A quick flyby. I still love the benefits of very lowcarb. Working on a way to do it mayby 80 - 90% of the time. Started out with a lowcarb breakfast and so far I have a lowcarb lunch planned. Will see how the day goes.

BBL

I didn't have breakfast today because I got up late and had to run to the grocery store for ground beef to make stuffed cabbage, then come home and start the cabbage. I put it in the oven around 11 AM and it will be done around 4 PM. I now use brown rice in it rather than white. We can't tell the difference. For lunch I made some Halusky (cabbage and noodles) with the leftover cabbage and Fried Rice with the leftover rice. So I am eating carbs, today, but I put lots of vegetables in the rice, so I'm still getting my vegetables. We will have enough stuffed cabbage rolls for 2 days, plus give some to my step-daughter.

My FBS was 86 this morning and after I ate breakfast and before I ate lunch I got the shakes and checked it and it was 78. I ate too many carbs for lunch and hours later not sure how many maybe about 3, I checked it again because I usually eat my last meal about that around 6ish and it was 207. I think it is pretty obvious that I can't eat a lot of carbs. I read that red wine helps lower fbs because it keeps the liver from throwing out glucose which is what Metformin does so I have been having a small glass of wine with a low carb snack for the last few days and I think it has been working. Yesterday morning my fbs was 130 and today it was 86.

I screwed up the lowcarb plan today at lunch, but I haven't eaten off this afternoon. In fact, I've only had sunflower seeds for a snack just a little while ago. I like knowing that the bs should be between 70 and 130 before you eat. I did observe 2 things today. When my bs dropped to 78, I was in a hypoglycemic stage so I'm not sure I can handle 78. Also, I noticed that when my bs was 207 and it was time for me to eat according to the clock that I WAS NOT hungry. It might be wise to use my bs meter to guide when I eat for a while. I'm not sure why I had a hypoglycemic reaction at a reading of 78. I did use a glymiperide yesterday after I pigged out on the cookies, but it was so early in the day that it should not have affected me today. If I could get my fbs to stay between 80s and 90s, I would be perfectly happy.

This is definitely a learning process. I think I have to face the fact that until the holidays are over, things are not going to do great. I may just have to relax and plan to get strict with my plan after the holidays are over.

Carol Sue I have been eating an early breakfast lately and that just may be my problem. For one thing, I've given up full caffeine (using decaf tea and half caffeine/decaf coffee), sweeteners because I read they raise bs and creamers because of the apparent lactose intolerance. I am taking the pills for the lactose problem when I drink milk. I'm going to try not eating breakfast tomorrow at least not eat it early. I don't eat breakfast when I go to the doctor because I have to weigh so I'll see how I do when I go back to eating it later. I really like to wait until at least 11 or 11:30 am.

You did great having your plan. That is another thing I need to get back to doing. Not on MFP. I don't think that works for me. I think I just need to write it down in advance. I used to plan ahead by writing out a plan sometime even the day before. I would write it on notebook paper in pencil and then if I decided that I wanted to change something because I decided wanted a different veggie than the one I had planned, it was no big deal because I could just change it on the paper before I cooked. I might need to go back to doing that.

See y'all tomorrow.

Trish, you probably got the shakes because your body is not accustomed to having your blood sugar that low. I don't think 78 is considered dangerously low. The people on that strict diabetes forum I go to said that your body is adjusting to the "new low" blood sugar and you should not eat to compensate but ride it out...just test to make sure it doesn't go dangerously low. Then every time your bs gets that low your body will be adjusting itself to recognize that number as your new normal. I don't know if I explained it right.

They also recommend "eat to your meter." That means space your meals out far enough to let your blood sugar comes down between meals, and also don't eat between meals, because they will raise your blood sugar again. Then test before your next meal, and if your blood sugar is not back down to normal that means you had too many grams of carb at the previous meal, so this meal should not have carbs in order to let your BS come back down.

The worst thing I do is I eat the next meal before allowing my BS to come back down, so I'm just raising my blood sugar even higher.

I know all the rules, but I am not good at following them. I usually have a low carb breakfast and lunch, but dinner and after-dinner eating does me in.

Hi Trish. Hope you are doing ok. Since I started IE I can't diet anymore.

Hello dear friend. I am fine. How are you doing? I don't think I can follow a diet per se either. I am learning that IE is really the best way for me to eat too. I just have to learn how to do make it blood sugar friendly. I need to get back to the IE thread as there are a lot who are making IE work for them and their health issues too.

I guess you are busy getting ready for all the kids for Christmas. Thanks for stopping by to say hello to me.:hug:

Yesterday in our newspaper there was an article about a Salk study about rats eating a 9 hour window...IF. I tried to find it online but couldn't find the exact same article, but these 2 are about the Salk studies, just not the same article that was in my newspaper. Very interesting. I will have to re-read the part about how your body reacts during the fasting period of the day.

http://www.salk.edu/news/pressreleas...p?press_id=560

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/garth-...b_1528448.html

I am happy to say that my fbs is responding to my personal eating plan. My fbs was 127 this morning. The research I'm doing is helping me as I learn how some things work. I think a small glass of wine with my evening snack is working better for me than the Metformin did.

One of my problems has been that I eat too much and I read the importance of not overeating. Did you know that overeating at a meal can cause your bs to rise? IE teaches you to eat exactly what you are hungry for only when you are hungry and ONLY eat as much as it takes to satisfy that hunger. In fact, when reading on dlife.com, it recommends eating mindfully. I saw a video that had a woman actually teach you how to savor a bite of food. I don't think I ever knew how to do that, but I can't remember where I saw it.

So my A1c may turn out ok tomorrow as I remember that my fbs readings were high before my last 6.2 A1c. However, the weight is going to be really high. Last time I went to him I think my weight was down 25 lb from last yr, but I'm going to have almost a 10 lb gain.

My neighbor just came by. She does low carbing, but she does it eating low glycemic not Atkins low carb. She has gotten down to a size 12 now. I know that is a little slower. In the test ADA mentioned using the 2 diets, there was only a 2 lb difference. I think eating a little bit of carby foods to lose 2 lbs less than I would on Atkins is no big deal. Plus, I can do it using IE.

I'll be back tomorrow after I have my doctor's appt.

Thanks Carol Sue:hug: for sharing this. I had just decided to start doing IF with the low carb way of eating but doing it Intuitively. Started this morning with breakfast eaten a little past 11 am. I am going to make a copy of the article and give it to my doctor tomorrow. This is really the normal way of eating for me growing up and I've been impressed lately that this is how I need to go back to eating.

Good luck at the doctor's. I think it will be fine. I hope your DH does well, also. IE is normal eating to me...the way eating was intended to be. The only think I disagree on is eating carbs and sweets because that is what you are hungry for. That doesn't work with diabetes. It is hard for me to do that because if DH is hungry and ready for dinner, I am going to eat with him, not wait until I get hungry.

Will you and DH be hungry at the same time? Will you be hungry for the same things? Most of the time I make dinner when DH is hungry, and what he wants. If there is something in particular that I want, I will ask him if he will eat that, because he is pickier than I am. I want a husband who will eat whatever I put in front of him. Are there trade-ins? LOL

Yes, I am aware that overeating at a meal will raise BS. But I still do it sometimes. For years I ate until I was stuffed. That's how I gained so much weight. I have a really hard time stopping when I'm satisfied. My body thinks it's still hungry and wants me to eat until I'm stuffed. I still have my diet plan from the hospital. It would probably be a good idea for me to get it out and plan my meals accordingly. That would get me back to eating the amount of food I'm supposed to have at each meal. I already know which foods are healthy and which are not, but I need help in portion control. Maybe I will do that.

Trish, a slow weight loss is better than none at all. And you don't notice the reduction in food as much.

I woke up at 4AM not feeling well. I got up and checked my BS and it was fine. I also felt very hungry, and I shouldn't have, because I ate a big bowl of popcorn last night. I ate something and went back to bed and slept until 10AM. Feel fine now. DH thinks maybe my blood pressure was up and I think he's probably right. I didn't think to check that. It was probably from the salt on the popcorn. I don't know what made me do that...I rarely snack at night. I just saw that box of microwave popcorn in the cupboard and it jumped into my hand. I will have to drink a ton of water today to get rid of that salt.

Doctor's appt went very well. My A1c was up from 5.9 to 6.5 but my cholesterol and triglycerides were good. However, my blood pressure was up 170/66 which is extremely rare for me. But I was a bit nervous when talking to him about what to do since I can't take the Metformin any more. Didn't have a pap smear as nurse said something about not doing them past age of 65. I guess since I'm 71, he isn't doing them any more. I may have misunderstood that one. It could be that I just won't be getting them every year any more. Any way, they've changed things concerning the mammogram as I had to call and make my appt. They used to make them for me. He thinks I need to have colonoscopy just as a precaution, but I told him I would do that next year as I don't have the money to do that this time. I don't know if the price has gone up or not, but I don't have the amount they expect up front right now with Christmas coming up. When I go to the doctor in March, I'll agree to have it done then.

I took the copies of the articles from the sites you shared on IF. I am glad DH was with me because of his medical background, he knew how to talk to the doctor about how it works concerning the liver. Then I explained to him that this is basically the way my Daddy and I both ate when I was growing up and that I was thin and healthy every time I ate this way. He told me that he was glad that I am researching to find the way that would work for me because most people don't care and maybe this would work for me. So after discussing the IF study and all my options, he asked me "Do you want me to write you a prescription or do you want to try this". I told him that if this would work that I would rather go with this because I know I can live this way and if it doesn't then I can always take the medication. He agreed to let me try it for the next 3 months and see how it goes. So I started today. It was noonish when we got to eat so I'm doing the noon to 8 pm.

I am excited because I feel like I'm doing my own personal experiment. At 71 yrs old, I don't have time to wait until the FDA or ADA approves IF. I will follow what I call the modified low carb which I will do 90 -95% of the time. I told him that even the ADA has approved Atkins for a year which I know works the best for diabetes, but that I've finally realized that I cannot live with that even for a year. And I didn't tell him, but I do not want to eat lowfat.

DH numbers had improved too. Even his A1c was down to 7.5 from 7.9 last time. We are doing something right because even his cholesterol and triglycerides were better. So we actually had a good doc visit.

He talked about a shot that I could take once a week to lose weight, but I didn't pursue that. I really hope I can do this without it.

Catch you tomorrow.

Hello all,

Sorry I haven't been able to post much. Been busy getting stuff ready for the holidays. Gonna get to spend some time with family and friends we haven't seen in a while. Wanted to get some little gift things made. Coming down the home stretch on that project. Finished a photo quilt/wall hanging for my mom. Got a few Christmas cards done and sent. Then some unexpected things to deal with ~ DH's desk top computer died. He had most all of the stuff backed up thank goodness ~ except a few of the more recent pictures. DS got a nail in his tire, so he needed help with that.

Been busy ~ but that turned out good ~ the scale finally started moving in the "right" direction.

I read here daily and am learning things from what you share. I'll be glad when things settle down ~ I will be able to be more supportive to you all.

Take care

Trish, It sounds like you and DH are doing very well, and I commend you for discussing things like IF with your doctor. I just go ahead and do things if they work for me.

I had heard that you don't get pap tests after 65. That's around the time I stopped getting them, but I'm still nervous about it because of the issues I had with dysplasia.

I don't go for mammograms either. It's getting very contraversial. I don't recommend that people follow my lead. Each of us had to do what we think is best.

Gayle, we are happy to have you check in. It's not necessary to do personals every time. If you have a comment, OK, if not OK. Some post daily, other only have time to post occasionally. No pressure!

I'm glad to hear you are getting things done. I should be doing that instead of spending so much time on the PC, but this is something I didn't get to do while I was working, and I enjoy it.

Maybe everyone else will check in between now and the holidays. I often wonder about Mad and how she's doing, along with some others.

Gayle So glad you will be seeing family you haven't seen in a while. That is always fun. Your photo quilt sounds lovely. I'm sure your Mom will love it. I understand about being busy during the holidays. We live so far from family that we don't get busy with them any more. I do miss it, but I don't think I have the stamina to do all that any more. Enjoy your holidays.

Carol Sue I too wonder about Mad. She was such a special part of this group for so long. I do hope she is doing ok. I'm not sure about the mammograms either. It is just like the colonscopy. I've read bad things about both. So your never sure what to do.

Yes, we did have a really good doctor's visit and he is so good to work with me. I would love to sell my house and move closer to Tony's daughter in FL, but I just hate giving up our doctors because it is so difficult to find doctors like him. I think he works with me because he knows that I want to be healthy and that I would rather do what I can naturally.

I guess I was so wound up last night that it was after 1 am before I went to bed. Finally took a Benadryl then I didn't want to get up this morning, but this was a day I could sleep in. I finally made myself get up a little after 9. The only problem with that is DH got up early and I didn't get any "me" time. LOL But I needed the rest because I haven't been getting my 7 to 8 hrs lately. The good nights sleep and my 8 hr IF yesterday was rewarded with a 126 fbs this morning.

I think I'm going to make this a no starchy carb day. Just feel like doing a low carb day. Maybe because I had more high carbs yesterday than I normally would have. Carol Sue Did you notice that the brown fat was mentioned in one of those articles you shared? Makes me think there might be something to that. I told a friend about that book and how he recommended alternating low carb with high carb days and she said "That is the way I ate when I was skinny". I thought that was interesting. But I don't want to HAVE to plan to eat low carb tomorrow. Since I'm learning how to listen to my body signals concerning what and when I eat, I don't want to follow schedule someone else says do. I think 50 yrs of doing what someone else said was "healthy" way to eat on their diet plan is what has kept me fat all these years. So I'm following my own plan from now on.

Hum, wonder who has suggested I do that in the past?:?: That is where a support group is so helpful. Thanks Carol Sue

Since DH is up I guess my window will start at 1 pm instead of noon, but I will still make my cut off time at 8 instead of 9. The only thing I didn't tell the doctor is that sometime I don't want to eat for 8 yrs and I have eat in a 5 hr window.

My daughter is flying for the 1st time today with her step-son on a business trip. She is texting me almost constantly. She is so funny. She wrote me and said this is awesome. I knew her flight wasn't until 11 am central time so I asked "Are you in the are"? She wrote "No mam, at the airport". I told her that if she thought that was awesome that she is in for a really exciting experience in the air. She was so nervous about flying, but I love flying (haven't flown but only 3 times). So I have tried to help her enjoy it. She is going to Philly and she said they have snow. I hope she really has fun. This will be so good for her.

Well, I too wordy today so I will close off.

Shannon, Bonnie, Ruthie, dgramie and others :wave: I know y'all are busy with holiday busyness too so have a great day.