Blood sugar diet thread 6

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Continuing thread for the blood sugar dieters......

Bear my 17 year old a'level revising ds came home from school tired and down today so as a treat I bought him some sweeties. I've resisted but the smell memory is constantly in my mind . Can't really get what I crave from my cup of herbal tea.

Gah it's awful isn't it?

My dh calls it 'carb porn' when you start fantasising (with secret glee) about all the unavoidable events coming up when you'll just have to have carbs; it would be completely impossible to say no to someone's christening cake for example, or your own child's birthday cake. I often disappear down this rabbit hole when I'm all hung up on sugar. And like, I guess, with regular porn, it's not cheating if you don't actually do it right??

I've gone way over today, 1100 cals- but 56g carbs and nothing off plan, none of the bad stuff. I had my shake early today and I think that might be what's done it so tomorrow it's back to fasting til 11 at least.

Ooh! I'm glad you mentioned cake bear - you've reminded me to start looking forward to DS' Communion cake
I'm currently at 520 calories and I'm not sure what I'll have for dinner. I'm completely disorganised today. I quite like the idea of a mini fish pie but am waiting to see what DH would like too.

Oh yes, me too Couch ..... communion cake search .....

Continued to pick and graze all evening since tea and I couldn't even tell you how many calories I've now eaten! I'm writing this here as a confessional.
Must be good tomorrow. I hate this cycle of good day/crap day (although today was actually alright until this evening before I sabotaged myself).

Breakfast: total youghurt and a few remaining blueberries.
Lunch: salad with ham and cheese.

Not very exciting, is it? Hardly going to get tastebuds buzzing. I am so bored of all food.

Oblo I understand that feeling- I go through phases where I just feel so 'meh' about the whole thing, food just seems so dull. It's odd because if we're honest, most carbs (except cake) are dull foods aren't they? White bread, rice, pasta etc etc. The high intensity flavour of sugar can feel like it's exciting your tastebuds but even that is short lived. I find salad very dull too, especially towards the end of the week when all the exotic extras have gone and it's just lettuce, tomato, cucumber!

In my experience, that bored off all food feeling means I'm going to have to get the recipe books out and try some new stuff. Today I've made falafel for the first time to have for lunch. They smell yummy but look a bit uninspiring..... I shall report back!

Thank you Bear, you are right, I need to try a few new recipes.
Even my old trusty faithfull's are not helping ATM. Cauliflower curry was very spicy - didn't hit the spot. Dh cooked oven cod with chilli flakes and lemon with seasoned broccoli and green beans - was only just 'pleasant enough'. Courgetti and meatballs was at least tasty.

The weight better fall off me fast, soon, because this is such hard work!

I don't know about you oblo but in our house the menu looks something like this- lunch- dh and dd sandwiches, ds school dinners, baby ds and me: protein & salad. Dinners: 1 meal each day of something made with: pork, mince, chicken, lamb, beef, a roast and usually a takeaway or pre-prepped or meal out. No wonder we get bored, this is literally every week!! So I try (try) to mix it up by getting different things on rotation, so this week I've done prawns in Mayo, falafel, Tuna, and egg muffins with my salad! I might try a new salad dressing or make some dips; this week I also tried avocado for the first time so have been adding it to my shake in the morning which gives it a lovely smooth texture (tried a bit on its own and ye gods, it's foul!!)

Dinners are trickier because there are a lot of us and we don't like change- but I get the books out for ideas really, write my shopping list for the week and then I know I've got the ingredients I need in. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut and it just makes this plan the bad side of difficult doesn't it- as in, it's doable if the food is varied and delicious and inspiring, but if you're hungry and then your tea is a plate of boring leaves it just doesn't seem worth it!

Our local tesco had a fast days magazine/book type thing (ie it was with the mags but it was more of a thin book) advertising 300 calorie meals and 500 calorie 'days' menus. Would something like that be helpful?

I think texture is really important for food. I like contrast and helps to satisfy. For example I did the tuna lettuce wrap for lunch on the first day. It said 80g of tuna. I found a three pack of 80g in my local shop and thought how handy. But the tuna was in little tiny mashed up bits. It was like baby food and really didn't hit the spot. So I bought some tins of tuna steak and I will weigh it out. Hopefully that will help.

Oblomov I thought your salad looked nice. I like colourful food - it makes me happy to look at it admittedly that doesn't help with the taste or filling you up I have only started making salads again so I'm still enjoying the novelty of eating them and feeling like it may be summer soon.

Yes to texture! I discovered popadoms are 'allowed' (check they have no added wheat flour) and just having that something crunchy with a salad or in the evening makes so much difference!

My falafels were lovely! I would highly recommend. I wondered if the basic premise of puréed beans with other flavours added would be transferable to other things? Such as perhaps a kind of pancake affair with fruit and yoghurt??? I might experiment at the weekend.

Ooh that's sounds yummy, bear.

Can I ask if people have specific goals in mind? At the moment I'm just aiming to see any pounds off per week and then will probably put some in place. What goals do people have?

I LOVE avocado Bear!!

My biggest problem is lunches. Today I had a salmon salad, it was nice but small.

Tonight it's the North African squash from Hugh F-W's Veg book. Not cooked it for ages but as I recall it's delicious.

Hi - I've been doing 5:2 for three years now and it's changed my life. I say three years but a year ago I had another baby and so took a break for about 12 months, but got back on it fairly quickly as had put on quite a lot of weight during the pregnancy.

I'm now back to my pre pregnancy weight but it's plateaued for about 6 months and I'm still a couple of stone overweight. I recently came round to the idea of the blood sugar diet for many reasons and was hoping to start early May. However, my older DD has become ill and is currently in hospital. She'll be in a few weeks but we are hoping for an eventual full recovery.

Eating has gone to hell in a handcart over the last few days as we have to eat where and when we can. I initially thought doing the blood sugard diet was out of the question now, but actually I think it would be something positive health-wise and with a bit of preparation I could possibly manage it!

Challenges are being vegetarian which narrows down food choices, being in hospital 50% of the time (DP and I are rotating shifts), and not having much access to cooking facilities. There is an M&S on site though, which might help!

The book is in the post, so was going to give it a read and hopefully start next week. I want to try and keep eating simple as have so much to think about anyway. I hope I don't sound totally mad still wanting to do this!

Hi eagle, and welcome. Hope your dd is ok?

Someone asked about goals? My goal is to be thin. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I have never ever been thin in my life. I've got very close, but when I was about half a stone from target I got pregnant again and put 4 stone back on! On my frame a size 10 is thin and that's where I want to be. I'm 34 in July and I've had all my babies- there is no reason why I can't get to the size I want to be and enjoy being there for the rest of my life. I've been on a diet (or pregnant) for the entire of my adult life- so I think I deserve it!! I don't say this out loud in real life because when you say thin and not slim everyone clutches their pearls and starts rattling on about it not being healthy.

Hi Eagle, I hope your daughter has a speedy recovery.

My husband is vegetarian, so even though he's not following it, if I'm cooking for all of us I have to have a mind to that. Basically, pulses play a big part, with occasional tofu as he isn't keen, though if you like it you'll be fine.

If you eat quorn then that is an option - it is permitted, though I imagine the breadcrumbed 'cutlet' things are off limits.

Veg chilli, Bean and veg soup (minestrone without the pasta), chickpea things are great, Bean salads, homemade hummus...

Good luck!

Goals?

I have interim ones:

1. To lose at least 1 stone by the end of May
2. To lose 2 stone by the time I go to my mum's on holiday in July/August
3. To lose a significant amount by my sister's wedding in November
4. To get into my size 16 jeans, then my smaller ones and then to have to buy new ones in a 12

A longer term one:
To be slim within the next year

And a general wellbeing one
To reduce my back pain, be able to keep up with my daughter, be healthier.

Hi eagle I'm going to do it from a mostly vegan point so hoping it should be possible. I was at the hospital today so had 8 almonds and a coffee at lunchtime which was fine.

Hope your daughter is ok

My goals to be a solid size 10 for Christmas. And stay there. Also i have some nice size 12 jeans I want to wear in the autumn.

The Isa Chandra Moscowitz book Appetite for Reduction is good - it vegan and calorie counted. And really delicious.

Thanks flighty

My ultimate goal is to get back into all my old clothes! I have a wardrobe full of lovely size 10 stuff that I last fit in 4 years ago. My interim goals are to go down to the next number (so see 10st 13 on the scales) and get my bmi down, first below 30 and then to 25. I have a big family party in October so I'd love to be slim for that.

Welcome Eagle.

Goals?

1. lose weight. I was a big size 14, nearly 16, at 11.7. When I started this. I now need to get below 10 stone. Which I did on this BSD last year. I am nearly there. And still a size 14. Then get down to 9.5 which is my ideal weight. I should be a size 12 then. I was 9 stone, my whole life, pre-pregnancy.

2. This no carbing makes my type 1 diabetes much better. I want a good Hba1c to be really good to impress my consultant.

Finished the day at 1100 calories again, but all on plan so not too horrific. I just don't seem to be able to do 800 ever! My meals have been great, but then I had a 5pm 'moment' and that's what tipped me over the edge. It's tricky though because if I eat at the same time as the kids I'm starving by the evening, so today I had some cheese and a hard boiled egg at 5pm but then that's too many cals.
I'm not going to beat myself up, but it does annoy me that I can't get into that mindset properly like last time. I will have to make my peace with it and accept that I'm making little positive steps.