SugarFree Protocol – Laz

Laz will join us on Monday, February 25, but please welcome him now.

Laz’s Introduction:

Hi, Everyone. I’m forty-one, 5′ 7″ and weigh 139 pounds.

Although unlike most new Protocol Participants I don’t need to lose weight or fat, I do need to fix a very broken metabolism. What I discovered from my blood test results is that because I’ve been eating a very low-calorie, low-fat, little animal protein diet, I have Thyroid Hormone Resistance (a form of Hypothyroidism) and am basically starving. I also am slightly insulin resistant. Learning this was astonishing, although I have all the symptoms. I never feel hungry, have very little energy, and my temperature is very low all day long.

Since I thought this might have been caused by adrenal problems took Vitamin B, which gave me a small boost of energy but only for a for a short time. I had a feeling my thyroid hormones might be an issue but I never even thought that my body was starving. I’m glad to be a part of Protocol. SugarFree is putting me on Phase II – Maintenance – with lots of calories and fat, and I can’t wait to start eating!

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 1 – 2/25

Weight: 138.8 pounds

Measurements:
Chest: 34.75”
Waist: 33”
Hips: 34.5”

Ketostix: negative

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 85
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 77
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 92

I felt fine after lunch but I could not finish all of the vegetables. I felt full and couldn’t eat anymore.

[Note: Welcome, Laz. When you’ve been starving yourself for a while, and have been ‘never hungry’ it takes a while for your metabolism to start rousing itself from its deep sleep. One good sign that your metabolism is getting better, will be a return of appetite and the desire to eat a lot of calories before getting full! Don’t worry – you’ll get there. :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 2 – 2/26

Weight: 138.8 = no change

Ketostix: negative

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 77
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 93
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 96

I felt good after having the meal and had no problem eating everything. Regular energy and don’t have tired legs like I used to.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 3 – 2/27

Weight: 138 = down .8 pound

Ketostix: negative

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 92
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 87

I felt good after eating my meal but today could not finish it all. Same energy as the day before.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 4 – 2/28

Weight: 135.8 = down 2.2 pounds

Ketostix: negative

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 64
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 77
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 76

I felt good after eating my meal and finished everything. My energy is the same. Good but not great.

[Note: Given that you had insect bites keeping you awake for the past two nights, I’m not surprised that your energy level isn’t ‘great’. 🙂 Hopefully there’s no more itching and you’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight. I also wanted to note that the weight you’ve lost so far is water weight, being wrung out of a body that ate almost no fat and lots of carbs. That will change in the next few weeks as you become ‘ketone-adapted’ and convert from burning carbohydrates as your main source of fuel, to fat as your main source of fuel. You’ll be able to see this change on your ketostix.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 5 – 3/1

Weight: 134 = down 1.8 pounds

Ketostix: negative

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 70
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 78

I have more energy than usual and had no problem finishing the food, even though SugarFree increased my fat and protein. It was just enough. I did get a leg cramp in the middle of the night, bad enough to wake me up.

[Note: Leg cramps are a sign of sodium deficiency, which can happen on Protocol if you don’t have a very liberal hand with the salt shaker! That’s because this is a very diuretic-type diet, with no processed foods of any kind. The fix is easy: get some good chicken bouillon cubes, and have half a cube in warm water every day with your meal. :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 6 – 3/2

Weight: 134 = no change

Ketostix: moderate

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 79
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 71
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 76

My energy levels are picking up and I slept quite well. Finished meal no problem.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 7 – 3/3

Weight: 134 = no change

Ketostix: moderate

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 81
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 74
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 78

Energy levels are increasing had a great night’s sleep, no leg cramps because I increased my salt intake. Easily finished my meal.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 1 – 3/4

Weight: 133.6 = down .4 pound

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” – down .25″
Waist: 30” – down 3″
Hips: 34” – down .5″

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 81
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 72
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 81

My energy is even better today and I slept great. Again, easily finished my meal. I also noticed that my usually dry skin is getting better.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 2 – 3/5

Weight: 134 = up .4 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 81
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 84
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 72

My energy is stable. I slept well with no leg cramps without adding the bouillon to the menu just salting the food in layers. I ate all the food but felt really full for a couple of hours. It’s great to have more energy!

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 3 – 3/6

Weight: 134 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 85
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 79
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 81

I started roasting my veggies and it is much easier to finish my meal. Energy is good. No more leg pains. I think the boswellia is helping along with all of the fat.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 4 – 3/7

Weight: 131.6 = down 2.4 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 97
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 95

I’ve been feeling better than usual and noticed that I actually had energy at 10 PM last night. I’d usually be wiped out by then. My meal was great and finished it with ease.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 5 – 3/8

Weight: 135 = up 3.4 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 71
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 86
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 98

Things are going well. I have good energy. I ate all of my food and didn’t feel as full as usual.

[Note: Laz, this is great news, as is your weight gain. Your metabolism is beginning to bounce back, and bringing healthy good energy with it. 🙂 I’d like to ultimately see you ten lean pounds heavier than you were when you began at 138, with those pounds made up of lean muscle mass. That will come in time, once you have sufficient intake to let your body start building muscle again – but you are definitely on the right road.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 6 – 3/9

Weight: 136.8 = up 1.8 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 89
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 98

Felt totally wiped out after eating but about an hour later I was back to normal.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 7 – 3/10

Weight: 134 = down 2.8 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 76
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 80
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 77

Energy back to normal. Feeling good.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 1 – 3/11

Weight: 134.4 = up .4 pound

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” = no change
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33.25” = down .75″

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 74
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 82

Energy is good. I was not able to finish all of my veggies.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day  – 3/12

Weight: 134 = down .4 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 74
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 99

My meal was awesome and I chowed it down with the greatest of ease!

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 3 – 3/13

Weight: 134 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 86
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 98

Had a great night’s sleep (thanks to SugarFree’s advice on the correct way to take Melatonin – at dusk) and I’m feeling good with good energy throughout the day. The meal was awesome and I finished everything with no problems. Funny how I’m eating over 2300 calories a day now with no problem, but couldn’t even finish 1700 calories when I began Protocol. Guess I’m getting better. 🙂

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 4 – 3/14

Weight: 134.4 = up .4 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 98

Still going strong. I’m eating everything easily now. Incredible stuff; what a difference in me. I’m really glad I started Protocol.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 5 – 3/15

Weight: 134.4 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 76
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 87

I’m definitely feeling a big difference since before I started Protocol. I have much more energy and never have brain fog anymore. And I’m up to eating 2500 calories a day with no problem!

[Note: Brain Fog = Not Enough Fat. :D]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 6 – 3/16

Weight: 134.4 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 77
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 82
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 86

Feeling much better and have hair growing back in new places!

Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 7 – 3/17

Weight: 133.6 = down .8 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 77
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 75
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 73

I have good energy all day and have been sleeping much better even without melatonin.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 1 – 3/18

Weight: 133.6 = no change

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” = no change
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33.25” = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 79
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 82
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 81

Week Four and going strong. Great energy all day and night. I also see that I lost some body fat since I look leaner.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 2 – 3/19

Weight: 133.2 = down .4 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 78
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 82
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 80

Overall steady energy but last night I had a leg cramp that got me out of bed. Loved my meal today!

[Note: A likely sodium deficiency. Have half a sugar-free chicken bouillon cube in warm water to your meals for the rest of the week, even if the cramping goes away after the first day you have it.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 3 – 3/20

Weight: 134.6 = up 1.4 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 76
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 76
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 86

It’s great to have so much energy all day long.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 4 – 3/21

Weight: 136.6 = up 2 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 82
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 95
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 91

[Note: A gain of two pounds – wonderful! Just another twelve pounds to go. :)]

Maintenance Round 5, Week 3, Day 5 – 3/22

Weight: 134.6 = down 2 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 73
1-hour PP: 102
2-hour PP: 102

The extra sodium is helping. No leg cramps. I do sleep well but I am moving around a lot in my sleep which is not good.

[Note: You’ve got a log of healing going on in your body at night, but if it is disturbing your sleep, go back to the melatonin for a few days and see if that quiets things down. I’m glad the extra sodium is helping! :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 6 – 3/23

Weight: 134 = down .6 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 87
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 83
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 93

Feeling great with lots of energy.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 4, Day 7 – 3/24

Weight: 134.4 = up .4 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 70
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 98
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 104

I have good energy and I slept all right.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 1 – 3/25

Weight: 134.4 = no change

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” = no change
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33.25” = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): meter not working

Feeling good with lots of energy. I’m up to nearly 2700 calories a day with zero exercise and holding steady with weight and inches.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 2 – 3/26

Weight: 135 = up .6 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 90
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 96

Still going strong, with lots of energy.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 3 – 3/27

Weight: 137 = up .2.8 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 91
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 96

I have lots of energy and tons of hair growing, it’s awesome! I also gained weight, but my pants are still falling off. Fascinating. My 2-hour PP is still higher than my 1- hr PP even though I had less carbs today.

[Note: Laz, I’m delighted to hear about the hair. 🙂 And especially about the weight gain, because if it continues as I hope it will, it means you are beginning to grow lean muscle mass. Not surprising, now that you are eating sufficient calories – about 3000 per day – to nourish your muscles again, and they are also growing insulin sensitive again and ‘listening’ to insulin’s message to take in those nutrients and converted glucose. I’d like to see you gain another dozen pounds of lean muscle mass, which means your weight will go up – but not your adipose fat or waistline! 🙂 As to your 2-hr PP being higher than 1-hr, please read my comment on Alina’s report today.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 4 – 3/28

Weight: 136.2 = down .8 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 87
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 97
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 98

Feeling great. Lots of energy throughout the day which is awesome. My 2-hr PP is only a point higher than my 1-hr which sounds good to me.

[Note: Laz, your sugars today are great, but your 2-hr didn’t get so good by accident. For the last two days I’ve lowered your starchy carb intake by about 50% – which clearly worked. As your metabolism continues to heal and you become insulin sensitive again, a process that will take from six months to a year, you’ll be able to increase your good carb intake without worrying about ‘lazy’ insulin, because eventually your insulin will get the message and increase effectiveness. :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 5 – 3/29

Weight: 135.6 = down .6 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 78
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 97
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 84

Feel good and sleeping well with melatonin. It’s nice to see my 2 hr PP this low!

[Note: Remember – only take melatonin for a week, and then let your body do its job. And it will. :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 6 – 3/30

Weight: 135.6 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 77
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 91
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 87

Feeling great with lots of energy. Slept very well

Maintenance Round 1, Week 5, Day 7 – 3/31

Weight: 136.2 = up .6 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 93
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 91

Good energy all day.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 1 – 4/1

Weight: 138.4 = up 2.2 pounds

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” = no change
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33.25” = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 84
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 91
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 91

[Note: This is excellent – measurements stable, but up two pounds, which means you’ve finally stopped the muscle loss from your starvation diet, and added lean muscle mass. Definitely moving in the right direction. 😀 Once you begin your Body By Science workouts, we’ll add even more calories, and you should be able to see visible muscles in about a month from the time you start. You can read more about it on the Glad You’re Here page.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 1 – 4/1

Weight: 137.8 = down .6 pound

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 90
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 80
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 89

Feeling good with a decent amount of energy.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 3 – 4/3

Weight: 137.8 = no change

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 86
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 98
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 97

Feeling great and my 2-hour PP is lower!

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 4 – 4/4

Weight: 136.6 = down 1.2 pounds

Ketostix: large

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 80
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 95

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 5 – 4/5

Weight: 137 = up .4 pound

Ketostix: moderate

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 86
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 92
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 97

Good day.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 6 – 4/6

Weight: 135.4 = down 1.6 pounds

Ketostix: small

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 82
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 87
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 79

Maintenance Round 1, Week 6, Day 7 – 4/7

Weight: 136.2 = up 1.2 pounds

Ketostix: small

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 82
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 108
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 97

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 1 – 4/8

Weight: 138.8 = up 1.8 pound

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5” = no change
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33.25” = no change

Ketostix: moderate

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 92
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 85
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 94

I feel great even after a very long week-end. Food was delicious!

[Note: You are finally back up to the weight you started with, though the fat you lost has remained lost. 🙂 That means you have put back on lean muscle mass, which will hopefully (but slowly) continue until you are at a good weight for your height – about another ten pounds. As you are now eating well in excess of 3000 calories a day, I’m going to raise your protein levels a bit to help the muscle growth.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 2 – 4/9

Weight: 139 = up .2 pound

Ketostix: small

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 93
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 92

Didn’t quite like the chicken hearts… but overall the meal provided enough energy. I wonder if I’ll be able to re-introduce breakfast and dinner. I am so hungry at night and in the morning, could this mean my leptin signaling is starting to function correctly?

[Note: Your lab results indicated no leptin problems. You’re supposed to be hungry in the morning before you eat – having those signals now, where before there were none – is a great sign that your metabolism is growing healthy. Hunger at night indicates that you’re not eating sufficient amounts of nutrients. Isn’t it amazing that just a month ago you could barely finish 1700 calories – and now over 3000 calories isn’t even enough? But yes, if you like you may now have one big meal – breakfast – and one small meal before 5 p.m. if you like. :)]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 2 – 4/9

Weight: 136.8 = down 2.2 pounds

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 76
– 1-hr PP: 94
– 2-hr PP: 90

I felt great today, plenty of energy. All this food is awesome. Thanks, SugarFree, for making it easy 🙂

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 4 – 4/11

Weight: 135.4 = down 1.4 pounds

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 72
– 1-hr PP: 80
– 2-hr PP: 88

Feeling good with tons of energy. Lunch was great – over 3100 calories – no problem finishing.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 5 – 4/12

Weight: 136.6 = up 1.2 pounds

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 78
– 1-hr PP: 85
– 2-hr PP: 92

Feeling great! Tons of energy and lots of hair growing everywhere. Incredible (wonderful) things going on.

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 6 – 4/13

Weight: 135.4 = down 1.2 pounds

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 110
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 91

Maintenance Round 1, Week 7, Day 7 – 4/14

Weight: 136.2 = up .8 pound

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 90
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 83
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 81

Maintenance Round 1, Week 8, Day 1 – 4/15

Weight: 135.6 = down .6 pound

Measurements:
Chest: 34.25” = down .25″
Waist: 30” = no change
Hips: 33” = down .25″

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 92
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 85
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 94

Maintenance Round 1, Week 8, Day 2 – 4/16

Weight: 136.2 = up 1.2 pounds

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 89
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 89
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 83

Maintenance Round 1, Week 8, Day 3 – 4/17

Weight: 137.2 = up 1 pound

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 89
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 87
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 104

Feeling a little tired, still have energy to make it through the day though.

[Note: Your 2-hr PP is saying – loud and clear – that you are either fighting something off or losing the battle and coming down with something. If that is the case, please eat the Protocol Illness menu until you feel 100% better – which I hope is soon.]

Maintenance Round 1, Week 8, Day 4 – 4/18

Weight: 137.2 = no change

Ketostix: trace

Blood Glucose:
– Fasting: 83
– 1-hour PP (after lunch): 90
– 2-hour PP (after lunch): 89

Feeling great today! Lots of energy.