REBOOT
I am nothing if not determined. I do not give up easily
despite being an anxious depressive. There may be delays, but I don’t quit. It
took me 27 years to finish college, but I never get up. I took time off, but
always went back.
Eighteen months ago I had my guts rearranged in order to
reverse Type II Diabetes, reduce my heart attack and stroke risk (which is
triple the rate of the GP for diabetics), and lose some weight. I also got rid
of high blood pressure. Bonus. I knew I would lose weight, but it really didn’t
hit home to me just how dramatic that weight loss would be.
I didn’t plan on being this thin. And truthfully, I could
safely lose another 20 pounds. I don’t like how I look. I look gaunt, tired,
wrinkly, and saggy in a lot of places that are fortunately covered up by
clothes.
What I wanted was health. And right now? I’m not healthy.
Oh sure, the diabetes is in remission, the HBP is now low
blood pressure (with it’s own challenges like orthostatic hypotension
[dizziness upon standing]) and I have to look at my deformed body in the mirror
every day. Yes, evidently I am that shallow.
But I’m anemic. How badly I don’t know since the doctor
seems to think that’s secret information she needs to keep from me. She’s
getting a visit from me on Friday, in person.
I’ve been craving and eating carbs for the last 24 hours.
I’ve had gas that smells worse than any sewer or cow yard I’ve ever smelled.
I’ve also had diarrhea. I was mainlining carbs yesterday like Jesse Pinkman on
a bad day.
I don’t like how it makes me feel, both physically and
mentally. I feel ashamed, weak, and out of control. My body feels
horrible—uncomfortable, jittery, and gassy. Because of the frequent bathroom trips this morning, I was unable to make it to the walk-in psych clinic. Today I am taking my mom to the doctor, so I'll have to try again on Monday.
But as far as nutrition, I’m going to start from the beginning.
Tomorrow, my breakfast is going to be a protein shake,
chocolate, and I’m going to throw in an Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt in there
along with the ice, and drink it while on the way to my mom’s. I’m taking her
to the doctor tomorrow (praying to the traffic gods right now—let it be
clear!). She’s offered to take me to lunch—very nice—which will probably be
Thai food or Denny’s. I hope Thai. They have some very good healthy choices for
DSers.
For dinner, another shake with Greek yogurt. Snacks? We’ll
see if I’m hungry. If I am it’ll be boiled eggs, cheese, or slices of lunchmeat
(from the deli counter, not the plastic wrap).
I’m going to do this for three days to detox from carbs and
get rid of the cravings.
Then I’m going to do something I never have done: Menu Plan.
At least for one week. R should be here when I get home tomorrow (or perhaps
late tonight? He’s off galavanting around visiting friends and relatives before
he heads up north. Fine.), so I’ll see if he needs meals made for him, too.
We’re damn near out of money—the rent’s not paid—hopefully his dock check will
be here Friday or we are fucked. Regardless, when I get home from mom’s
tomorrow, I’m going to plan my menu breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks for seven
days, and I’m going to stick to it. No more giving into cravings ignoring
leftovers because I’m “bored” with them. I need to eat like I care about my
health, because I do.
Food addiction and emotional eating are real things. Studies
have been done from reputable schools and published in peer-reviewed journals.
I take them seriously. But like the shoe company says, the best way to get over
carb and other food addictions is to Just. Do. It.
A few months ago I purchased a coloring book and pencils,
and my favorite aunt also sent me a coloring book. They’ve sat in the box from
Amazon since March. I need to implement them. The first step is admitting you
have a problem. Once I’m released by my doctor to return to exercising, I plan
to do that, too, instead of eating. I miss going on walks. I want to do it. My
body just can’t do it right now.
So that’s my plan. I’ll be honest as I go along, and we’ll
see how it helps with my general health, mood, depression and anxiety.
Fingers crossed, into the deep end.
Jules, try a different approach. I know the bowel issues you talk about...intimately. It isn't just from carbs. Have you ever tried a food notebook? I did it and while it took practice, I have gas and bowel stuff down to a science.
ReplyDeleteTry eliminating dairy for a couple of days, especially the heavy cream, whey, and milk products. Don't change anything else. Just try it and see if it makes a difference. Most DS patients become lactose intolerant. I can handle half & half (the Natural Bliss Italian Sweet Cream is lovely), but give me a milk or cream based sauce and it's ugly. I can do hard yellow cheese but melty whites? Nope. Same with eggs.
Toss the Oikos vanilla yogurt. Get plain NONFAT Oikos. Add a small amount of vanilla and 2 packs Splenda and you've turned it into a zero carb happy place. FYI, Fage is higher in protein - 20 g for a single container of 0% plain.
As for the anemia, it's really important to find your tolerances and go with them. If you can tolerate eating iron rich foods and like them, incorporate. Did you know pumpkin and sunflower seeds are high in iron? So are spinach and kale. Turkey and shrimp.
Look at this article - http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/natural-ways-boost-iron-level-body-3434.html
there are ways you can increase absorption and it helps. Make sure you're properly diagnosed too. Reading just Fe levels doesn't give the whole picture. It can be way low and not mean anemia and the reverse.
Remember too that all carbs are not the same. You need sugars for energy.
Don't give up - it's a long learning process. But do focus on other things - just eliminating carbs won't cure the digestive problems. NOBODY knows that better than I do.
Increase fiber too - naturally. Bulk is helpful. And Rolaids makes a wonderful anti gas antacid now that really helps.
Just for God's sake don't get addicted to bananas. I blame them for my terrible weight gain. But I can't stop.
Thanks, MB.
ReplyDeleteOnly a few things give me gas/diarrhea:
1. Carbs like donuts, Danish, cake, bread (rice and pasta don’t bother me, but I don’t eat it regardless—wasted carbs).
2. Sugar alcohols like sorbitol.
3. Onions—any kind: red, white, yellow, green, cooked or raw. I love them, but they bloat me up like the Hindenburg.
4. Too much fat (bacon, chips, etc. More than a regular portion and I’m on the crapper).
If I stay away from those three things, I have one bowel movement when I get up in the morning, and I’m good for the day. No gas. Milk doesn’t bother me, but as a rule I don’t drink it. I got out of the habit as a diabetic, and it just doesn’t appeal to me. Unless a recipe calls for milk, I don’t ingest it. Cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, etc., no problems either.
As for the Oikos, I buy the Greek Triple Zero version: High protein--15 g, low carbs, no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no fat (which is fine, I get fat from other sources).
I also like the Chobani 100. Fage tastes sour to me. I’ve tried it and I don’t like it. Bleh. I like Trader Joe’s Greek non-fat, but there isn’t a TJ’s near me.
As for bananas? I don’t like bananas. They give me heartburn. The only time I’ve ever eaten them in the past was cut up on a bowl of Cheerio’s, which also gave me heartburn, usually in the middle of the night, so they were both an occasional thing, usually if I had a blood glucose crash. So no worries about any kind of banana addiction.
My labs came in yesterday, they called, but it was too late in the day to go pick them up. I’ll get them on Tuesday and see how they look. I’ve been feeling a bit more energetic lately. I have no explanation for it.
And step away from the bananas--I mean, seriously. They're not that delicious. :D
Thanks for checking in.
Cheers,
SJ