Carolr Not sure why my inbox is full, but I did finally get your email and answered you. I wonder if the site is having trouble like they have in the past. Your 2 emails yesterday and today are the only ones I had there.

I'm sorry to hear about your health problems. Do you think the weight gain was from the health issues. Were you unable to prepare your own food for a while? Please don't give up. Others have made come backs from those problems (I won't name your health issues unless you do). I knew a woman who not only recovered but still works fulltime all these years later and she lost weight too. I will also recheck the problems with my private inbox.

Sometimes I wish I'd get people's facebook id ..........then I could find them another way.

Hi Carolr. I have seen your posts on IE. Sorry you're not feeling well. Hope things improve.

Trish, that's an amazing story about your DH heart problem. I am curious as to what you did, because I have 2 bad heart valves but so far they are not bad enough to need replaced. They are watching them with an Echocardiogram every year plus I have to watch for symptoms. They said they may never get bad enough to need replaced.

Part of my problem with my FBS could very well be because of my sleep problems. I rarely get a good night sleep. I have always refused to take anything to help me sleep because every time I hear about something, I google it, and it has some side effect or interaction that I don't like, so I don't take it. Maybe I should give in and try some Melatonin, or something similar.

Thursday was supposed to be a low calorie day for me, but I didn't make it. Yesterday my FBS was 179, but I refused to take my Glimiperide. I had scrambled eggs and a small piece of sausage for a late breakfast. By suppertime, around 4 PM my bs was down to 118, with only Metformin. I was happy about that. I ate a salad, plus a piece of fish and some coleslaw that DH got take-out. I forgot to check bedtime blood sugar and didn't eat my bedtime egg because I was not hungry, and actually, I forgot all about it. Not like me to forget about food! I think my appetite is changing.

I think you and DH can still have some carbs in your meals, as long as they include protein and as long as it's not sugar laden. I think DH will show an improvement and maybe even be able to get off some of his meds. If he feels better he will be willing to keep better eating habits.

Carol Sue I'm sorry that I don't remember the original plan we used. We mostly used vitamins and minerals. I remember he took magnesium with potassium and alpha lipoic acid that I bought at the health food store plus some other vitamins. We still take the alpha lipoic acid mostly because I think it played a big roll in softening the valve flap that they said had become almost hard like leather. I just read that it is also very good for treating neuropathy as well. We used to take two 200 mg a day, but only take one now. However, since I learned that it helps prevent or reverse neuropathy, I just may bump it back up to 2 a day. He took and still takes CQ 10. Blood doctor had him on and we both still take D3 and Folic acid. He gets his magnesium and potassium out of his food now. I believe prayer and this regiment has kept him heart healthy plus he drinks red wine everyday.

My fbs was 141 yesterday and 140 today. I'm sure it had a lot to do with the taco sauce I had. Also, I wasn't in the mood for the egg last night so grabbed cheese and sandwich meat. Swelled today too from the sodium.

I had oatmeal for breakfast and will check bs just before lunch. I'm going to try cooking salmon fillet today. I've got lentils cooking to either go with the salmon or mix with barley for dinner. Not sure yet. I had the wrong SBD book out yesterday. Got the new one out today and I'm going to look at it today and work from Phase 2 on it. I'll see how that works tomorrow. I don't think I'm going to church tomorrow just in case the grains + the Metformin works me a little too good tomorrow.

DH just got up and checked his fbs and it was 110. So that is good and hope we can get on a lunch plan that works good for both of us. He is having codfish fillet since he doesn't like salmon. I guess his serving of ice cream didn't hurt him after all.

The first time I reversed diabetes, I did it eating lowfat Richard Simmons plan. So I'm thinking I can use the SBD as a guideline to have healthy carbs so we both can eat healthy and lose weight and lower our fbs. I'm still going to use the IF/IE plan with this.

The newer SBDiet using Phase 2 is very doable for DH and me. As long as it works, I will keep my morning oatmeal or other recommended cereal for the summer. I get a serving of fruit in the morning this way. I can eat meat type protein at lunch and I can have meatless protein from grains and/or veggies at dinner. I will use healthy oils and keep my butter and I can keep my dairy although I do have to switch to lowfat. However, I think I will enjoy doing this much better. Plus I can have a few healthy nuts/seeds and I can still do it through IE/IF and moderate lowcarb.

Looks like my evening meal will be less of a meal and more of a snack because of us eating our lunch so late. I don't think there is any reason why this will not work.

Edited to say:-
Ruthie Thank you so very much for the SBD food list on the South Beach thread. It sure did come in handy as I made a copy of both Phases for reference to keep in my kitchen. I really appreciate you keeping it there. Hope things are going good for you. :)

Trish, I thought the only difference between the old and new SB was more vegetables. Hmmm. I'm pretty sure the book I have is the old one, but maybe not. I just thought it looked like a lower fat version of Atkins.

Yesterday was a total bust for me. I ate eggs and sausage for breakfast. Later on, a buttermilk biscuit started calling my name. I know I can't eat them, and it wasn't even fresh, but I ate it anyway. Then DH decided he wanted to go to the casino. Before we left I checked BS. It was 212, from the biscuit, so I took 1 1/2 Glimiperide to get it down. By the time we got there and got to the buffet, 2 hours had passed. I did not have my meter with me. I went through the line and got my food and just as I sat down to eat I got really hot and started sweating profusely, and my hands were very shaky. I figured the Glimiperide brought me down too low so I just started eating and then I felt better. The only carbs I had on my plate were broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. (DH said I was the only person there who took any brussels sprouts LOL) but getting food into my body helped. I don't know if I was truly hypo, or if it just came down quickly and caused symptoms. We didn't get home til 11. Instead of coming home, DH wanted to get something to eat at an all night diner so I figured I could have my scrambled eggs. Since they give you bread with it, I figured I would try sour dough bread because I have heard that it is good for diabetics and I was having it with protein. When I got home at midnight, I tested at 135. I only took Metformin. I woke up around 3 AM, tested and was as 157. I was happy, thinking the bread only brought my BS up 20 points in 3 hours. Went back to bed, got up at 8, and FBS was 257. So much for sourdough bread and linking a carb to a protein. Maybe it slowed down the sugar spike, but it did not prevent it but only delayed it. So I'm thinking they based their testing on a 2-3 hour results, but didn't continue on and see that it eventually did spike. So that does it for me. I am done with bread, and also linking it with protein. I have said so many times that low carb is the only way I can do this but for some stupid reason, I keep trying other things.

Will someone please smack me? It's back to OP today, and I think it should be a 500 cal day to get me back on track.

Carol Sue The new SBD book allows some grains/starch that I don't think was allowed in the original book. Interesting the experience you had with the bread yesterday. I think it all comes down to using our needle and strips to learn how things work for us individually.

As you know I always thought I could only eat very low carb. I'm learning the exact opposite is true for me. Yesterday I had the oatmeal with 3 lg strawberries, yogurt and a vew slivered almonds and I also sprinkle cinnamon on the oatmeal. I new thing I learned to do is to sprinkle cinnamon in my morning coffee. The lady who cleans Daddy's apartment told him that her DH has diabetes and he lowered it by sprinkling cinnamon in it. Don't know if it helps, but is like a nice treat. Any way, I had a nice salad with EEVO and white wine vinegar and cut my salmon into it and had brussel sprouts on the side. Something else I did which I really enjoy is 4 crackers with my salad. I have to get to the store and find a multigrain that is SBD friendly. And I am still drinking a glass of 2% milk until we use it up. For dinner I had the lentils with pearled barley and decided that while I was experimenting that I would have a 1oz bag of potato chips and a handful of cashews.

I forgot to check bs before I went to bed and was too tired to come back in here to do it. I was amazed that my fbs was 129. Barely under 130 but so much better than the 140s readings I had been getting on the low carb diets. I obviously do better with the complex grains in my plan. So I've had the oatmeal again this morning and will continue eating the complex carbs.

DH and I have been reading up on what to eat to help his DS prevent cancer and I found a place that tells you to eat fruits, veggies and complex grains. I know none of us will give up meat completely, but I know that I could become simi-vegetarian. Not sure what they call it when you do eat meat, but not loads of it. I enjoyed having fish yesterday. We read that beef is bad and I've always thought that was a bunch of crap. Some people talk about how they are killed etc., but push eating turkey meats and chicken. DH even read that they are now calling beef, lamb and pork red meat. I've raised chickens and killed them according to the Jewish way which is cleaner and healthier, but I have also been to a processing plant where they were killed. Daddy used to take us and purchase beef from the butcher who raised them and I have to say that there is no big difference. It all depends on who is doing it. There used to be an old saying "Know your butcher". No one is able to follow that rule this day and time because of the big processing companies that do all that. So I think that is the big problem with our foods these days. Who knows. Now we are hearing about GMO veggies and how they mess with our produce. So who knows what we get. I think we just have to do the best we can.

So I say all that to say that I think my body is telling me what it needs and doesn't need. Sounds like yours is to Carol Sue. I would definitely say that Madeleine has truly found her way since her numbers have improved. Looks like Shannon has found a way that will work for her and her family as well. I know we will all have those moments when we have off days, but we need to just accept those and move on to doing what we have learned works for us. I heard a doctor say on tv one time that each person has to find their own path to health. I think that is what we are doing. BTW The sour dough bread doesn't work for me either Carol Sue where as I have absolutely no problem having the Sara Lee multigrain bread. Even my doctor finally said to me the other day, "You know what may work for one person may not work for you". I think I am the one who has finally taught him that. LOL

Guess I better close this before it looks like a book. :dizzy:

That's funny, Trish, that you are teaching your doctor. I have always heard that medical doctors received very little training on nutrition. One time I asked my first Cardiologist what I should eat and he said tell your PCP to give you a referral to go to a nutritionist. The nurse for my new cardiologist just tells me to watch my fats, which is a very vague statement. I have made my own plan. I will keep tweaking until I lose weight and get healthy.

I did some reading about the Alpha Lipoic Acid and I didn't see anything anywhere that it said it helped the heart valves, but that doesn't mean it doesn't. It said that it helps the body process blood sugar better and if you are on diabetic meds you might have to lower them. That sounds promising, plus there were other health benefits. The most important thing it said to me is that it is not harmful for anyone because there are no known adverse side effects. I didn't have time to go to the Health Food Store so I bought a bottle in Walmart and I am going to try it and see if I see a different in my blood sugar.

I do want to mention one thing I read. I was researching Melatonin because I was considering getting it to help me sleep. Several sites I read said that it RAISES blood sugar, so I am definately not going to use it. I thought others might want to know that, too. I have too much trouble with high blood sugar to take something that's going to make it worse.

I did it!
 

Twice now I am below 180. I will adjust ticker tomorrow if it stays down.
was getting constipated again, seems a common problem with atkins, and I increased some carbs, (had toast with my eggs!) to help. No that I am no longer "costive" I feel better and weight is down. Not just dehydration or anything but down.

I don't know exactly why, but I am doing much better in a variety of ways.
Its been since the beginning of February, and I really am doing well avoiding dessert and sweets, and even artificial sweets. Atkins has always been like this, but its helping me too.
DH says he has also lost weight. Not fair, he wasn't trying, and has lost more than me, but I think its just the lack of desserts.

I also seem better able to switch back to planned WOE when I cheat or go off and eat carbs. And my carbs are healthier too, whole grains, not sugary stuff, so that may make it better. Or maybe its mental attitude, not sure.

Trish, I do recommend that if DH is feeling "off", especially at night, to do a blood sugar then and again in 30 or 45 minutes if still awake. He may be having issues. With all the meds, they may bring him low at times, and then cause a "dump" of sugar into the blood stream as a result. I suspect your doctor has him on all this, because he hasn't been following any diet, and his sugars are terrible. That A1C is really high. Insulin is next if he can't bring it down, and diet and exercise are whats needed. Hard to do (as we all know and understand) but still the best way.

SB is quite different, not just a lower fat atkins. More grains and complex carbs, in a good way, and lower fat, with an emphasis on healthy fat. My chronically overweight uncle lost 100 pounds on SB and keeps it off well. I think its a really good plan. (just doesn't work for me). Also has lots of fish, if one is eating ideally, but you don't have to.

Tomorrow I go see my Dad and Aunt, its Mum's "death day" which we now call St. Peggy's day. I remember going for a drink as we were on the "death watch" after her stroke and removing her from life support. Was surprised at all the partying, hadn't realized it was St. Patricks day. But we will have a green beer and jigs supper in honour of her tomorrow.
SO, my little commercial that I want to impart is for all of you to make a "living will". My parents very kindly we upfront about this, and it was much easier to manage Mum's dying hours because she had told us not to prolong things in precisely that situation. We had her living will to make decisions with Dad and her doctors and her brothers and sisters. It is a real kindness to your children or next of kin if you have these papers and conversations, hard though they are.
I hope this isn't too political for 3FC. I am not advocating any particular plan, just that you let your family know what you would want so they can honour your wishes.

have a good day everyone

Madeleine:cheer:YAY:cheer: Glad you have made it under 180. I'm happy for you.

You are right about DH. He was not watching his diet. He is a chocholic and really misses his sweets sometimes. I do notice that although he is still having the ice cream (at least until he eats it all, we've all said that one) that he is eating a small amount. I really don't think he is having issues with the meds. I think I'm the one who thinks it is too much. However, he did tell me that it he doesn't want to be on it forever and I heard him tell his son that it was a wake up call for him. Strange that in guiding his DS with his health problems seems to be helping DH.

DH got a call Saturday from Walmart Pharmacy that someone in our home had a prescription to pick up. I called the pharmacy this morning to find out what we didn't get when we picked our meds last week. She said it was for me. The doc had asked me if I had tried the Metformin ER and I told him that he had ordered it for me before but our Part D insurance wouldn't cover it. I told him that back then he had to get permission from them to give it, however, I told him that I noticed that is what he is giving DH. He really got mad about having to get permission to give it. I've about decided that next year I am changing our Part D insurance. Any way, turns out that he ordered it for me and it is covered. I'll pick it up tomorrow. I really like the idea of a time released.

My FBS this morning was 134 which isn't bad considering I had a late snack of popcorn while watching the 10 Commandments. Felt like I was at a movie house since it was so long. LOL Needless to say my weight is up a lb. I am happy that it isn't any higher.

Phone call. BBL

My sister called and her fbs was 140 this morning, but she didn't take her meds this weekend. She wasn't feeling well on it and called her docs office and was told to take it every other day. Her daughter got married this weekend and they had a 2 day celebration. She decided not to take it for the 2 days because she didn't want to have to run to the bathroom to pee the whole time. She ate off, but said she is back OP today.

I got up this morning and didn't want oatmeal and didn't want the usual low carb egg breakfast. So I had my version of an egg mcmuffin with sausage, but I make it on the Sara Lee 45 calorie Multigrain bread. Cooked the egg in Olive Oil Spray and didn't add any fat not even the avocado and it really hit the spot. I've had 2 c coffee as I think I've been drinking too much of it.

DGS is working today and since he is home all week, I've got a crockpot of spaghetti sauce going for our lunch and his dinner. Haven't decided yet if I want the multigrain spaghetti or the spaghetti squash. Right now both sounds good. I'll decide when it's time to eat. I will use the grains, but I will only have the 3 to 5 servings, but most of the time no more than 4. I think I've learned that any more than that I don't lose and sometime I end up gaining a few lbs however, I think that is mostly sodium.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Good for you, Mad! Great weight loss! I guess I am not really following SB because I don't eat grains and my complex carbs are just vegetables. I just wanted to be able to have beans and milk sometimes.

Trish, I hope the Met ER works for you. Maybe that's what you need to stop the issues you have with it. I think I accidentally took an extra one on Saturday since I took one I had in my purse when we ate at the casino. I got a bit of nausea but it passed.

I switched to decaf coffee the past few days so I think that's why I feel so tired, but I'm still not sleeping well. Maybe I need to have a cup of regular coffee then switch to decaf. I usually have about 4 cups.

I think it's good that DH has cut back on the ice cream. I think his eating will improve gradually. The longer you are away from sweets the less you crave them, especially when you're eating healthy.

just gonna share a low carb (but higher fat) fav supper
When in Europe last year I totally fell in love with eating duck, and it was usually served with braised red cabbage.
I can buy duck confit in a package, so I just follow the directions, and make the cabbage myself.
SO take your red cabbage, and slice on a diagonal, until you have 1-2 cups (one person, or two if you are just trying it) and also slice 1/2 an onion and an apple.
sauté the onion and then add the apple and and cabbage, until getting limp, at a medium heat.
After that add 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. the same amount of water, and some sweetener. In europe they used sugar, I use 1-2 packets of splenda. You bring to a boil, then lower heat and cook until soft.

So yum, it was great.

still under 180 this morning so the ticker is changed. Have a good day friends.

That cabbage sounds really good, Mad, and I think I would try it without the sugar before I added any sweetener because I really don't care much for a sweet taste, but I sure do like cooked cabbage. I always add onion to mine, but the apple would be tasty, too.

What I do at Thanksgiving when I make candied sweet potatoes, I mash the potatoes, then I take some out for myself and just add some cinnamon and butter to it. They I finish the recipe for everyone else, with the brown sugar, marshmallows, and whatever else they like in it.

I don't think I ever ate duck, and I probably never will, because DH would not eat it, and I've never been to a restaurant that has it on the menu. If I saw it on a menu, I would try it. I love to try new foods.