[Josselyn]

Grant...if you'd seen what I've seen you wouldn't need to personally experience Georgia's debilitating complications to find motivation. I worked in a nursing home...enough said. A coworker, five years my junior (49) is missing most of one foot and recently had a stroke. My brother-in-law is in leg braces due to neuropathy in his feet and lower legs.
I could go on.
It is very motivational, indeed.

My dx scared me witless...and although I still bend the rules once in a while with food, I seldom need to be entertained by what I eat. BUT, if one is committed to controlling their D with diet, one finds low carb cookbooks and such for ideas. There's no need to be bored with food, and there's a variety to be had, even for those of us who really watch the carbs. You'd be amazed. I even have sweets...but I cannot mindlessly reach for whatever I want any more.
I often do resent that...but it's my life now and I will adjust.

But, you've gotta want to do it that way...and it takes longer than a few weeks to adjust to an eating plan that excludes most of the (damaging, but often delicious) readily available, addictive foods we've been ingesting for decades.

It takes time to see the results...to control cravings, to be creative with foods, to break the mental and physical addiction to carbohydrate-ridden foods.

It takes time and effort to break any bad habit and change one's tastes. And I'm still a work in progress on that score...

And Georgia, I admire the fact that you reach out to help others and give them the benefit of your experiences. I've missed reading your posts. I hope you're feeling better soon.

[musique913]

I'm plodding along. The carb want seems to be fading a bit the last couple of days. I took the avenue of cutting out most except the veggies that have carbs, and it seems to be working better. I think my body needs to grow accustomed to not having as many carbs, seriously. I'm okay with my sugars all day except first thing in the morning, which is better than before anyway. They are always within normal range except when I wake up.

I'm not sure if I should exercise before bed, or eat before bed..

I'm probably one of the people that if I have one big serving of carbs I'll want more..so no potatoes for me for a while. No rice for a while..no bread for a while.

When I get to my target weight and A1C I'll slowly put those things back in if I can, in very small portions, because I think I'll be able to control my urges for large quantities of carbs by then.

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and suggestions. I've read everything, and have a ton of thoughts.

I just want to say thanks for helping me.

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

I say this with 'tongue in cheek' -- but there really 'is no' variety without carbs as far as I'm concerned.. That's what makes it so hard..

I disagree about the lack of variety, and know from many posts here on DF that I am not alone in enjoying a huge menu of tasty, rich and flavourful low-carb dishes. Have you seen this thread, for examples : Low Carb Daily Diet.....

After all how many notes are there in musical scale and yet with a little imagination...

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

I think it also fair to point out, as you've shared in other threads, Dis-n-Dat, you have suffered some pretty debilitating complications of D which have made for a 'powerful' motivator to make changes. Agreed? ... The problem with the rest of us which don't have such a battle with pain daily is that we wonder how 'far' we can push it. I know I struggle with that kind of thinking.

Again I'm looking for clarification... are you suggesting that without some powerful motivation such as crippling neuropathy, blindness or other serious complication it is a struggle to get motivated to change -- presumably in terms of BG management?


Again I disagree, I have no difficulty finding plenty of motivation to improve my health, and I know -- from recent threads on the topic -- that many others share similar motivations such as personal regard, family, relatives, etc... if giving up the questionable pleasures of a daily latte-mocha-chino, chocolate-chip muffin, cookies, ice-cream or "goldfish" snacks improves my chances of running around after my grandchildren (not even twinkles in my son's eyes yet!) then that is all the motivation I need.

[Granny Shanny]

Originally Posted by musique913

I'm probably one of the people that if I have one big serving of carbs I'll want more..so no potatoes for me for a while. No rice for a while..no bread for a while.

We're definitely in the same boat, Angela . . . if I let down & have a significant portion, all I want is MORE.

And this week taught me that even small portions mess me up more than immediately apparent. I think I posted here somewhere that I hit 149 after my Mexican restaurant meal last night? Well, I was 152 this morning. I had taken my own low-carb tortilla for the meal, so I know it wasn't the tortilla - I use them at home all the time, but I had a scant 1/4 cup of spanish rice & prob'ly the same of refried beans. Pow!

What really makes it easier for me is having tasty no-carb foods nearby for snacks & small meals.

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by Granny Shanny

What really makes it easier for me is having tasty no-carb foods nearby for snacks & small meals.

Same for me... I just don't have anything in the house that could lead me into temptation... but what I do have, I know I can eat pretty freely without fear of an high BG, so I don't have to go hungry or feel deprived

[jwags]

I know it seems like you are depriving yourself but you have to learn to make substituions. Get a copy of Dana Carpendar's low carb cookbooks. She makes all sorts of low carb muffins, cookies, brownies, pancakes,waffles, etc. Most are below 8 carbs a serving. I tend to eat only 15 carb a meal and am finally seeing fantastic almost normal numbers. I've also lost 13 pounds this summer and am now down to my goal weight. Try to find new ways to make your old favorites. I have just found Shiritake Japanese noodles. They have 3 carbs a serving and 3 g of soluble fiber and basically 0 calories. You can use them just like pasta and they fill you up. They keep my 2 hour numbers usually around 104.

[musique913]

Going to bed now and my blood is 102. We'll see what happens tomorrow morning.

I have an appointment with my diabetic nutritionist on Tuesday. I'm not sure what else to do with my high blood sugars in the morning!

[bunbury]

Originally Posted by musique913

I'm plodding along. The carb want seems to be fading a bit the last couple of days.

It gets easier and easier. The carb-cravings fade and the longer you do it the more you'll understand how to eat a rich and varied diet - and what sort of snacks to keep to hand Frank's musical analogy is brilliant.

There are a few people who fight to hang onto their old life-style and rationalize their carb eating ... maybe they're still in denial or can't see what's at stake. Ignore.

Look at your meter and look at the people on this forum who achieve tight control. You'll also notice that a lot of them go very low carb for several months, loose weight, reduce their IR and then find that they can increase their carb intake.

Eat to your meter You'll find out what your daily carb intake should be, it just takes some patience.

[yannah]

I have not read this whole thread, but once again I want to say, low carbing over year now. not boring. don't want to kill myself. no laying awake at night hoping for some potatoe.

the first 6 weeks were hard. but after that, easy. I do not crave carbs anymore. not tired, not light headed. not dying form it.

all I am is thinner, much thinner and much happier and much healthier.

and agian, I do not thin low carbing is a big fat and protein fest. that would make me feel bad. it is a love for small portions and quality food. and veggies, lots. with cheese. yum.

[foxl]

Originally Posted by yannah

I have not read this whole thread, but once again I want to say, low carbing over year now. not boring. don't want to kill myself. no laying awake at night hoping for some potatoe.

the first 6 weeks were hard. but after that, easy. I do not crave carbs anymore. not tired, not light headed. not dying form it.

all I am is thinner, much thinner and much happier and much healthier.

and agian, I do not thin low carbing is a big fat and protein fest. that would make me feel bad. it is a love for small portions and quality food. and veggies, lots. with cheese. yum.

HEE! on the lying awake hoping for a potato!!!! Exactly. All of the above for me -- but it has been 8 - 9 months.

[jps]

The starting is the hardest part.

I want carbs just as much as anybody. But I tried to lower them, per advice on this forum, to see how things worked out. Like magic, my numbers came down. Initially I felt worse (headaches, a lack of energy), but the numbers kept dropping and all of a sudden I felt great. It turned into positive feedback after that. I'd trim a few more carbs, felt better. Cut even more, saw even better results.

When things are bad, it's so easy for everything to snowball and get worse. But the converse can be true too. That's how it was with low carbing.

I think that for many people, if they at least start to decrease their carb intake, they'll see positive results. That should become motivation. And then, hopefully, they decrease it even more. Until they get to the point where they strike a balance between acceptable blood sugars and having a livable, life-long diet. For some of us, that's much lower than others. It really depends on your goals. Mine is to mimic "normal" people as much as possible. Others may not mind being a little higher because their goal is to still enjoy some of the foods that are basically forbidden to some of us. I don't think either way unacceptable at all, it just comes down to your personal choice.

[Tribbles]

Originally Posted by bunbury

There are a few people who fight to hang onto their old life-style and rationalize their carb eating ... maybe they're still in denial or can't see what's at stake. Ignore.

I don't believe I am in denial. I just don't believe going low carb offers any real advantage to me. In fairness weight has never been an issue for me so I don't have the battles others do hence I tend to stay out of these debates. For some people such as me it is pretty much possible to retain their old lifestyle, but then my life style was healthy in the first place.

I could see for me is that a low carb diet may defer my need for insulin by some period but since avoiding insulin is not any sort of priority for me so that doesn't weigh very heavily. Disease treatment is as much about quality of life as it is longevity which is a delicate balance and everyone has to decide where their choice falls - my choice is to leave my life as unchanged as possible because I am happy with it. There are few right answers with this disease but ignoring opposing views if definitely not one of them.

[bunbury]

Originally Posted by Tribbles

my choice is to leave my life as unchanged as possible because I am happy with it. There are few right answers with this disease but ignoring opposing views if definitely not one of them.

Hi Tribbles, certainly didn't mean you - if your diet is working for you and your BG is under control then that's great.

There are a lot of diabetics who don't modify their diets enough (even on meds), don't get control and are locked into high BGs and declining health.

I take the view that tho' I was happy with my life as it was, it was that life, and its diet, that got me into this fix. I want my BG to be a normal as I can get and I'll use lifestyle, diet and meds to get it. I have kids to keep up with and grandchildren to look forward to. Diet is very powerful weapon against diabetes.

[foxl]

Originally Posted by bunbury

Diet is very powerful weapon against diabetes.

It is the ONLY weapon I have ... since I am only on metformin for now. Metformin only lowers your blood sugar, what, I have seen 8 - 10%? And depending on your starting point -- assuming iti s over 100, that can be as little as only 10 - 20 POINTS.

Fortunately for me, diet is VERY powerful!

[musique913]

I'm getting better about the no carbs, in fact I went out last night and had steak and broccoli..lol..so yeah, it's easier when you are eating steak?

Problem: I woke up with a 142 blood sugar again. Had a headache when I woke at 4:30 this morning, so I took some tylenol and went back to sleep. Can that cause my BS to go up?

Like I said before, my blood sugars go down as soon as I'm up and moving and get my metformin in. I'm not sure on the metformin xr, my endo didn't seem to want to do that when I asked. Any suggestions?

I take my a 500mg metformin and my 58 units of Lantus at night as they told me to do. BS is good the rest of the day except first thing in the morning!

RAR...it's so irritating.