I have been hearing something but just recently started to understand it and want to run it by you. I heard/read that if you eat carbs at a meal, your blood sugar response will be based on how many carbs you had at the last meal. Supposedly this is the basis for The Carbohydrate's Diet, where you only eat carbs at one meal each day. I think I have been experiencing this lately, when I have been a little stricter with my carbs. Breakfast and lunch is usually carb free, but any carbs I do eat are included at dinner. Yesterday, I had ravioli for dinner and two hours later my blood sugar was 134. That is amazing for me after a carby meal. It's usually over 200. I think if I can continue this for the next 2 months I will have a great improvement in my A1c. Has anyone else been experiencing a similar reaction? If I am correct, I think it would not matter which meal had the carbs, as long as it isn't 2 meals in a row. And naturally, it can't be a hog wild carb meal.

Mad, I can just imagine a vegetarian being married to a non-vegetarian. I think that would be horrible. DH and I have different food interests but at least we both eat meat. Good for you for working on having vegetarian choices for them.

Trish, Golden Corral is in a part of town we rarely frequent so we have never been there. I don't feel as if I'm missing anything from what I've heard. A buffet us usually more expensive, and I don't feel that we get our money's worth because we aren't big eaters. I love the buffet at the casino, though, because we get it either free or half price. They have so many meat, seafood and vegetables choices there I can walk by the carb selections and never miss it.

I am starting to believe what I read about diabetics staying away from LCHF. Even though it is great for weight loss for non-diabetics, our diabetic bodies react differently to protein and fat. Lower carb is essential, but vegetables should not be limited the way they are with most low carb plans, and fat should be mostly healthy fat. We can and should eat fruit, but portion control is necessary. One thing I remember from Dr Fuhrman is that although carrots have a higher starch content, the nutrients and fiber make up for it. I love cooked carrots, but when I eat them, they are mixed in with other vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts, or raw, grated on a salad. I eat corn when it's mixed in with other veggies in vegetable soup. I think there are ways you can get some higher carb vegetables and fruits in your diet in small quantities.

If you are still eating the lower carb bread you used to buy, I see no reason why you cannot include a slice of toast with your breakfast. I have to be very careful with bread because it's almost impossible for me to eat just one slice. We each know our limitations.

p.a. It's nice that you will be so busy over the holiday weekend. Stop in when you can. I agree with you that fruit can be worked in to our diets. My DH recently started eating an orange every day, which I would usually avoid, but he gives me a couple sections from it and my blood sugar has been fine with that small amount.

Fickle, it's exciting that you won your diet bet and are so close to onderland! Great Job! The mexican restaurant sound so good, and probably because it is not a typical chain restaurant, where most of the employees are probably Americans. Florida would have more of the real thing. You just aren't going to find that in PA.

Shakes have never worked for me. I want to chew something. But they are great if you can do it, and they're obviously helping!

Carol sue that is interesting about the carb reaction being based on a previous meal. Question is tho, if the next meal is lower carb, would you have a higher than average reaction even though there are fewer carbs? hmmmm
Also, I want to say, in defence of atkins at least, that it is generally not low in veggies. induction phase is lower in veggies for a while, but not after that. And in fact I never really did induction (couldn't handle it, was too low carb for me) and ate lots of non-starchy veggies. Sort of like ww, where many veggies are considered "free" foods with no points values. however, even that is not enough fibre for me. I have had to go off low carb, and eat wheat usually once a day now, to stay regular. Makes a big difference, my sugars are still good, and I'm still losing weight, albeit a bit slower, but in a sustainable way for me.
However, yesterday was quite low carb, but I was up a pound this am. Ah well, see where I am on Friday (my usual weigh-in day). Sometimes these things take a day or two to kick in. I have not had a pain med in days, and have gotten out walking more, and doing my physio. Quiet week at work so far, just attended one delivery, so might get busy on the long weekend, but for now, all is well. Have physio later today, have started spreading my appointments out and working on small muscle groups to prevent further issues.
have a great "hump day" everyone

Carol Sue That is interesting about the bs and Carbohydrate Diet way of eating. I'm not sure about that. Back when I lost all my weight using CAD, I wasn't having diabetic problems so I wasn't checking FBS readings.

I got Dr. Fuhrman's book. I like the way he explains how things work, but he lost me when I realized he says more vegetarian way of eating. I have no desire to give up eat. I did have an Oriental diet doctor give me a bottle of pills to lose weight and said try eating one meatless meal once a day.

Several years ago when I was going to a chiropractor here in town, I got in to eating healthy. My diabetes was under control then and I was not following any particular diet, but I was losing weight. I mostly ate fruit and veggies. I remember reading a book after my Mama died of cancer that stressed that we needed to eat more "live" foods. I learned that live foods are fresh fruits and veggies that have not been cooked or processed.

This is making me rethink how I was eating during my thin years when I was eating and living a "healthy" lifestyle. Maybe I should just do that again. I didn't count any calories or anything. I just ate the healthy foods I liked and I also exercised and my body automatically responded with weight loss and felt great.

Catch y'all later. Today is shopping day.

Trish, I would never give up meat the way he suggests, but I do eat less meat than I used to. I still have meat every day, though. The thing I liked about his book is how he explains the health benefits of each vegetable. It makes me understand why we are supposed to eat a variety of veggies, as each one does something else. Reading his book had me buying some different veggies that I had never eaten before, just to try them. I don't think I will ever try any one plan. No foods are forbidden on my plan, but some are limited and I'm happy with that.

Mad, the thing with Atkins is that many people who do it do not leave induction. That's just not something I want to do, but I'm no authority and I don't criticize those who do zero carbs or close to zero carbs. I don't know who's right or wrong.

I am just confused about the second meal effect. I googled it today and got some websites that seemed to be talking about 2 different things. I really don't understand.

http://rebootedbody.com/second-meal-effect/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3205742/

I just realized that Watercolor hasn't been posting here for a while. Wonder where she is?

Grrr: they changed the ww tracker, and now I can't find my saved meals easily, it won't work for me. Maybe a technical glitch but for now I can't track.
I seem to be settling down somewhat. For quite a while, a frequent breakfast for me was 2 slices of ezekiel raisin bread, toasted, with peanut butter. I started to realize that I was getting too full on that. Its fine to have 2 pieces if I won't be eating for a long while, because I actually don't get hungry again for about 6 hours. But if I will be eating lunch, I was overeating. So recently I have cut back to one slice. and then have lunch at the usual time. (because break times are booked into my day and changing them would be harder)
I still get the fibre from the bread, and the protein from the pb. As long as its enough fibre to keep me regular, I will probably keep it to that. SO another way to reduce my calorie intake, without feeling deprived. I guess I am getting used to it now.
Have a lovely day. We have had freezing rain, so not so great here.

Blah, still stuck at 200.6. I blame hormones which hopefully will go away soon.

Okay, I'm keeping to my word on these shakes for my BFF, but after tomorrow, I'm done. I want real food. I'm starving by dinner which is causing me to over eat, or at least feel as if I am. I'm not according to food scales and MFP, but eating 800 cals at one meal is too much LOL. I'm staying under 1200 cals and still walking every day to pad my deficit, but I'm hungry all the time. She's doing fabulous on them though. I'm really proud of her.

That second meal thing seems really interesting. Last night I cheated keto wise and had fried shrimp and french fries (I don't make good decisions when ravenous LOL), but my BG didn't spike. Since lunch was the shake and I had no snacks, I venture to say it may be a thing.

The rain in the forecast has messed up my b-day plans this weekend. The zoo is out, but I guess it'll be okay to do a rain check. A movie and dinner will be nice. Looking forward to my birthday dinner on Sunday with my family.

I normally eat a lot of veggies. Keto is basically Atkins induction forever, although some like me do 50 net instead of 20. 95% of my carbs come from veggies and I have a serving of veggies at lunch and dinner. I just avoid the starchy ones like potatoes (unless I'm starving and they are put in front of me apparently LOL). I do know some people that eat nothing but meat, but not that many. I couldn't do that. I love a good steak, but I need some veggies to round it out. Right now I'm on a brussel sprout kick. Yummy little mini cabbages.

Work is insane this week. We're shorthanded and I've been working through lunch. At least this week was a good week to do the shake thing.

Fickle, hang in there, that pound is bound to drop off sooner rather than later, and just might take a few friends with it!!

I know a couple people who do meat only. It's just not for me long term. There are times when I eat only meat at dinner, but it's just once in a while. I eat starchy vegetables occasionally, too and today I'm having stuffed peppers and they have brown rice in them, but are mostly meat. I don't think this is what is keeping me from losing. It's my large portions. I just like food too much and it's very hard for me not to get carried away.

Mad, another woman from Canada mentioned the freezing rain. We have nice warm sunshine today, temps in the low 70s. I'm hoping our freezing precipitation is over.

And Onderland. WOOT! Work sucks, rain is here to stay for the next three days, but that's okay. Scale just made this weekend perfect. :)

I just found something in a container in my refrigerator and dumped it down the garbage disposal. I have no idea what it was. LOL It was not moldy, but it was watery as if it was something that separated. For the life of me I can't remember what it was. I could have tasted it to satisfy my curiosity, but I passed on that idea. LOL

I bought another book at Goodwill. I realize that I don't need all these books, but they are so cheap, $1 or $2, and I get 15% senior discount off that price, so I just can't pass them up. I'm just curious as to what they have to say. This one was Whole 30, which I've just heard of recently. All in all, it's not an unhealthy plan, but it has some restrictions that I'm totally against. Such as legumes and dairy. I can understand eliminating dairy if you have allergies/sensitivities, but will never agree that some cheese now and then is bad, or yogurt either. Also, it actually says that beans are not healthy. I will never agree with that, or maybe I just like them and don't want to give them up. Some plans say have them daily, some say eliminate them altogether. This books actually says they cause inflammation. That's the first time I ever heard that.

So I am continuing my plan where nothing is eliminated, but limited if it's something that effects my blood sugar, with attention to portion control. I can't seem to find any plan that makes more sense to me.

Fickle, good job getting into Onederland! It's a beautiful place to be!! Yay!!

Fickle Congratulations for making it to Onederland.:carrot:

Carol Sue Ever once in a while I find those "mystery" foods in my fridge too and can't remember having them or what they were. I don't taste to find out either.

I got my book Overcoming Runaway Blood Sugar and I am checking bs more often to see how foods effect my bs. I am finding that all though my FBS may be high that 1 hr after eating breakfast that it has come down about 22 pts, 2 hrs after it is down 41 pts and I'm getting ready to test it again in a few minutes for my 3 hr reading. I am eating fruit and veggies along with protein as WW recommends and eating some grains like the Sarah Lee MG bread as I'm going more for fiber than LCHF way of eating. I too am not going to have the attitude of any food being forbidden as that works against me rather than for me. However, I am exercising more of an attitude that I can have it if I really want it as long as it is within my daily calories.

Years ago when my Daddy married my step-mom he learned from my step-sister's DH how he got his diabetes under control. He would test bs readings after the foods that he ate to see how it affected his glucose reading. If he it spiked (I assume to much), he scratched that off as a not allowed food he . If it didn't affect it or not as much, then he would check it as allowed food.

By doing this, he learned that if he snacked on peanuts off and on during the day that his bs stayed lever. He could have an Egg McMuffin on the way to work if he took the top piece of biscuit off. This way he made his own list of foods that he could eat and this became his food plan for life. I've only read a little of this new book on Overcoming Runaway Blood Sugar seems to suggest doing the same type of thing. I don't have time to do it all the time right now, but I sure am going to do it when I'm home. I am going to get this under control again.

BBL

I told DH I was tired of Golden Corral. So we went to Cracker Barrel. Even though I did overdo the carbs and sodium today, I did stay within my highest calories. However, I didn't get enough fiber today. Counting calories is working out very well for me. I've already got my calorie plan tracked on MFP for tomorrow.

Trish, that is the way most diabetics are taught to test in the beginning, to find out what foods are safe and what foods aren't. I think after you have that figured out you don't really need to do it that way. I never had any formal training when I was diagnosed. It was a puzzle to me that I had to test and write the number down, because I didn't understand the purpose. I read so much online and got books from the library to learn. Also, there was a woman at work who was type 1 and I asked her a lot of questions, even though her situation was different. She told me if her blood sugar is too high she injects insulin, but that if mine was too high I could take a walk to bring it down. I now know what foods spike my blood sugar and can usually control it by limiting the portions, like your father removing the top piece of the McMuffin. Many times I will eat the McMuffin without the muffin at all, and other times I will eat the whole thing and use my Glimiperide to regulate the blood sugar. In this way I am using the Glimiperide as a crutch and wouldn't need it at all if I didn't do that. Now I always test before each meal. This tells me if I need to take any Glimiperide, depending on what I'm going to eat. Many times I don't need the Glimiperide if I'm not going to eat starchy carbs.

I am starting to order meal salads most of the time when we eat out. Each restaurant has a favorite meal salad. Last night I had a tuna chef's salad. It's very good...tuna salad on a bed of greens. At Texas Roadhouse I get a steak salad, and theirs is made with real grilled steak. By doing this I am not having any carbs with my meal. When we go to the casino, I am able to choose just protein and vegetables choices and pass up all the starchy carbs, but I still over eat there in quantity. Large meals will also spike blood sugar even if they don't include starch. I do a lot of walking all over the casino after we eat, so I figure that's my exercise after the meal. It's not perfect, but I try to look at it this way. Most of the starchy carbs I eat are at home, when I'm cooking for DH and we eat together. Even if we eat out somewhere that doesn't offer a good meal salad, I am usually able to order an entree and two vegetable choices rather than order a potato. That works, too. I think I am a lot more sensitive to carbs than I was when I was first diagnosed.

By the way, I figured out that the mystery in my refrigerator was chicken gravy. LOL It had separated and looked really gross. Yuk!

Hi everyone: just getting over a marathon at work. Up all night friday into saturday, then had a brief nap, and a friend and I drove an hour for a funeral visitation for an old friend's husband who was killed in a barn fire last week.
Driving there we were skirting downed electrical wires, forestry workers clearing downed trees, and hydro-electric trucks working to get power back in the area.
What excitement.
I didn't eat much with the tired ness, and at the visitation kept it to healthy stuff, like the fruit and veggie platters, devilled eggs and egg salad sandwiches, though I did have 2 brownies, then moved away from the tables when I started on the sweets. SO success in that. Then home to sleep and only woke up for a bit of supper and bathroom, and back to sleep. I am caught up now, and its a beautiful Easter morning. We will go walking and I will go see some lovely babies and mamas. And stick to plan today, we will feast next weekend instead of this one.

Fickle :bravo::bravo: congrats for your reaching Wonderland!
so happy for you, be proud of yourself, you are really changing yourself.

Happy Easter everyone
It's a beautiful morning here after the storm. We had no power for most of the night/ day, had my family here. Was very worrying with my grandkids,,, Today will be a fun day with egg hunt and yummy ham dinner.
I've slipped this week, no excuses. I will move on. I have a Drs appt in 6 wks so back on track for me. I love how she keeps me accountable,

Carol you are probably right about not being able to eat like you used to. Diabetes can be a progressive desease.
Ficklehearts I knew you could do it!!! Yeahhhh
Mad glad you got thru the storm.
Trish I'm glad you found something that works!

Enjoy your day everyone celebrating or not!