Can't Get Back Into It

Some good comments above

I'm going to tough love you a bit.

You met your goal regarding labs. That is great but to be brutally honest, it should be considered a short term goal. At 5'6" and 254 pounds you in the morbidly obese category on BMI. You; labs aren't going to stay good long term at that weight.

You said your daughter started crying when your prior health markers were discussed. I'm paraphrasing from someone else but, for a good, strong, motivator you need something that makes YOU cry. Picture yourself lying dead in a casket, in your hand a big container of cheese fries, maybe a bit of cheese sauce on your dead lips, while your wife and 12 year old daughter look at you in tears. Are the cheese sauce and fries still so damn good?

Be responsible and do what you know you have to do. Good luck.

Lots of great advice and ideas on this thread. How about scheduling another appointment with your doctor? Your last one was an annual check-up, so why not go back in a month or so and compare your numbers? That way, you have that appointment as a goal and target, in addition to the other suggestions that have been given.

DiabetesDaddy wrote: »

Ninerbuff - That is my major problem - the damn routine. A serious issue for me was McDonald's breakfast. Every morning I would get an Egg McMuffin meal with a large coffee. I completely cut out the caffeine because of the blood pressure and I replaced rest of the meal with one of those protein shakes and a can of V8 ( I know, the sodium) but I haven't set foot in a McDonalds (or drive-thru) since then because I have a routine in place.

I also have a routine in place for lunch. Lunch is a seriously big deal at my workplace. I knew that it would be the toughest hurdle for me to overcome. I did some reading and I found that raspberries were extremely good for you and would not send my blood sugar skyrocketing. So everyday for lunch I have 170g of raspberries, 170g of blackberries and 48 unshelled pistachios.

My main issue is dinner - I don't cook anything, like toast is stretching it, which isn't a big deal since the wife will make me whatever I just don't like healthy stuff. I literally ate like a f-ing 14 year old since I was 14. My go-to is great northern beans with ham.

You're getting it, then. Finding those new habits - routines, patterns, whatever we call them - is IMO key. Ideally pleasant ones, at least tolerable/practical. Sustainable.

Depending on what's in the great northern beans, those could be fine. (Lots of recipes use a boatload of brown sugar, etc.) Ham also tends to be high sodium, but there could be worse choices. Protein and beans (or some other veggies you like) within calories: That sounds really good.

Hang in there!

DiabetesDaddy wrote: »

Ninerbuff - That is my major problem - the damn routine. A serious issue for me was McDonald's breakfast. Every morning I would get an Egg McMuffin meal with a large coffee. I completely cut out the caffeine because of the blood pressure and I replaced rest of the meal with one of those protein shakes and a can of V8 ( I know, the sodium) but I haven't set foot in a McDonalds (or drive-thru) since then because I have a routine in place.

I also have a routine in place for lunch. Lunch is a seriously big deal at my workplace. I knew that it would be the toughest hurdle for me to overcome. I did some reading and I found that raspberries were extremely good for you and would not send my blood sugar skyrocketing. So everyday for lunch I have 170g of raspberries, 170g of blackberries and 48 unshelled pistachios.

My main issue is dinner - I don't cook anything, like toast is stretching it, which isn't a big deal since the wife will make me whatever I just don't like healthy stuff. I literally ate like a f-ing 14 year old since I was 14. My go-to is great northern beans with ham.

Here’s some good news:
It will take time, but your tastes will change.

I used to love those Egg McMuffins.
Now, even if I could find a gluten free version? I probably would eat half or none.
They’re too greasy and heavy.

Taco Bell? Loved that stuff.
But after a few years of a low sodium diet I tried one taco and it tasted like a salt lick with cheese.

Hold fast. It will get easier. I promise.

MargaretYakoda wrote: »

Taco Bell? Loved that stuff.
But after a few years of a low sodium diet I tried one taco and it tasted like a salt lick with cheese.

This is MFP gold right here!

It does get easier. I found foods I liked better. I thought that would/could never happen, but having just come back from a trip, it was a joy to break out some sweet balsamic vinegar for my afternoon berries. I missed the stuff more than I ever missed chocolate.

Same with exercise. My husband and I both sat on our hands for a week when the grandchild was at school or napping. Well, fortunately for me I brought needlework. He was climbing the walls. Five years ago, we would have curled up with a multitude of snacks and been perfectly happy, but now we both need movement, movement, and more movement.

Over time I’ve changed my goals. Instead of not wanting to be morbidly obese and a host of health issues like my mom, to making a goal to fit in a dress umpteen sizes down, to working on upper body strength to achieve an arm balance, to “hey this weight stuff is sorta fun - I wonder if I can get a little buff?” to my current goal of staying fit so I can play a roaring dinosaur and chase my granddaughter around a park til she outgrows it.

You’ve achieved a great goal of fifty pounds and better numbers. Can you reset your goaly goals? Move the bar a little further? It really helped me to keep pushing goals, and rewarding myself when I did. For me, it was a new pair of leggings every five pounds. It really helped me chip away at microgoals.

You’ve come soooo far. Don’t relax back to bad habits.

Would you rather look back in a year and at least be in the same place, than regain it all for cheesy fries?

I’ll be the odd one out and say, I don’t believe you. Do you need me to believe you? No. But you’re here for a reason and I’m not quite sure what it is. So you can act like you’re taking responsibility without actually taking responsibility? This is a very common behavior for people to gain sympathy and support and not actually have to change. It’s a form of manipulation.

I hope you do save your life for you and your families sake. But, I don’t think you will. And I definitely don’t think it’s funny that your daughter has to live with this terrifying and very possible event and can’t do anything about it.

I’m okay with any backlash, I’d rather stand up for your daughter since you won’t.

DiabetesDaddy wrote: »

My main issue is I can’t do fish. I have tried salmon many many times over the last six months because I know how good it is for you. I just can’t do it. My other issue is eating foods that won’t cause my blood sugar to rise. My other issue is trying to stay away from processed foods.

I love all vegetables.

bold is mine.

nods, then don't eat fish... could not pay me enough to eat certain things.

Top level... i try to eat enough, stop at enough... including limit carbs at a meal to less than 45g. However, i am trying to do lower carb <25 to 35g per meal up to 4 meals a day... but the lower limit on a single meal
Is the tough part, because... many of my favs are mostly carbs, er processed carbs... So that is the tough part for sure...

Regarding blood sugar spikes,.. couple things... eat carbs after protein, veggies, then carbs.

a tip in one of mom's magazines 'diabetes prevention' suggested a brisk 10 min walk after eating to help keep the spikes lower.
-- plus when exercising a combo 1/2 cardio plus 1/2 strength training had a more impact to lower blood sugar for a longet afterburn time than just cardio or just strength training alone.

For food, you know what worked well already, so explore from there... we found out we love grilled smoked veggies (onions, peppers, all sorts of stuff)
when plain boiled became too bored... Then we explored asian flavors... love fusion... anyway, worth finding what works for you