[samdavid6]

I'm a bit of a newbie here. I found I had type 2 (a mild case apparently) in february. I went to the nutritionist and cleaned up a lot of my bad eating habits and am starting to take control of this.

I'm 5'7", and for the past two years was stuck at 188 pounds. It never went lower than that, no matter how hard I tried. I exercised for 90minutes a day, every day, and my weight remained the same.

Then this year, I found I had diabetes, and I cleaned up my eating habits, and went on a low carb diet. A lot of the carbs that I did eat, I tried to consume as fibre, which I am told is a good thing (doesnt get counted as carbs, reduces cholesterol - and I do like it this way)

My doctor offered me the option of going on metformin, but I hate meds and I asked if I could try to change things with exercise and clean living. So, since February, I have lost about 10 pounds (am now about 178) and my FBS levels and A1Cs have gone down.

Problem is, I am now again at a plateau. I exercise 90 minutes a day, I eat small portions, spread out and eat healthy. And yet, I am at a constant 178. I dont know what I am doing wrong, and I am getting really depressed. My ideal weight according to BMI is closer to 150lbs, and I am beginning to think that this is an unattainable goal.

Does anyone know what I could be doing wrong..? What I can do to get off this plateau..? Is this because I am not on metformin..? Am I doing myself harm by being against meds and trying to live healthy?

Help..!!

Another thing. Before I was diagnosed, I used to have these days when I couldnt muster the energy to get on the treadmill. I felt completely demotivated and depressed. My doctor said that this is one sign of diabetes (where your body needs energy and there isnt any insulin to help move your sugar), and I am beginning to feel that way again. Does anyone else have this symptom or feel like this..? Did the meds help..?

[PERKDOUG]

You left out how many grams of carbs per day you eat and also how many carlories from fat and protein. Many people cannot lose weight eating more than 50 grams of carbs per day along with the usual protein and fat. If you read Atkins, Bernstein and Eades, their books recommend below 50 grams/day of carbs generally to lose weight. Of course on Bernstein you at about 30 g/day of carbs and 12 ounces of meat & other protein foods, forever. This is very rough sledding for the average person diabetic or not, but you will lose weight. If you are really resistant to weight loss go for 20 or less g/day of carbs which are considered the starting carbs on the Atkins diet. Keep a diary, I bet you are at over 100 g/day carbs on your present diet. Just a guess. Post back and let us know.

[samdavid6]

Thanks for the reply. I dont have that many carbs, at least I dont think I do.

I wake at 1am (yes really), have a glass of orange juice and a banana and then head off to the gym. I know the OJ and banana are carbs, but without them, my workout goes all low blood sugary and I end up with no energy for it. I'll try to do the workout without it.

Breakfast is at 5:30am, bran flakes and skim milk. I know there are carbs, but I was under the impression that the fibre in there doesnt get counted as carbs.

Snack and lunch are a sandwich each (low carb bread - each slice 15g carbs, 4g fibre) so thats 4 slices of bread.

And evening I have a light dinner (veggies - do they get counted and chicken or a salmon fillet - no bread or carbs I can think of).

20-30g of carbs..? Wow.. For 20g of carbs, thats like a slice of bread. What else can I have.. (I'm sure that the goal is not to go hungry the rest of the day). I think I should get the books and read up on the diets to understand some more. Anything you recommend..?

[BrianSCohen]

SamDavid,

Welcome to the forums. I can give you some suggestions on how to restart your weight loss, but I'd ask you to think about what your goals are. The BMI is a totally bogus indicator of health status. As a diabetic, it is better to think about reducing your bodyfat, your weight does not matter. In fact, the more muscle you have the better.

I'd like you to look at the picture below. Which do you want to look like?



My suggestion is to ignore BMI and focus on recomposing your body building muscle and reducing fat.

Ok, as to your plateau. Here are some things to try. Up your hydration (water). Perform intervals instead of steady state endurance. Try intermittent fasting. Make sure you are not too calorie deprived, perhaps have a day or two of a couple of hundred extra calories just to make sure, then reduce back down.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[EllieK]

Brian,
You're right about the BMI.
According to those charts the guy on the right is probably obese or at the least very overweight!

[HelenM]

Sorry to comment as its not strictly on topic but that was an unfortunate choice of photo.
You too can have a body like the one on the right if you take
THG -
Testosterone/epitestosterone -
EPO (Erythropoietin) -
HGH (Human Growth Hormone) - .
Insulin -
Modafinil -
Liothryonine - Deadly cocktail used by Dwain Chambers - Telegraph
source

I don't know if the one on the left was Lasse Viren (at a masters event?) If so he was extremely fit and healthy and remains so today.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by samdavid6

I'm a bit of a newbie here. I found I had type 2 (a mild case apparently) in february. I went to the nutritionist and cleaned up a lot of my bad eating habits and am starting to take control of this.

First of all, Welcome to Diabetes Forums and congratulations on taking charge of your body's needs.

I'm 5'7", and for the past two years was stuck at 188 pounds. It never went lower than that, no matter how hard I tried. I exercised for 90minutes a day, every day, and my weight remained the same.

Yes this is indeed hard and feel your frustration.

Then this year, I found I had diabetes, and I cleaned up my eating habits, and went on a low carb diet. A lot of the carbs that I did eat, I tried to consume as fibre, which I am told is a good thing (doesnt get counted as carbs, reduces cholesterol - and I do like it this way)

Many a type 2 will look at carb counting as a form of loosing the weight.

My doctor offered me the option of going on metformin, but I hate meds and I asked if I could try to change things with exercise and clean living. So, since February, I have lost about 10 pounds (am now about 178) and my FBS levels and A1Cs have gone down.

I would be interested in the A1C as this is a good indicator on how your pancreas is working. We look at 6MMOL/L or 100MD/GL

Problem is, I am now again at a plateau. I exercise 90 minutes a day, I eat small portions, spread out and eat healthy. And yet, I am at a constant 178. I dont know what I am doing wrong, and I am getting really depressed. My ideal weight according to BMI is closer to 150lbs, and I am beginning to think that this is an unattainable goal.

Again I feel your pain and after all that hard work is getting you down and senseless.

Does anyone know what I could be doing wrong..? What I can do to get off this plateau..? Is this because I am not on metformin..? Am I doing myself harm by being against meds and trying to live healthy?

We look at good control of Blood Glucose with some interest to ward off complications like leg amputation, eye problems, Stroke and more. I am against drugs too.

Another thing. Before I was diagnosed, I used to have these days when I couldnt muster the energy to get on the treadmill. I felt completely demotivated and depressed. My doctor said that this is one sign of diabetes (where your body needs energy and there isnt any insulin to help move your sugar), and I am beginning to feel that way again. Does anyone else have this symptom or feel like this..? Did the meds help..?

This is the argument that's your body is lacking and that's the insulin and you're are getting so tired of getting the energy that you need to get moving again. To get your body to get the energy to your mussels to function you need insulin to get the glucose in the mussel to get your energy and then you will have the energy to shake off the fat. metaformin is a helper for insulin to work effectively to the mussel tissue.

You may not like metaformin as I dislike insulin everyday. Come'on, It's just a thought.

[DarthDiabetes]

Well, while the photo might not be the perfect example it still gets to the point. We have been brainwashed that the marathoner is the pinacle of health where the science clearly indicates otherwise, and BMI is also a faulty system.