Good Morning Everyone

Up waayy too early this morning. Tony decided he wants to go to church today... so glad he feels good enough to go.

Tammy Good to here from you. Hope you really enjoyed your "me" time. We all need that.

Em The one thing I like about the New Atkins Diet book is that it gives the minimum amount of protein a person needs for the heighth and the maximum that is allowed. I have a tendency to eat closer to the low end. In fact, I have to work at even getting to the minimum so far mainly because I just don't get hungry. I eat a good breakfast and then we eat our main meal around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and I just don't get hungry for the 3rd meal. Last night I finally had a protein shake and a cheese stick only to get the minimum carbs which I didn't reach and the minimum protein. I'm glad to find someone who says we need we need but also tells us not to go over a certain amount. I think I will order Dr. Bernstein's book. I have to wait until after I pay the credit card first so probably will order it at the end of the month. Although I don't agree with everything in The Diabetic Bible book I order, I learned a lot about diabetes and how it works. I am sure I am a Syndrome X as well. I learned that my liver doesn't see insulin so it thinks I need more so it throws it out into my blood system thus the Metformin helps the liver to stop sending out so much insulin that my body doesn't need. I also learned that many times when a person has clots as DH did that he is diabetic but it just hasn't shown up yet. I also learned that by diet and exercise that it can be reversed or controlled and that all the complications that diabetics used to experience doesn't have to ever happen if we do not deny that we have it and work to get rid of it or work to prevent it as you are doing since you know it is in your family. Great news. All the knowledge is out there to help us that they didn't have when Tony's first wife died from the complications of it. I am so thankful that we know so much more now.

Maryea We have gone through the same thing with the pest control people. The guy who has to keep up with our termite control is supposed to spray our house. He manages to only come once a year. I told Tony that we were going to have to call the people who did it before because the come 3 or 4 times a year. The other guy just isn't reliable. As for the meat eating, Tony and I usually take a steak or fillet of fish and we half it. We just seem to need more than that. (My doctor is from the Phillipines. Great doctor. I think he is going to be just about the best I've ever had and I have had a few good ones.)

Well, I better close off. I am still reading the two books The Diabetic Bible and The New Atkins for the New You. I think I can get some more reading done before I have to leave for church.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Good Morning, all!

Tammy, it's nice to have you post. Hope you are doing really well.
Maryea, Your meat twice a day, in those amounts, sounds very nice to me. I was a vegetarian for a few decades, and the switch to eating meat every day is a great change for me, both physically and mentally. I agree with you about the healthy part being so vital, and the weight loss will come with it.

Trish, can you get Dr. Bernstein's book from the library, so in case you don't find it offers anything more than what you already have in your other books, you won't be out any more money? I am finding info on his forum that isn't in the book I have. I only have The Diabetic Diet, am still waiting for the The Diabetes Solution from the library.

I'm still working on my plan, adjusting this and that, keeping my exercise.

We are finally getting some rain, more like heavy mist that falls a bit, but we're all glad to have it. The leaves have been falling all month, as though it's autumn and the grass mostly crunchy.

I have been very faithful about my Callanetics and am doing a bit more rebounding. I may take a walk with an umbrella later.

Regarding insects, I do my own bug spraying. There is a store for do-it-yourself insect control near me. When the spray and things from the hardware store don't suffice, I buy the heavy duty stuff. Moth balls under the house help deter roaches and varmints. I grow strongly scented herbs and have them strategically placed around the outside of the house. That helps, too. Lavender, rosemary, lemon, mint, Greek oregano. Some in containers, some in the ground. I don't put out regular bird food, just sugar-water for the dear hummingbirds and sometimes thistle seed for the finches. The other seed attracts varmints I don't want. I'm still able to spray around the house myself. I know some have much larger houses, and it's too much, or the places are too hard to get to, etc. I spend about $20-30 per year on moth balls and insecticides. My house is only 700 sq. feet though.

Hope you all have a lovely morning!

JaneAbsolutely your news trumped mine. Nothing quite so fine as new young uns in the clan.
Em I like the your ideas on pest control. I have let the critters get the best of me this year. I have window a/c's and somehow the word got out to the six legged beings. I plan to fog the house in a few weeks, taking all the cats and the kid on a road trip.. be gone for a few hours with 6 mewing cats. oh the coming fun.

Loving the discussion about meat vs vegies. I read somewhere that the shape of our teeth indicates we should not be mainly carnivores.. more omnivores. Learning to eat and enjoy rather than tolerate vegetables was a huge lesson for me.

folks! I am finally going to visit my CA daughter, sil and grand toddler. Will leave either tuesday or monday depending on the flight loads. will be back on the 23rd. Not sure that I will have use of a computer. so every one.. have a wonderful week.. thanks for all the support.
Coralee

Em I just might try to get the book from the library. That will give me the excuse to go and get a library card.

Coralee Have a good trip.

Went to church and it was great seeing everybody. Now I so tired from waking up so early.

Later

Coralee - been thinking about you...glad to have you back. Did you go on the cruise? If so, tell us all about it! Or is that still to come? Sorry you've had pest issues. Hope the fogging gets rid of them.

The pesticide service for us is more preventative and to be sure the carpenter ants are kept at bay. The first guy told me not to call them "carpenter" ants because they do not guarantee anything that eats into the wood. I told him the salesmen had called them that. He said he knew that but they shouldn't and said to just call them ants. So I asked, well do you think this should get rid of any "ants?" LOL He laughed and said it should. But supposing I had an issue with them getting worse, and I showed them, wouldn't they recognize them as "carpenter" ants and therefore go back on the guarantee? Doesn't make much sense to me.

I do know something is after my poor roses. I spray them with stuff but doesn't seem to help much. Despite the bugs and disease though, they usually bloom quite well but this year has been a poor year for them. We got SO much rain this spring and even though they bloomed they drooped terribly with all the heavy rain and then quickly died. Now there are only a few buds. The guy agreed to spray them since there are no blooms present.

Another guy came yesterday at our request and this time we watched at several feet distance. They do not wear masks themselves though. I haven't noticed as many spiders, webs or ants since they came so perhaps they are helping. I feel bad if we misjudged the first guy, but it was hard not being able to observe (except I peeked out the window now and then) what was done and to see so little evidence afterwards. They will do it all again in 30 days and we will be watching again until at least we feel more comfortable with their service.

Coralee, Em - I was almost a vegetarian at one point. I just got so I didn't really care for the taste of most meat for some reason. And during that time I went to a Christmas party where they served prime rib and I ate a big piece cause it tasted good. As soon as I ate it I got sick and even bled a little. Lasted several days. Ended up going to doctor, and having all the usual tests but found nothing. I think I just wasn't used to the meat. Now I eat meat more again (but not like I once did) and I still prefer beef and some fish. Occasionally I like chicken if it's cooked to my taste.

Patty - My dh and I share meat a lot too. The amounts I eat were suggested to me by a diabetic nutritionist so I assume they are correct for me but I don't know how they compare to the books you are reading since I am not on a low-carb diet.
Good luck with your diet and bs!! It's good you are being diligent and learning all you can.

Went to church this am for the first time since Joe's accident and it sure felt good to be back. We went for Chinese after church. I thought I did pretty well...but then Joe encouraged me to get dessert and I gave in since he said he would share. I didn't really want it and fortunately didn't like it much so only had a few bites....actually that is an improvement in me as usually he's the one who quits and gives it over to me! But I'm sure it put me over on carbs for that meal. Overall though I'm ok.

My weight was up a little this morning. I was not surprised as I have been eating a little too much in the evenings again and I gain quickly. Was doing so well there for a while. I really wish I could get a handle on the evening eating ...otherwise I usually do well. And thank God we don't eat out often!

It is VERY warm...feels like a sauna outside. Kinda pleasant if don't stay out too long. We don't have ac in our car so it was warm. Next car will definitely have ac but really up here we don't need it often. It only gets hot a few days a year.

Em - thanks for the good ideas on pest control! We do have a lot of bird seed in our back yard and the squirrel gets into it and really scatters it about on the ground and patio. Lucky we don't have any bugs that we know of, but I do wonder about carpenter ants. Not sure how I can tell about them without going under the house (crawl space) and dh is not up to doing that and I'm not willing to volunteer! Do you know if the moth balls keep carpenter ants away? They eat insects that are in the wood. I suppose though if you can keep the other insects out of the wood, that would keep the carpenter ants away??...hmmm...I'll talk to dh about trying some of your ideas. At least it would be cheaper than this pesticide service.

Coralee - Have fun in CA with your family! Glad you get to go!

Hello to everyone else!! Hope you are all having a good Sunday!!

Good Morning, all!

Maryea, I don't know if the mothballs keep ants away. They do help deter animals and roaches. I read somewhere that all strong smelling herbs deter rodents and roaches, so I planted things.

I keep all food in glass jars with screw on lids, or in the fridge, or in two ziplock baggies, the freezer ones.

I sometimes wipe the floor with borax and water. I have put tea tree oil or oil of oregano on a cotton ball or Kleenex and put that in closets. I only eat in the kitchen or sometimes, the living room. I have those bait traps, sometimes folks call them roach motels, or ant motels, in closets, in the corners, under the cabinets, etc.

I also have one of those hanging, sticky tapes to catch little flying creepies, such as gnats or flies. I noticed when I lived in Europe, where folks don't have screens on their windows, that these were in use everywhere in the summer. When I came back to the States I made sure to use them.

I also have an AirOasis air purifier, which helps keep out bugs of all sorts, as well as killing icky, invisible stuff.

The low carb approach to losing weight or for blood sugar maintenance has different ratios of protein, fat, and carbs than the low calorie, low fat/high carb approach. On a very low, or very, very low carb diet, the protein can be increased as the body utilizes the protein in the meat for glycogen. If anyone wants references, I can dig up a few. It's nice there are so many choices nowadays, as we all have different genes and metabolic needs.

Have turned a corner in my plan, had to cut out some of that dairy, and lower my calories a bit. Every time I lose a few pounds, there is a period of adjustment and then needing to clean up the eating again. Ever more streamlined. Takes a bit of gearing up and some gumption. But, it's always nice to turn the corner and go forward.

Hope you all have a very nice start this morning.

Good morning! Hope you each have a great day!

A quick one this morning. Guess I'm going to start getting up earlier as I was awake around 4ish again this morning. Getting ready to go to dentist for teeth cleaning. Got to hit post office on the way and then Walmart after get DH prescriptions and some vitamins we are out of.

The low carb is working for me. Weight loss is slow so far which is normal for low carb, but my FBS this morning was down 10 pts from yesterdays reading. Weight is back down to where it was when I started experimenting testing after eating to see what my body tolerates and doesn't. Read up on lactose intolerance and diabetes doesn't seem to have anything to do with so maybe it is just the carb thing.

Y'all have a great day.

Trish, congratulations on your success with the blood sugar and losing weight! All I've read about dairy and blood sugar is that the high fat dairy doesn't raise the blood sugar nor stimulate an insulin response, as milk or low fat does, due to the fewer carbs in the high fat things such as heavy cream or half and half, hard cheeses, etc.

Thanks Em, I appreciate the info.

Very hot today and I was running around all day...went to PT with Joe, then home, then to the CU, and grocery shopping (2 stores) and when I got home I was tired! After bringing in the groceries I rested a bit, then watered the gardens. Now it is very nice to just be inside in the ac. Tonight is Leftovers night so that's easy.

Em - I tend to keep things in tough plastic or glass but we don't have any pests inside. Now and then I'll see a bug or spider but it's pretty rare and we haven't had a mouse for years, thank God! Since they sprayed I don't see as many ants or spiders outside either.

Glad you are doing well on your weightloss plan! Yes I have to adjust my plan too when I drop weight. I know a little about the low carb diets because I have several books about it. I of course could never do a high carb due to my diabetes. I just eat whatever I want within my idea of healthy guidelines. Whenever I try anything else I never stick with it. I do use a lot of low-carb meals of course due to our diabetes. I rarely add a recipe any more that doesn't come with the nutrition facts. And I monitor everything nutritionally in CalorieKing (the independent software, not the online program). My biggest problem is getting too much fat but rarely do I go over on regular meals, it is due to eating too many high-fat snacks usually. I have to watch this since the only bad lab I have now is my triglycerides and I want to get them to normal if I can. When I eat my diet moderately I do fine so know what the problem is.

Patty - glad your diet plan is working for you too!
I don't have lactose intolerance but for years thought I did because I had so much gastric distress when I drank whole milk or ate ice cream. I switched to skim (non-fat) milk and I rarely eat ice cream and I haven't had any problems since. So my intolerance was the fat content, not the lactose. Of course I count the carb servings as with all foods but as long as I keep them to the prescribed limits I have no problem with my bs when consuming dairy products. If ice cream is around I can have trouble limiting it though...but that's another story!

Good luck everyone ...have a good eve and stay OP!

Good Morning!

Maryea, I'm glad the spraying helped. It's nice when the bugs are gone.

Reading all the posts, it looks as though we're all taking good care of ourselves and going forward.

I wish you all a lovely start this morning.

Hi Everyone,

I took a sleeping pill last (cross the counter one) and slept last night and got up later than usual. I knew I just could get by on just a 4 or 5 hr sleep again.

I went on line and found what the normal BS readings are and am pleased that I am in the normal range for 2 days now. My FBS reading has been 109 mg/dl yesterday and today. I'm working for lower, but just thrilled that I am in the norm. My blood pressure is considered normal, but I really want it a little lower because my norm has always been lower. I think that is because I've had to up my salt a little on the Atkins diet and I'm having to adjust it for where I want the BP to bee. Over all things are finally looking good health wise.

Have great Tuesday everyone.

Just quickly checking in this am before going with my dh to his doctor appt...it is a preopt appt for glaucoma surgery IF he decides to go ahead with it now that everything else has happened. He's so tired of being dependent and he would be again for a few weeks after the surgery.

Patty stopped to post mainly cause I saw your post and wanted to say Hooray!! for you getting your bs in the normal range...109 is very good! So GFY!! I know you have worked hard at getting there.

Marea Hope everything goes well for your DH. I think of you two often because of Tony and me going through our health issues. We can only pray, stand by them and be their moral support. It isn't easy for them.

My bs and bp lower again this morning. I don't know what is safe low for bp. BS was 104 mg/dl. BP 110/60. Hope to keep the BP there and get the BS below 100. I was really exhausted last night but the BS was low. Then I realized that I hadn't eaten enough veggies to get the 20 grams of carbs that Atkins requires to have enough energy during Induction. Had to eat some really quick last night to get my energy back up. So I'm working on watching that today.

Hope everyone is doing well today.