Wednesday, June 6, 2018

A Few Things re my blood sugar levels

Someone asked about the blood sugar lows. Here was my response:
"There wasn't rhyme or reason for them at first. Other than I suspect they were chronic stress-related.
I've noticed the last 6 months or so that I've been able to keep it fairly stable if I don't eat a lot of carbs, unless I go many hours without eating. Once it goes low, I have trouble keeping it up the rest of the day unless I eat a good many carbs. Those are the only patterns I've noticed. Oh, it tends to drop if I get overheated or haven't had much sleep also."

I have noticed that rice affects me more than other carbs - both as far as inflammation and blood sugar levels.

The blood sugar lows were confirmed about 2.5 years ago by a diabetic friend who let me use an old meter she had. They weren't dangerously low, but my symptoms were very noticeable!

I'm Baaack!!!!! :)

So... A lot of changes the last couple years! Here's a brief summary.

1. I divorced
2. A year and a half ago I started working full-time for the first time in over 10 years
3. After the separation, I had to move and lived with family and friends for 16 months
4. I lost down to 137 pounds

And now?

1. I'm recently remarried :D 
2. My husband and I rent a townhouse in the area I grew up in
3. In the last year, I have gained back 25 pounds

The last couple years have been stressful to say the least! Things seem to be calming down now, but my body has suffered :( I know some of the weight gain is muscle. Living somewhere with stairs most of the last year and a half when you haven't before does that to you ;) Most of the weight gain has been in my stomach area though. It's where I always gain...

I have been tweaking my eating habits since I started back to work. I was having issues with my blood sugar dropping, so I increased my carbs. I've been able to bring them back down and am feeling much better since doing so! 

I'm working at a school so am off for the summer. I have a list of things I want to accomplish, but a high priority is getting my health back on track. I seriously doubt I can safely lose back down to 137, but I would like to get a lot of this fat back off my body. The muscle is welcome to stay ;)

Here's what my summer eating looks like most days...

Breakfast: Coffee (w/1 tsp sugar + heavy cream)
                  String cheese
Lunch: Something relatively low carb + about 10 g dessert (chocolate or cookie) eg
            Turkey lunchmeat (no nitrates/nitrites) + cheese + mayo mixed w/cream
            Tuna salad (tuna, mayo, cream, dill relish + about 15 g carb crackers)
            Cheese grits (one packet plain instant + cheese + cream)
Snack: String cheese or
           About 15 g carbs if I didn't many eat carbs at lunch
Supper: Meat (4 oz uncooked) + veggies (8 oz uncoooked) w/lots of olive oil/butter/cream
Most days (snack or nighttime treat): peanut butter + bittersweet chocolate chips

Other than 1 cup of coffee, I drink very dilute iced tea or water. I drink sweet tea/soda/juice a couple times a month, mainly if my blood sugar feels low.

Sometimes I drink a protein shake for breakfast or lunch. Sometimes I have more carbs, especially if my boys are here and have requested something like alfredo (usually I mix a carb into their supper after taking mine out).

My husband eats mostly low carb at home, so that helps! 

No food is off limits to me, unless I react to it. I still look for healthier ways to eat what I want, but I do better overall if I allow myself an occasional splurge.

As far as exercise... Before the summer heat hit (I live in south Louisiana), I did a whopping *one* Couch to 5K workout. I realized I needed to buy new headphones and a few other things to be able to work out effectively. By the time I got what I absolutely needed, it was in the 90s by the time I got home from work in the afternoons. I'm trying to figure out a good time of day to go... I have the boys every other week, and my "bonus daughter" half of every week. Mornings before hubby goes to work are not realistic. I'm not stressing myself out over it right now. I have higher priorities.

Enough for now... I plan on updating about once a week or so.

Let me know you're here! I could use the support! 



Keep Standing By...

I haven't forgotten ;) So much to try to condense into a coherent post... But I'm working on it!