Yesterday was pretty good. Stuck to my diet. Not too much to say other than that.
Still having trouble shaking the "moody grays". Why is it that I can have a day where nothing goes wrong, and it still feels as though everything did?
Bleh. That's what I have to say about it.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Checking In - Its been a while. . .
Its been a while. I fell of the diet, and now I'm getting back onto it.
So, what happened?
Well, I got sick. Still not certain if it was emotional or physical causes. At this point, it doesn't matter. I had diarrhea for 10 days straight (WAY too long). I was vomiting as well, which isn't good. Then I got depressed.
Depression is not something I tolerate well. Oh, its fine in other people. I simply have no patience for it in myself. I do my best to fight it, and up until this past June, I think I succeed pretty well.
Not this time. This time, I fell flat on my face. While I was doing that, my life partners also nose-dived in for a swim in the depression pool. Then I got angry at myself for falling into a depression and well, it got messy. Its been not pretty in my house for almost 2 months.
I'm done with that. I'm done with being tired & sick.
I'm back on my smoothies. I'm back to my veggies. Bronnie is helping a TON. She went back on anti-depressants. She's helping me avoid going on them (for myriad reasons, not the least of which is I'm on enough damned medication already). By next week, I'm hoping to be back to yoga in the AM & walks in the afternoon.
So, how bad did it get?
My blood sugar is a MESS. My weight is not. Personally, I'd rather that were the other way around, but I'll still take it, and be grateful. I've not lost all the ground I'd gained, and in fact, my weight is 1lb. less than my best so far. I'm currently at 227, and hopefully my blood sugar will come right back into line.
So, I'm checking in. Going to start tracking & blogging again.
I'm back. I'm bruised & battered (by myself, and mostly my pride) but I'm here & I'm moving forward again.
So, what happened?
Well, I got sick. Still not certain if it was emotional or physical causes. At this point, it doesn't matter. I had diarrhea for 10 days straight (WAY too long). I was vomiting as well, which isn't good. Then I got depressed.
Depression is not something I tolerate well. Oh, its fine in other people. I simply have no patience for it in myself. I do my best to fight it, and up until this past June, I think I succeed pretty well.
Not this time. This time, I fell flat on my face. While I was doing that, my life partners also nose-dived in for a swim in the depression pool. Then I got angry at myself for falling into a depression and well, it got messy. Its been not pretty in my house for almost 2 months.
I'm done with that. I'm done with being tired & sick.
I'm back on my smoothies. I'm back to my veggies. Bronnie is helping a TON. She went back on anti-depressants. She's helping me avoid going on them (for myriad reasons, not the least of which is I'm on enough damned medication already). By next week, I'm hoping to be back to yoga in the AM & walks in the afternoon.
So, how bad did it get?
My blood sugar is a MESS. My weight is not. Personally, I'd rather that were the other way around, but I'll still take it, and be grateful. I've not lost all the ground I'd gained, and in fact, my weight is 1lb. less than my best so far. I'm currently at 227, and hopefully my blood sugar will come right back into line.
So, I'm checking in. Going to start tracking & blogging again.
I'm back. I'm bruised & battered (by myself, and mostly my pride) but I'm here & I'm moving forward again.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Not Wonderful
I'm having a rough week. Haven't broken diet, but am having some serious issues. Still poo-ing my brains out, added some panic induced vomiting into the mix. I'm a big emo mess right now.
I'm still keeping track of food intake & numbers & such, and intend to report in on a day when I don't spend half or more of said day shaking in my shoes from panic.
Life is stressful, and I've stopped self-medicating with food.
I'm still keeping track of food intake & numbers & such, and intend to report in on a day when I don't spend half or more of said day shaking in my shoes from panic.
Life is stressful, and I've stopped self-medicating with food.
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Weekend & Checking In
There are no crunchy bits for this post. Its ALL froo-froo.
This past weekend I was sick. I'd been sick most of the week, hadn't slept solidly all week, and thus, took the weekend off. From everything.
I rested. I played a video game & then rested some more. I'm feeling a bit better now, and I'm glad I did it.
On the up side, I've lost four more pounts. I now weigh 228.5 for a total of 18 pounds lost. This is happy making.
So that's my weekend & check it.
This past weekend I was sick. I'd been sick most of the week, hadn't slept solidly all week, and thus, took the weekend off. From everything.
I rested. I played a video game & then rested some more. I'm feeling a bit better now, and I'm glad I did it.
On the up side, I've lost four more pounts. I now weigh 228.5 for a total of 18 pounds lost. This is happy making.
So that's my weekend & check it.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Tuesday 06/12 & Wednesday 06/13
The Crunchy Bits:
06/12
Blood Pressure 122/79
Pulse 84
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 64
10:30 AM 107
12:00 PM 109
no bs
no bs
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 1/2 avocado & 2 tbsp of vinegerette
Lunch 1 c dal w/ 3/4 c almonds
Snack 3 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber & 1/4 c. almond butter
Dinner 2 scrambled eggs
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
06/13
Blood Pressure 132/84
Pulse 96
Blood Sugars 6:45 AM 44
10:00 AM 56
12:00 PM 81
4:00 PM 97
8:00 PM 68
Breakfast 1/4 c pineapple, 1/4 c almonds
Snack breakfast smoothie
Lunch 1c dal, 1/4 c almonds, 1/4 c guacamole, 1.5 celery stalks
Snack 1/4 c. guacamole, 1.5 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia, dinner smoothie, 1 c steamed broccoli
Exercise 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Tuesday afternoon I got SICK. I was running to the bathroom every 10 min for a while. Then every 5. Then I tapered off enough to get home (thank whatever gods may be!), and it all started up again in the middle of the night. I finally go back to bed around 3:30 AM.
So, my schedule was SHOT!! I still kept mostly on diet, and routine, though I did skip yoga yesterday. Still, I managed well, with no serious highs and only one serious low (didn't lose consciousness, but did get odd tingles in my hands & feet).
So, I gave myself yesterday off from blogging. Why? Because there are just some times when its ill advised to interact with the world any more than absolutely necessary. Yesterday was one of those times.
06/12
Blood Pressure 122/79
Pulse 84
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 64
10:30 AM 107
12:00 PM 109
no bs
no bs
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 1/2 avocado & 2 tbsp of vinegerette
Lunch 1 c dal w/ 3/4 c almonds
Snack 3 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber & 1/4 c. almond butter
Dinner 2 scrambled eggs
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
06/13
Blood Pressure 132/84
Pulse 96
Blood Sugars 6:45 AM 44
10:00 AM 56
12:00 PM 81
4:00 PM 97
8:00 PM 68
Breakfast 1/4 c pineapple, 1/4 c almonds
Snack breakfast smoothie
Lunch 1c dal, 1/4 c almonds, 1/4 c guacamole, 1.5 celery stalks
Snack 1/4 c. guacamole, 1.5 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia, dinner smoothie, 1 c steamed broccoli
Exercise 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Tuesday afternoon I got SICK. I was running to the bathroom every 10 min for a while. Then every 5. Then I tapered off enough to get home (thank whatever gods may be!), and it all started up again in the middle of the night. I finally go back to bed around 3:30 AM.
So, my schedule was SHOT!! I still kept mostly on diet, and routine, though I did skip yoga yesterday. Still, I managed well, with no serious highs and only one serious low (didn't lose consciousness, but did get odd tingles in my hands & feet).
So, I gave myself yesterday off from blogging. Why? Because there are just some times when its ill advised to interact with the world any more than absolutely necessary. Yesterday was one of those times.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Monday 06/11
The Crunchy Bits:
Weight 232.5
Blood Pressure 131/82
Pulse 90
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM 130
12:00 PM 190
4:00 PM 130
8:00 PM 75
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 1/2 avocado & 2 tbsp of vinegerette
1 c dal
Snack 1/4 c almond butter, 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia & dinner smoothie
Exercise AM Yoga, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day, despite its start. I had a "purge" day. I went to the bathroom 7 times before noon. Yeah. 'Nuff said about THAT. Other than that, and the late start to the day that it caused, this was a good day.
We tried something new. We split up the bitter melon, and I ate half in a my breakfast smoothie & half with a dinner smoothie. Bitter melon is VERY bitter, and also very odd textured. Mr. Primack advises that all diabetics eat half in the AM and half later in the day. We'd been putting all of it in the morning, and we've decided that its okay to have smoothie twice a day. My hope is that by splitting up the bitter melon, I'll be able to reduce my insulin even more. Maybe. We'll see, won't we.
Weight 232.5
Blood Pressure 131/82
Pulse 90
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM 130
12:00 PM 190
4:00 PM 130
8:00 PM 75
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 1/2 avocado & 2 tbsp of vinegerette
1 c dal
Snack 1/4 c almond butter, 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia & dinner smoothie
Exercise AM Yoga, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day, despite its start. I had a "purge" day. I went to the bathroom 7 times before noon. Yeah. 'Nuff said about THAT. Other than that, and the late start to the day that it caused, this was a good day.
We tried something new. We split up the bitter melon, and I ate half in a my breakfast smoothie & half with a dinner smoothie. Bitter melon is VERY bitter, and also very odd textured. Mr. Primack advises that all diabetics eat half in the AM and half later in the day. We'd been putting all of it in the morning, and we've decided that its okay to have smoothie twice a day. My hope is that by splitting up the bitter melon, I'll be able to reduce my insulin even more. Maybe. We'll see, won't we.
Cravings
I'm having a wicked cravings day. It has nothing to do with hunger. I've eaten. My stomach is filled with veggies & I've had enough for this point in the day. This is an emotional craving, and I'm pretty certain its simply for familiar food. I want a cheeseburger on a toasty bun, tater tots with ketchup, and a cup of strong coffee. All of it bad for me in one way or another, but its all FAMILIAR.
I've been making a lot of changes, and those have led to other changes. I feel right now like I'm flailing around looking for a recognizable landmark in unfamiliar territory. There aren't any, and so. . .cheeseburger.
I'm not going there, but by all the gods you care to invoke, I REALLY want to.
I've been making a lot of changes, and those have led to other changes. I feel right now like I'm flailing around looking for a recognizable landmark in unfamiliar territory. There aren't any, and so. . .cheeseburger.
I'm not going there, but by all the gods you care to invoke, I REALLY want to.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Checking In
So, I'll admit, I panicked a little all weekend. Looming (in my head anyway) was the scale, mocking me. I was convinced that SOMETHING was broken inside me, and that it didn't matter what I did, eventually the thing I was trying would fail & I'd start gaining weight.
Yeah, I'm a dork. The scale did NOT mock me this morning. Quite to the contrary, it told me that I now weigh 232.5. That's down from last week's 237, and a total of 14 pounds lost so far.
That's really good. Its HARD for diabetics to lose weight. REALLY hard. Like doctor acknowledged, many medical journal articles written about, self-help groups created for hard. Its hard for anyone to lose weight, but for some reason, diabetics get hit harder. On the upside, for every pound a diabetic loses, he/she gets the health benefits of 2 pounds lost (please note: if you're reading this & you're doc has told you to lose weight, please don't be an ass and think "well, doc said lose 10 lbs. but I only have to lose 5!". Nope. that's not how this works, & you know it.). I'd still rather have an easier time getting this bulk off my bod, but hey, I'll take what I can get!
More important to me than this weight loss is the energy gain. I have ENERGY!! I feel better, I can walk better & farther. My toes don't go numb as quickly as they did, and sometimes not at all! I am waking up more awake, and going to bed and sleeping better. Yeah, there are down sides (we've already had the gross poo discussion. I don't think that needs repeating.), but the up sides are SO DRAMATIC (please note the all caps for dramatic emphasis) that I'm willing to overlook those. Those things are what I clung to last week after I'd gained a pound. I told myself that it didn't matter. It was just one weigh in, and I'd have a lot of those to get through, and some of them would suck; like this one did. I spent most days last week reminding myself to just keep going. Honestly, by Thursday morning, I felt like the Little Engine That Could, and got somewhat sick of myself! I kept going anyway.
It worked. I just have to remember to measure & not sweat the numbers around menstruation. We'll see if I can remember this sage advice next month!
Yeah, I'm a dork. The scale did NOT mock me this morning. Quite to the contrary, it told me that I now weigh 232.5. That's down from last week's 237, and a total of 14 pounds lost so far.
That's really good. Its HARD for diabetics to lose weight. REALLY hard. Like doctor acknowledged, many medical journal articles written about, self-help groups created for hard. Its hard for anyone to lose weight, but for some reason, diabetics get hit harder. On the upside, for every pound a diabetic loses, he/she gets the health benefits of 2 pounds lost (please note: if you're reading this & you're doc has told you to lose weight, please don't be an ass and think "well, doc said lose 10 lbs. but I only have to lose 5!". Nope. that's not how this works, & you know it.). I'd still rather have an easier time getting this bulk off my bod, but hey, I'll take what I can get!
More important to me than this weight loss is the energy gain. I have ENERGY!! I feel better, I can walk better & farther. My toes don't go numb as quickly as they did, and sometimes not at all! I am waking up more awake, and going to bed and sleeping better. Yeah, there are down sides (we've already had the gross poo discussion. I don't think that needs repeating.), but the up sides are SO DRAMATIC (please note the all caps for dramatic emphasis) that I'm willing to overlook those. Those things are what I clung to last week after I'd gained a pound. I told myself that it didn't matter. It was just one weigh in, and I'd have a lot of those to get through, and some of them would suck; like this one did. I spent most days last week reminding myself to just keep going. Honestly, by Thursday morning, I felt like the Little Engine That Could, and got somewhat sick of myself! I kept going anyway.
It worked. I just have to remember to measure & not sweat the numbers around menstruation. We'll see if I can remember this sage advice next month!
Friday 06/08 through Sunday 06/10
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 06/08
Blood Pressure 122/78
Pulse 70
Blood Sugars 5:15 AM 75
10:30 AM 105
12:00 PM 100
4:00 PM 85
NO bs
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts
Lunch 1 c dal, 3/4 c toasted almonds
Snack 1/4 c guacamole, 2 carrots & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 2 bean & nut burgers (1c mix total), 1/4 avocado, 1/3 cucumber, 1/4 tomato, 1 tbsp ketchup
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk
Date 06/09
Blood Pressure 119/84
Pulse 84
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 81
10:30 AM 109
12:30 PM 100
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 80
Breakfast 1/2 breakfast smoothie
Snack 1/2 breakfast smoothie, 1/2 c. almonds & walnuts
Lunch 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 avocado, 1 plum tomato (small) 2 tbsp balsamic vinegerette & 1 scrambled egg
Snack 3 celery stalks, 1/4 c. almond butter
Dinner 1 bean burger, 2 tsp ketchup, 1 c dal, 1/2 c. broccoli.
Exercise no
Date 06/10
Blood Pressure 107/77
Pulse 82
Blood Sugars
6:45 AM 87
1:00 PM 79
3:45 PM 126
Breakfast 1/4 c walnuts, 1/2 breakfast smoothie
Snack
Lunch 1/2 breakfast smoothie, 1 c dal
Snack 1 black bean burger, 1/4 avocado, 2 tsp ketchup
Dinner 3 c. broccoli in garlic sauce & 1 c black beans
Exercise
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a very quiet & relaxing end to a VERY stressed out and bad week. I have no shame in admitting to any/all of you that I was a mess this week. Not entirely certain why.
Date 06/08
Blood Pressure 122/78
Pulse 70
Blood Sugars 5:15 AM 75
10:30 AM 105
12:00 PM 100
4:00 PM 85
NO bs
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts
Lunch 1 c dal, 3/4 c toasted almonds
Snack 1/4 c guacamole, 2 carrots & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 2 bean & nut burgers (1c mix total), 1/4 avocado, 1/3 cucumber, 1/4 tomato, 1 tbsp ketchup
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk
Date 06/09
Blood Pressure 119/84
Pulse 84
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 81
10:30 AM 109
12:30 PM 100
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 80
Breakfast 1/2 breakfast smoothie
Snack 1/2 breakfast smoothie, 1/2 c. almonds & walnuts
Lunch 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 avocado, 1 plum tomato (small) 2 tbsp balsamic vinegerette & 1 scrambled egg
Snack 3 celery stalks, 1/4 c. almond butter
Dinner 1 bean burger, 2 tsp ketchup, 1 c dal, 1/2 c. broccoli.
Exercise no
Date 06/10
Blood Pressure 107/77
Pulse 82
Blood Sugars
6:45 AM 87
1:00 PM 79
3:45 PM 126
Breakfast 1/4 c walnuts, 1/2 breakfast smoothie
Snack
Lunch 1/2 breakfast smoothie, 1 c dal
Snack 1 black bean burger, 1/4 avocado, 2 tsp ketchup
Dinner 3 c. broccoli in garlic sauce & 1 c black beans
Exercise
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a very quiet & relaxing end to a VERY stressed out and bad week. I have no shame in admitting to any/all of you that I was a mess this week. Not entirely certain why.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday 06/07
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 131/86
Pulse 85
Blood Sugars
6:30 AM 57
no bs
12:00 PM 76
4:00 PM 108
7:00 PM 82
Breakfast 1/3 breakfast smoothie (drank half, threw it up, drank 1/3 later)
Snack no snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts & 1 c curried garbanzos w/ 1 c cauliflower
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 2 scrambled eggs, 1 c refried beans, 1/2 c guacamole
Exercise 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was another crappy day. I puked up most of breakfast while enjoying yet another headache-cum-panic attack. That was fun. Not really.
I didn't get yoga done (I was busy throwing up), and I only got a 15 minute walk in. I'm not going to fuss too much over that. I gave what I had; can't do more than that.
Blood Pressure 131/86
Pulse 85
Blood Sugars
6:30 AM 57
no bs
12:00 PM 76
4:00 PM 108
7:00 PM 82
Breakfast 1/3 breakfast smoothie (drank half, threw it up, drank 1/3 later)
Snack no snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts & 1 c curried garbanzos w/ 1 c cauliflower
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 2 scrambled eggs, 1 c refried beans, 1/2 c guacamole
Exercise 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was another crappy day. I puked up most of breakfast while enjoying yet another headache-cum-panic attack. That was fun. Not really.
I didn't get yoga done (I was busy throwing up), and I only got a 15 minute walk in. I'm not going to fuss too much over that. I gave what I had; can't do more than that.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Wednesday 06/06
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 130/83
Pulse 82
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 121
no bs
12:00 PM 130
4:00 PM 103
7:00 PM 78
10:00 PM 105
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts & 1 c dal
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 1c curried garbanzos & 1 c steamed cauliflower
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a bad day in the emotions dept. I have days like this one sometimes, and they are just sucktastic. Everything is too much. The world, in my perception, is too loud, too bright, too crowded, too busy. Its jarring and confusing and all I really want to do is to run home and pull my blankie up over my head. However, hiding under one's blankie doesn't exactly get the bills paid, now does it? (if you've found some magic way to both hide under your blankie and get the bills paid, please share?)
I hate days like this. No amount of reasoning with myself, kicking my own butt, or otherwise cajoling helps. Before we started doing this diet, food didn't exactly help, but it did buffer. I can't do that anymore. So, now I have to slog through the jagged mess that is my brain, and hope that it stops soon.
So far, the jagged mess is kicking my ass. Here's hoping for a second wind sometime soon.
Blood Pressure 130/83
Pulse 82
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 121
no bs
12:00 PM 130
4:00 PM 103
7:00 PM 78
10:00 PM 105
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1 oz walnuts & 1 c dal
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 1c curried garbanzos & 1 c steamed cauliflower
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a bad day in the emotions dept. I have days like this one sometimes, and they are just sucktastic. Everything is too much. The world, in my perception, is too loud, too bright, too crowded, too busy. Its jarring and confusing and all I really want to do is to run home and pull my blankie up over my head. However, hiding under one's blankie doesn't exactly get the bills paid, now does it? (if you've found some magic way to both hide under your blankie and get the bills paid, please share?)
I hate days like this. No amount of reasoning with myself, kicking my own butt, or otherwise cajoling helps. Before we started doing this diet, food didn't exactly help, but it did buffer. I can't do that anymore. So, now I have to slog through the jagged mess that is my brain, and hope that it stops soon.
So far, the jagged mess is kicking my ass. Here's hoping for a second wind sometime soon.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 06/05
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 144/85
Pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM 76
10: 30 AM 119
12: 00 PM 111
4:00 PM 69
7:00 PM 52
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1/2 oz walnuts
Lunch 1/2 c dal & 1/2 oz walnuts
Snack 1/4 c humus w 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 7 falafel w/ 1/2 c. hummus
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This started out a good day. Got up & moving & out the door on time. Did what I was supposed to most of the day. Had a GREAT afternoon walk. Unfortunately, in my measuring zeal, I didn't bring enough food for the day, and by dinner my blood sugar crashed HARD. As you can see above, it was 52. The doctor's don't much like it going too far below 70. That killed the evening. I ate dinner & passed out, because that's what I had the energy for.
Its a balancing act, and some days are more balanced than others. In my experience, its the days that are almost perfect that bite you in the ass - at least where diabetes is concerned.
Blood Pressure 144/85
Pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM 76
10: 30 AM 119
12: 00 PM 111
4:00 PM 69
7:00 PM 52
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, 1/4 cucumber & 1/2 oz walnuts
Lunch 1/2 c dal & 1/2 oz walnuts
Snack 1/4 c humus w 3 celery stalks & 1/2 cucumber
Dinner 7 falafel w/ 1/2 c. hummus
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This started out a good day. Got up & moving & out the door on time. Did what I was supposed to most of the day. Had a GREAT afternoon walk. Unfortunately, in my measuring zeal, I didn't bring enough food for the day, and by dinner my blood sugar crashed HARD. As you can see above, it was 52. The doctor's don't much like it going too far below 70. That killed the evening. I ate dinner & passed out, because that's what I had the energy for.
Its a balancing act, and some days are more balanced than others. In my experience, its the days that are almost perfect that bite you in the ass - at least where diabetes is concerned.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Kate's Corner - Rough Day
So, some of you may (or may not) have noticed that there was no "Checking In" post yesterday.
Well, yesterday blew chunks as days go. I woke up w/ a headache. Weighed in and realized that I'd gained a pound. Nick had a panic attack, and it was the busiest day of my work schedule for the pay period.
I did it. I didn't do it well, but I stuck to my diet. Not much else happened in the record keeping department. I've been wrestling with the idea all damned day of trying to "catch up".
Know what? Catching up is crap, at least in this instance. I'm giving myself this one pass. There are no cheeseburgers involved, and that's what's making it okay.
I won't make a regular occurrence of this decided lack of enthusiasm regarding my blogging on this, however my humanity reared its ugly head yesterday and said "Bitch, choose which thing you won't be getting done today!". So I did.
As to the weight gain, I figured that out. I had been eyeballing my measurements. Come to find out, my eyeballs are far too generous. So, I'm back to measuring everything. I've eliminated what little grazing I was doing. I'm not too worried about it. I'm still increasing my exercise & eating the right things. My sugar is still good.
On the diet front, things are good.
On all other fronts, things are getting better.
Well, yesterday blew chunks as days go. I woke up w/ a headache. Weighed in and realized that I'd gained a pound. Nick had a panic attack, and it was the busiest day of my work schedule for the pay period.
I did it. I didn't do it well, but I stuck to my diet. Not much else happened in the record keeping department. I've been wrestling with the idea all damned day of trying to "catch up".
Know what? Catching up is crap, at least in this instance. I'm giving myself this one pass. There are no cheeseburgers involved, and that's what's making it okay.
I won't make a regular occurrence of this decided lack of enthusiasm regarding my blogging on this, however my humanity reared its ugly head yesterday and said "Bitch, choose which thing you won't be getting done today!". So I did.
As to the weight gain, I figured that out. I had been eyeballing my measurements. Come to find out, my eyeballs are far too generous. So, I'm back to measuring everything. I've eliminated what little grazing I was doing. I'm not too worried about it. I'm still increasing my exercise & eating the right things. My sugar is still good.
On the diet front, things are good.
On all other fronts, things are getting better.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Kate's Corner - 05/31
The Crunch Bits:
Blood Pressure 130/80 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM
79
10:30 AM 90
12:00 PM 80
4:00 PM 106
7:00 PM 78
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newmans own dressing & 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I was pretty tired today, so I didn't get anything extra done. Still, it was a good day.
Blood Pressure 130/80 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM
79
10:30 AM 90
12:00 PM 80
4:00 PM 106
7:00 PM 78
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newmans own dressing & 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I was pretty tired today, so I didn't get anything extra done. Still, it was a good day.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Kate's Corner -
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 122/88 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM
78
10:30 AM 90
12:00 PM 112
4:00 PM 83
7:00 PM 66
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newmans own dressing & 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/2 c. guacamole & 3 celery stalks, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ steamed broccoli & carrots.
Exercise AM Yoga, 10 min walk, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I had a really good day, yesterday.
I feel a little weird sometimes, just typing "I had a good day". It doesn't seem like enough words. However, that says it all. What those few words don't - and aren't able to - contain, is the sheer wonder I feel at being able to type them. I know I'm only 1 month into this. I know that there's still a lot of weight to lose & a lot of mileage to cover on this path, but I FEEL GOOD. I didn't for so very long, and now I do.
I'm no longer just waiting to die. I'm really living. Its awesome.
Blood Pressure 122/88 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:00 AM
78
10:30 AM 90
12:00 PM 112
4:00 PM 83
7:00 PM 66
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newmans own dressing & 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/2 c. guacamole & 3 celery stalks, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ steamed broccoli & carrots.
Exercise AM Yoga, 10 min walk, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I had a really good day, yesterday.
I feel a little weird sometimes, just typing "I had a good day". It doesn't seem like enough words. However, that says it all. What those few words don't - and aren't able to - contain, is the sheer wonder I feel at being able to type them. I know I'm only 1 month into this. I know that there's still a lot of weight to lose & a lot of mileage to cover on this path, but I FEEL GOOD. I didn't for so very long, and now I do.
I'm no longer just waiting to die. I'm really living. Its awesome.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 05/29
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 159/87 pulse 94
Blood Sugars no fasting bs
10:45 AM 107
12:00 PM 106
4:00 PM 115
7:00 PM 116
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast
Snack Swiss Chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado & 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c black beans w/ peri-peri sauce & coconut oil w/ 1/4 c. almonds
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1/4 c refried beans, 1/4 c guacamole & 1 scrambled egg
Exercise AM Yoga, 10 min walk, 15 min walk, PM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. I increased my activity today.
Framing the day with yoga was AWESOME!! I slept better than I have in a long time, and woke this morning with much less ache than usual.
It was a good day!
Blood Pressure 159/87 pulse 94
Blood Sugars no fasting bs
10:45 AM 107
12:00 PM 106
4:00 PM 115
7:00 PM 116
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast
Snack Swiss Chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado & 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c black beans w/ peri-peri sauce & coconut oil w/ 1/4 c. almonds
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1/4 c refried beans, 1/4 c guacamole & 1 scrambled egg
Exercise AM Yoga, 10 min walk, 15 min walk, PM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. I increased my activity today.
Framing the day with yoga was AWESOME!! I slept better than I have in a long time, and woke this morning with much less ache than usual.
It was a good day!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Kate's Corner - Checking In
So, Monday was a day off for me. Perk for being a federal employee. While I did a whole lot of nutthin', I DID get on the scale.
No weight loss this week.
I'm not worried. First, it was the second day of my monthly cycle. I'm just glad I didn't GAIN water weight. Second, while I'm doing this to lose weight, I'm also doing for a lot of other reasons, and if I don't lose on a period week, I'm just not going to get my panties in a wad.
So what are those other reasons? Well, blood sugar control is a good one. Being able to move better is another. Having more & better energy is yet another. See, I'm feeling so good, that one week without weight loss simply isn't enough to get me worried. Which is good, because stress makes you retain weight! Simply put, there's so much going right that one week of no weight loss isn't going to get me down.
No weight loss this week.
I'm not worried. First, it was the second day of my monthly cycle. I'm just glad I didn't GAIN water weight. Second, while I'm doing this to lose weight, I'm also doing for a lot of other reasons, and if I don't lose on a period week, I'm just not going to get my panties in a wad.
So what are those other reasons? Well, blood sugar control is a good one. Being able to move better is another. Having more & better energy is yet another. See, I'm feeling so good, that one week without weight loss simply isn't enough to get me worried. Which is good, because stress makes you retain weight! Simply put, there's so much going right that one week of no weight loss isn't going to get me down.
Kate's Corner - 05/25 through 05/28
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/25
Blood Pressure 133/70 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 116
10:30 AM 93
12:00 PM 100
4:00 PM 110
7:00 PM 70
No bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ steamed veggies
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Date 05/26
Blood Pressure 126/84 Pulse 93
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 91
no bs
12:00 PM 124
4:00 PM 79
7:30 PM 103
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & 1 scrambled egg
Snack none
Lunch bean burger (homemade) w/vegan-slaw & cucumber slices
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ celery & cucumbers & 1/4 c. nuts
Dinner 1 c. black dal w/ 1 c. veggie slaw
Exercise day off
Date 05/27
Blood Pressure 123/83 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
6:45 AM 95
no bs
11:30 AM 129
4:00 PM 175
5:45 PM 167
9:15 PM 159
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack no snack
Lunch 1c Black dal, 1 scrambled egg, & swiss chard salad.
Snack no snack
Dinner 1 c steamed broccoli w/ scallops & 1/2 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise day off
Date 05/28
Weight 236
Blood Pressure 134/81
Pulse 90
Blood Sugars
10:00 AM 86
no bs
2:30 PM 103
no bs
7:00 PM 66
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack 1 tbsp almonds
Lunch 1/2 cucumber, 1/4 c. walnuts
Snack no snack
Dinner 1.5 c broccoli w/ scallops over black beans w/ almonds & sesame oil (and spice)
Exercise day off
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was an AWESOME long weekend. Got out of work early Friday to help Nick & Bronnie w/ last minute cleaning. We had a "mini-con" this weekend at our house. The three of us and our closest 4 friends got together to roll funny shaped dice & pretend to be big damn heroes in a home-brew game of D&D that's been on-going for a while.
IT ROCKED ALL THE AVAILABLE SOCKS!!
Yeah, I'm a geek. Yeah, we were in the basement. Not a pizza or can of soda in sight though. We managed to eat tasty and healthy (both at once even!) and I'm pretty proud of that.
I didn't exercise on Sunday & Monday as I normally would have, and I'm not too worried about it. Going forward, I'm going to ask for "walk breaks", but this weekend it was fine. It was like a little vacation, and I let it be what it was.
Date 05/25
Blood Pressure 133/70 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 116
10:30 AM 93
12:00 PM 100
4:00 PM 110
7:00 PM 70
No bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ steamed veggies
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Date 05/26
Blood Pressure 126/84 Pulse 93
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 91
no bs
12:00 PM 124
4:00 PM 79
7:30 PM 103
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & 1 scrambled egg
Snack none
Lunch bean burger (homemade) w/vegan-slaw & cucumber slices
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ celery & cucumbers & 1/4 c. nuts
Dinner 1 c. black dal w/ 1 c. veggie slaw
Exercise day off
Date 05/27
Blood Pressure 123/83 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
6:45 AM 95
no bs
11:30 AM 129
4:00 PM 175
5:45 PM 167
9:15 PM 159
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack no snack
Lunch 1c Black dal, 1 scrambled egg, & swiss chard salad.
Snack no snack
Dinner 1 c steamed broccoli w/ scallops & 1/2 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise day off
Date 05/28
Weight 236
Blood Pressure 134/81
Pulse 90
Blood Sugars
10:00 AM 86
no bs
2:30 PM 103
no bs
7:00 PM 66
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack 1 tbsp almonds
Lunch 1/2 cucumber, 1/4 c. walnuts
Snack no snack
Dinner 1.5 c broccoli w/ scallops over black beans w/ almonds & sesame oil (and spice)
Exercise day off
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was an AWESOME long weekend. Got out of work early Friday to help Nick & Bronnie w/ last minute cleaning. We had a "mini-con" this weekend at our house. The three of us and our closest 4 friends got together to roll funny shaped dice & pretend to be big damn heroes in a home-brew game of D&D that's been on-going for a while.
IT ROCKED ALL THE AVAILABLE SOCKS!!
Yeah, I'm a geek. Yeah, we were in the basement. Not a pizza or can of soda in sight though. We managed to eat tasty and healthy (both at once even!) and I'm pretty proud of that.
I didn't exercise on Sunday & Monday as I normally would have, and I'm not too worried about it. Going forward, I'm going to ask for "walk breaks", but this weekend it was fine. It was like a little vacation, and I let it be what it was.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Kate's Corner - Thursday 05/24
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/24
Blood Pressure 130/79 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 84
10:30 AM 113
12:00 PM 121
4:00 PM 76
7:00 PM 76
9:30 PM 118
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 2 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. Fourth day in a row of walking and NO NUMB TOES!! Or feet or anything else. See, when I've been walking, my left leg & foot would go numb. I was just starting to get tingly when my 15 minutes were up. This is AWESOME!!
Date 05/24
Blood Pressure 130/79 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 84
10:30 AM 113
12:00 PM 121
4:00 PM 76
7:00 PM 76
9:30 PM 118
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 2 c broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. Fourth day in a row of walking and NO NUMB TOES!! Or feet or anything else. See, when I've been walking, my left leg & foot would go numb. I was just starting to get tingly when my 15 minutes were up. This is AWESOME!!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Kate's Corner - Wednesday 05/23
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 131/73 pulse 86
Blood Sugars
5:15 PM 90
10:30 AM 108
12:00 PM 108
4:00 PM 82
7:30 PM 61
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans, 1/2 c almonds
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon, steamed cauliflower
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I had a good day, I guess. I was a little foggy or spacey through most of it. Mostly hormones fluctuating. I still had a good day though. Stuck to my diet & even got in a 15 min walk, which I haven't been able to do on Wednesdays so far.
Blood Pressure 131/73 pulse 86
Blood Sugars
5:15 PM 90
10:30 AM 108
12:00 PM 108
4:00 PM 82
7:30 PM 61
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans, 1/2 c almonds
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 stalks of celery, 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon, steamed cauliflower
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I had a good day, I guess. I was a little foggy or spacey through most of it. Mostly hormones fluctuating. I still had a good day though. Stuck to my diet & even got in a 15 min walk, which I haven't been able to do on Wednesdays so far.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 05/22/2012
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/22
Blood Pressure 115/75 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 76
10:30 AM 115
12:00 PM 111
4:00 PM 101
7:00 PM 79
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c. refried beans, tomato & avocado salad over spring mix
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. Not much to report.
Date 05/22
Blood Pressure 115/75 pulse 81
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 76
10:30 AM 115
12:00 PM 111
4:00 PM 101
7:00 PM 79
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c. refried beans, tomato & avocado salad over spring mix
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. Not much to report.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Kate's Corner - Monday 05/21
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 124/77 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 106
10:30 AM 150
12:30 PM 117
4:00 PM 97
7:00 PM 68
9:30 PM 68
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ 1 c. steamed veggies & drizzle of coconut milk curry sauce
Exercise AM yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Nick mentioned something this morning that I was thinking about all day yesterday. How do you measure the immeasurable? I have a lot of data from the past few weeks that's just going to make my doctor's weep with happiness. It doesn't mean all that much to me. Those are numbers & numbers are good. However I've achieved some of these numbers before (though not this efficiently), and I felt like ASS doing so. I don't this time, and that's what's most important to me. I FEEL good. My energy is picking up. I keep trying to find ways to explain that to people, but I find myself lacking a ruler. How to you measure feeling more awake? How do you measure being able to go home at night with enough energy to participate in family conversations? I can say those words, but does anyone really get it? I know. I guess that's going to have to be enough.
Don't misunderstand me, please: I'm not looking for validation here. Not really. I'm trying to find words to put this feeling into so that I can crystallize it. I need to be able to remember this place, so that as it gets better, I won't forget where I started from.
So, here goes.
3 weeks ago I couldn't, but now I can:
- walk down the metro tunnel at my home station w/o losing my breath of having my feet go numb.
- walk up the ramp at work w/o having to stop and catch my breath.
- go home after work with any hope of doing anything but sit on the couch playing a video game I've played a bajillion times & then passing out from exhaustion.
- walk around the building I work in at all w/o losing both my breath & the feeling in my feet.
When I put these few things into words, they don't seem like much, but to me, this is HUGE! I feel like I"m coming back to life.
That has everything and nothing to do with those numbers I post here. Its not about the numbers, its about how I feel. The numbers are just a way to tell my doctor's "See! It bloody well IS working!"
Blood Pressure 124/77 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
5:15 AM 106
10:30 AM 150
12:30 PM 117
4:00 PM 97
7:00 PM 68
9:30 PM 68
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard Salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet, 2 tbsp newmans own & 1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ 1 c. steamed veggies & drizzle of coconut milk curry sauce
Exercise AM yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Nick mentioned something this morning that I was thinking about all day yesterday. How do you measure the immeasurable? I have a lot of data from the past few weeks that's just going to make my doctor's weep with happiness. It doesn't mean all that much to me. Those are numbers & numbers are good. However I've achieved some of these numbers before (though not this efficiently), and I felt like ASS doing so. I don't this time, and that's what's most important to me. I FEEL good. My energy is picking up. I keep trying to find ways to explain that to people, but I find myself lacking a ruler. How to you measure feeling more awake? How do you measure being able to go home at night with enough energy to participate in family conversations? I can say those words, but does anyone really get it? I know. I guess that's going to have to be enough.
Don't misunderstand me, please: I'm not looking for validation here. Not really. I'm trying to find words to put this feeling into so that I can crystallize it. I need to be able to remember this place, so that as it gets better, I won't forget where I started from.
So, here goes.
3 weeks ago I couldn't, but now I can:
- walk down the metro tunnel at my home station w/o losing my breath of having my feet go numb.
- walk up the ramp at work w/o having to stop and catch my breath.
- go home after work with any hope of doing anything but sit on the couch playing a video game I've played a bajillion times & then passing out from exhaustion.
- walk around the building I work in at all w/o losing both my breath & the feeling in my feet.
When I put these few things into words, they don't seem like much, but to me, this is HUGE! I feel like I"m coming back to life.
That has everything and nothing to do with those numbers I post here. Its not about the numbers, its about how I feel. The numbers are just a way to tell my doctor's "See! It bloody well IS working!"
Monday, May 21, 2012
Kate's Corner - Checking In
So, hopped on the scale this AM, and I'm down another 2 pounds to 236. That's 10.5 pounds all together.
I'll take it!
This week I'm planning on my afternoon walks (15 min. minimum, more if I've got the energy), and if I have the energy, adding a 15 min. walk at the end of lunch time. Also, we're adding PM yoga or Pilates to our evening. The yoga works the opposite muscles of the AM yoga (or at least that's what it feels like) and the Pilates will help me tone up.
Toning up is IMPORTANT. At least to me it is. We've all seen the little old ladies who have lost a ton of weight late in life, and are saggy/baggy bundles of awesome. I'd like to skip as much of the saggy/baggy as I can w/ my bundle of awesome, thanks! I'm going to get some, I know this. I'm hoping Pilates will help keep it to a minimum. If not, its still really good for building muscle, and everyone needs healthy muscles.
We are focusing more on the yoga, so to begin with, we'll be doing yoga 3 evenings a week, and pilates 2 evenings a week, giving ourselves the weekend off from evening workouts. We'll see how that goes for a while, and maybe - MAYBE - make changes as we feel the need.
One thing I DO NOT want to do in all this is wipe myself out again. I'm noticing a definite up-turn in my energy. I no longer need my lunchtime nap; to the point that I find it annoying to sit there waiting for it to be time to get up. This is good!
So, that's where I'm at. 10.5 pounds lost, blood sugar is under control,, energy is picking up and life is GOOD!
I'll take it!
This week I'm planning on my afternoon walks (15 min. minimum, more if I've got the energy), and if I have the energy, adding a 15 min. walk at the end of lunch time. Also, we're adding PM yoga or Pilates to our evening. The yoga works the opposite muscles of the AM yoga (or at least that's what it feels like) and the Pilates will help me tone up.
Toning up is IMPORTANT. At least to me it is. We've all seen the little old ladies who have lost a ton of weight late in life, and are saggy/baggy bundles of awesome. I'd like to skip as much of the saggy/baggy as I can w/ my bundle of awesome, thanks! I'm going to get some, I know this. I'm hoping Pilates will help keep it to a minimum. If not, its still really good for building muscle, and everyone needs healthy muscles.
We are focusing more on the yoga, so to begin with, we'll be doing yoga 3 evenings a week, and pilates 2 evenings a week, giving ourselves the weekend off from evening workouts. We'll see how that goes for a while, and maybe - MAYBE - make changes as we feel the need.
One thing I DO NOT want to do in all this is wipe myself out again. I'm noticing a definite up-turn in my energy. I no longer need my lunchtime nap; to the point that I find it annoying to sit there waiting for it to be time to get up. This is good!
So, that's where I'm at. 10.5 pounds lost, blood sugar is under control,, energy is picking up and life is GOOD!
Kate's Corner - Thursday 05/17 - Sunday 05/20
So, I wasn't at work on Friday. I'll get to that in "The Froo-Froo Bits".
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/17
Blood Pressure 141/97 pulse 85
Blood Sugars
5:30 AM 84
11:00 AM 107
12:30 PM 92
4;00 PM 91
7:30 PM 111
10:30 PM 118
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & Scrambled egg
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinagerette. 1/4 c.almonds
Lunch 1 c garbanzo beans w/ cocnut oil & peri-peri sauce (1tsp & 1 tbsp respectively)
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Cauliflower w/ curried garbanzo beans
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Notes: Ran out of insulin @ 3:30 PM. Sugar stayed under control. WOOT!
Date 05/18
Blood Pressure 136/87 pulse 72
Blood Sugars 5:45 AM 90
10:30 AM 82
12:00 PM 58
no bs
8:00 PM 78
no bs
Breakfast
Snack Breakfast smoothie
Lunch Swiss Chard Salad
Snack No notes
Dinner 4 oz. tilapia w/ steamed vegetables
Exercise AM Yoga
Notes: This was a bad day, but we realized that blood sugar control is possible, even through stress. & disruption of schedule.
Date 05/19
Blood Pressure 130/78 pulse 94
Notes: Took the day off mentally
Date 05/20
Blood Pressure 150/78 pulse 92
Blood Sugars 7:30 AM 73
no bs
2:00 PM 91
no bs
7:30 PM 144
10:30 PM 121
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack no
Lunch 2 scrambled eggs, 1/2 c. refried beans, 1/4 c. guacamole, 1 tbsp pico
Snack 3/4 c.(aprox) banzo nuts, almonds & walnuts (too much food)
Dinner 2 c. broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga
Notes: unrestrained snacking is BAD. Order in from Panda Wok is possible, but care & extra insulin must be taken.
The Froo-Froo Bits:
So, some of you may have noticed that I didn't post on Friday. I was going to, but then I stayed home from work. Why? Nick needed me to.
Nick has an anxiety problem. Its pretty controlled, but like all problems, it sometimes gets out of control and Friday was the day for it. When this happens, I'm sometimes able to help him remember that life's really not spinning out of control. Again, this was one of those times.
Bottom Line: He's more important than just about anything I'd have been doing at work. 'Nuff said.
I did, however, learn that we are able to keep to diet, even if we aren't able to keep to routine. That's HUGELY important for me. Prior to this, we'd all be exhausted from the day of wrangling anxiety, and order in - usually comfort foods. Ordering in isn't always horrible, but for me, its not the best choice. There's a lot of hidden sugars & fats in restaurant food, and especially Chinese take out. The place we do order from (extremely rare now) is Panda Wok, which has some really awesome choices for folks in the area who are trying to eat healthy. Quite a variety of vegetable dishes (a number of which are steamed) w/ either sauce on the side or not-so-bad sauces.
We didn't order in Friday, but we DID order in Sunday evening. My sugar was up b/c I got the munchies in the afternoon, and let myself eat too much in one sitting. That, I'm finding is a big key to the blood sugar control. Small meals eaten throughout the day. Its working, and I broke it, and now I know not to do that. I took insulin to counter the sweet in the garlic sauce, and my sugar didn't respond obnoxiously. YAY!!
So, that was the weekend. It came in like a lion pouncing and went out like a lamb dozing in the sun.
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/17
Blood Pressure 141/97 pulse 85
Blood Sugars
5:30 AM 84
11:00 AM 107
12:30 PM 92
4;00 PM 91
7:30 PM 111
10:30 PM 118
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & Scrambled egg
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinagerette. 1/4 c.almonds
Lunch 1 c garbanzo beans w/ cocnut oil & peri-peri sauce (1tsp & 1 tbsp respectively)
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Cauliflower w/ curried garbanzo beans
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Notes: Ran out of insulin @ 3:30 PM. Sugar stayed under control. WOOT!
Date 05/18
Blood Pressure 136/87 pulse 72
Blood Sugars 5:45 AM 90
10:30 AM 82
12:00 PM 58
no bs
8:00 PM 78
no bs
Breakfast
Snack Breakfast smoothie
Lunch Swiss Chard Salad
Snack No notes
Dinner 4 oz. tilapia w/ steamed vegetables
Exercise AM Yoga
Notes: This was a bad day, but we realized that blood sugar control is possible, even through stress. & disruption of schedule.
Date 05/19
Blood Pressure 130/78 pulse 94
Notes: Took the day off mentally
Date 05/20
Blood Pressure 150/78 pulse 92
Blood Sugars 7:30 AM 73
no bs
2:00 PM 91
no bs
7:30 PM 144
10:30 PM 121
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack no
Lunch 2 scrambled eggs, 1/2 c. refried beans, 1/4 c. guacamole, 1 tbsp pico
Snack 3/4 c.(aprox) banzo nuts, almonds & walnuts (too much food)
Dinner 2 c. broccoli w/ garlic sauce
Exercise AM Yoga
Notes: unrestrained snacking is BAD. Order in from Panda Wok is possible, but care & extra insulin must be taken.
The Froo-Froo Bits:
So, some of you may have noticed that I didn't post on Friday. I was going to, but then I stayed home from work. Why? Nick needed me to.
Nick has an anxiety problem. Its pretty controlled, but like all problems, it sometimes gets out of control and Friday was the day for it. When this happens, I'm sometimes able to help him remember that life's really not spinning out of control. Again, this was one of those times.
Bottom Line: He's more important than just about anything I'd have been doing at work. 'Nuff said.
I did, however, learn that we are able to keep to diet, even if we aren't able to keep to routine. That's HUGELY important for me. Prior to this, we'd all be exhausted from the day of wrangling anxiety, and order in - usually comfort foods. Ordering in isn't always horrible, but for me, its not the best choice. There's a lot of hidden sugars & fats in restaurant food, and especially Chinese take out. The place we do order from (extremely rare now) is Panda Wok, which has some really awesome choices for folks in the area who are trying to eat healthy. Quite a variety of vegetable dishes (a number of which are steamed) w/ either sauce on the side or not-so-bad sauces.
We didn't order in Friday, but we DID order in Sunday evening. My sugar was up b/c I got the munchies in the afternoon, and let myself eat too much in one sitting. That, I'm finding is a big key to the blood sugar control. Small meals eaten throughout the day. Its working, and I broke it, and now I know not to do that. I took insulin to counter the sweet in the garlic sauce, and my sugar didn't respond obnoxiously. YAY!!
So, that was the weekend. It came in like a lion pouncing and went out like a lamb dozing in the sun.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Kate's Corner - Life Sans Fat-Armor
So, I'm discovering that I have a temper.
I know. I'm shocked too. (she says with dripping sarcasm).
Seriously though, I was looking online at heavy bags today. I'm starting to think that all diet books/programs sold by folks who really want to help would come in a "deluxe" package that includes a free-standing punching bag.
See, I buried emotions with food. I'm not doing that so much any more. This is a GOOD THING. However, I'm not only feeling what's going on around me more acutely, I'm also now having to deal with the emotions that were buried under the weight that is falling off.
Ummmmm. . . .I didn't expect THAT.
Yesterday, I had lovely visions on my commute home of popping this guy on the train in the face. He was just being your average, garden-variety dick. I didn't, but I was really ENJOYING the fantasy of doing so. I think its getting time to think about venting that anger & channeling it into. . .something. A punching bag is a good place to start.
I've looked at the letting go of anger sites. They are helpful, but only to a point. I know for myself, there's anger and then there's "I need to hit something". Like any responsible adult in our society, I don't hit the thing I want to, or anything else, but its there, and that part of the anger for me just doesn't go away.
Seriously thinking about a heavy bag. . .I could kick that too! (See, 2 for 1 anger venting!)
I know. I'm shocked too. (she says with dripping sarcasm).
Seriously though, I was looking online at heavy bags today. I'm starting to think that all diet books/programs sold by folks who really want to help would come in a "deluxe" package that includes a free-standing punching bag.
See, I buried emotions with food. I'm not doing that so much any more. This is a GOOD THING. However, I'm not only feeling what's going on around me more acutely, I'm also now having to deal with the emotions that were buried under the weight that is falling off.
Ummmmm. . . .I didn't expect THAT.
Yesterday, I had lovely visions on my commute home of popping this guy on the train in the face. He was just being your average, garden-variety dick. I didn't, but I was really ENJOYING the fantasy of doing so. I think its getting time to think about venting that anger & channeling it into. . .something. A punching bag is a good place to start.
I've looked at the letting go of anger sites. They are helpful, but only to a point. I know for myself, there's anger and then there's "I need to hit something". Like any responsible adult in our society, I don't hit the thing I want to, or anything else, but its there, and that part of the anger for me just doesn't go away.
Seriously thinking about a heavy bag. . .I could kick that too! (See, 2 for 1 anger venting!)
Kate's Corner - Wednesday 05/16
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 130/85 pulse 91
Blood Sugars
6:15 AM 71
10:30 AM 102
12:30 PM 106
3:30 PM 147
8:00 PM 79
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & Scrambled egg
Snack No snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinaigrette. 1/4 c. walnuts
Veggie Panang curry over black beans ( aprox 1 c)
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ Veggie panang curry & steamed snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I felt weird not trying to walk this afternoon. It was as though I were somehow failing because I wasn't trying, even though I'd agreed to take this afternoon off, even though taking the afternoon off of walking was what my body needed, even though I was doing the *right* thing, it felt wrong. I'm going to have to chew on that one for a while.
Blood Pressure 130/85 pulse 91
Blood Sugars
6:15 AM 71
10:30 AM 102
12:30 PM 106
3:30 PM 147
8:00 PM 79
no bs
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie & Scrambled egg
Snack No snack
Lunch Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinaigrette. 1/4 c. walnuts
Veggie Panang curry over black beans ( aprox 1 c)
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz tilapia w/ Veggie panang curry & steamed snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
I felt weird not trying to walk this afternoon. It was as though I were somehow failing because I wasn't trying, even though I'd agreed to take this afternoon off, even though taking the afternoon off of walking was what my body needed, even though I was doing the *right* thing, it felt wrong. I'm going to have to chew on that one for a while.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 05/15
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 112/81 pulse 84
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 68
10:15 AM 95
12:00 PM 99
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 69
9:30 PM 103
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinagerette. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. black beans
Snack 1/4 c. guacamole, 3 celery stalks 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Veggie panang curry over black beans (aprox. 1.5 c)
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
THIS WAS A BAD DAY. Emotionally I was a wreck. I was tired, and that magnified everything 1,000-fold. Physically, I was tired too, and that didn't help one iota. I got my walk in, but only 10 minutes. After that, I started stumbling, and actually had to sit for a few before I could get back to my office because my legs were shaky. When I got back, I called Nick and asked him to tell me that I really DIDN'T look like Jaba the Hut, that I really wasn't lazy, and that it was really all okay.
See, I have a problem - a stubbornness problem. I set a goal and no matter what, I MUST REACH THAT GOAL. Even if its not really a good idea. That's part of why I don't set goals lightly or often. I decided that I would up my walking time 5 min/day every week until I was at 30 min/day, 5 days/week. That sounded reasonable to me. The problem is that I'm starting at zero. My body is REALLY out of shape. I couldn't get a full five days in last week at 15 min/day, and it didn't even occur to me not to add on my 5 min this week. So I did - and fell flat on my face (not literally, but only b/c I was able to grab onto the wall).
So, I'm having to learn how to take the blow of a) not meeting a goal, and b) renegotiating with myself. I'm discovering that I'm a bitch when it comes to negotiations. I don't want to give ground, especially to myself. I keep telling myself that its just laziness, and that I'd be better off just sucking up the bad and bulling through it. Except that's not really true, and I don't think its really a good idea to talk myself into that mindset.
So, I'm backing off a little. Nick asked me to take today off from walking, so I am. I'm going to walk for 15 min for the rest of this week. I'm thinking that maybe next week I should aim for 15/day for 5 days. In other words, I'm thinking that I shouldn't up the time until I can walk for all five days of the work week. It shouldn't take that long, really. Maybe an extra week.
I have to remember that it took me 36+ years to get in this shape, and its not going to get better if I kill myself exercising. Slow & steady & let the weight fall off as it will (which its doing fantastically). I need to keep progressing, and adding a little bit every week, but not to the point where I drive myself to where I was yesterday. That's not a good place.
Blood Pressure 112/81 pulse 84
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 68
10:15 AM 95
12:00 PM 99
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 69
9:30 PM 103
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp newman's own balsamic vinagerette. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. black beans
Snack 1/4 c. guacamole, 3 celery stalks 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Veggie panang curry over black beans (aprox. 1.5 c)
Exercise AM yoga, 10 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
THIS WAS A BAD DAY. Emotionally I was a wreck. I was tired, and that magnified everything 1,000-fold. Physically, I was tired too, and that didn't help one iota. I got my walk in, but only 10 minutes. After that, I started stumbling, and actually had to sit for a few before I could get back to my office because my legs were shaky. When I got back, I called Nick and asked him to tell me that I really DIDN'T look like Jaba the Hut, that I really wasn't lazy, and that it was really all okay.
See, I have a problem - a stubbornness problem. I set a goal and no matter what, I MUST REACH THAT GOAL. Even if its not really a good idea. That's part of why I don't set goals lightly or often. I decided that I would up my walking time 5 min/day every week until I was at 30 min/day, 5 days/week. That sounded reasonable to me. The problem is that I'm starting at zero. My body is REALLY out of shape. I couldn't get a full five days in last week at 15 min/day, and it didn't even occur to me not to add on my 5 min this week. So I did - and fell flat on my face (not literally, but only b/c I was able to grab onto the wall).
So, I'm having to learn how to take the blow of a) not meeting a goal, and b) renegotiating with myself. I'm discovering that I'm a bitch when it comes to negotiations. I don't want to give ground, especially to myself. I keep telling myself that its just laziness, and that I'd be better off just sucking up the bad and bulling through it. Except that's not really true, and I don't think its really a good idea to talk myself into that mindset.
So, I'm backing off a little. Nick asked me to take today off from walking, so I am. I'm going to walk for 15 min for the rest of this week. I'm thinking that maybe next week I should aim for 15/day for 5 days. In other words, I'm thinking that I shouldn't up the time until I can walk for all five days of the work week. It shouldn't take that long, really. Maybe an extra week.
I have to remember that it took me 36+ years to get in this shape, and its not going to get better if I kill myself exercising. Slow & steady & let the weight fall off as it will (which its doing fantastically). I need to keep progressing, and adding a little bit every week, but not to the point where I drive myself to where I was yesterday. That's not a good place.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Diablo III Day Check-In
Weighed in Friday, May 11th at 188.0 lbs down from 191.5. Would estimate I began the diet at 195 but cannot be certain, and that would be an increase in my weekly weight loss of a full pound per week beyond what I am used to with health regimens.
I love the "Jeff's Most Recommended Smoothie" in the morning. It gets me through with clear, strong energy until about 11am. Better than black tea or coffee.
I have more mental clarity overall and more focus for projects. I am doing more writing, game mastering, shopping/chores and human interaction per day now. I am tired at the end of every day, and my muscles ache (especially the left side shoulder, hamstring & groin).
I am familiar with this terrain, and I am trying to have more fun with it this time while still focusing hard. It is gratifying and encouraging to see how Kate has been progressing with her blood sugar levels and insulin usage.
Have fun in Diablo III, even though the servers are down right now. Why else would I be writing this on launch day, duh, party!
I love the "Jeff's Most Recommended Smoothie" in the morning. It gets me through with clear, strong energy until about 11am. Better than black tea or coffee.
I have more mental clarity overall and more focus for projects. I am doing more writing, game mastering, shopping/chores and human interaction per day now. I am tired at the end of every day, and my muscles ache (especially the left side shoulder, hamstring & groin).
I am familiar with this terrain, and I am trying to have more fun with it this time while still focusing hard. It is gratifying and encouraging to see how Kate has been progressing with her blood sugar levels and insulin usage.
Have fun in Diablo III, even though the servers are down right now. Why else would I be writing this on launch day, duh, party!
Kate's Corner - What Diet Books *Don't* Say. . .
Diet books are a big seller. The market for them is HUGE, and given the situation with our nutrition & eating habits in this country, not going to wane anytime soon. Some of them are good. Some of them are complete crap. I've yet to find one that talks about the down sides of completely changing your eating routine.
The breakouts:
Holy crap. I thought I had acne problems when I was eating dairy. For the past two weeks I've had one breakout after another. Thankfully, they are relatively brief breakouts, but still - its gross. Why does this happen? I can only figure that we humans store yuck in our pores, and when we start to get healthier, it comes out. Every evening I've had a small constellation of pimples that are gone by morning, or soon after. This is not unique to me. It happens.
The Poop:
I have NEVER read a diet book that talked about what happens to your intestines once you start eating healthy. If they did, a whole lot of people wouldn't try that diet. OMG, for two weeks things have been pretty gross. I'm not going into details. Much like pores, intestines get filled with yuck. It comes out - sometimes explosively.
The Aches:
This morning Bronnie asked me if I was noticing any pick up in energy. I replied that I'd let her know as soon as I stopped hurting long enough to tell. When you haven't been moving much, and then you start, it hurts. You're building new muscle. That's good. The way muscle is built is that the old one is very lightly torn, and then it repairs itself. That' HURTS. All last week through today, my legs have felt like they were on fire, and the rest of me isn't far behind.
The Tiredness:
I haven't craved coffee in a while, but today, I'd murder a pot. Not going to, but the craving is there. Why? Because I'm tired. I'm to the bone weary, and its only Tuesday. I've encountered this before w/ other eating plans/exercise plans. Something happens when you make a change like this, and you need more sleep. However, that's hard to get in our current society. Its hard to get enough sleep when you aren't doing stressful things.
Those are the things that are plaguing me. I can't think of any others right now. I'm certain there are others, I just haven't had to slog through them yet.
The breakouts:
Holy crap. I thought I had acne problems when I was eating dairy. For the past two weeks I've had one breakout after another. Thankfully, they are relatively brief breakouts, but still - its gross. Why does this happen? I can only figure that we humans store yuck in our pores, and when we start to get healthier, it comes out. Every evening I've had a small constellation of pimples that are gone by morning, or soon after. This is not unique to me. It happens.
The Poop:
I have NEVER read a diet book that talked about what happens to your intestines once you start eating healthy. If they did, a whole lot of people wouldn't try that diet. OMG, for two weeks things have been pretty gross. I'm not going into details. Much like pores, intestines get filled with yuck. It comes out - sometimes explosively.
The Aches:
This morning Bronnie asked me if I was noticing any pick up in energy. I replied that I'd let her know as soon as I stopped hurting long enough to tell. When you haven't been moving much, and then you start, it hurts. You're building new muscle. That's good. The way muscle is built is that the old one is very lightly torn, and then it repairs itself. That' HURTS. All last week through today, my legs have felt like they were on fire, and the rest of me isn't far behind.
The Tiredness:
I haven't craved coffee in a while, but today, I'd murder a pot. Not going to, but the craving is there. Why? Because I'm tired. I'm to the bone weary, and its only Tuesday. I've encountered this before w/ other eating plans/exercise plans. Something happens when you make a change like this, and you need more sleep. However, that's hard to get in our current society. Its hard to get enough sleep when you aren't doing stressful things.
Those are the things that are plaguing me. I can't think of any others right now. I'm certain there are others, I just haven't had to slog through them yet.
Kate's Corner - Monday 05/14/2012
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 150/84 pulse 100
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 60
10:30 AM 92
12:00 PM 89
4:00 PM 74
8:00 PM 65
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack cucumber, avocado, beet salad w/ newmans own dressing, 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch Veggie Panang curry over black beans
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ 1/4 c. black beans, 1/2 c. guacamole & 1 c. steamed snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Started out w/ my blood pressure high. I know why (I got cranky. Does it every time.)Otherwise, this was a pretty good day as far as making my goals. Tiring though.
Blood Pressure 150/84 pulse 100
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 60
10:30 AM 92
12:00 PM 89
4:00 PM 74
8:00 PM 65
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack cucumber, avocado, beet salad w/ newmans own dressing, 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch Veggie Panang curry over black beans
Snack 1/4. c hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ 1/4 c. black beans, 1/2 c. guacamole & 1 c. steamed snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga, 20 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Started out w/ my blood pressure high. I know why (I got cranky. Does it every time.)Otherwise, this was a pretty good day as far as making my goals. Tiring though.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Kate's Corner - Checking In
Well, I got on the scale this morning. I now weigh 238. That's a total of 8.5 lbs in two weeks. As bizarre as this sounds, that's a little intimidating. I'm not stopping what we've been doing, in fact I plan to add more to my routine for this week, but its just so FAST. In the past when I've tried to lose weight, it would take me more than 2 months to see this sort of result. This is just happening.
As far as exercise goes, I'm doing my AM Yoga every day but Saturday, and I'm walking more days than not. This past week, I added walking into my day. I walked 15 min on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I started to walk on Wednesday, and I just didn't have the energy to do it. So, I sat in the only sunbeam available on my block of DC at that moment, and had a nice, quiet moment in my day.
Quiet moments are pretty important I'm finding. Rest and quiet are pretty important things to me, and I'm realizing that I haven't been getting enough of them. Those moments when I can sit in a quiet place and take stock are the moments in which I have my best conversations with myself. I know that sounds crazy, but its true. I find the need to check in with myself from time to time and make sure that all of me is still in there. I learned with motherhood that sometimes pieces of oneself can slip away if you aren't paying attention. You get busy, and suddenly you realize that its been days, weeks, years, since you did that thing (whatever it is) that feeds your soul. So, I learned to find a moment or two when I could to take stock and remember who I am and what I'm about. I'm finding that I need more of those moments since we started this. This isn't that surprising, nor is it rocket science to figure out. I'm changing my life. I'm doing things that I've been told aren't really possible. That's scary stuff, and I need - for the health of my spirit & mind - to make sure that I'm still in there. I know this sounds a bit out there, and I wish I had better words to express it. I don't.
So,Goals for the coming week. Well, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing food wise, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Exercise - I'm doing my AM Yoga, and upping my walking to 20 min/day (except weekends).
Second week down, and I'm still hopeful, but still a little bit scared.
As far as exercise goes, I'm doing my AM Yoga every day but Saturday, and I'm walking more days than not. This past week, I added walking into my day. I walked 15 min on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I started to walk on Wednesday, and I just didn't have the energy to do it. So, I sat in the only sunbeam available on my block of DC at that moment, and had a nice, quiet moment in my day.
Quiet moments are pretty important I'm finding. Rest and quiet are pretty important things to me, and I'm realizing that I haven't been getting enough of them. Those moments when I can sit in a quiet place and take stock are the moments in which I have my best conversations with myself. I know that sounds crazy, but its true. I find the need to check in with myself from time to time and make sure that all of me is still in there. I learned with motherhood that sometimes pieces of oneself can slip away if you aren't paying attention. You get busy, and suddenly you realize that its been days, weeks, years, since you did that thing (whatever it is) that feeds your soul. So, I learned to find a moment or two when I could to take stock and remember who I am and what I'm about. I'm finding that I need more of those moments since we started this. This isn't that surprising, nor is it rocket science to figure out. I'm changing my life. I'm doing things that I've been told aren't really possible. That's scary stuff, and I need - for the health of my spirit & mind - to make sure that I'm still in there. I know this sounds a bit out there, and I wish I had better words to express it. I don't.
So,Goals for the coming week. Well, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing food wise, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Exercise - I'm doing my AM Yoga, and upping my walking to 20 min/day (except weekends).
Second week down, and I'm still hopeful, but still a little bit scared.
Kate's Corner - The weekend of 05/11 - 05/13
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/11
Blood Pressure 123/79 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 96
10:30 PM 88
12:00 PM 89
4:00 PM 85
8:00 PM 66
10:00 PM 119
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. Black curry dal
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c. Black curry dal, 1 scrambled egg, 1/4 cucumber
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Date 05/12
Blood Pressure 137/78 pulse 83
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 68
no bs
no bs
no bs
5:00 PM 104
no bs
Breakfast 1/2 c. mixed almonds & walnuts,
Snack breakfast smoothie
Lunch swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Snack 1 stalk celery w/ almond butter
Dinner 4 oz salmon, 1 c split peas in coconut milk curry. 1/4 cucumber
Exercise day off
Date 05/13
Blood Pressure 150/86 pulse 93
Blood Sugars
8:00 AM 94
no bs
no bs
4:00 PM 107
7:00 PM 73
no bs
Breakfast breakfast smoothie, 1 scrambled egg
Snack 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch Cucumber, avocado & 1/4 beet salad w/ dressing (2 tbsp)
Snack 1/4. c walnuts
Dinner Panang Veggie Curry
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good weekend. My logs are a bit lacking, I know. I wanted to see what would happen if I just stuck to the diet & didn't hover over my blood sugar. After all, I have a continuous glucose monitor for that. So, I took my brain off-line for Saturday & most of Sunday. It WORKED. My blood sugar stayed stable & steady right where it should be, my graph on my CGM stayed in a nice flatish line. It was a good weekend.
Date 05/11
Blood Pressure 123/79 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 96
10:30 PM 88
12:00 PM 89
4:00 PM 85
8:00 PM 66
10:00 PM 119
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. Black curry dal
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c. Black curry dal, 1 scrambled egg, 1/4 cucumber
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
Date 05/12
Blood Pressure 137/78 pulse 83
Blood Sugars
7:00 AM 68
no bs
no bs
no bs
5:00 PM 104
no bs
Breakfast 1/2 c. mixed almonds & walnuts,
Snack breakfast smoothie
Lunch swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Snack 1 stalk celery w/ almond butter
Dinner 4 oz salmon, 1 c split peas in coconut milk curry. 1/4 cucumber
Exercise day off
Date 05/13
Blood Pressure 150/86 pulse 93
Blood Sugars
8:00 AM 94
no bs
no bs
4:00 PM 107
7:00 PM 73
no bs
Breakfast breakfast smoothie, 1 scrambled egg
Snack 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch Cucumber, avocado & 1/4 beet salad w/ dressing (2 tbsp)
Snack 1/4. c walnuts
Dinner Panang Veggie Curry
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good weekend. My logs are a bit lacking, I know. I wanted to see what would happen if I just stuck to the diet & didn't hover over my blood sugar. After all, I have a continuous glucose monitor for that. So, I took my brain off-line for Saturday & most of Sunday. It WORKED. My blood sugar stayed stable & steady right where it should be, my graph on my CGM stayed in a nice flatish line. It was a good weekend.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Kate's Corner - Thursday 05/10
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 141/80 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 95
10:30 AM 93
12:00 PM 96
4:00 PM 108
7:00 PM 73
no bedtime bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. Black curry dal
Snack 1/2 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz. tilapia w/ steamed broccoli & snow peas.
Exercise AM Yoga 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. I didn't want to walk, but I did it anyway. Go me. See, I hate exercise. Why? Because it freaking hurts, that's why. Whenever I walk, do yoga, do anything, I get this weird burning tingle in my hips. If I keep going, it travels down my legs and sits on my feet. It doesn't stop until I do. It hurts. Unfortunately, I have to keep going, because even though I've made a ton of monumental changes to my diet, we all know that just changing one's diet isn't enough. In order to lose this weight and get healthy, I've got to move. So, I'm moving. I hate ever step of it, but I'm doing it.
I'm starting to think that's what its about. Yeah, it sucks, but I'm doing it anyway. Mostly because there's a whole lot of world out there, and I'm going to have to be mobile in order to see it. Also, I'm bound, set & determined not to end up like my mom. She died at 60, with bad knees, bad hips and a bad heart. The heart was what got her, but the knees & hips didn't help.
I'm not going there. I'm just not going to be like that.
So, I move. It hurts. I keep going.
Blood Pressure 141/80 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 95
10:30 AM 93
12:00 PM 96
4:00 PM 108
7:00 PM 73
no bedtime bs
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack swiss chard salad w/ 2 tbsp dressing (newman's own), 1/4 beet & 1/2 avocado. 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c. Black curry dal
Snack 1/2 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz. tilapia w/ steamed broccoli & snow peas.
Exercise AM Yoga 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This was a good day. I didn't want to walk, but I did it anyway. Go me. See, I hate exercise. Why? Because it freaking hurts, that's why. Whenever I walk, do yoga, do anything, I get this weird burning tingle in my hips. If I keep going, it travels down my legs and sits on my feet. It doesn't stop until I do. It hurts. Unfortunately, I have to keep going, because even though I've made a ton of monumental changes to my diet, we all know that just changing one's diet isn't enough. In order to lose this weight and get healthy, I've got to move. So, I'm moving. I hate ever step of it, but I'm doing it.
I'm starting to think that's what its about. Yeah, it sucks, but I'm doing it anyway. Mostly because there's a whole lot of world out there, and I'm going to have to be mobile in order to see it. Also, I'm bound, set & determined not to end up like my mom. She died at 60, with bad knees, bad hips and a bad heart. The heart was what got her, but the knees & hips didn't help.
I'm not going there. I'm just not going to be like that.
So, I move. It hurts. I keep going.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Kate's Corner - Wednesday 05/09
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 129/81 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 94
10:30 AM 102
12:00 PM 93
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 63
No Bedtime BS
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp Newman's own balsamic vinaigrette, 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c un-refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 lg celery stalks
Dinner 1.5 c. black curry dal, 1 scrambled egg, and 1/4 cucumber
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo bits:
This was an interesting day. I had about 4.75 hours of sleep (not nearly enough), and was very tired all day. Still stuck to schedule, which is AWESOME. I didn't have an afternoon walk, and I'm still counting the day a win. I tried. I grabbed my iPod at 3:30 PM, and walked outside to begin my walking. I got around the corner and just . . .stopped. My legs didn't want to move anymore. So, I sat down in the sun dribbling through the clouds and watched a butterfly on the magnolia trees outside my building and listened to Enya. It was an awesomely relaxing way to spend my afternoon break, and it was just what I needed in that moment.
My blood sugar has been holding steady all week, even with the reduced basal rate, which is awesome. Overall, things are going well.
Blood Pressure 129/81 pulse 80
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 94
10:30 AM 102
12:00 PM 93
4:00 PM 85
7:30 PM 63
No Bedtime BS
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack swiss chard salad w/ 1/4 cucumber, 1/4 beet & 2 tbsp Newman's own balsamic vinaigrette, 1/4 c. almonds
Lunch 1 c un-refried beans
Snack 1/4 c. almond butter, 3 lg celery stalks
Dinner 1.5 c. black curry dal, 1 scrambled egg, and 1/4 cucumber
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo bits:
This was an interesting day. I had about 4.75 hours of sleep (not nearly enough), and was very tired all day. Still stuck to schedule, which is AWESOME. I didn't have an afternoon walk, and I'm still counting the day a win. I tried. I grabbed my iPod at 3:30 PM, and walked outside to begin my walking. I got around the corner and just . . .stopped. My legs didn't want to move anymore. So, I sat down in the sun dribbling through the clouds and watched a butterfly on the magnolia trees outside my building and listened to Enya. It was an awesomely relaxing way to spend my afternoon break, and it was just what I needed in that moment.
My blood sugar has been holding steady all week, even with the reduced basal rate, which is awesome. Overall, things are going well.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Kate's Corner - EGGS
I am having the worst cravings for eggs. Hard boiled, or a big plate of scrambled eggs.
I can eat eggs on this plan, but we aren't eating them often. Still, I could murder a 3 egg & bean omelet.
EGGS!
I can eat eggs on this plan, but we aren't eating them often. Still, I could murder a 3 egg & bean omelet.
EGGS!
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 05/08
The Crunchy Bits:
Blood Pressure 124/84 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
6:30 AM 87
No AM bs
12:00 PM 118
3:55 PM 76
7:15 PM 118
12:00 AM 104
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack no snack
Lunch 1 c. split pea coconut milk curry, swiss chard salad w/ a1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, & 1 tbsp newmans own balsamic vinegarette.
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c retried beans, 1/4 c. guacamole & carrot sticks
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo bits:
This day was a win. I was tired & achy from a 3:30 AM low (sugar dipped to 46). Adjusted all of my basal rates & my sugar STILL stayed steady on. Ate what I should, did what I should, and while I was tired, had a pretty good day.
I wonder why it is that I'm able to write paragraphs about the bad days, but only a few lines about the good ones. Maybe you just had to be there.
Blood Pressure 124/84 pulse 89
Blood Sugars
6:30 AM 87
No AM bs
12:00 PM 118
3:55 PM 76
7:15 PM 118
12:00 AM 104
Breakfast Breakfast Smoothie
Snack no snack
Lunch 1 c. split pea coconut milk curry, swiss chard salad w/ a1/2 avocado, 1/4 beet, & 1 tbsp newmans own balsamic vinegarette.
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 1 c retried beans, 1/4 c. guacamole & carrot sticks
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk
The Froo-Froo bits:
This day was a win. I was tired & achy from a 3:30 AM low (sugar dipped to 46). Adjusted all of my basal rates & my sugar STILL stayed steady on. Ate what I should, did what I should, and while I was tired, had a pretty good day.
I wonder why it is that I'm able to write paragraphs about the bad days, but only a few lines about the good ones. Maybe you just had to be there.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Kate's Corner - 05/07/2012
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/07
Blood Pressure 130/82 pulse 88
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 104
10:45 AM 93
12:14 PM 88
3:30 PM 91
55
68
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1c Refried Beans, Swiss Chard salad w/ ginger dressing
Snack 1/2 c. Hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ hummus & steamed veggies w/ curried coconut milk sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk (afternoon)
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Yesterday was a hard, but good day. I added a daily walk into my routine. It kicked my butt. I started out okay, w/ my blood sugar at 91. The first 5 minutes were fine. Then the burning started. I had this tight burning sensation all down my left leg. I kept walking. I'm pretty sure that I can walk that one out over time. That's also part of the reason that I started with yoga FIRST. Stretch THEN work, then stretch again. My blood sugar when I got back to my desk after a 15 minute walk (which was one time around the block outside) was 66.
Exercise has a very profound & almost jarring effect on blood sugar: at least it does for me. This morning at 3:30 AM, I had my sleep interrupted by a low sugar reaction. My sugar was 46. I got up and took care of it, but that's scary as hell. When I woke up for the day, I adjusted ALL Of my basal rates. I'm taking less insulin (again). That seems to be a running theme. It also seems like my body can't get rid of my need for the stuff fast enough. I'm aiming for slow & steady wins the race & my body is champing at the bit.
Date 05/07
Blood Pressure 130/82 pulse 88
Blood Sugars
5:45 AM 104
10:45 AM 93
12:14 PM 88
3:30 PM 91
55
68
Breakfast Breakfast smoothie
Snack 1/4 c walnuts
Lunch 1c Refried Beans, Swiss Chard salad w/ ginger dressing
Snack 1/2 c. Hummus w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ hummus & steamed veggies w/ curried coconut milk sauce
Exercise AM Yoga, 15 min walk (afternoon)
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Yesterday was a hard, but good day. I added a daily walk into my routine. It kicked my butt. I started out okay, w/ my blood sugar at 91. The first 5 minutes were fine. Then the burning started. I had this tight burning sensation all down my left leg. I kept walking. I'm pretty sure that I can walk that one out over time. That's also part of the reason that I started with yoga FIRST. Stretch THEN work, then stretch again. My blood sugar when I got back to my desk after a 15 minute walk (which was one time around the block outside) was 66.
Exercise has a very profound & almost jarring effect on blood sugar: at least it does for me. This morning at 3:30 AM, I had my sleep interrupted by a low sugar reaction. My sugar was 46. I got up and took care of it, but that's scary as hell. When I woke up for the day, I adjusted ALL Of my basal rates. I'm taking less insulin (again). That seems to be a running theme. It also seems like my body can't get rid of my need for the stuff fast enough. I'm aiming for slow & steady wins the race & my body is champing at the bit.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Kate's Corner - Checking in
I weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 4.5 pounds. I went from 246.5 to 242.
I didn't prepare for this to work.
See, I'm used to diets/exercise programs that don't work so well. That's part of why I give up so easily. Also, I was TERRIFIED that I had somehow broken myself, and that there was simply no way to lose weight. That I was stuck like this.
I'm not.
That's cool. . .and terrifying.
I'll get over it.
Other than that, I'm seeing a steady decrease of my blood sugar and overall insulin usage which is GOOD. I've halved one of my blood pressure medications (don't try that w/o talking to your doc) b/c I was getting dizzy in the mornings doing yoga. I'm also seeing a steady increase in my flexibility and energy. I'm still not up for doing a can-can in the middle of the floor, but I'm getting there.
So, my goal for this week is to keep doing what I've been doing, and add an afternoon walk to my routine.
Week one is over, and I'm calling it a win.
I didn't prepare for this to work.
See, I'm used to diets/exercise programs that don't work so well. That's part of why I give up so easily. Also, I was TERRIFIED that I had somehow broken myself, and that there was simply no way to lose weight. That I was stuck like this.
I'm not.
That's cool. . .and terrifying.
I'll get over it.
Other than that, I'm seeing a steady decrease of my blood sugar and overall insulin usage which is GOOD. I've halved one of my blood pressure medications (don't try that w/o talking to your doc) b/c I was getting dizzy in the mornings doing yoga. I'm also seeing a steady increase in my flexibility and energy. I'm still not up for doing a can-can in the middle of the floor, but I'm getting there.
So, my goal for this week is to keep doing what I've been doing, and add an afternoon walk to my routine.
Week one is over, and I'm calling it a win.
Kate's Corner - The weekend of 05/04 - 05/06
This was a GREAT weekend. Mostly b/c I stayed on diet. I've always done fine with a new ay of eating/exercising - until the weekend hit. Then everything would got to hell, and I'd give up. I even tried taking weekends "off", but that never helped either.
This past weekend, we stayed on track. We intentionally took Saturday off from working out, and that helped a TON.
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/04
Blood Pressure 148/83 pulse 87
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 61
10:00 AM 93
12:00 PM 104
3:00 PM 132
8:00 PM 83
No b/t bs
Breakfast Diabetic bitter melon crimson smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ cucumber, avocado & beet & ginger dressing
1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c stewed kidney beans w/ 1/4 c almonds
Snack 1/4 c almond butter, 1/4 c almonds, 3 stalks celery
Dinner 4 oz white fish w/ cilantro chutney, steamed broccoli & snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga
Date 05/05
Blood Pressure 129/83 pulse 86
Blood Sugars
6:15 AM 56
7:30 AM 74
12:00 PM 70
no afternoon bs
7:00 PM 109
9:00 PM 121
Breakfast 1/2 c almonds & walnuts, Breakfast smoothie
Snack no am snack
Lunch 1 scrambled egg w/ 1/3 cucumber & 1/4 c. hummus
Snack 1/2 c. almonds & walnuts
Dinner 5 cooked shrimp in garlic sauce, miso soup & lettuce salad w/ ginger dresseing. Plate of steamed veggies
Exercise Day off
Date 05/06
Blood Pressure 131/85 pulse 79
Blood Sugars 6:45 AM 63
no am bs
12:30 PM 116
no afternoon bs
7:00 PM 125
no bedtime bs
Breakfast 1/4 c. nuts (mixed walnuts & almonds), & breakfast smoothie
Snack no am snack
Lunch 2 eggs, 1/2 c. un-re-fried beans (vegan), 1/4 c. guacamole, 4 tomato slices
Snack 1/4 c. combined almonds, walnuts & garbanzo nuts
Dinner 1.5 c. dal w/ coconut milk & cilantro
Exercise AM yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Friday afternoon, I had the hungry horrors. So, I went upstairs to our cafeteria, walked past all the not good for me stuff, and got a package of almonds that I split across two "meals". It worked too. Talked to Nick about it, and we're going to add a little more protein to our diet on the non-fish days. Probably eggs.
I really couldn't be happier about how this weekend went. We stuck to eating plan & even took a day off exercise (which was sorely needed). We went to the movies (AVENGERS ROCKS), and even went out to dinner! The important thing was that we had a fun and relaxing weekend, and stuck to the basics that we'd set for boundaries. That for me is HUGE. Weekends were always where I personally screwed everything up. I'm so glad that didn't happen this time.
This past weekend, we stayed on track. We intentionally took Saturday off from working out, and that helped a TON.
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/04
Blood Pressure 148/83 pulse 87
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 61
10:00 AM 93
12:00 PM 104
3:00 PM 132
8:00 PM 83
No b/t bs
Breakfast Diabetic bitter melon crimson smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ cucumber, avocado & beet & ginger dressing
1/4 c. walnuts
Lunch 1 c stewed kidney beans w/ 1/4 c almonds
Snack 1/4 c almond butter, 1/4 c almonds, 3 stalks celery
Dinner 4 oz white fish w/ cilantro chutney, steamed broccoli & snow peas
Exercise AM Yoga
Date 05/05
Blood Pressure 129/83 pulse 86
Blood Sugars
6:15 AM 56
7:30 AM 74
12:00 PM 70
no afternoon bs
7:00 PM 109
9:00 PM 121
Breakfast 1/2 c almonds & walnuts, Breakfast smoothie
Snack no am snack
Lunch 1 scrambled egg w/ 1/3 cucumber & 1/4 c. hummus
Snack 1/2 c. almonds & walnuts
Dinner 5 cooked shrimp in garlic sauce, miso soup & lettuce salad w/ ginger dresseing. Plate of steamed veggies
Exercise Day off
Date 05/06
Blood Pressure 131/85 pulse 79
Blood Sugars 6:45 AM 63
no am bs
12:30 PM 116
no afternoon bs
7:00 PM 125
no bedtime bs
Breakfast 1/4 c. nuts (mixed walnuts & almonds), & breakfast smoothie
Snack no am snack
Lunch 2 eggs, 1/2 c. un-re-fried beans (vegan), 1/4 c. guacamole, 4 tomato slices
Snack 1/4 c. combined almonds, walnuts & garbanzo nuts
Dinner 1.5 c. dal w/ coconut milk & cilantro
Exercise AM yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Friday afternoon, I had the hungry horrors. So, I went upstairs to our cafeteria, walked past all the not good for me stuff, and got a package of almonds that I split across two "meals". It worked too. Talked to Nick about it, and we're going to add a little more protein to our diet on the non-fish days. Probably eggs.
I really couldn't be happier about how this weekend went. We stuck to eating plan & even took a day off exercise (which was sorely needed). We went to the movies (AVENGERS ROCKS), and even went out to dinner! The important thing was that we had a fun and relaxing weekend, and stuck to the basics that we'd set for boundaries. That for me is HUGE. Weekends were always where I personally screwed everything up. I'm so glad that didn't happen this time.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Nick's initial post
I am going to post punk-rock style, which means fast and succinct. I hope to inform and entertain.
In 2006 I had spent the past 4 years getting from pre-diabetic and 225 lbs. to fighting-trim and 139 lbs. I had no coach, no diet plan aside from my own approximation of Weight Watchers POINTS, and only occasional company (for which I was grateful when I received it) during my exercise regimen.
In 2012 for reasons that are my responsibility and irrelevant to this blog I have gained weight back to 191.5 lbs (weighed today, Friday May 4th, 2012) and become sedentary over the past nine months. This is no longer acceptable, nor is the poor health of my life partners and low-quality diet that I had been feeding them.
This is a powerful and intentional life change that we have considered before undertaking. It is a challenge for me because I have already climbed this mountain of fitness with hate (of self and others) but now I must learn to climb it with love.
I think I'm turning Japanese.
In 2006 I had spent the past 4 years getting from pre-diabetic and 225 lbs. to fighting-trim and 139 lbs. I had no coach, no diet plan aside from my own approximation of Weight Watchers POINTS, and only occasional company (for which I was grateful when I received it) during my exercise regimen.
In 2012 for reasons that are my responsibility and irrelevant to this blog I have gained weight back to 191.5 lbs (weighed today, Friday May 4th, 2012) and become sedentary over the past nine months. This is no longer acceptable, nor is the poor health of my life partners and low-quality diet that I had been feeding them.
This is a powerful and intentional life change that we have considered before undertaking. It is a challenge for me because I have already climbed this mountain of fitness with hate (of self and others) but now I must learn to climb it with love.
I think I'm turning Japanese.
Kate's Corner - Almond Butter
Almond butter is AWESOME! Its delicious, and good for you. It contains great amounts of iron and the kinds of fats that help.
It is NOT however, a good fashion accessory.
I was just eating my celery with some almond butter & SPLAT - a bit dollop of the stuff landed right no my chest!
Like I said - not so much as a fashion accessory.
It is NOT however, a good fashion accessory.
I was just eating my celery with some almond butter & SPLAT - a bit dollop of the stuff landed right no my chest!
Like I said - not so much as a fashion accessory.
Kate's Corner - May 3, 2012
The Cruncy Bits:
Blood Pressure 131/80 pulse 100
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 70
9:00 AM 73
12:00 PM
3:30 PM 122
7:30 PM 60
Forgot to check @ Bedtime
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack no AM snack (@ home w/ panic attack)
Lunch Swiss Chard salad w/ avocado & cucumber & ginger dressing, stewed kidney beans
Snack 1/4 c. Guacamole w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Kidney bean salad w/ cucumber & ginger dressing, 1 c. Dal w/ cilantro & coconut milk (1 tbsp)
1 sq chocolate (1/2 inch by 1 inch,72%)
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This day was both good & bad.
The good - well, look at those numbers! What I haven't yet reported here (and I probably should) is my daily totals on my insulin usage. I've dropped my insulin usage by 20 units so far (average). That's not chump change, folks. That's a significant reduction of insulin. That's GOOD. Excess insulin prevents weight loss & also insulin is one of those drugs that the more you need it & use it, the less it works: that's called insulin resistance and its VERY BAD. Picture it this way - you drink a glass of water, your thirst is sated. The next day, it takes a glass & a half. The day after 2 glasses and so on until there simply isn't enough water to sate your thirst. That's what insulin resistance is like. Thankfully, I've not yet reached that charming plateau of poor health. I'm not going to if I can help it.
The bad - I can count on one hand the number of panic attacks I've had in my life. Unfortunately, that number increased by one yesterday morning. I was having a jittery morning,but was holding it together because that's what I DO. I got into the shower, and I was washing my hair, thinking about the day & life in general, and then. . .I don't know. I got overwhelmed. I don't really remember much of it. I was washing my hair & then I was crying. Nick helped a TON (as he is wont to do), and tucked me in on the couch for 20 minutes. I felt better then. Nick compared panic attacks to emotional diarrhea, and I have to agree. I know that this was b/c I'm not eating to cover my emotions any more. I just hope that from now on, I'm able to head that off at the pass. I REALLY don't like those. I'd much rather maintain control (okay, stop laughing all of you). I spent the rest of the day pretty jittery & thin skinned, but okay otherwise. Rough day, but I'm proud of the fact that I didn't trash my diet or routine. That's important for me. That's where I fall down when I try to get things going in the right direction. This time, I didn't fall off track.
Blood Pressure 131/80 pulse 100
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 70
9:00 AM 73
12:00 PM
3:30 PM 122
7:30 PM 60
Forgot to check @ Bedtime
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack no AM snack (@ home w/ panic attack)
Lunch Swiss Chard salad w/ avocado & cucumber & ginger dressing, stewed kidney beans
Snack 1/4 c. Guacamole w/ 3 celery stalks & 1/4 cucumber
Dinner Kidney bean salad w/ cucumber & ginger dressing, 1 c. Dal w/ cilantro & coconut milk (1 tbsp)
1 sq chocolate (1/2 inch by 1 inch,72%)
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
This day was both good & bad.
The good - well, look at those numbers! What I haven't yet reported here (and I probably should) is my daily totals on my insulin usage. I've dropped my insulin usage by 20 units so far (average). That's not chump change, folks. That's a significant reduction of insulin. That's GOOD. Excess insulin prevents weight loss & also insulin is one of those drugs that the more you need it & use it, the less it works: that's called insulin resistance and its VERY BAD. Picture it this way - you drink a glass of water, your thirst is sated. The next day, it takes a glass & a half. The day after 2 glasses and so on until there simply isn't enough water to sate your thirst. That's what insulin resistance is like. Thankfully, I've not yet reached that charming plateau of poor health. I'm not going to if I can help it.
The bad - I can count on one hand the number of panic attacks I've had in my life. Unfortunately, that number increased by one yesterday morning. I was having a jittery morning,but was holding it together because that's what I DO. I got into the shower, and I was washing my hair, thinking about the day & life in general, and then. . .I don't know. I got overwhelmed. I don't really remember much of it. I was washing my hair & then I was crying. Nick helped a TON (as he is wont to do), and tucked me in on the couch for 20 minutes. I felt better then. Nick compared panic attacks to emotional diarrhea, and I have to agree. I know that this was b/c I'm not eating to cover my emotions any more. I just hope that from now on, I'm able to head that off at the pass. I REALLY don't like those. I'd much rather maintain control (okay, stop laughing all of you). I spent the rest of the day pretty jittery & thin skinned, but okay otherwise. Rough day, but I'm proud of the fact that I didn't trash my diet or routine. That's important for me. That's where I fall down when I try to get things going in the right direction. This time, I didn't fall off track.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Kate's Corner - May 2, 2012
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/02
Blood Pressure 132/88 pulse 90
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 121
10:45 AM 105
12:00 PM 82
3:30 PM 153
8:30 PM 71
10:30 PM 92
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ grated beet & ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnuts
Lunch Split peas w/ bitter melon cocnut milk curry
Snack 1/2 c. hummus
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ coconut oil, black pepper & cilantro, 1/2 c. stewed kidney beans & 1/4 c. guacamole.
Exercise AM. Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Overall, this was a pretty good day emotionally. I felt good, and stayed up-beat. Almost didn't need my usual 1PM nap (but took it anyway as quiet time away from my desk).
One thing I'm noticing about our new routine is that I get TIRED at night. For a long time, tired was just a state of being for me. I was always tired. Since Tuesday, I've been waking up pretty awake, and feeling alert for most of the day. I'm needing my afternoon nap less & less. However, 9PM hits, and I pumpkin out. I get drowsy & need - absolutely need like I need air - to lay down and go to sleep.
I'm not fighting it. I figure this will either get better in time, or it won't. If it doesn't and the pay off is that I'm alert during the day, I'll take it.
Date 05/02
Blood Pressure 132/88 pulse 90
Blood Sugars
6:00 AM 121
10:45 AM 105
12:00 PM 82
3:30 PM 153
8:30 PM 71
10:30 PM 92
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ grated beet & ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnuts
Lunch Split peas w/ bitter melon cocnut milk curry
Snack 1/2 c. hummus
Dinner 4 oz salmon w/ coconut oil, black pepper & cilantro, 1/2 c. stewed kidney beans & 1/4 c. guacamole.
Exercise AM. Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Overall, this was a pretty good day emotionally. I felt good, and stayed up-beat. Almost didn't need my usual 1PM nap (but took it anyway as quiet time away from my desk).
One thing I'm noticing about our new routine is that I get TIRED at night. For a long time, tired was just a state of being for me. I was always tired. Since Tuesday, I've been waking up pretty awake, and feeling alert for most of the day. I'm needing my afternoon nap less & less. However, 9PM hits, and I pumpkin out. I get drowsy & need - absolutely need like I need air - to lay down and go to sleep.
I'm not fighting it. I figure this will either get better in time, or it won't. If it doesn't and the pay off is that I'm alert during the day, I'll take it.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Administrative Note
Hey everyone,
I've decided to allow comments. I'm going to be moderating them, however. I've decided that hurtful people don't get to be heard on my blog. So, if you choose to comment, you'll receive this message:
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. I'm moderating these b/c I'm not allowing excessive negativity to be spread in the world. So, I'll be reading your comments, and they'll be published as long as they aren't hurtful.
Thanks,
Kate
I'll be checking throughout the day for these, and your comments will be up as soon as I can get them there (barring weekends, b/c I don't compute on the weekends). Have fun!
I've decided to allow comments. I'm going to be moderating them, however. I've decided that hurtful people don't get to be heard on my blog. So, if you choose to comment, you'll receive this message:
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. I'm moderating these b/c I'm not allowing excessive negativity to be spread in the world. So, I'll be reading your comments, and they'll be published as long as they aren't hurtful.
Thanks,
Kate
I'll be checking throughout the day for these, and your comments will be up as soon as I can get them there (barring weekends, b/c I don't compute on the weekends). Have fun!
Kate's Corner - Tuesday 05/01
Yesterday was not a good day. I didn't fall down on the diet, or the exercise goals I'd made for myself for this week, but holy crap did I have a BAD DAY.
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/01
Blood Pressure 133/80 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:50 AM:118
10:00 AM: 151
12:00 PM: 144
3:30 PM: 177
7:30 PM: 67
9:30 AM: 111
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ grated beet & ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnuts
Lunch 1.5 c. Dal, 1/4 c. Hummus, 1/2 cucumber
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks
Dinner Split peas w/ bitter melon coconut milk curry, 1 square (1/2 inch by 1 inch) of 72% dark chocolate (yeah, the chocolate was a bit too much for what my goals are)
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Yesterday was a HARD day. I'm an emotional eater, meaning that I bury my negative emotions with food. Well, I haven't done that for two days, and like the undead, my negative emotions are rising up from their food-filled grave.
So, what's the big deal? Well, I'm dealing with a lot of screaming at myself in my head, and a TON of self-loathing. Seriously, I'm looking at myself and going "What the f^@& were you THINKING letting yourself get to this place?!?!?" I feel disgusting, I look disgusting, and I'm not enjoying it one bit. I'm having a hard time being touched. I'm also discovering that when I don't bury my emotions with bad-for-me foods, my instincts are to pull away from everyone. That's not so good for keeping up my level of intimacy with my life partners. Its also just not good for where my head is right now. My logical brain knows that pulling away isn't helpful to anyone, including me. So on top of the self-loathing,and the self-recriminations, I have a steady stream of my logical brain telling myself to not run screaming from the building, to stand and take the emotional hit on the chin and to do it in front of an audience. No, it doesn't really matter in my head that the "audience" is made up of people who love me; they are still there, and still able to see it. That's scary for me.
I know that self-recriminations aren't helpful. I know that self-loathing is toxic. The problem is that its already there, and I've been burying it for years. I know also that disconnecting is dangerous, and I'm fighting that tooth & nail, while trying to deal with the other crap as well.
Its hard to learn new tricks, even when you aren't that old.
I know I can do this. I have loving support all over the place, and in a way I've never had before. I have all the tools I need for the physical portions of this change, and I just need to find a few tools for my brain.
The Crunchy Bits:
Date 05/01
Blood Pressure 133/80 pulse 78
Blood Sugars
5:50 AM:118
10:00 AM: 151
12:00 PM: 144
3:30 PM: 177
7:30 PM: 67
9:30 AM: 111
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss chard salad w/ grated beet & ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnuts
Lunch 1.5 c. Dal, 1/4 c. Hummus, 1/2 cucumber
Snack 1/4 c. hummus w/ 3 celery stalks
Dinner Split peas w/ bitter melon coconut milk curry, 1 square (1/2 inch by 1 inch) of 72% dark chocolate (yeah, the chocolate was a bit too much for what my goals are)
Exercise AM Yoga
The Froo-Froo Bits:
Yesterday was a HARD day. I'm an emotional eater, meaning that I bury my negative emotions with food. Well, I haven't done that for two days, and like the undead, my negative emotions are rising up from their food-filled grave.
So, what's the big deal? Well, I'm dealing with a lot of screaming at myself in my head, and a TON of self-loathing. Seriously, I'm looking at myself and going "What the f^@& were you THINKING letting yourself get to this place?!?!?" I feel disgusting, I look disgusting, and I'm not enjoying it one bit. I'm having a hard time being touched. I'm also discovering that when I don't bury my emotions with bad-for-me foods, my instincts are to pull away from everyone. That's not so good for keeping up my level of intimacy with my life partners. Its also just not good for where my head is right now. My logical brain knows that pulling away isn't helpful to anyone, including me. So on top of the self-loathing,and the self-recriminations, I have a steady stream of my logical brain telling myself to not run screaming from the building, to stand and take the emotional hit on the chin and to do it in front of an audience. No, it doesn't really matter in my head that the "audience" is made up of people who love me; they are still there, and still able to see it. That's scary for me.
I know that self-recriminations aren't helpful. I know that self-loathing is toxic. The problem is that its already there, and I've been burying it for years. I know also that disconnecting is dangerous, and I'm fighting that tooth & nail, while trying to deal with the other crap as well.
Its hard to learn new tricks, even when you aren't that old.
I know I can do this. I have loving support all over the place, and in a way I've never had before. I have all the tools I need for the physical portions of this change, and I just need to find a few tools for my brain.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Kate's Corner - The first day
I started yesterday by weighing myself. I was NOT amused by the number the scale showed me, but neither was I surprised by it. I weigh 246.5 pounds. At the most generous I can be with myself, I need to lose 100 lbs. That's a LOT of oranges. Not an impossible amount, but still quite a lot. That's a whole other person.
So, how did yesterday go? Pretty well.
We got up at 5:45 AM, drank our tea, THEN remembered our Good Belly Straight shots (pro-biotic supplement) and took those. Nick made smoothies - WHICH ROCKED. I'll admit now to being worried that they would taste like ass. I mean, seriously - who'd think that throwing a bunch of raw veggies into a blender & hitting the "KILL" button would end up tasting that nommy?!?! I was more than pleasantly surprised. We drank only a little bit of smoothie & then did yoga. After yoga, we finished the smoothies & got into the shower.
Yesterday being the first day, we took a LONG time to do all this. It doesn't look like much writing it down, but it took about 4 hours. Most of it was that it was an entirely new routine.
I'll let you all know now, that yoga is a departure from what is indicated in the book. Why yoga then? Honestly, its the money. We just spent quite a bit of money on the set up for this (i.e. blender, distiller, sundries), and I simply don't have the money to spend on Qigong DVDs. Nick & I were talking about it last night, and we're definitely interested, but we just can't swing it right now.
The crunchy bits:
For those of you interested, below are yesterday's numbers regarding my blood sugar & what I ate & such suches.
Date 04/30
Blood Pressure 149/98 pulse 84
Blood Sugars
(fasting) 262
(10:34 AM) 222
(12:00 PM) 156
(2:00 PM) 199
(7:30 PM) 78
(9:30 PM) 106
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard salad w/ ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnut halves
Lunch 1/4 bitter melon & 1/2 avacado sauteed in coonut oil, ginger, garlic & red pepper flakes w/ 1.5 c Dal
Snack 1/2 c hummus w/ 1/2 cucumber & 3 celery stalks
Dinner 4 oz steamed salmon, 1/4 c. steamed carrots & 1/4 c. steamed parsnips
Snack 2 tbsp walnuts
Exercise AM Yoga
Distilled water: 4 18 oz bottles.
The Froo-froo bits:
So, how did it feel? Pretty darned good. I started the day out with my sugar high but it was my own fault for over-eating the night before (DAMN YOU CHICKEN BIRYANI!!). I watched my sugar come down steadily through the day, with a minimum of corrective bolus and no meal bolus.
I took my normal nap at lunch time (1PM) and instead of waking up & NEEDING a cup of coffee, I woke up awake, and had a greatly reduced nap time.
My spirits & energy were up, but not by tons. However, it WAS the first day, so I wasn't really expecting anything.
The food was tasty, and quite a lot of it was stuff I'd either never eaten before, or had tried and disliked. However, I must say, having food prepared well can make ALL the difference.
It was an exhausting day, but a good one. I felt good about it when I went to bed.
So, how did yesterday go? Pretty well.
We got up at 5:45 AM, drank our tea, THEN remembered our Good Belly Straight shots (pro-biotic supplement) and took those. Nick made smoothies - WHICH ROCKED. I'll admit now to being worried that they would taste like ass. I mean, seriously - who'd think that throwing a bunch of raw veggies into a blender & hitting the "KILL" button would end up tasting that nommy?!?! I was more than pleasantly surprised. We drank only a little bit of smoothie & then did yoga. After yoga, we finished the smoothies & got into the shower.
Yesterday being the first day, we took a LONG time to do all this. It doesn't look like much writing it down, but it took about 4 hours. Most of it was that it was an entirely new routine.
I'll let you all know now, that yoga is a departure from what is indicated in the book. Why yoga then? Honestly, its the money. We just spent quite a bit of money on the set up for this (i.e. blender, distiller, sundries), and I simply don't have the money to spend on Qigong DVDs. Nick & I were talking about it last night, and we're definitely interested, but we just can't swing it right now.
The crunchy bits:
For those of you interested, below are yesterday's numbers regarding my blood sugar & what I ate & such suches.
Date 04/30
Blood Pressure 149/98 pulse 84
Blood Sugars
(fasting) 262
(10:34 AM) 222
(12:00 PM) 156
(2:00 PM) 199
(7:30 PM) 78
(9:30 PM) 106
Breakfast Diabetic Formula Crimson Sunrise smoothie
Snack Swiss Chard salad w/ ginger dressing & 3 tbsp walnut halves
Lunch 1/4 bitter melon & 1/2 avacado sauteed in coonut oil, ginger, garlic & red pepper flakes w/ 1.5 c Dal
Snack 1/2 c hummus w/ 1/2 cucumber & 3 celery stalks
Dinner 4 oz steamed salmon, 1/4 c. steamed carrots & 1/4 c. steamed parsnips
Snack 2 tbsp walnuts
Exercise AM Yoga
Distilled water: 4 18 oz bottles.
The Froo-froo bits:
So, how did it feel? Pretty darned good. I started the day out with my sugar high but it was my own fault for over-eating the night before (DAMN YOU CHICKEN BIRYANI!!). I watched my sugar come down steadily through the day, with a minimum of corrective bolus and no meal bolus.
I took my normal nap at lunch time (1PM) and instead of waking up & NEEDING a cup of coffee, I woke up awake, and had a greatly reduced nap time.
My spirits & energy were up, but not by tons. However, it WAS the first day, so I wasn't really expecting anything.
The food was tasty, and quite a lot of it was stuff I'd either never eaten before, or had tried and disliked. However, I must say, having food prepared well can make ALL the difference.
It was an exhausting day, but a good one. I felt good about it when I went to bed.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Setting up, Starting up.
So, we talked about it. Nick & Bronnie are going to be blogging with me on this site. We're all going to document our progress on this journey, because we are all taking it together.
For those of you who aren't aware, Nick & Bronnie are my life partners. We all live together, and love each other and are committed to one another's best. So, after I got so sick, and Bronnie was diagnosed as prediabetic, we agreed we needed to "DO SOMETHING". Nick found this plan, and we're all doing it together.
So, starting tomorrow, I plan to blog daily from Monday through Friday. I'm sorry, but my weekends are mine, and I don't like sharing them w/ a computer (Yeah, I'm just old fashioned that way). On Monday's I'll report my weekend progress, as well as my weight and such-suches. All posts from me will have "Kate's Corner -" listed in the subject line for ease of viewing, and also so that the blog doesn't sound like I've gone a bit round the bend as other people's "voices" come through.
Nick & Bronnie will set their schedules as they will, but you'll be hearing from them.
This was a quick post to let you know how you'll be hearing from me, and when, and to introduce Nick & Broonie.
For those of you who aren't aware, Nick & Bronnie are my life partners. We all live together, and love each other and are committed to one another's best. So, after I got so sick, and Bronnie was diagnosed as prediabetic, we agreed we needed to "DO SOMETHING". Nick found this plan, and we're all doing it together.
So, starting tomorrow, I plan to blog daily from Monday through Friday. I'm sorry, but my weekends are mine, and I don't like sharing them w/ a computer (Yeah, I'm just old fashioned that way). On Monday's I'll report my weekend progress, as well as my weight and such-suches. All posts from me will have "Kate's Corner -" listed in the subject line for ease of viewing, and also so that the blog doesn't sound like I've gone a bit round the bend as other people's "voices" come through.
Nick & Bronnie will set their schedules as they will, but you'll be hearing from them.
This was a quick post to let you know how you'll be hearing from me, and when, and to introduce Nick & Broonie.
Monday, April 23, 2012
May Day
I believe that everyone has a little voice that gives them important messages. Some call it God/dess. Some call it Allah. Some call it intuition. Whatever you call it, I believe that everyone can hear it, its just that not everyone listens.
This past February, I got SICK. I had an “extremely antibiotic-resistant” bacterial infection, and it was pretty scary. I had more than one doctor tell me that I was lucky to still be here. I was hospitalized, then sent home on IV antibiotics for 3 weeks. It was pretty rough, and I don’t mind telling you that I’m STILL recovering energy from that experience.
During that time in the hospital, I got a message from that little voice. It told me that while I have an amazing constitution, my body is tired. Its stressed out, and it simply doesn’t have a whole lot of bounce left in it. It also told me that I could turn this around, but that I’d have to work my butt off (literally) to do so.
I got the message. Interestingly enough, while I was getting that message, Nick (one of my life partners) also got the same message – about ME. We talked about it, and he went searching for something to do (Nick works best when he has something to do that will HELP!).
He found (through our friend & massage therapist) a book called “Conquering ANY Disease” by Jeff Primack. Now I’ve seen some critisim about Mr. Primack online, however it was distilled into “He’s quoting other people’s work!” – to which I respond, “Yes, yes he is. There are the citations at the back.”
I’m not going into great detail here about the process. The bare bones of it however are that (for diabetics at least), you don’t tax the body anymore. You don’t eat foods that call for insulin. You don’t drink water that has base metals in it. You Do eat low glycemic index foods, but eliminate grains, dairy, and most meats (only fish is encouraged). You do deep breathing exercises, as well as others, and you don’t stress yourself out.
I told Nick we’d give it 6 months, and then evaluate. I’ve had labs drawn recently as a jumping off point. I’m going to take measurements & weigh myself on May 1 to start this journey out.
I’m posting it all here. This is my journal of our great experiment. We’re going to see how much we can improve my health. Maybe I can get some of my energy back. Maybe I can get off some of my medications. Maybe I can actually lose some weight. Maybe not, but there’s no telling until we try.
! I haven’t decided if I’m going to do daily or weekly posts. I haven’t decided how I’m going to break the info down (that’ll be coming later this week). I might just scan my log books and post them. I might break it up by concrete facts (i.e. log books) and then the more woo-woo stuff (like emotional progress, spiritual quandaries, etc.) I haven’t decided. I’ll let you know later.
My body sent out a MAY DAY call. So, I’m responding, because that’s what you’re supposed to do when that little voice takes the time to talk to you. You listen, and then you respond. The alternative is simply not acceptable.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Transition
I go through the cycle.
I start eating right, exercising, doing what I should be doing.
I fall off & stop.
I start up again.
Every time I start up again, there's this transition period.
I hate it.
The transition is rough. My blood sugar is all over the place, but mostly in the basement as I adjust my life back to eating right & exercising and how little insulin I need when I'm doing things the way I should.
This morning, just now actually, my blood sugar was 49. I ate a snack & am watching it.
I hate that part of getting back on track.
I start eating right, exercising, doing what I should be doing.
I fall off & stop.
I start up again.
Every time I start up again, there's this transition period.
I hate it.
The transition is rough. My blood sugar is all over the place, but mostly in the basement as I adjust my life back to eating right & exercising and how little insulin I need when I'm doing things the way I should.
This morning, just now actually, my blood sugar was 49. I ate a snack & am watching it.
I hate that part of getting back on track.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Conflicting Information
So, my primary care doctor found that I have "Sub-clinical gout".
"What the heck is Sub-clinical gout" you ask? Good question! Sub-clinical gout is where you have all of the symptoms of gout- elevated purine and uric acid levels in the blood, with none of the pain and inflammation to let you know your kidneys are taking a beating. Isn't that just special?
Diabetics are prone to this. Myself more so, as kidney stones and gout run in the family (genetic markers are SUCH a bitch).
So, back to the point. How does one combat this? One reduces the purine in one's diet (for those of you who've been folowing, I'm now juggling: Low carb, low protein, low sodium, low potassium, and now -TA DA- low purine. I'm seriously thinking of trying to become a "breathairian"). My doctor told me to go to the internet to find out which foods are low in purine, and whis are high and to avoid the high ones.
I went to the internet.
WTF?!?!?!
All agree that organ meats (which I'd have to be starving to THINK about eating) are out. Mammal meat is not great. Alcohol & caffine are BAD. 'Kay, not a problem so far, right? Right!
Now we get into the fun. One site listed fish as great. Another to never touch sea food. One site listed poultry as okay. Another said that animal protein of any kind was the devil. Dairy is okay, dairy's not okay. Legumes are okay, legumes are the devil. All of these web pages were written by doctors with impressive sounding titles, from impressing sounding institutions.
What I'm finding in my research is that either:
a) the medical community doesn't have a freaking CLUE, or
b) the information out there is based off opion rather than actual resarch, or
c) all of the above.
I'm leaning toward all of the above.
The internet is a fantastic tool. I love it. Be cautions and care-filled when trying to find out information which will affect your health.
As the guy from Hill Street Blues would say:
"Be careful out there."
"What the heck is Sub-clinical gout" you ask? Good question! Sub-clinical gout is where you have all of the symptoms of gout- elevated purine and uric acid levels in the blood, with none of the pain and inflammation to let you know your kidneys are taking a beating. Isn't that just special?
Diabetics are prone to this. Myself more so, as kidney stones and gout run in the family (genetic markers are SUCH a bitch).
So, back to the point. How does one combat this? One reduces the purine in one's diet (for those of you who've been folowing, I'm now juggling: Low carb, low protein, low sodium, low potassium, and now -TA DA- low purine. I'm seriously thinking of trying to become a "breathairian"). My doctor told me to go to the internet to find out which foods are low in purine, and whis are high and to avoid the high ones.
I went to the internet.
WTF?!?!?!
All agree that organ meats (which I'd have to be starving to THINK about eating) are out. Mammal meat is not great. Alcohol & caffine are BAD. 'Kay, not a problem so far, right? Right!
Now we get into the fun. One site listed fish as great. Another to never touch sea food. One site listed poultry as okay. Another said that animal protein of any kind was the devil. Dairy is okay, dairy's not okay. Legumes are okay, legumes are the devil. All of these web pages were written by doctors with impressive sounding titles, from impressing sounding institutions.
What I'm finding in my research is that either:
a) the medical community doesn't have a freaking CLUE, or
b) the information out there is based off opion rather than actual resarch, or
c) all of the above.
I'm leaning toward all of the above.
The internet is a fantastic tool. I love it. Be cautions and care-filled when trying to find out information which will affect your health.
As the guy from Hill Street Blues would say:
"Be careful out there."
The Moody Grays
Not too many people in the medical industry talk about this side of diabetes. I call it the "Moody Grays". Other people call it depression.
For me, its not the end of the world. There isn't any of the wanting to curl up and die, or shut the whole world out. I get up. I go. I do. Its just that on those days, its like the whole world is a moving sepia picture, or its like black & white television.
I don't know why counseling isn't built into an endocrinology practice that focuses on diabetes. It should be - and I say this as someone with a deep and profound mistrust of all therapists.
This disease is HARD. Medical professionals try to be positive, and give the impression that its just follow the formula and all will be well.
That's true - and its not.
I've had days where I exercised and ate right and did what I was supposed to do and had perfect blood sugars all day. It was great! Then there are the days where I do everything right, and my blood sugar won't drop below 300. Might be stress. Might be an illness coming on. Might be the wind? No clue. You can do everything right, and still not have control, and with this disease, control is absolutely essential.
After more than 27 years with this, I'm tired. I'm tired of trying to explain to my endocrinologist why my blood sugar was out of control 3 months ago. I'm tired of wondering what the hell I did to have it spike up. Not every day, and not all the time, but yeah, I'm tired enough that I have a hard time seeing the color & sparkle of the world around me.
The Moody Grays.
For more info:
Deppression & Diabetes
For me, its not the end of the world. There isn't any of the wanting to curl up and die, or shut the whole world out. I get up. I go. I do. Its just that on those days, its like the whole world is a moving sepia picture, or its like black & white television.
I don't know why counseling isn't built into an endocrinology practice that focuses on diabetes. It should be - and I say this as someone with a deep and profound mistrust of all therapists.
This disease is HARD. Medical professionals try to be positive, and give the impression that its just follow the formula and all will be well.
That's true - and its not.
I've had days where I exercised and ate right and did what I was supposed to do and had perfect blood sugars all day. It was great! Then there are the days where I do everything right, and my blood sugar won't drop below 300. Might be stress. Might be an illness coming on. Might be the wind? No clue. You can do everything right, and still not have control, and with this disease, control is absolutely essential.
After more than 27 years with this, I'm tired. I'm tired of trying to explain to my endocrinologist why my blood sugar was out of control 3 months ago. I'm tired of wondering what the hell I did to have it spike up. Not every day, and not all the time, but yeah, I'm tired enough that I have a hard time seeing the color & sparkle of the world around me.
The Moody Grays.
For more info:
Deppression & Diabetes
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