Sunday, October 25, 2009

Catching up after a bit of an absence

I went a bit quiet there because at first I wasn't losing any weight and felt a bit despondant about it, then I started gaining and felt even worse. I'm seeing my NUT (nutritionist) on a regular basis and she has been very supportive and has been monitoring my food pretty closely. I'm not perfect at sticking to my eating plan, but then again I'm not out of control either. My portions are pretty small because I physically cannot eat more than a cup, and sometimes less if its dense protein. I am particular about my protein levels and eat fresh unprocessed food wherever possible and complex carbs as opposed to simple ones. Very aware of low GI versus high GI etc etc etc.

So utter was my misery at the gaining of the weight I did not want to talk to anyone, particularly as everyone has helpful suggestions on what I should be eating. I get the feeling they think I'm stuff my face with cake and biscuits and lying about it.

We (my NUT and I) paid particular attention to my blood sugar testing and I reported back to her 2 weeks ago that if anything my blood sugars were low - especially in the evenings after dinner. I discussed with her the things I had read on the obesity Help forum regarding high insulin levels (huge thanks to TeriJ for her persistance in posting about this fairly uncommon condition). My NUT wrote a list of tests that she wanted the doctor to organise and so off I went. I had fasting glucose, Hba1c, thyroid function, iron studies, liver function, B12 and folate, and fasted insulin. All of which were normal except the insulin!

The symptoms I have had for years and which have persisted even after the VSG and normal blood sugars are: dizziness, tiredness (all of a sudden extreme fatigue), carb cravings, and the ability to put weight on extremely fast (like 1/2 kilo overnight if I eat chips or biscuits). I can put on more weight than the actual food I eat which is not only bizarre but something no-one actually believes. I read that TeriJ has the same weight gaining effect too.

Anyway my insulin level was sufficiently high (20) for the doctor to put me on metformin again, and the effect has been instantaneous in that I have started losing weight again, even though its only been 4 days.

I only gained 2 kilos in my weight gain phase over the last 2 months, but it was like a nightmare starting up, and I was losing the will to even try. I slacked off with my walking and wasn't drinking the water, and depression was lurking, waiting to engulf me.

Now I feel a renewed hope and am ready to press forward, doing the walking, drinking the water, and keeping the right sorts of food available, not the bad sorts. I have signed up to do the Real Women's duathlon, well 2 of them, next year and... well that's it really. No new pics as I am the same as I was last time I posted. Next month I will be smaller.