces the insulin spikes - and there's even evidence to show that it can even reverse diabetes in some cases. Have a good google and ask lots of questions here too!

And I get you on your colleague stealing the limelight - cow! Especially when you've worked so hard to get your diploma. Why not investigate scholarships for your Masters?

Don't worry re the balti, sounds like you needed it - and you avoided all the naughty naan

Hi Susie, good afternoon hun I hope you're week is off to a good start, especially as it's on the back of all your fabulous news. The balti was delicious, I think it tasted all the nicer because I've not had anything as naughty for such a long time or so it feels. I've got an appointment next week with the GP who said it couldn't be confirmed either way. I will try and get him to give me a clear answer. I have read such good things about this woe too. I also read that with type two diabetes there is the potential to reverse it through diet and weightloss, although the nurse told me it was a life long condition that could only be managed. One thing I was concerned about was ketosis though because I'd read that ketones in the body could be dangerous for someone with diabetes (possibly means type 1) - all this conflicting information. Really good idea about investigating the scholarships for a Masters, I'd not considered that as I thought most funding was only available to undergraduate study, so will look into this

Well done on the PTTLS, I did it a few years ago and wanted to do the PGCE but my old workplace wouldn't support me and at that time I just couldn't fit it in otherwise - boo! It's something I've toyed with time and again over the years because i feel my degree is going completely to waste but every time I decide to apply something gets in the way and now I'm happy and settled at work there seems no point.

Anyway, when I looked into it the last time at the beginning of this year there were all sorts of incentives and grants available to encourage people to do the PGCE either full or part time - as you say you could convert to masters later if you wanted. I'm not sure when the closing date for applications is but it's something you could look into maybe?

Boo to the evil colleague stealing your thunder like that - some people have no morals at all - I would be doing murders I swear!

Susie's right - that nurse knows nowt! My stepdad was diabetic and he was advised by his nurse and specialist to follow a low carb diet and when he went for his last check up - no sign of diabetes! So it does work. Xx

Hi JG, how's your week going, I hope your not doing too many visits in the cold and rain. That's great about your stepdad, he must have really got this woe under his belt to get rid of his diabetes, so it can be done then. I know my colleague is secretly doing my head in but hopefully I can change the focus to my own studies or news of becoming a mum sometime soon. Ahh we're PTTLS buddies (lets open our own school of excellence lol) I think I may have missed the closing date to apply now as most students have enrolled already. I know what you mean about toying with the idea to do PGCE or further studies over the years - me too and like you something always got in the way. I was accepted to do a masters in Social Work many years ago at Solent University then later I turned down this place - am I frickkin stooopiddd! :/

Agree - not impressed by nurse advice. Stick with low carb and you will control blood sugar!

Also re statins - please dont get shanghaied into taking them without doing the research. Lots of recent studies seriously questioning their value - issues of big pharma pushing, huge issues about what they actually do plus potential side effects. If you want to read up on statins & cholesterol etc suggest Marks daily apple - lots of info - as he has done lots of research and that will inofrm you so can ask the right questions.

Xx

Hi Katie, I hope you had fun on the dancefloor this weekend, you looked great by the way. I'm most definitely going to stick with this woe, I can't see that any other plan would suit me. I just hope I can get to grips with it fully and get creative with my menus like the rest of you to make it a woe for me for life. I'd never heard of statins before Friday so I won't be rushing into taking them, plus as far as I know my cholesteral levels are fine and if they're not - no medical professional has ever told me. Where can I find Mark's daily Apple?

Hi Lisa Ann, just subscribed to your diary and read through your old posts. I really enjoyed reading about the 10 things that inspire you to lose weight. Some of them really clicked with me, like enjoying travelling and the summer weather because you're comfortable in summer clothes, rediscovering your love of shopping because you can find lovely clothes in your size and know what suits you and being comfortable having your photo taken.

Best of luck on reaching your goal and realising these ambitions.

Hi MessyJ and thank you for stopping by. I really hope we can both reach our goal and realise our ambitions, wouldn't it be nice to not always be thinking about food and weightloss but actually living and enjoying all that life has too offer. Do you have diary on here. I'll have a look for it in a bit. Lisa-Ann xx

 

[Jonsgirl80]

Hi JG, how's your week going, I hope your not doing too many visits in the cold and rain. That's great about your stepdad, he must have really got this woe under his belt to get rid of his diabetes, so it can be done then. I know my colleague is secretly doing my head in but hopefully I can change the focus to my own studies or news of becoming a mum sometime soon. Ahh we're PTTLS buddies (lets open our own school of excellence lol) I think I may have missed the closing date to apply now as most students have enrolled already. I know what you mean about toying with the idea to do PGCE or further studies over the years - me too and like you something always got in the way. I was accepted to do a masters in Social Work many years ago at Solent University then later I turned down this place - am I frickkin stooopiddd! :/

xx

Lol JG - I like that - I may start insisting people call me that instead of my real name which I hate with a passion! My week is ok thanks, busy as always.

Don't worry about the evil colleague - success is always the best form of revenge - or failing that I find fantasising about strange and unusual ways to murder them comes a close second!

I keep coming back to the idea of further study but it just never seems to be the right time - I have my masters but I would love to do my phd and be a Dr. I've never used my degree at all because i chose the wrong subject and I just always think of all the years I wasted to get it which is a shame.

i wouldn't envy you doing the masters in social work - I used to train social workers on placement in my last job and it was hard going. Always lots of tears :-(

It's a shame if you've missed the closing date for pgce - i had all the e mails with the dates on but i dumped them all when i got this job. Hopefully you will be able to find something that suits you soon xx

 

[Kat1e]

Hi LA how are you? Hope all ok xx

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Out on my broomstick and flying light as a feather - Lisa-Ann's Atkins diary

Well I sometimes think I'm just destined to be the fat girl because every time I think I'm cracking this weight-loss malarkey I go and sabotage all my effects. I'm just as bad as any other addict and the worst of it is I can't be abstinent from food because it's a life source. Don't get me wrong I want to do this as much as I need to do it for health reasons, but that seems to make it all the harder and the harder it seems the more I resist and I basically just self harm with food. For roughly the last week I've been eating off plan, not recording anything I've eaten, not read any labels, probably not tasted anything properly, but you name it I've had it. The little voice in the back of my head has said 'don't worry you can get back on plan tomorrow', 'don't worry you've got until February to reduce your BMI significantly,' 'don't worry there is plenty of time until March and August for your friends weddings,' (I mean what am I actually planning to do, starve myself just before my deadlines, because I know that doesn't actually work for me now, especially now I've made my PCOS symptoms worse by gaining all this bloody weight in the first place arrgghhhh).

So trigger points I've noticed - online food shopping. One evening last week I spent a happy hour putting illegal groceries into my Tesco basket, not only was this basket expensive it was carb laden to say the least and I can't blame all of that on my boyfriend or even my cat. Fortunately, Tesco annoyed me by losing the delivery slot I'd chosen and I pressed the clear basket button. I then popped to Aldi the following day and filled my car boot with bags of legal goodies, noticeably cheaper than Tesco too. I discovered that I really like Aldi Soya milk it tastes much nicer than Alpro soya to me, I can't even tell it's in tea. I stocked up on Aldi Flax (pictures to follow, although apologies Meg if you've already put a picture on), I got the Aldi version of mattesons sausage even though I've gone off it and plenty of greens and nice cuts of meat. Sounds good right, until three days later I'm shopping in Morrisons and yes you're right I don't need anything but I still managed to get a trolley full of shopping and not all legal, plenty of carb laden sugar laden poisonous foods

Pics - a savoury MiM using Linwood's flax 4.95 Holland and Barrett (love how it's so bread like and filling)



The Aldi flax that costs less than 4 for two bags and then gives you more grams than Linwood's for your money, you can see its a bit lighter in colour to Linwood's.



The Aldi version of mattesons, can't really tell the difference although the novelty of eating them has worn off. I tried to make that egg custard thing for a sweet fix but I didn't like it, I mustn't have made it right. My flax bread made in batch and put in the freezer for when needed. Although admittedly I've not eaten any of it this week. Lastly the gorgeous homemade tomatoey chilli chicken dish I made with delicious cauliflower rice (actually got it right and my mind would swear I had rice lol)



So it's my totm painful and heavy and so bad yesterday that I felt extremely sick. I don't think the Metformin helps at this time either. Plus I'm finding it hard to get my dosage up to six tablets as it makes me feel so ill but I'm determined not to let it beat me. Does anyone know whether there are links between Metformin and anxiety/depression? I've felt awful all year and can't put it down to anything specific but I have been taking Metformin since January. We've had news at work that more cuts are imminent, the CEO has asked people to contact her if they would be interested in taking voluntary redundancy. I've been fantasising about this all week. I even found a business that is right up my street online beauty boxes to subscribers. However, it would be a massive risk as I've done no proper research, I have no business plan and a business should be set up around an existing income of which I'd have none with no access to money if I just took VR. Why can't I be rich it would be so nice to work for myself. I've been researching people who got made redundant and went on to make a success of themselves.

Anyway, first time I've posted in over a week, I'm crap I know. I have kept up on everyone's diaries though because I'm nosey just not commented. Speak to you all properly soon. Hope you're all doing fab. Broomsticks Lisa-Ann xxx

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Out on my broomstick and flying light as a feather - Lisa-Ann's Atkins diary

Lol JG - I like that - I may start insisting people call me that instead of my real name which I hate with a passion! My week is ok thanks, busy as always.

Don't worry about the evil colleague - success is always the best form of revenge - or failing that I find fantasising about strange and unusual ways to murder them comes a close second!

I keep coming back to the idea of further study but it just never seems to be the right time - I have my masters but I would love to do my phd and be a Dr. I've never used my degree at all because i chose the wrong subject and I just always think of all the years I wasted to get it which is a shame.

i wouldn't envy you doing the masters in social work - I used to train social workers on placement in my last job and it was hard going. Always lots of tears :-(

It's a shame if you've missed the closing date for pgce - i had all the e mails with the dates on but i dumped them all when i got this job. Hopefully you will be able to find something that suits you soon xx

Lol on the murder fantasies and definitely the safest way to do it. Ah brilliant you've got your masters I always planned to do a PHD too when I was younger but it isn't something I want to do anymore, just the masters will do for now. Me too on the training social workers on placement, I've been on-site supervisor for a few, we tend to get an influx twice a year (it will be for the money it generates). My last student was a nightmare, lets just say a bit work-shy as I had a lot of trouble locating him a few times and he was a mature student with a professional background.

 

[Jonsgirl80]

Yes it's a good money spinner for companies but they are a total nightmare for the staff and the on site supervisors.

Some of them caused so much trouble at my last workplace - drama drama drama all the time. God knows how some of them manage when they get into real workplaces in the real world!!! I found the mature ones harder to deal with sometimes cos some of them know it all and you can't teach em nowt which in my last job caused major problems as we were working in some potentially dangerous situations. At times they seriously compromised their personal safety and that of others by just not following procedures or listening to advice which could have been disastrous.

The plan for me was always to go straight onto the phd after the masters - but then life (and student debt) happened and I didn't end up going and kept putting it off ever since - I might get round to it when I retire lol. I probably wouldn't even have the discipline to study now anyway but it's nice to fantasise - part of me thinks i only want to do it for the thrill of being able to call myself doctor rather than plain old mrs - sad or what lol. The thing is i know I'd want to do a completely different subject - just don't think I could handle any more physics without losing the will to live - my interest now would be more in something like psychology so not much difference lol

What would you do your masters now in if you had the chance?? Xx

 

[ladyfelsham]

Hi Lisa-Ann

Post when you have time hun, don't stress about it, it's just good to know how you are getting on

Thanks for all the pics - that bread looks fab, is that olives on the top I spy? Good thinking Batman!

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Metformin but am sure others here will - it does seem to be more than a coincidence that the two happened about the same time. Hope you find an answer soon xxx

 

[Kat1e]

Love the pics. Just hang in there and keep going every step you can. The only thing that wont help is beating yourself up for yesterday/last week/last month!

 

[meg38]

Hey Hun, I was looking into research for depression and metformin. There seems to be no links in any of the journals, but they did mention the side effects could be nasty enough to make some people feel low and down x maybe speak to your GP. My GP suggested I try also, but knowing some of the nasty effects I asked to see how I go with diet alone!! Pcos is a cruel thing, I only recently been diagnosed, I prob should have picked up on some of the symptoms I suffer with before, but I had no real interest in me x I hope you feel better soon, being so low is no fun xxxx

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Out on my broomstick and flying light as a feather - Lisa-Ann's Atkins diary

Hi everyone, it's been a little while since I checked in. I hope you're all well. I'm looking forward to catching up on diaries later. The last couple of months are somewhat of a blur to me and although I can't report weight loss I'm pleased to say that I've not gained. I've been keeping myself busy and spending time with close friends. My best friend lost her niece five weeks ago, which is very sad. Her niece was five years old and suffering from a rare condition called Schimke - the first child in the UK to be diagnosed with this.

I've also been trying to get to the bottom of my health concerns. I've really struggled to tolerate my high dosage of Metformin 3000mg while eating Atkins/low carb. I was prescribed this for PCOS and it has helped with my periods and stabilised my weight. More recently I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2. I had a review yesterday and the nurse was pleased that my recent bloods were 6.1 reduced from 6.8 in August. A normal range is up-to 5.9 so I'm not far off. My cholesterol was fine so statin medication not needed and all other diabetes health checks came back fine too. To be honest I have struggled to get my head around having diabetes and I still don't believe the diagnosis, not helped I guess by my GP back in August telling me the result was only borderline. Plus on top of this I don't feel I can really relate to the symptoms of diabetes apart from the tiredness, yet when I look at the symptoms of under active thyroid I have all of them even though blood results for this always come back fine. Ultimately I just want to be well and find all these health concerns to be a bit of a minefield, I get so confused over insulin resistance and diabetes they are not the same thing but often get talked about as if they are one and the same.

Anyway, I've done a bit of research on diabetes and found a Newcastle university study whereby patients did a very low calorie diet for eight weeks and 'reversed' or successfully brought down their blood sugar levels into the normal range. The theory behind this is that when blood sugar levels are raised it is to do with the pancreas not working effectively, the study hinted at there being a blockage of fat in the pancreas. It is then thought that the very low calorie diet acts as a sort of detox by clearing away any fat blockage and waking up those resistant cells helping the pancreas to work effectively. Plus the diet also helps to kickstart weight loss. I have decided to give this ago. I've bought 8 weeks worth of Exante products and apart from about three dates (cousins 40th meal, Christmas Day and Boxing Day) I should be able to keep to plan. Any meals eaten off plan of course will be planned and low carb. Then after the eight weeks I will review this and the plan is to return to Atkins as my way of life eating. In the meantime I will probably just keep this diary going and check in from time to time. Lisa-Ann xxxx

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you're all well. I had a quick look at diaries earlier and it seems there is lots of good news all around. I'm not doing too bad. I'm still eating in the main Atkins/low carb but have also been trialling a combination of VLCD packs and intermittent fasting. It seems to be working in the respect that even with some of my health concerns I haven't gained weight since August last year not even over Christmas, so my head is definitely in the right place. I'm in the 17s but not for long as I want that BMI back under 40 ASAP. This is my year to attend friends weddings in the summer slim, to feel comfortable in swimwear on my planned Autumn break to a hotter climate and to be able to get pregnant by the end of the year. I must keep those goals in sight. In general, I think low carb eating has been good to me as I no longer crave a sugar fix. Usually, if and when the binge monster strikes (Totm) I'm quite happy picking cold meats, cheeses and olives out of the fridge. How our tastebuds change. I do still crave bowls of fresh fruit salad but they can wait until I'm slim and maintaining. Lisa-Ann xx

 

[Kat1e]

Hi LA good to see you. Good luck however you choose to go forward - agree the upside of low carb is your taste buds do change
X

 

[Lisa-Ann]

Oh my, where has the first half of the year gone. So I'm still around and still up and down weight wise - like a yoyo. I did lose just under a stone and a half doing Exante but then fell repeatedly off the wagon when it came to food week. So weeks and months later of multiple restarts, carb loading and denial I'm now back to writing it all down in a little note pad that I carry with me, logging my diary thoughts here and double logging my food diary on MFP. I'm still in the 17s but will just be taking each day as it comes and chipping away slowly at that hour glass figure that lurks beneath the fat. No more excuses and nothing in the calendar to knock me off plan. No more attending friends and families celebrations as the fat friend X

 

[Lisa-Ann]

I just had a random email notification from minimins and it's got me wanting to hop on and see how everyone is doing?! Is anyone still around in the Atkins forum? Where are you all at? Me: I need to go back to basics and read the Atkins book cover to cover, and then start eating clean & green. It is the only plan that works for me and yes I have tried them all including the VLCD's that I can't seem to manage for more than a week. I really need to do this now. I've been messing about for far too long. Plodding along and losing a bit here; then when those little life spanners get in the way, going in the other direction and carb loading again!! I feel so unfit and unhealthy. I'll be entering my 40s end of next year and I want to have the figure to die for. I also want to conceive baby no.1. I did get pregnant beginning of this year but it wasn't a viable pregnancy & I later miscarried. I have PCOS, insulin resistance & my hormones are all over the place. I can't get any help on the NHS because of my BMI and at this rate I expect I'll miss the cut off age for IVF. I know for most women having a big incentive like this would make it easier for them to lose weight, but it's had the opposite affect on me and made it harder; thus, making me feel more miserable and like a failure in the process. Anyway, would love to catch up with old Atkins faces and make some new Atkins friends along the way. Broomsticks xx