Help Finding Balance

shaheerahs

At the beginning of the year I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol. So, there's a lot of stuff that I really shouldn't eat and a lot of stuff that truthfully I'm just afraid to. I mean I have an aunt that ended up having to have her legs amputated because she did not keep her diabetes under control.

I've been eating a lot healthier now, but the problem is I have been having a hard time even eating my 1200 calories, not to mention making up the ones from my exercise. I've been losing weight, and I'm happy about that, but I feel like I might be going from one unhealthy relationship with food to another. Or, maybe I'm just over thinking and should listen to my body, I really don't know.

I would appreciate any advice that anyone might have.

stella77

Just listen to you body.

But you may notice that the weight loss slows down on very low calorie diet. When that happens, you will have to bump it up. If you can't eat all your calories - then just have a few Tbs of peanutbutter of something else healthy, That should do it.

Personally, I can't identify with that problem - I usually eat all my calories and some - but when I am not hungry, I certainly don't make myself eat!

Good luck.

ouryear002

How ofter are you eating? When you have diabetes, eating several meals spread evenly through the day can be beneficial to keeping blood sugar levels even. Try three meals and three snacks, and add a little to each one. That way you aren't left with a big deficit at the end of the day, and if the calories are running a little high one day, you have wiggle room to reduce without going hungry. A snack can be something easy like an apple with an ounce of cheese (or whatever your Dr recommends). Good for you for making changes now to improve your health for the rest of y our life!

shaheerahs

How ofter are you eating? When you have diabetes, eating several meals spread evenly through the day can be beneficial to keeping blood sugar levels even. Try three meals and three snacks, and add a little to each one. That way you aren't left with a big deficit at the end of the day, and if the calories are running a little high one day, you have wiggle room to reduce without going hungry. A snack can be something easy like an apple with an ounce of cheese (or whatever your Dr recommends). Good for you for making changes now to improve your health for the rest of y our life!

I usually eat three meals and two snacks. It just seems the foods that I end up gravitating to end up not having enough calories, I guess.

Here's a sample of what I ate one day:
Breakfast - Oatmeal with Strawberries and a little honey
Snack - Banana
Lunch - Pizza (made with whole wheat pita bread, turkey pepperoni, peppers, pizza sauce, and fat free mozzarella)
Snack - Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips
Dinner - Turkey Burger w/ Tomato and Lettuce on a Whole Wheat Bun

At the end of the day, I was full, but I only had a total of a little over 1100 calories, so I scrambled to find something else to make up the 1200. I guess I am having trouble finding foods that won't spike my sugar too much, won't contribute too much to to bad cholesterol, and still have a good amount of calories.

ouryear002

I can't believe you aren't hungry! I'd be starving on that. Try adding a 2nd food to your snacks. Almonds have good fat, lots of protein, and are higher in calories. A handful with an apple would be a great snack. Add a salad w/ regular dressing to you pizza. You may have to retrain your body a bit about what it needs and is right for you. And talk to you Dr/nutritionist about good additions to your diet. There are great cookbooks for diabetics. Good luck!!!!

txladybug41

You've lost weight and if you continue to lose by eating sensible foods and continue to exercise (get atleast 30 minutes in a day), you're glucose numbers will fall into the range where they want you to keep. I am thinking if you're recently diagnosed, you have time to reverse this.

I am beyond where you are now. For years I was in denial about having this diagnosis and ended up on insulin. NOT GOOD. At the end of 2008, my AIC was in the 16's!! YIKES! By the end of 2009, I had lost about fifteen pounds. Last year, I toggled alot, but got myself under 200 pounds for the first time in years.

I used MFP to monitor my calories/fats/ and carbs. My attempt to keep each meal with an average carb count of 45 to 60 , my overall daily calories between 1200 and 1500, and exercising at least 3 times a week on an epilitical/ or strength training at the gym, on top of walking, helped me get control of my diabetes. I just went in for a check up. the doc said to me, just looking at my average monitor readings for the past three months, I was maintaining in the range they want me to be. I was in control for the first time in several years. I did a happy dance, believe me.

So obviously to me, I will continue with what I am doing for it works for me. Eat low fat foods (light yogurt, egg beaters) , eat fruit such as oranges, strawberries that are lower in carb count. Eat more chicken and fish. they are better for you. Eat lots of fresh veggies in large quantities. Use more brown / wheat products versus white products . (ie, brown rice versus minute white rice)

In time, you will get the hang of it and learn to love eating this way. You'll learn to love exercising. It keeps you feeling at your best. And if an occasional splurge comes up, it won't be the end of the world. You can bounce back. Best of luck to you. Hope my advice helps.

chan0404

I think you should try to incorporate more fruits and veggies in to your eating plan which will absorb some of those extra calories that you have left over.

shaheerahs

I think you should try to incorporate more fruits and veggies in to your eating plan which will absorb some of those extra calories that you have left over.

You are definitely right. I like fruit, but I try to limit them because of the sugar. I don't really like most vegetables, but I am trying to work them in slowly. I read an article that said most of the time we don't like tastes when they are new to use, but if you keep eating that food regularly you will start to like it. Hopefully that method will work for me.

shaheerahs

You've lost weight and if you continue to lose by eating sensible foods and continue to exercise (get atleast 30 minutes in a day), you're glucose numbers will fall into the range where they want you to keep. I am thinking if you're recently diagnosed, you have time to reverse this...

Thank you for sharing! Your advice was very helpful.

shaheerahs

I can't believe you aren't hungry! I'd be starving on that. Try adding a 2nd food to your snacks. Almonds have good fat, lots of protein, and are higher in calories. A handful with an apple would be a great snack. Add a salad w/ regular dressing to you pizza. You may have to retrain your body a bit about what it needs and is right for you. And talk to you Dr/nutritionist about good additions to your diet. There are great cookbooks for diabetics. Good luck!!!!

Thanks you, for the ideas! I think the diabetes medicine my Dr put me on might be part of it too, she said it also was an appetite suppressant. i never really ate a whole lot before she put me on it, what I did eat was just junk.

I think I am going to go and see a nutritionist really soon. I am just totally confused as to what I should eat. It seems like the stuff that is not bad on your sugar is not always so good for cholesterol and the stuff that is okay for cholesterol has more carbs and/or sugar. The only real diet advice I got from my Dr's office is "anything is okay in moderation", to take my medicine everyday, and to check my blood sugar.