Beautiful Behaviors - July 2017

I made it through the Fourth without spiking my blood sugar! Bizarrely, my sugar which has been high for me lately was unexpectedly low all day - I tested after eating and it was under 100, so I ate more and later it was in the 80's. Probably because I worked out so much the day before. Tabata in particular will make my glucose levels drop the day after.

@nickiphillips1 Thanks for the suggestions! I manage pretty well when I don't have to worry about other people, it's eating at my mom's house or at restaurants that's tricky. I can generally tolerate up to about 50g carbs at a time, but lately it's been weird - I think because my lupus is acting up and probably raising my cortisol levels. Usually I have Greek yogurt with berries, or an orange and some cottage cheese, after working out, like you said, protein plus carbs.

@katadx - melatonin can help you sleep when you need to sleep. That and being young are about the only tips I have for coping with swing shifts.

@str8bowbabe It sounds like your back is letting you do more, good to hear!

Hi all, glad to see the new posts. I love the encouragement and positivity. Unfortunately, I'm still going UP, and I've been logging. Very, very discouraging. I think it's partly due to too many carbs, and not enough protein. Plus, spouse stress continues and that gets me down. Any suggestions? I feel like I don't know if I can really lose weight ever. I need to lose 60 + lbs. more.

@jessiquoi - thanks for the encouraging words. I'm determined to continue to log my foods, and will add more protein, veggies, etc. You're right about adding more good things; it makes me think about weeds. The weeds will take over, unless you either pull them, or crowd them out with nicer plants. It gets so discouraging. I applaud your 'determination'. Thanks!!!!

@jessiquoi, that sounds like a solid strategy for evenings. I've struggled with that time of the day before, too.

I'm having a hard time this weekend. I have a lot of free time. I would normally go to the gym or browse around a store, but I started experiencing some sudden pain in my knee last night, so I'm taking it easy physically this weekend. My husband is out of town. I feel both bored and like I don't want to do anything. I can't imagine what to make of that.

Have a good weekend All.

Since my husband and I are both freelancers, weekends are that time all the other people emerge to get in our way, rather than a special time for us. Seriously, we trade off several protections (like employer paid health insurance!) for the privilege of working for ourselves, but the benefits include going to parks with no one else there, grocery shopping with no lines, and never facing rush hour traffic. We had to drive in midtown during rush hour last week to make his doctor's appointment, and I can't imagine doing that every day. I hated humanity by the time we made it through - what a way to start every morning!

So, on weekends we quietly stay home and avoid the crowds.

For the Fourth of July I made red white and blue cole slaw (well, purple cabbage was as close as I could get to blue) using mostly buttermilk instead of mayo. It was a huge hit, but now I have all this buttermilk, since buttermilk comes in cartons and the slaw only used a cup. I haven't tried to drink buttermilk since my grandma let me taste it when I was eight years old, so I tasted it. Bleagh! Yep, still hate buttermilk. Most of the obvious foods made with buttermilk, like biscuits and pancakes, are lousy for diabetics, so I did some poking around on the internet for ideas, and I ended up making a summer squash gratin. It turned out delicious! Melt 1 tbsp butter, cook 200g (1 medium) sliced onions until they start to soften, add 400g (2 medium) sliced yellow squash and cook until it starts to soften and brown a little, maybe 10 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper and maybe a little coriander powder. Mix 1 cup buttermilk with 2 tbsp bisquick (you could use flour) 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, pour over squash and onions in a casserole dish. Top with additional 2 tbsp Parmesan. Bake at 450 for 15 - 25 minutes until top is browning and squash is cooked, let rest 5 minutes before serving. 4 servings, 113 calories and 11g net carbs. You could lower the carbs by leaving out the bisquick, but it thickens the sauce.

Yes! Go us! I also tracked today. Woooo.

I got out of bed and put healthy foods into clean containers so that I can eat them more easily.

I put celery into a pretty glass jar. Organic raisins into another glass dish. Carrots are next.

Someone please pray for me, I want to get exercise this week! It's going to take an act of God to get me there...

@rheddmobile - now I'm craving squash! That sounds so good. Farmer's market is Tuesday.

@jessiquoi - what a pleasure it is to track our food together! Well. Okay. Truth. Since you suggested that you are keeping up with tracking, I also am doing it. @happysherri - are you in this too? Who else is making July a great tracking month?

Hi to all the new posters!!! I'm so glad to see you here.

Love to all.

Lea

finngirl61 wrote: »

I'm in for July tracking. I HATE tracking and didn't use to. Why? It's so silly to pretend you didn't eat something right?

Oh gosh, this is so tempting. It's why I have my diary private, too, I made it public briefly and noticed I was tempted to lie about what I ate so I would look better to others. If you don't log it, it doesn't count, right?

Yesterday I ate a salad with walnuts on it and forgot to log the walnuts. Later I remembered... when I was just about to my calorie goal for the day... I'm all "No one will know if I just forget to log them, I'll just pretend I didn't remember..." Then I shook myself, logged the stupid walnuts, and did 10 minutes of hard cycling so I could come in under my goal. Ha!

I'm in for July tracking, but I track obsessively anyway because of my diabetes - I like to know how different foods affect my glucose.

Good morning

Update: The bf, kids and I did go to Holiday World amusement park on Friday. It got off to a bumpy start - me yelling at the bf for running unnecessary errands the morning of the trip?! This made us get a late start to our trip (I don't understand mens' brains). However, we all let it go and had an Amazing time!!! We rode tons of water rollercoasters and then the kids rode some of the tall dry ones (I can't do the regular rollercoasters anymore). And NO RAIN, all sunny all day, which the forecast even on that morning said rain half the day for that area Then I got to spend a big part of Saturday with my daughter and we went to brunch. I am loving this 2017 Summer of Adventure!!!
Exercise: On the down side - I have not worked out in almost 2 weeks, I am definitely getting back at this week, because it's also my therapy. Although, it won't be too much because I do have a dentist appt and will be numb that day. Not worried about getting back to killing workouts - because I love it.
Food: I have been eating whatever I want - so not good at all! I am getting back on track today. This morning was back to my egg white omelette with veggies. Getting back on track won't be too hard for me because the healthy foods I eat - I actually enjoy. I'm not worried.

Thought for the day: Every adventure requires a first step. ***Don't wait around to have fun. No matter how small, make that effort. Don't wait around for someone to go with that cancels (go alone and enjoy). Don't wait for the perfect weather or time. Don't wait for the right place. Don't wait for the right idea. Last summer I waited around for people to go with me to hiking, shopping, etc. Everyone seemed busy or had to work. This year as some of you already know I declared my 2017 Summer of Adventure. So far I have been to several local pools, local small beaches and state parks, a larger beach further away, amusement and waterpark, shopping, and more. I just decided to do these things and went. Some are just small adventures but so fun, and a lot don't even cost hardly any money. Go out and have adventures, try something new!

***I will survive Monday lol - I'm tired