diabetic adjusting to low-carb lifestyle... again.

hello. i have been on myfittnesspal on and off for a number of years but recently i was told by my doctor and nutritionist that i consume way too many carbs on a regular basis and need to start gaining more control over my eating. so my nutritionist pointed me in a starting direction and so here i am again.

my goal is to stay under 200 g of daily carbs and to drop 25 lbs by the end of July. i have a very active job so over the first few weeks i am focusing more on my food intake/times/glucose levels than on adding exercise.

my starting weight last week was 233 as of yesterday i am at 228.

i tend to eat when i emotional and tired but i think about food all day long. i have come to the realization that to avoid the feeling of failure i wont log foods that i am eating so that i dont have to see the numbers associated with the choices that i am making. after a few days of that kind of logging i eventually stop logging at all and once again i am back to where i started. so i have decided to make my food journals public and to log EVERYTHING!

my request to any of you is if or when you see anything crazy on my food log or happen to see that i didnt log a meal please speak up and hold me accountable. message me or post of my page whatever it takes to get my attention. i need support to make this lifestyle last.

Replies

  • franniemalone
    franniemalone Posts: 1 Member
    I wish you well. I know this is very difficult, and I am in a similar place also. I am good at logging in my exercise but not my food. I am trying to get back on track and start losing again too. I also am trying to watch my carbs. It is sad but I think about food all day as well. I am trying to push myself to eat more vegetables and fiber. Logging in all your food every day is a great strategy.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    I'd post this to your wall so your friends can see it. :smile: Random MFP people usually won't think to stop by someone's diary on a whim.
    Whenever I have the desire to emotionally eat I try and get on MFP and look at my food diary and negotiate what I can have. When you do go over (that jar of hazelnut spread got tossed from my pantry, believe me, it happens), then don't beat yourself up about it. Log it, and give yourself a pep talk on doing better and refocusing on your goals.
    Best of good luck to you!
  • rachellech
    rachellech Posts: 40 Member
    I'm diabetic (Type II) and before this year I was on Metformin and 2yrs ago was around 240lbs. My body fat was close to 39% and I was having diabetic complications (headaches/depression/dizziness, etc.) My mom passed from diabetes in 2010 so I understood the seriousness of the disease but still it took some time for me to do something about it. Plus it didn't help I was getting wrong information from my doctors and other sources. I'm not saying it doesn't work for others but for me low carb / high fat diets left me with low energy and since I work out a lot I needed more energy.

    I always loved working out but my nutrition needed some serious work. I started to lift heavy weights (still do) but added good carbs (steel cut oats/brown rice/farro/lentils/sweet potatoe/whole wheat bread), found healthier substitutions for foods I like (Artic Zero and Enlightened Bars for my ice cream fix), and made sure my protein intake was equal or moreso than my carbs. Currently I'm 195lbs at 29% body fat. I finally can see my muscles and earlier this year I no longer needed to be on medication. I test my blood sugar 1x wk and it is always at normal level. My plan is to compete in Fitness Bodybuilding next year and I'm currently training.

    I have occasional cheat meals and sometimes binge but I try to still log my food and when I do cheat/binge I try to workout that day to minimize the damage and acknowledge my trigger foods (bagel chips and bakery bread) and try to plan better next time. Mistakes will happen but logging the food helps me to remember so I don't repeat. Also, because I lift heavy weights my metabolism has gotten better and my cravings have adjusted a bit, which makes the binges less damaging overall. I'm still working on the emotional eating but I try to be kind to myself and not beat myself up for lapses of weakness...only human.

    If you like, you can send me a request so you can see my diary...I log every day. I did notice in your diary that you might want to look for better alternatives for your flatbread (you can find low carb/high fiber) and deli rotisserie chicken (you can find better protein chicken). Sometimes swapping for me is the difference between success and failure.

    Good luck!
  • Solimay
    Solimay Posts: 7 Member
    I'm new around here .. Rachellech I'm also interested in seeing your diary, how do I do that? Thanks much and good luck to everyone!
  • rachellech
    rachellech Posts: 40 Member
    Solimay you can just add me as a friend.
  • angmarie28
    angmarie28 Posts: 2,883 Member
    add me if you like, I am not a diabetic, BUT i am going to start watching my carb intake because i am a carb-a-holic, and also I work in a school nursing office and take care of 2 diabetics and do carb counting with them, so I do know a thing or two about diabetes and carb intake and such. so i can help you in that sense, and wouldnt mind having someone help me with my carb intake either.