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Tuesday 20 November 2012

The Daily Paleo - musings on cholesterol - Day 15

Wow - 15 days already! No cravings, hardly ever hungry. We even had lunch at the food hall at Henderson's Westfield Mall on Sunday. Chinese buffet: chicken and veges, with a bit of sweet and sour pork. No onion. No bad after effects. "I'm loving it!"

Cholesterol has been bothering me. Well, the contradictory information I’ve been reading has, really.

My last lipid tests were done on 4 October: (non fasting)

Cholesterol mmol/L = 3.5
Triglycerides mmol/L = 2.7
HDL = 0.90
LDL = 1.4

Chol/HDL ratio = 3.9

"For established CHD risk (including diabetes) NZGG optimal levels are:
Cholesterol: less than 4 [less than 5]
Triglycerides: less than 2
HDL: greater than 3

LDL: less than 2.0 [less than 3]
Chol/HDL ratio:  less than 4


LDL calculation will be inaccurate if patient was not fasting."

* Triglycerides - 2.7 - well, that's a bit high, isn't it.
* HDL ('good cholesterol') 0.90 - that's not high enough!
* Why didn't they require a fasting blood test - "oh, it's not necessary" - but then the LDL (the 'bad cholesterol') figure is inaccurate - so, it may be higher or lower than 1.4. It’s also recommended that Triglycerides be tested in a fasting state too, as levels remain high after eating. So, 2.7 may or not be accurate as well.

Total Cholesterol – there are actually several blood lipid fractions that are partly proteins used to shuttle fats and cholesterol around the body, but they’re lumped together under the general term cholesterol. They include VLDL’s (very low-density lipoproteins), LDL’s (low-density lipoproteins – the ‘bad’ guys) and HDL’s (high-density lipoproteins – the ‘good’ guys).

So, where did that cholesterol come from? Conventional sources say it comes from your diet – the saturated fat in meat, eggs, some seafood, etc. The more fatty stuff you eat, they say, the more cholesterol you’ll have. But hang on a minute. Those same (conventional) sources also say: However, most ingested cholesterol is esterified and esterified cholesterol is poorly absorbed. The body also compensates for any absorption of additional cholesterol by reducing cholesterol synthesis.[7] For these reasons, cholesterol intake in food has little, if any, effect on total body cholesterol content or concentrations of cholesterol in the blood. Biosynthesis of cholesterol is directly regulated by the cholesterol levels present, though the homeostatic mechanisms involved are only partly understood. A higher intake from food leads to a net decrease in endogenous production, whereas lower intake from food has the opposite effect. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholesterol

Let’s move on to the Triglycerides. This is what http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triglyceride has to say:

“There is evidence that carbohydrate consumption causing a high glycemic index can cause insulin overproduction and increase triglyceride levels in women.” So: Triglycerides are a measure of circulating blood fats that indicate dietary carbohydrate and insulin sensitivity. High carbs + poor insulin sensitivity = high triglycerides. Eat less carbs?! Triglyceride levels are also reduced by exercise and by consuming omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flax seed oil, and other sources.

What’s next? HDL – not enough of those babies floating around. Trans-fats and lack of exercise can result in low levels. Where are the trans-fats coming from?

“By far the largest amount of trans fat consumed today is created by the processed food industry as a side effect of partially hydrogenating unsaturated plant fats (generally vegetable oils). These partially hydrogenated fats have displaced natural solid fats and liquid oils in many areas, the most notable ones being in the fast food, snack food, fried food, and baked goods industries. They can only be made by cooking with a very high heat, at temperatures impossible in a household kitchen.”

Ok. Let’s stay away from processed foods, and hydrogenated vegetable oils – not that I have ever eaten much of that anyway. And do some more exercise!

LDL – well, depending who you read ... it may or may not be a bad guy. Let’s agree that you probably don’t want too much of it, but what causes it to rise? Well, for one thing, high insulin levels. What causes high insulin levels? Oh, hang on, too many carbs. So, if I eat less carbs, will my insulin levels go down? And if my insulin levels go down, will my LDL readings go down? Also, turns out that there’s two types of LDL’s. Type A – big fat fluffy particles, and Type B – small, dense LDL’s. It’s those small, dense guys that have been linked to being artheogenic (plaque causing), not the type A’s.

WHAT AM I DOING/GOING TO DO?

* Avoid simple and refined carbohydrates. In fact, let’s avoid most carbohydrates, for at least 30 days. (Carbs increase insulin levels)

* Avoid cereal grains, legumes etc. Partly a FODMAPS thing, partly a Paleo thing.

* Eat lots of vegetables. Avoid fruit, fruit juices, stuff that contains sugars. (sugars in fruit increase insulin levels)

* Eat lots of fresh meat and seafood. (no carbs, so no effect on insulin levels, however, may affect cholesterol levels) Also try and drink stuff like pro-biotic rich kefir, and take digestive enzymes to aid my crappy digestive process.

* Exercise more. Trying to take a ‘bike ride’ – 15 minutes on the exercycle – every night, plus walking. As things settle down, I’ll start doing Interval training. I should probably be doing it already, but there’s only a certain number of hours in the day. (Exercise increases HDL levels, and insulin sensitivity – a good thing)

* Stop taking Statins. What? Why? I hear you say. Don’t you need those to control your cholesterol?

Statins common, less serious side effects: Muscle and joint aches (most common) – all the time!!!; Nausea (not often); Diarrhea – yeah, when I’m not ... Constipated!

Potentially serious side effects: Liver damage; muscle problems (pain and tenderness – see above!); Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes. (hey, hang on – don’t I now have a problem with increased blood sugars?); Neurological side effects – ie memory loss or confusion.

* Stop taking blood pressure tablets (Zapril 0.5mg). My blood pressure is great – 110/90.

Side effects: may decrease your body’s supply of potassium, leading to symptoms such as weakness, leg cramps, tiredness; gout; People with diabetes may find that diuretic drugs increase their blood sugar level. A change in medication, diet, insulin or oral anti-diabetic dosage corrects this in most cases.

Hang on again – what was that last one?! May increase blood sugar level!
* Stop taking Omeprazol - that was the gastric reflux proton-pump inhibitor. Why: Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine. This effect has occurred mostly in people who have taken the medication long term or at high doses, and in those who are age 50 and older. It has some other cool side effects too, like nausea!

* Keep taking the Gliclazide: Gliclazide is used for control of hyperglycemia in gliclazide-responsive diabetes mellitus of stable, mild, non-ketosis prone, type 2 diabetes. It is used when diabetes cannot be controlled by proper dietary management and exercise or when insulin therapy is not appropriate

* Keep taking the Metformin: Metformin works by suppressing glucose production by the liver. It is the only antidiabetic drug that has been conclusively shown to prevent the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. It helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and is not associated with weight gain. When prescribed appropriately, metformin causes few adverse effects (the most common is gastrointestinal upset) and is associated with a low risk of hypoglycemia.

Now, I’m not saying anyone else should do this – especially not you, my wonderful reader. But, this is what I’m going to try. I’ll go back for a FASTING blood test in, probably, mid-December, or maybe January, when the Paleo lifestyle has had a chance to take effect.

Already, after only a fortnight, I’m seeing my weight drop, my body-shape improve, my blood sugars leveling out. I am less tired and achy, and seem to have a little more energy.

And if it doesn’t work? Well, then we’ll have to look at Plan C ... but not for a wee while yet.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

The Paleo Diary - Day 8 - Is it expensive and Dessert

I was reading a post on Robb Wolf's Paleo blog earlier today, musing on whether eating Paleo is expensive or not.

The guy is pretty sarcastic, but I think he hits it right on the mark - it's only as expensive as you want to make it. I think we're very lucky here in New Zealand - it's almost impossible to buy grain-fed beef and lamb. That is, if you can afford to buy them in the first place. Pork and chicken are, of course a different story, but they're really cheap, and most of us can't afford to buy free-range.

I tend to buy my meat from the Mad Butcher in Albany - a so much better grade of meat for the hoi polloi than that available in Henderson or Massey, lol. Sometimes we'll get our meat at Pak N Save - but only if it's on special.

For veges, it's a toss up between the local, usually Asian-run fruit and vege shops, or Pak N Save - their high turnover means most of their stuff is fresh, but there's little variety, and a lot of it gets bruised from the rough handling. I was in there last night, watching a woman tossing tomatoes back in the box, complaining they were all soft - gee, I wonder why? The local vege shops have a dozen different varieties of 'choy' - I really need to get brave, don't I? I wish they spoke more English tho! Or that I spoke more Chinese than 'Ne how mah' ('thank you' - 'scuse the spelling)

Robb argues that you should buy what you can afford, as long as you're eating healthy Paleo. Balanced Bites makes the same argument. Here's the food pyramid, nicked from their site:


Look at that! Doesn't that firmly contradict the 'normal' healthy eating pyramid! Noooooo it seems so wrong!

So, why the ramble? Well, I was thinking about how much I've spent in the last year, and in the last week, trying to get healthy. The battle with the FODMAPS intolerances has been fun, but my blood glucose levels have continued to rise, because although I was cutting out gluten (and all that other stuff), there were still grains in my diet, and I was still having too many carbohydrates for my battered system to process.

I've just bought a selection of Digestive Enzymes and Proteolytic Enzymes which I hope will help my digestive system actually digest things, instead of just throwing them back at me in various unpleasant ways.

Last night, as I said earlier, I went into Pak N Save to do some shopping. I spent about $100. This included 2 trays of chicken mince (about $12), which I turned into 10 chicken patties for breakfasts, and a 1kg bag of Prawn meat (deshelled, but not cooked) for $14. Becca and I shared 1 cup of these, cooked with a little bit of butter, salt and lemon juice in a saucepan, for breakfast this morning. It was really really nice, and left us both feeling full, even tho it didn't look like much. The rest was on a packet of bacon (I suspect that was the next most expensive thing, as it was Henderson's Dry Smoked), veges, and coconut milk.

But ... if we stop buying Vogels bread, at about $5 a loaf, and all the other grain carbs ... oh well, hopefully it will all balance out sooner or later!

Now, on to something even more important!!!

Paleo Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Doesn't get much more important than that, does it!
This woman, Juli, has some fantastic dessert ideas - and food stuff in general:
And this one just leapt out at me:

Chocolate cake, in a mug!!!!!
Ingredients
  • 1.5 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1.5 tablespoons almond flour
  • 2 tablespoons walnut oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a mug.
  2. Mix all ingredients well with a spoon.
  3. Microwave for 2 minutes.
  4. Consume.
There's lots more yummy stuff on her website - go see!

Made the 'chocolate pudding in a cup', used tapioca flour instead of almond, coconut milk instead of walnut oil, and drinking chocolate + cocoa powder instead of honey. Very rich, very nice. Saved half of my one for tomorrow!

Lunch tomorrow: salad, and chicken patties - funny that!

Monday 12 November 2012

The Daily Paleo - Day 7

Well, the Theology exam this morning was a complete crash and burn. I walked in with a building headache, stomach and uterine cramps, and generally feeling like death warmed up. Question 1 was, as expected, on what constitutes good theology, and the Wesleyan Pentalateral - but I couldn't remember all 5 till the very end! Question 2 - I did divine revelation, but had problems thinking of an alternative to the consensus. Questions 3 and 4 were God as creator and humanity as understood in the Christian faith. Brain dead. Nada. Nothing.

So, I'm thinking I'm looking at going from an A average to ... blech. Hopefully I'll pass. I'm over this paper.

Paleo:

Treated myself to a 'cheer up Sue' lunch at Noodle Canteen - fresh prawns, chicken, pork, and a mixture of healthy veges - still have half of it left for lunch tomorrow - nom nom nom.

Stopped in at the supermarket on the way home, and as per recommendations, skirted the edges. Got a heap of fresh veges, fresh, raw, unsalted cashews, chicken mince and frozen prawns. Took a quick dip down the centre and picked up some coconut milk. And a couple of boxes of FruJu's - juice, no dairy - yum! That won the approval of #1 daughter.

Cooked up a HUGE stirfry of veges, with the addition of a packet sauce (yes, it had wheat and soy stuff in it, but I diluted it with water, so hopefully it won't  count too badly. Steak for 3 - well, I could have possibly eaten the whole thing by myself, but I managed to share it!

Blood sugars look like they're evening out - tonight had the lowest after dinner reading of 7.9! That's happy dance numbers!

I found a conversion calculation for md/dl (milligrams per decalitre - US) to mmol/l (millimols per litre-NZ), and went thru my last blood test results and the info Robb has in his book. I didn't quite giggle hysterically. The major one is the HbA1c, which measures the overall amount of glucose you've had sitting in your bloodstream for the last 120 days - my last result was 75 - the ideal is between 20-40, and Robb wants to see it at 27. There's a shed load of work to get it that low! But everything else is actually pretty good.

Tomorrow I have a massage after work, so I'll take my shorts, and go for a 30 minute walk - not 45 minutes like last time - nearly injured myself. Didn't manage a bike ride tonight. It was a chill-out, damn I have no active brain cells sort of night.

I'm not going to test my blood sugars again for a week - probably from next Monday, and see how they're looking for another 5 days - weekends are too complicated!

Oh, and I feel bloody marvelous, btw!

Happy eating!


Sunday 11 November 2012

The Daily Paleo - let's call it Day 5

Oh I love Paleo - fresh salmon (the tail end, lol) almost dry-fried in the iron frypan! Oh yeah, oh yeah! Happy dances! I shared it with Becca - honestly! What a fantastic way to start Sunday morning.

Woke up early (0715 - which is early for me) with buzzy brain - gotta study, gotta study ... don't want to study. Did some study. meh.

At Church early - I will be so glad when we're out of 'Hub West'. Just waiting for the Seventh Day Adventist church across the road to approve us using their facilities on a Sunday morning - and they'll provide the sound tech! Yay - maybe next Sunday will be our last stint doing A/V for the worship team.  What was fun has turned into a chore, and not just for us, by the sound of it. (ugh - bad pun!) Walked in, got told off for trying to put the cloth (had taken it home to be washed) onto the communion table. Yeah. Whatever. It's kind of cool that you can cry during worship, and people think you're just carried away by the moment.

Home for a cup of coffee, and think about lunch, while pretending to study.

I really need something to replace sandwich bread for David and Becca.

This was what I made:





Let's call them 'wraps'. I forgot to put the lettuce on top, silly me! The topping is grated carrot and cheese (yeah, I know, not strict Paleo, but I want them to eat the darn veges!), tomato and celery, with a bit of salt and pepper.

The 'wraps':
Argh - I found four different recipes, three of which wanted between 6 and 8 egg whites! Really! What am I going to do with that many yolks???? (yes, I know, there are all sorts of things that I could make - the first one that leapt to my mind was lemon curd, yummy yummy ....) Anyway, this is what I finally used:

1 cup coconut flour
1 cup tapioca flour
1 tspn baking powder
2 eggs, beaten in about 1 1/2 cups of water
pinch of salt

Mix it all together, and put dollops in your HOT frying pan. I used olive oil (Extra Virgin - love the taste). I used the fish slice to sort of flatten it out as it started cooking. It just wanted to come completely off the pan, so I sort of shuffled it sideways and spread it out. Once the bottom starts to cook, you can actually turn it over quite easily. Cook till it's a lovely golden colour both sides, and put to one side to cool.

Both David and Becca went back for seconds - yum, they said. But as far as a 'sandwich bread' alternative, it was a fail. Too crumbly, says David.

The other 'wrap' recipes:
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tspn baking powder
8 egg whites
1/2 cup water
pinch of salt

4 TB coconut flour
6 egg whites
4 TB almond milk
salt, cumin, chilli powder, garlic salt - to taste

1/4 cup coconut flour
8 egg whites
1/4 tspn baking powder
1/2 cup water

2 cups Almond flour
2 large eggs
Salt

For most of these, they were formed into balls, flatten, then either dry-fried or baked in an oven. Might try that next time.

ART



Birthday card for a friend. The front image was from a commercial card I really liked, with the original sentiment removed, and replaced with 'Happy Birthday'. Printed out on the colour printer, then attacked with inks, stamps, a pretty brad, and a tag.


What else????

Got another batch of Kefir going - I've already drank the first litre - it just tasted toooooooo good! Ordered some actual grains from someone on TradeMe. The stuff I have is powder, and it's just making a really fine creamy covering on the coconut milk. I may of course regret this purchase later - cream is easier to eat than lumps!

A nap - oh, so needed that nap - I fell asleep in church - not that Aaron was boring, but for some reason they are putting the powerpoint too low down on the wall, so I can't see it. Aaron was standing directly in front of it, and there's only so long you can look at a guy, even if he's your pastor, that has a face for radio. And you know where your eyes start going as they get heavier ....

Took the dogs for a walk at Henderson Park before dinner. Met a couple of other dogs, but they didn't really want to play. Tara went for a swim in the creek - only came back wet, not muddy.

Dinner was good Paleo - roast Pork - nom nom nom, cauli, carrots, cabbage, roast pumpkin, kumara and parsnip.

Sat on the exercycle and peddled while I studied - did 16 minutes! 8 calories - about 4km! How about that, kiddies!

Still reading Robb Wolf's Paleo book - in absolute stitches reading some of it!

That's it for tonight - I was going to go to bed early - like 35 minutes ago!!!!!

ttfn
:)

Saturday 10 November 2012

The (not quite) Daily Paleo

This must be about Day 4 of the shift to Paleo.

The books have arrived. First was "The Paleo Diet Cookbook", by Loren Cordain, Nell Stephenson and Lorrie Cordain. The authors are introduced, and then it goes into what you can and can't eat, what you need to chuck out of your kitchen, and the recipes. At the back is a two week meal plan. I'd got into the recipe section when the second book I ordered arrived.

"The Paleo Solution: the Original Human Diet" by Robb Wolf. This guy really rocks! He has a great writing style, and intersperses 'geek speak' with earthy humour. He's a 'research biochemist who traded in his lab coat and pocket protector ... to become one of the most sought after strength and conditioning coaches in the world.' He is ... 'one of the world's leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition.' For someone like me, who wants to know the science behind the blurb, this book is excellent. His website RobbWolf.com is a great resource. I sat at work yesterday, watching some of his video's explaining the work he has done with the Reno Police, Fire and Ambulance services, and how he has increased their overall wellness. Fascinating.

A 'real person' I found in the Paleo community goes by the name of 'Cavegirl', and her site, Cavegirl Cuisine. We had a conversation on her facebook page, when I asked about help with breakfast menus - because, at the moment, that's a biggie. We (my daughter Becca and I) have about 15 minutes to have breakfast, so it needs to be quick and easy. Cavegirl was able to make some 'cereal' suggestions. I need to get out and buy some more stuff.

There's already signs of weightloss - about 1 kg (2lbs), and clothes are starting to fit better (good grief!)

I'm trying to go for a 10 minute exercycle ride every night - about 3km/6 calories according to the little computer on the bike! David and I are also trying to take the dogs for a 30 minute walk every other night.

My blood sugars are consistent - not necessarily good, but consistent: averaging around 10 morning and evening, and dropping to around 6-7 before dinner.

Other interesting Paleo websites are:
The Paleo Diet - this is the original one with Dr Loren Cordain, who is the main man behind all the research, and Robb Wolf's mentor.

PaleoDietFoodlist - and it does contain foodlists, and has a really good downloadable Food/Shopping List. Recipes and cookbooks.

The Paleo Diet Solution - haven't actually looked thru this one yet.

And of course, on Facebook, my friend (heck it's only been about a week!) Rene's group: Primal Pals.

So, what have I been eating? Breakfasts have been scrambled eggs and grilled bacon. Lunch has been salads with either chicken or tinned salmon. Dinners have been chicken, steak, pork chops - all with extra fat removed ... well, maybe ... carrots, cauliflower, turnips, kumara (sweet potato), pumpkin. Not a heck of a lot of difference, really. But there's been no cereal grains (except for brown rice flakes one morning for breakfast), definitely NO gluten! No legumes. The only dairy I've had has been lactose free.

Yesterday's lunch wasn't a good thing. I couldn't bear the thought of tinned fish, and had no leftovers, so decided to get some fresh fish - salmon - from the fish shop up the road. BUT - they had smoked mussels. With large slices of garlic on them. (But what about the nice, healthy marinated in vinegar mussels beside them, you ask?) So, I bought a piece of fresh salmon, and a container of mussels. And ate all the mussels with the salad, and the leftover mashed pumpkin and stuff. Things were ok for about 30 minutes, then that choking feeling started, the stomach started churning. Garlic. It's on the 'eat in tiny amounts' list of not good foods. Actually, it's on the 'avoid' list, but I like it too much. Anyway, once I'd thrown up a couple of times, I felt much better!

The kefir made with coconut milk - out of a can (ideally you're meant to use actual young coconuts, lol) tastes AWESOME!!!! It's so nice!

Today was the hardest day so far. We went to a friend's 40th birthday party - 'Canadian Cowboy' theme. Bread rolls, Frankfurter hotdogs, puffed rice/wheat balls, toffee apples, 'smores', cake balls, salads with onion and apple, tiny pumpkin pies on a wheatflour base ... you're getting the idea, aren't you? Thank goodness there were a couple of plates of carrots/celery/cucumber with a very nice dip (yes, it was dairy-based). David had a hotdog, and brought a spare home for Becca.

On top of my normal diabetes meds (less the Omeprazole!) I'm taking some Digestive Enzymes, and Proteolytic Enzymes. They're definitely helping with the stomach acid/reflux/swallowing. I'm feeling really good.

That's it for tonight, folks. I'll put the cereal recipes in a separate post, once I find them again!


Wednesday 7 November 2012

The Daily Paleo


Recipes, how I'm doing with it, how I'm feeling and looking...
What is Paleo, and why go Paleo?

In September 2011 I was diagnosed with FODMAPS. To quote Wikipedia:

“FODMAPs are short chain carbohydrates and monosaccharides which are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, including fructans, galactans, fructose and polyols. The term is an acronym, deriving from "Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols".

The restriction of FODMAPs from the diet has been found to have a beneficial effect for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gut disorders. The low FODMAP diet was developed at Monash University in Melbourne.”

I had been having increasing problems with my health, wind, indigestion, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Months of it, getting worse all the time. It came to a head one Sunday, when we’d stayed after Church for a workshop. I’d had a couple of mouthfuls of Chinese takeaway, and within a couple of minutes, had to run to the ladies to throw up. One of the other guys noticed this, and when he told my husband, David said, “Oh, she does that all the time!”

Not long after that, there was an item on TV about FODMAPS. Was that what my problem was? I was finally able to make an appointment and go and see Jill Thomson. She asked me what I was eating. Fruit salad and porridge, or maybe Vogels toast for breakfast. A vogels sandwich for lunch. Apples. Oh, and I loved onions and mushrooms. I was put on an elimination diet. The symptoms rapidly reduced. Tried reintroducing some of the foods – like a piece of Vogels. Bad idea.

I also got a referral for an endoscopy – a camera down the throat to look at my oesophagus. I managed it without an anaesthetic, but it WAS NOT FUN. I have a hiatus hernia (where the top of the stomach/oesophagus comes up through the diaphragm, instead of being underneath it). I also had what’s called a “Schatzki ring”, where the oesophagus is squeezed and burnt by stomach acids, and the valve cannot close. Several levels of coolness!

Basically, I'm intolerant to gluten, lactose, legumes, pip fruit, stone fruit, everything in the onion family, fungi, some artifical sweeteners and a variety of other weird stuff.

This resulted in the first diet change. No more FODMAPS foods. Doctor gave me a proton pump inhibitor called Omeprazole. So for the past year, I’ve spent quality time avoiding the foods that aren’t good for me.

Then in October I was due for my Diabetes checkup. My HbA1c (again quoting Wiki):

Glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, A1C, or Hb1c; sometimes also HbA1c) is a form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time.”

came back at 14.5 – it should have been around 8! The locum’s reaction (she who had greeted me with; “you’re an apple”) – was to ask me if I was trying to kill myself. My own GP, when I got in to see him the following week, told me I wasn’t stupid, old, or trying to kill myself, but I was becoming increasingly insulin resistant, and my pancreas was starting to fail to make insulin at all.

We negotiated, and I got two more months to see if I could change my diet, lose some weight, and bring those levels down. I also now have to have an extra Gliclazide, to go with the 3000mg of Metformin I take daily, to make up for the lack of insulin.

Then, about a week ago, I came across a lady named Rene, who has a fb group called ‘Primal Pals’. And she was talking about something called the Paleo Diet. Of course, alarm bells rang. Oh no, not another fad diet. But ... it actually made sense. Some of their archaeology and anthropology is a bit dodgy – but nothing major – the premise is sound, as far as I’m concerned. So, lots of research and web pages later ...

During the research, I discovered that Omeprazol, which is the proton pump inhibitor, which reduces the amount of acid my stomach makes, is really bad. The FDA says to only take it for a maximum of 4 months - it's indicated in hip fractures, especially in women at an early age (ie 60's!!!) aargh!

So, I made the decision. I'm going Paleo because there's food lists, recipes and plans to follow, that take a lot of the bad stuff out - the rest will be trial and error, lol. I'm not going to be following what is called a 'strict' Paleo diet.

The switch to a (moderate) Paleo diet is now a happening thing. Shopping today - got kefir grains, coconut and tapioca flours, swede and parsnip. Microgreen seeds are on order, Digestive and proteolytic enzymes are on order. No more grains in my diet (darn, except, maybe, for that gluten free afghan I bought at the healthfood store!).

Glucose test strips and a new battery on order from somewhere deep in the South Island. Sod the doctor. How do I know if my bloodsugars are going down, if I don't test them? I'm darned if I'm going to hit 14.5 again!

Swigging down Apple Cider Vinegar, honey and sugar (hopefully the sugar will balance the fructose in the honey, and I won't react to this). Re-read the Glucose Revolution - a teaspoon of sugar has half the glucose a single date contains ... not that I can eat dates any more ... they're a stone fruit :(
If I'm organised when I get home, I might make some tapioca cheese buns for Jam tonight!

Ate (most of) a great big healthy salad, with healthy carbs (pumpkin), and a couple of chicken drumsticks for lunch.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs. (Becca had hers on Vogels toast!) That’s the next big issue to work out - still having Brown Rice Flakes. Can't eat vogels bread (nommy poison), rolled oats (nommy poison - if it's not gluten in it, there's something else that hurts!), can't have eggs every day (well, I could, but ...)
So that’s where we stand as of today, 7 November 2012.

As I get into the swing of things, I’ll try and post recipes I’ve modified, photos and other interesting snippets. Oh, and maybe I’ll be able to do some art soon, once my exam is over on 12 November.

Have an awesome day, folks!

2000 update: 101/95/100 - 74kg or for the non-metric: 39/37/39 (ish)  - 163lbs
12 minutes on the bike
30 minute walk with husband and dogs
Dinner: mashed yellow sweet potato, carrot & parsnip; pork chop, cauliflower.
After walkies will make some tapioca/coconut cheese buns