diet question

[babySlon]

I need to lose lots of pounds
345 now,target - 275(I'm 6'4")
how much carbs should I have per day?

Thanks

[notme]

This really depends on your activity level and your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about calorie counting or Weight Watchers.

I think it would be helpful to some of the people who are hesitant to give a few more details about your diabetes treatment.

Welcome to Diabetes Forums babySlon.

[babySlon]

Thanks

not very active. due to possible heart problems can't really exercise much. walking for about an hour daily.
just wondering if anybody would share a diet plan

[Evermont]

Hi there. Welcome to DF!

You'll need to burn about 1 quarter of a million calories to reach your goal, PLUS however many calories you eat between now and the day you reach that goal.

Since your activity is restricted by your heart condition this becomes even harder. If you're too aggressive with caloorie restriction then you go into starvation mode which only makes it harder. So this is quite a challenge, not to be underestimated.

Your goal seems like a good one (given what little we know about you). Is there a date on that goal? Can you say how many calories you have been used to daily and how many carbs?

I recommend a multi-prong approach to your problem. I won't get too specific because, well, I'm just not that way with these things, but here are some points to consider:

- eat less. Start s-l-o-w-l-y cutting back on the total quantity such that you're system gets used to the idea that the game is changing.

- eat better. most of us have some idea about what this means, google up some nutrition to learn more - you can't know too much about nutrition.

- mostly plants (there are carbs in a tomato and carbs in a twinkie - you know which carbs are better for you. It's not just how many cabs, but the quality of them, and the nutrients that come with them that matter most)

- build lean muscle. Lean muscle burns fat even at rest. This is something you could really benefit from. Ask your doctor about strength training given your condition.

- walk more. Since walking is one thing you CAN do, do it as much as you can without causing problems. Consider walking after meals to burn off the spikes and use up the food energy before it gets added to the hips.

- decide that this is your new lifestyle and not just a quick fix. Commit to it. Live it. Later you will probably conclude that you like this way better than the way things were before.

- keep coming back here to DF. Let us know how you're doing, ask lots of questions and read a lot.

- teach this. It's the best way to learn anything, teach it.

[SpringRam]

Hi there. Welcome to DF!

You'll need to burn about 1 quarter of a million calories to reach your goal, PLUS however many calories you eat between now and the day you reach that goal.

Since your activity is restricted by your heart condition this becomes even harder. If you're too aggressive with caloorie restriction then you go into starvation mode which only makes it harder. So this is quite a challenge, not to be underestimated.

Your goal seems like a good one (given what little we know about you). Is there a date on that goal? Can you say how many calories you have been used to daily and how many carbs?

I recommend a multi-prong approach to your problem. I won't get too specific because, well, I'm just not that way with these things, but here are some points to consider:

- eat less. Start s-l-o-w-l-y cutting back on the total quantity such that you're system gets used to the idea that the game is changing.

- eat better. most of us have some idea about what this means, google up some nutrition to learn more - you can't know too much about nutrition.

- mostly plants (there are carbs in a tomato and carbs in a twinkie - you know which carbs are better for you. It's not just how many cabs, but the quality of them, and the nutrients that come with them that matter most)

- build lean muscle. Lean muscle burns fat even at rest. This is something you could really benefit from. Ask your doctor about strength training given your condition.

- walk more. Since walking is one thing you CAN do, do it as much as you can without causing problems. Consider walking after meals to burn off the spikes and use up the food energy before it gets added to the hips.

- decide that this is your new lifestyle and not just a quick fix. Commit to it. Live it. Later you will probably conclude that you like this way better than the way things were before.

- keep coming back here to DF. Let us know how you're doing, ask lots of questions and read a lot.

- teach this. It's the best way to learn anything, teach it.

EVERMONT is 110% correct on each point. Do not think of a diet merely as a way to lose weight. Think of establishing a new way of eating as part of a healthier lifestyle. The weight will take care of itself. Otherwise, once you have reached your weight goal, if you have not changed to a lifetime of healthly eating and exercise habits, the weight will just come back. During the process, your "diabetic" and lipid numbers will continue to improve as well. Its a "win-win".

[bryan42]

Keith...NICELY laid out, I even learned from it..thanks!!

[babySlon]

Seen dietician today. She said I should have 225 gm of carbs
(15 choices) a day, based on 2000 cal diet. seems like a lot to me. lost another 5.5 lb since last Thursday.

[princesslinda]

I agree that sounds like a LOT of carbs for a T2 to tolerate. I was told similar when I went to see the dietitian. I soon found that I couldn't tolerate that many carbs w/o really high blood sugars. This is why testing 2 hrs after the first bite of meals is SO important. You won't know how many carbs you can tolerate unless you know how different foods affect your blood sugar. And you won't know how foods affect your blood sugar unless you test 2 hrs after your meals.

At first, i'd suggest you keep a food journal, listing your foods and corresponding blood sugars. Before too long, you'll have a lot of blood sugar friendly foods you know you can eat. This took away a LOT of stress for me.

Congrats on the weight loss as well!

[davef]

Hi there. Welcome to DF!

You'll need to burn about 1 quarter of a million calories to reach your goal, PLUS however many calories you eat between now and the day you reach that goal.

Since your activity is restricted by your heart condition this becomes even harder. If you're too aggressive with caloorie restriction then you go into starvation mode which only makes it harder. So this is quite a challenge, not to be underestimated.

Your goal seems like a good one (given what little we know about you). Is there a date on that goal? Can you say how many calories you have been used to daily and how many carbs?

I recommend a multi-prong approach to your problem. I won't get too specific because, well, I'm just not that way with these things, but here are some points to consider:
it.
<snip>


Keith, very well put and laid out. It is a new lifestyle, personally I look to develop new habits, for me I mentally have convinced myself that I am NOT on a diet as they are short term things, I'm living a new lifestyle with healthier choices.



I agree that sounds like a LOT of carbs for a T2 to tolerate. I was told similar when I went to see the dietitian. I soon found that I couldn't tolerate that many carbs w/o really high blood sugars. This is why testing 2 hrs after the first bite of meals is SO important. You won't know how many carbs you can tolerate unless you know how different foods affect your blood sugar. And you won't know how foods affect your blood sugar unless you test 2 hrs after your meals.

At first, i'd suggest you keep a food journal, listing your foods and corresponding blood sugars. Before too long, you'll have a lot of blood sugar friendly foods you know you can eat. This took away a LOT of stress for me.

Congrats on the weight loss as well!

I have to agree with Linda, that does seem like ALOT of carbs, I certainly could not eat that amount without having high BG readings.

It is difficult at the start, but testing is your friend, you very quickly learn what does and does not work for YOU and so you can make your choices accordingly.

[xMenace]

Seen dietician today. She said I should have 225 gm of carbs
(15 choices) a day, based on 2000 cal diet. seems like a lot to me. lost another 5.5 lb since last Thursday.

Many if not most of us avoid dieticians. I don't know where they come up with their information, but many of the recommendations I've seen are downright deadly for diabetics.

Check out Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" There are several good videos out there. eat food. not too much. mostly plants. video - Google Video (http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=eat%20food.%20not%20too%20much.%20mo stly%20plants.%20video&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv) The short CBC one is lost for now.