The problem

I’ve got a problem. Actually several problems, but the ones I’m thinking about writing about are all kind of bundled together into one super problem.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was massively overweight in active and unfit. I’ve tried to do something about it in the last year too. I lost a bunch of weight, around 20kg. I started running. I got my blood sugar under control. Then the next problem came along, I got injured. I injured my ankle and foot at my kids birthday party.

Running stopped, weight started going back on. The diet I had been on felt too restrictive. Now I’ve gained a bunch of the weight back on, about half of it. My blood sugars are less in control and I’m less active again. A few months later and I’m still undergoing tests to find out the extent of the damage in my foot.

Taking control

So I’m back to taking control. I need to find a way to lose the weight again whilst my foot is still healing. I need to see some progress quickly. I know how my mind works and if I try too gently and lose a tiny bit each week I’ll really struggle. I’ve been reading about the work of Professor Roy Taylor and Dr Michael Mosley, who created the ‘Newcastle Diet’ and the Blood Sugar / Fast 800 diets. They both advocate for a very low calorie diet of 600 – 800 calories a day and to see a dramatic weight loss of around 15kg in 2 – 3 months. This will not only have a massive impact of weight (obviously) but their studies show a very impressive improvement in blood sugars, insulin sensitivity and the body’s ability to manage blood sugars without medication.

Today I’m starting my own approach to this. I’m calling it the Max diet, max impact, max difficulty, max change. I’m going to eat 800 calories a day on weekdays, Monday to Friday. I’ll do this by having a protein shake mid morning, and in the afternoon. I’ll then have a 500-600 calorie dinner. This should mean I can keep my protein take at a reasonable level and get some decent fibre through eating a good dinner. I like the feeling in the evening of having eaten a decent dinner which is why I’m loading so much of the calories to the end of the day. On the weekends I’m going to be a bit more sociable with my family and easier to live with. I’ll stick with a protein shake for breakfast, but then have a smallish lunch of 400-500 calories and the same 500-600 calories. Around 1200 calories in total which should still be a massively (do i mean maxively?) effective calorie deficit and some decent weight loss on the go.

Checking in

Here are some fun stats for you as I start this plan:

• Starting weight – 106.2kg
• Target weight – 85 – 90kg
• Starting fasting blood sugar – 12.8 mmol/L
• Starting Waist circumference – 112cm

I’ll check in every so often here and update on how I’m doing. Wish me luck.

Take care all,

Max