Wellness and technology, the quantified self movement

Interesting. Sounds helpful for sure.

There's also a podcast, so you dip your toe for free.

Here's a example of how I built a high scoring (good for me) meal when I craved highly processed meat balls and glucose rich potatoes (both low scoring)

(My diet now is mainly plant-based and I have no issue with eating meat once a week, despite construing myself as a carnivore in the past)

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And a reminder that I found it completely useless. If you are going to try it make sure you eat as many different things in the blood sugar testing phase (regardless of whether they tell you it’s fine not to) and are having a quiet-ish two weeks so you can really experiment.

Hopefully their customer service has improved by now - I felt they were making money hand over fist and consequently couldn’t cope with normal enquiries and customer support.

I really wanted it to be good, and I really found it a complete waste of time.

Bumping this thread as I've been suckered in by the idea and my kit is finally in the post.

If you are going to try it make sure you eat as many different things in the blood sugar testing phase

Any other tips to get the most out of this experiment? @skydancer?

Any other tips to get the most out of this experiment?

Take it easy, build up fibre intake slowly. The app helps with the gamification element which builds up challenges which become routine.

We internalised what works specifically for us after around 6 months of logging meals to the point where we just got what's works. And by 6 months you will physically notice what works for your unique response to fat and glucose and what foods boosts your gut based on your biology.

Early time investment reaps long term rewards.

One main element that is key for me is the flexibility to eat what you enjoy but scores low. Like Fry ups and burgers lols, which I eat Occasionally, and with mitigations which the programme will teach you .

Listen to The podcasts to reinforce understanding of the science of nutrition based on mass data which offers a variety of hacks.

Mainly enjoy your food.

Accept some counterintuitive yet data based evidence that contradict some established nutritional thinking

🙏🏻

Cheers, I’ve mooched around the app but not the podcasts. It’ll be interesting to see what the data shows versus my self diagnosed intolerances.

It’ll be interesting to see what the data shows versus my self diagnosed intolerances

Yes, please share

My kit arrived 2 days ago so it is still very novel to look at the response to the favourites (daily full size magnum after dinner) etc.

Haven't yet been out on a long run as curious to see what happens

(taking a dump into a hammock thing was novel)

This:

“Early time investment reaps long term rewards.”

Make sure you have the time to make it your priority at the beginning testing phase. I think I didn’t and that’s where I started to go wrong.

I’ve still not figured out really why I found the whole thing so irritating, I think I was expecting something magic, I don’t know, I didn’t learn anything at all from it. Still annoys me!

I’ve still not figured out really why I found the whole thing so irritating

Tbh the UI in the early days was much clunkier than now, and even now it's not as good as other food scanning app, but those are not as personalised.

The in app lessons seemed simplistic and americanized (sic). Poop ffs!

As mentioned above the podcasts really drill into the epidemiology and are delivered well.

Worth a listen as the science is so complex with so many variables.

Spector's books really help clarify things especially he's most recent one.

https://uk.pelacase.com/products/ethos-radiation-reduction-iphone-xs

Tinfoil isn’t as sustainable as cardboard?

Been thinking about doing the Zoe thing as I have a lot of IBS issues. Used to have it under control and knew what triggered me but the last few years it's all been kicking off again and I have no clue what causes it.

That is why we started the programme.
I would have poopooed (intended) the idea but agreed to do the programme with Mrs. skydancer because of her IBS issues so we're in it together.

Her bowel issues are gone
My functions have improved enormously

The Zoë app just updated.
Previously the gut Microbiome data set was based on 1000 people.
Now it's 50,000. They've discovered an array of new bacteria

Link below to join (and give me a free month)
https://joinzoe.mention-me.com/m/ol/fp5fm-993ff779e2

my garmin watch died (well it still works to some extent but doesn't connect to GPS anymore).

i've decided i don't want a smart watch anymore, gone back to analogue, however I have just signed up to a 100km coastal walk next year so I do want something to wear to measure my walks as i get in some sort of shape for this.

what should I look for that will do basic distance tracking maybe with HR too?

Used to have a Mi Band that did this well

Now moved on to a garmin venue sq which is better but means I never justify wearing a proper watch as I'm not double wristing

Thanks, will look at those.

Some of the older ones are no longer officially supported, but you can get old versions of the app that work. Out of interest, is there a reason why Google Fit wouldn't work for you (this is assuming you're on Android)

Google Fit

hand't thought of it tbh - will have a look.

I do have a kind of prejudice against using phone for GPS tracking but maybe that's something I should get over.

AFAIK Fit doesn't need GPS, it can do steps just by monitoring the accelerometer. Obviously it's not as accurate as a dedicated device, but it works reasonably well, and is one less device you have to carry/charge etc etc

Anyone been following Brian Johnson’s blueprint?
It’s really got me considering a Whoop and at a more aggressive investment an Eightsleep

On Zoe I didn’t sign up, I just bought a Libra patch and then worked out what caused glucose spikes + did a full body MOT which worked out cheaper. I know the guys doing the marketing for Zoe and whilst they’re great it made me question the product a little

.doublepost.

Don't follow Brian Johnson- the methodology of throw all the pasta at the wall only works if you can identify the strand that sticks.
Don't get a Whoop- capillary bed photoplethysmography is a poor method of measuring [multiple stacked confounders]. (hence why everyone reverts to chest HRMs, and there is huge debate about their models, overfitting, and the true utility of HRV outside of some pathological states.
I think 8sleep does a great job of targeted marketing, but nothing I've seen within it really makes me want to buy it (bar the 2 side heat differential). The reported noise of the unit puts paid to that for me.

Zoe's has many issues, but I like the aims- much more focused on direct measurement. Methodology isn't up to scratch yet (considering the elements at play within the biological systems studied, cell turnover, etc).

There is a new wave of direct biosensors coming out, with things like:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-023-01095-1
https://www.impli.org
Amongst others, on the horizon. We're going to start stripping inferential layers, and get richer data to build the models underlying. Thats when things start getting interesting.
We're not quite there yet, but soon.

For the time being, whatever you currently use will probably suffice.