Well, his cousin is Carb-zilla. I like an after-dinner Carb-zilla.
If you have been following my recent postings, you may be aware that I am trying to eat healthier - to help manage my slightly elevated blood sugar. It has been an interesting journey.
To begin with - I am not a big fan of artificially manipulating my diet. In the past, it has always failed to bring permanent results. That is because all "diets" are doomed to fail unless you make a "life style" change. Life style changes are pretty hard to do - not impossible, but generally more work than most people want to put into it.
Anyway, I have a valid reason for making this change, beyond how I look in a mirror - who the heck wants diabetes down the road. If you know ANYTHING about diabetes, you know you don't want to have that problem if you can avoid it.
So I have been doing things like reducing bad carbs, eating good carbs but fewer, increasing vegetables, choosing lean meats and increasing my exercise. And other than a few setbacks (like today I just had to have chocolate chips with my peanut snack - I think my blood sugar dropped) ... I have had some success. But it is clear that this process of adjusting my food intake will take some time to achieve. If it were a real "diet", I would throw up my hands and say I failed with the chocolate chips. But it is a process and hopefully a life style change that will be made over time. That is the plan, at least.
Breakfast and lunch seem to go smoothly. I have become a big fan of wraps. I am eating more protein and veggies, and less carbs at these meals - so I am snacking less as a result. All good (except for today with those darn chocolate chips).
Dinner is still a mixed bag of issues. Part of the problem is I am fixing a meal for others - not just myself. So it isn't as carb neutral as I would like. Still working out those details. And I like my glass of red wine while cooking. It is a big fat carb, but it is my reward for cooking. I wish cooking was a reward unto itself, but it isn't for me. Even the book I was reading about Pre-Diabetes didn't totally ding a glass of red wine a day.
Of course, the big zinger is after dinner.
I really like to have something sweet to finish off the meal. Instead of have a traditional dessert or the recommended fruit - I have been having a mini York Peppermint Patty. It gives me an intense sweet after dinner dessert - that is small, not a bunch of carbs or calories, but definitely sugar - a low fat sugar. I guess my need for a Carb-zilla - after dinner is pretty strong. What I find interesting is a single mini York Peppermint Patty seems to do the trick, but a 1/2 cup of ice cream - doesn't. I want more. Anyway, so far this trick works.
The up side so far - is that I am not counting calories or carbs ... a process that is a total downer for me because my brain than demands more once I start micro-managing my diet on that level.
Hoping this mix of diet changes with increased exercise does the trick. Blood tests will tell the truth in June.
5 comments:
I'm hungry after looking at those pictures. :)
Where does fruit fall on the good carb/bad carb spectrum? That could be a nice variety - raw or grilled (like peaches) - if it's on the OK list.
Ah Fruit. Here is what they say about fruit.
"Raspberries, blueberries, black berries, strawberries, cherries, kiwis, apples, melons and grapefruit have alot of vitamins, minerals and fiber and relatively small amounts of sugars and starches."
"Bananas, dates, figs, grapes, nectarines, organges, peaches, pears and plums", and York Peppermint Paitties, "have far more sugar, and you should not eat these fruites, at least until your weight and blood sugar normalizes. Even then you should limit the quantities of these fruits".
One other thing about the York Pepppermint Mini Patty fruit choice! While it is alittle low on "vitamins, minerals and fiber" it has strong satisfaction value for the tongue - a major voter and stock holder in this process!!
You also don't have to make a mini Peppermint Patty! No cooking!! It doesn't have to ripen. Quality control is excellent! It is perfect every time. And if you nibble it slowly its small size is adequate to the big job of a Carb-zilla! A "might" in a "mini"!
OK - I over defend my "fruit" choice!
You have to have a little something sweet once in a while. :-)
I like wraps too because you can put anything into them.
You are inspiring me to make a bigger effort at healthy eating - ah, where do you think the whole wheat scones Charlie is making today should be on the spectrum?
Post a Comment