Beginning Again, Triggers and Committment

Sugar has always been my Kryptonite. Like Superman, when faced with my weakness, I crumble. Superman was fortunate enough that Kryptonite didn't exist on this planet, but was imported. My Kryptonite, sugar or food, is everywhere and even necessary for my existence. Just the smell of a sugary confection is my downfall and a trigger goes off in my head. "Eat". I have a few triggers that I have talked about before: 1) visual ads (food porn); 2) hearing a candy or food wrapper open or a soda top "pop"; and as I said before, 3) smell of sugar, i.e. cakes, candies, etc.

I probably have other triggers, but I just haven't noticed them yet. Although, once I am triggered, I feel almost panicky until I get the item that triggered me. For instance, the other day I saw a cheese danish and resisted. For the next 2-3 days, I craved that cheese danish and by the time I ate one, I wanted more than just one and ended up eating all three over the next two days. I still crave the cheese danish, so deprivation will only make matters worse.

It is a vicious cycle. The more I eat sugar, the more I tend to crave it. So how do I overcome my addition to processed sugars? Last January (2011), I decided to kick the habit and for six months I was successful. I was doing great until I decided to eat a smore at my family reunion. Now I am addicted again. But I was successful for six months! I tricked my body into believing I was getting sugar by eating foods and sweets with sugar substitutes. This satisfied my cravings.

I understand that sugar substitutes are not the best, but maybe I could take it one step at a time. This time, I will recommit myself to go without sugar. Then when I have succeeded in overcoming my sugar addiction, I will take myself off the sugar substitutes. What's next? I don't know, but I have to try. At least I can see the problem, but how to overcome these psychological cravings?

So I have recommitted to go sugar free. I have a neighbor who brings us over a bag of cakes every now and again.

Like an alcoholic pours his "booze" down the kitchen drain, we poured our cakes into a large bowl.

Oh how wonderful this sugar smelled. I could have almost put my face inside the bowl and eaten a mouthful...well....not really.
We took the bowl outside and dumped it out to the chickens. I know it isn't the best for them either, but...

So, no more sugar for us! Processed sugar that is. We will still enjoy fruits in moderation.

Just a reminder of why I am doing this. To get my blood glucose numbers in line.

I am on 40 units of insulin twice a day. Not fun!

No fun at all!

Here's to a new commitment and having joy in the journey. ~ Melanie

I want something more......

I have been taking a vacation from trying to get into a healthier state. I shouldn't have considering that of this morning I weighed and it was 319 lbs, which actually is less than what it has been, but of course, I need to weigh about half that. My last trip to the doctor resulted in a revelation that I have diabetes, which still hasn't settled into my brain for whatever reason. I am really ready this time. Experts say that you can't do it unless you are ready and I think it's about time that I stood up and REALLY started living. I have all of the shoes with heels on them that I would love to wear, but honestly, I couldn't wear them if I wanted to because of the weight that it puts on my knees. I want to wear those shoes. I want to be able to look the way that I feel. In honor of my wonderful friend and cousin, I'm gonna put my big girl panties on and take charge of the situation! I'm going to be under 300 soon for the first time in 4 years. I can't wait!!

Lindsey

What a big difference portion control makes

I can't believe it. Here it is on Thursday and I have already lost 5 lbs. I am at 254. I know this may not seem like much, but the only effort I have put into this so far is portion control.

My blood glucose was 116 yesterday, the lowest it's been in months!!! Maybe even lowest this year.

If I start adding exercise to the program as I said I would, this could be really good!

I just wanted to add this encouraging news to our blog.

Love ya'll bunches.

~Melanie

Beginning Again

Weight: 259
Goal weight: 224
Goal date: December 16, 2009

How I am going to do it: Eat three meals a day with 45 carbs or less. One small snack a day. If I get hungry, snack on free foods. Follow the diet my nutritionist and endocrinologist gave me last year.

Exercise daily. This week I will use exercise bike 10 times a day for 1 minute each on legs and arms alternatively. Build up to legs and arms 10 times each. Future goals: walking and using gazelle exerciser.

I will report how I did this evening.

I will post my pic and weight weekly on Monday.

Love to all,

~Melanie

Farmer's Almanac 2009

Well girls, summer is nearly over and the fall air is cooling. Perfect weather for walking (except for you Auntie Pat, you have a bad knee). I have tried a few things to lose weight, now I am going to try the Farmer's Almanac. Yep! You heard right!

According to the Farmer's Almanac, Friday, September 4th, is a good day to start a diet to lose weight. It says: you can... "Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Dig Post Holes, Wean, Quit Smoking, Potty Train, Wash Wooden Floors, Paint, Start Diet to Lose Weight, Kill Wild Onions and Weeds, Host a Party." (Just in case you were interested.) LOL.

Please don't get confused and start your diet on Friday, October 2nd, when it says that is the best day to..."Cut Firewood, Cut Hair to Increase Growth, Mow to Increase Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Dig Holes, Wean, Potty Train, Wax Floors, Get Married, Start Diet to Gain Weight" No thank ya! But you can still castrate farm animals on that day. Good to know!

So, I'm going to give it a try (starting my diet this Friday, that is, not castrating the farm animals!). Who is on board with me?

Why not have joy in the journey! ~Melanie

Could I have fries with that please????

Okay. Just kidding. But one thing that seriously bugs me is the fast food ads everywhere you look. I have a weak spot for hamburger and fries. We go out to pay bills today and all I see are hamburgers on billboards. A semi on the interstate has a hamburger the size of a car on it. (I am beginning to drool again, just thinking about it.) It isn't any wonder that I can't seem to lose weight with all the subliminal messages and "triggers" we are bombarded with. I do so much better when I stay home with the cable off!

Oh, and I just heard they are doing a new study on diabetics and they want guinea pigs, I mean volunteers. The control group is given a regular chocolate bar every day while the test group is given some kind of super charged chocolate. Of course, you don't know which group you are in. The study will go on for two years and you are provided with free chocolate. Hummm....do they provide free insulin as well?

Go figure.

Have joy in the journey. ~Melanie

Hi Ladies
Tis Saturday 25- July and I just got thru talking to my lovely daughter Lindsey , she's doing great , sporting new hairdo and all .