Hi,
I am still pretty pumped about yesterday's statistics. Then of course all the "second thoughts" start coming in, like will they go up today? What will happen when I start on the whole grains? Will I be able to manage controlling my portions and still feel like I've gotten enough to eat? I think that is the old "diet" mentality kicking in.
If I consider it logically, there is no reason why my statistics should go up again, if I actually stay on the program, which I am planning on doing, so that one is shot down.
I will know what happens when I start the whole grains, by continued observation, so I can just test that out and see. I can make adjustments if it does not work. Especially if I don't wait until things are desperate, forcing me to eat wrong foods. The solution for that would likely be to eat breakfast and the required snacks -- or in other words: "stay on the program."
The biggest fear for me is the "portion control" -- which Dr. Rip alludes will need to take place only with the whole grains and proteins -- the vegetables will be unlimited. And I know the fruit cannot be unlimited because it does have sugar in it. I have not been eating fruit, except on rare occasions, for a long time. I have been on programs before where the vegetables were unlimited but they did not seem to quell my hunger. Perhaps because I was not eliminating the fast carbs that cause the cravings on those programs.
My solution: I shall wait and see. I believe that I will have the option to make any changes I think I need to -- once I have actually tried and completed the program as written. Completing the program will be the test. And I have noticed that I'm getting the "full" feeling now. I opened the fridge one day and saw some hard boiled eggs in a metal colander but said to myself, "I'm not hungry" and closed the door. As I walked away, I knew that was good. I did not have to force myself to "not eat," it happened "on it's own" -- I really did not want to eat at that moment. I am not going to say the eating machine is off, yet, but that was an excellent sign.
Another concern I have is that I have noticed that for the past two days, my "plumbing" has been cramping a little. Perhaps I need to cut back on the cinnamon, based on the memory that when I used to eat cinnamon candies, it would make me sneeze (so I stopped eating them). I don't know if powdered cinnamon has anything to do with it, but I've only just added that one to the diet on a regular basis and maybe my system is not quite used to it -- or even does not tolerate it very well. I had some on my breakfast cabbage but I will cut it out for a few days and see if things clear up. I am taking probiotics, which I usually do, so am not too overly concerned about it, for now. I had noticed a very odd and not too pretty taste in my mouth, but attributed that to the new diet, too. I guess I can only wait and see on that, too.
On day 8 the action item was to write up a menu for myself and make a grocery list based on that. That is not usually my style, but I am thinking maybe I should just do it and see how, or if, it works for me. So I combed through the last few lessons and gleaned out the actual items that are on the "snack" list and the permitted protein list. I am not eating whole grains or fruit yet, and the vegetables are unlimited so the snack and protein lists were the ones that I needed to get clear on.
There are a few "lists" in the book but much of the information is written in paragraph style so it is easy to over look something that can be included on my grocery list. I hope that if they do another edition they do two things: one, hire me to proof read it, (I need the work); and two, put actual lists in the margins or even in an index at the back of the book.
Just out of curiosity I looked at the back of the book to see if there were not any lists already included, or an index, and what I found was an amazing bibliography that actually has web links for some of the research that was done in the writing of the book. That means I can, if I so desire, go and read the original sources they are using for a lot of the information in the book -- although not every item has a web link. But no index, and no lists.
Even a "fill it in yourself" grocery list with "memory prompters" would be nice. I noticed that that is what I have done on the lists I have made. I need constant reminders of why I am doing this so I wrote at the top of the grocery list: "I am committed to good health"-- and also: "Always choose a whole food." At the bottom I wrote: "Just say 'no' to fast food." Having them in my own hand writing and choosing the ones that actually prompt me, personally, will help me. When I go through the store finding and checking off items, I constantly scan and mark off the whole list, and if it is my own handwriting, I will read those reminders, at least a dozen times before I am done shopping. I know that will keep me on track.
I am not actually quite finished with it yet, because all I have done so far is make the lists of what I can include, I have not made the grocery list. I need to go shopping soon. I have not gotten my EUC yet, so the funds are low, but I'm not desperate -- so postponing the shopping has another prompter, other than procrastination. I have enough to get by for now. (I just checked and the EUC has been deposited, so I can go shopping today or tomorrow. I am also looking forward to going to church tonight, so if the menus are not ready by then, then tomorrow may be the day.)
For some odd reason my salad with tuna and egg this afternoon did not satisfy me today. I wanted more to eat so heated up the only can of sauerkraut I've bought in my life. I usually buy it in a plastic bag, but even then I don't buy it often. Maybe every other year or so. I read the label on the can and it said cabbage, water and salt, so even though I consider it to be a processed food, it did not seem to be so bad. Rather than cooking it the way I normally would (in the pressure cooker) I steamed it with caraway seeds and turkey sausage. Won't be making that again, it smelled like dog food, but I ate half anyway, and put the rest away. Maybe it will be better after it sits. If I go shopping in the next day or two, I may just throw it away.
I've been thinking about that salad that did not fill me up and I realize that that is what always happened in the past, and even last Sunday at Steve and Linda's. The salad was only romaine lettuce because I'm running out of salad veggies and it did not satisfy me. I think the addition of broccoli and tomato may have helped, because those salads seem to fill me up. I will have to pay attention to this and get this worked out, too.
On to Day 10. "Add Diabetes-Healing Vegetables" -- "Making vegetables the main focus of your meals helps you lose weight without "trying," lowers insulin resistance, and allows your pancreas to catch its breath."
This is, even after everything else I've read in the program, a new way for me to look at a meal. I think I always thought of the meat as the main part and the veggies were a side dish, but, it seems that a more diabetic friendly plan is to make the veggies the star and put the protein in a supporting role. He says nothing about this, but I have been considering what this means. Should I make it two-thirds veggies and one-third protein? Or is some other ratio better? As I recall the meals I have been eating I think the veggies have been at least three-fourths and the protein one-fourth -- so maybe that is what I should shoot for -- it has been working, so it does not need to be fixed. I guess it may not matter to get that technical with it, just make sure I plan the meal around the veggies and add some protein to it.
I like this chapter a lot. As I read, I was making notes about the veggies to add to my "list" -- but I also included the information about what vitamins and minerals were in each different one, and what improvement it makes in a diabetic's body. This was good information. Some of it they have listed before, but I was ready for this information in this package to help me choose what to buy.
The two stars of the whole list were romaine lettuce and broccoli, which appeared in nearly every healthy category because they contain so many vitamins and minerals and other good substances to heal the body, but there were definitely a whole list of other veggies to choose from that have healing properties, which he explains in detail in the book starting on page 171.
I also liked finding out that celery will help to lower blood pressure -- which they had mentioned before in the book, but now I made a note of it. The celery is quite prominent in my mind because my sister-in-law had to go on a low salt program advised by her doctor because of her high blood pressure and she discovered that celery has a lot of naturally occurring salt in it. For this reason she stopped eating it. So now that Dr. Rip says that celery actually lowers blood pressure, I am taking that as confirmation that excess salt and high blood pressure don't really have much to do with each other. I have believed it was an "old wives tale" for quite a few years, based on the fact that every time I personally read any research where they actually checked this out, salt turned out to have no effect on blood pressure, either good or bad. Of course that is not the current and popular wisdom, so mostly people think I am nuts when I say that. But, here is a little bit of proof, in the celery.
Dr Rip not only lists which ones to eat but gives advice on how to prepare or cook them. He gives some very simple recipes for certain items, that I think he must be eating himself.
So now I have a new focus: plan the meal around the veggies and add a protein. Easy enough.
Be back soon
--Marcia
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ahhhh... Day 9
Here are my statistics from day 1:
Blood pressure: 168/99
Blood sugar: 115 after a handful of nuts, but no breakfast
Weight: 352
Today's statistics after 9 days:
Blood Pressure: 148/90 -- Wow!!
Blood Sugar: 97 -- Wow!! -- that is after a meal of breaded fish with steamed cabbage/broccoli/carrots
Weight: slightly under 342
Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!!
The upper number on my blood pressure has come down 20 points in precisely 9 days!! No medication that any doctor ever prescribed for me has been able to do that! I am ecstatic! And the lower number has come down 9 points, too -- both of these are important. They are not "normal" yet -- but they are a lot closer to normal than they were.
I am not sure I have ever measured a 97 on the glucose meter since I have been checking -- sporadically for over a year! That is a reduction from day one of 18 points.
I have not had a blood pressure reading as low as this one for a very long time. I am completely flabbergasted at these good results and all from simply making a few changes in what I eat. Perhaps the exercise yesterday, helped, but the main change has been in what I am eating. And I am not "measuring" anything. I just fix a protein portion, in the same amounts I have gotten used to eating and added vegetables -- some raw and some steamed. I cut out the sugars I was telling myself I could ignore, and followed the program. I am just completely amazed that these numbers have come out of my body.
I am now completely convinced that is the perfect program for me and I am praising the Lord for the good doctor and the good writer who got together to share this with the world -- and me. Thank you Dr Rip and thank you Jim Healthy for your book "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure." I am looking forward to seeing what happens as I continue following the program. I think it can only get better.
On to Day 9 in the book: Eliminate junky protein. I promised to share the quote for today and here it is: "Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers. It made me laugh.
Dr. Rip is obviously talking about red meat today, which he really says is not bad for you IF -- and that is a big IF -- you are eating grass fed and not grain fed beef. He says we can eat any kind of beef, pork, poultry, eggs and dairy as long as it is NOT PROCESSED and does not come from a commercial feed lot. He goes into pretty good detail describing his reasons for saying this -- and before I read it, I kind of "pooh-poohed" it in my mind. But after reading it I am going to be shopping where I can get the grass fed, pesticide free and hormone free cuts of beef to eat.
I already have been eating the cage-free chicken eggs for many years. I had seen some information about how the commercial egg ranchers build a big barn and stack the chickens up in cages never letting them see the light of day. They injure their feet on the wire which makes them unhealthy and in stress all the time. But the worst part was letting them defecate on the ones below -- which the ones below eat. That was all it took to get me off of that awful stuff. And the cage-free eggs have been in grocery stores for a long time. I buy mine at Kroger.
If you do a simple comparison, yourself, of the caged eggs and the cage-free eggs, you will find, like I did, that the caged eggs fall short in every category. They do not measure up in taste, or consistency of the egg in the shell, or even the texture of the egg shell, itself. The taste is heartier, fresher and just plain tastier in the cage free carton. The egg white and yolk also do not come out runny and thin but thick and healthy looking as they stand up in the pan keeping their shape. And the egg shells are always harder and thicker, meaning healthier in my mind and there is less breakage in the carton -- which I check for in every carton I buy.
Dr Rip elaborates on the double dangers of eating processed meats starting on page 161 and shows us what meats to look for. He calls them "lean, clean, and green" on page 163. It clearly is not "red meat" that is the problem for humans -- it is the "quality" of the meat which is affected not only by how it was raised -- whether a natural environment or an inhumane setting -- but by how it was processed and prepared. Humans are carnivores and eating healthy red meat supplies good vitamins and minerals that we need. And since it has been proven that eating refined carbs is what lines the blood vessels with plaque and cholesterol we are free to start eating a steak once a while without any worries. Grass fed beef is even lower in calories -- by about half -- and it has 400% more vitamin E. He says: "There's a big difference between a can of Spam(R) and a pasture-raised sirloin." I am definitely in.
God bless you,
Be back soon,
--Marcia
Blood pressure: 168/99
Blood sugar: 115 after a handful of nuts, but no breakfast
Weight: 352
Today's statistics after 9 days:
Blood Pressure: 148/90 -- Wow!!
Blood Sugar: 97 -- Wow!! -- that is after a meal of breaded fish with steamed cabbage/broccoli/carrots
Weight: slightly under 342
Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!!
The upper number on my blood pressure has come down 20 points in precisely 9 days!! No medication that any doctor ever prescribed for me has been able to do that! I am ecstatic! And the lower number has come down 9 points, too -- both of these are important. They are not "normal" yet -- but they are a lot closer to normal than they were.
I am not sure I have ever measured a 97 on the glucose meter since I have been checking -- sporadically for over a year! That is a reduction from day one of 18 points.
I have not had a blood pressure reading as low as this one for a very long time. I am completely flabbergasted at these good results and all from simply making a few changes in what I eat. Perhaps the exercise yesterday, helped, but the main change has been in what I am eating. And I am not "measuring" anything. I just fix a protein portion, in the same amounts I have gotten used to eating and added vegetables -- some raw and some steamed. I cut out the sugars I was telling myself I could ignore, and followed the program. I am just completely amazed that these numbers have come out of my body.
I am now completely convinced that is the perfect program for me and I am praising the Lord for the good doctor and the good writer who got together to share this with the world -- and me. Thank you Dr Rip and thank you Jim Healthy for your book "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure." I am looking forward to seeing what happens as I continue following the program. I think it can only get better.
On to Day 9 in the book: Eliminate junky protein. I promised to share the quote for today and here it is: "Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers. It made me laugh.
Dr. Rip is obviously talking about red meat today, which he really says is not bad for you IF -- and that is a big IF -- you are eating grass fed and not grain fed beef. He says we can eat any kind of beef, pork, poultry, eggs and dairy as long as it is NOT PROCESSED and does not come from a commercial feed lot. He goes into pretty good detail describing his reasons for saying this -- and before I read it, I kind of "pooh-poohed" it in my mind. But after reading it I am going to be shopping where I can get the grass fed, pesticide free and hormone free cuts of beef to eat.
I already have been eating the cage-free chicken eggs for many years. I had seen some information about how the commercial egg ranchers build a big barn and stack the chickens up in cages never letting them see the light of day. They injure their feet on the wire which makes them unhealthy and in stress all the time. But the worst part was letting them defecate on the ones below -- which the ones below eat. That was all it took to get me off of that awful stuff. And the cage-free eggs have been in grocery stores for a long time. I buy mine at Kroger.
If you do a simple comparison, yourself, of the caged eggs and the cage-free eggs, you will find, like I did, that the caged eggs fall short in every category. They do not measure up in taste, or consistency of the egg in the shell, or even the texture of the egg shell, itself. The taste is heartier, fresher and just plain tastier in the cage free carton. The egg white and yolk also do not come out runny and thin but thick and healthy looking as they stand up in the pan keeping their shape. And the egg shells are always harder and thicker, meaning healthier in my mind and there is less breakage in the carton -- which I check for in every carton I buy.
Dr Rip elaborates on the double dangers of eating processed meats starting on page 161 and shows us what meats to look for. He calls them "lean, clean, and green" on page 163. It clearly is not "red meat" that is the problem for humans -- it is the "quality" of the meat which is affected not only by how it was raised -- whether a natural environment or an inhumane setting -- but by how it was processed and prepared. Humans are carnivores and eating healthy red meat supplies good vitamins and minerals that we need. And since it has been proven that eating refined carbs is what lines the blood vessels with plaque and cholesterol we are free to start eating a steak once a while without any worries. Grass fed beef is even lower in calories -- by about half -- and it has 400% more vitamin E. He says: "There's a big difference between a can of Spam(R) and a pasture-raised sirloin." I am definitely in.
God bless you,
Be back soon,
--Marcia
Monday, June 28, 2010
Day 8
Hi, again,
(revised and edited -- there was a little more I wanted to say and a couple of errors to correct)
I have some good news and some bad news to report on Day 8. Randomly I weighed myself this morning and I have now lost 9.5 pounds. That's pretty amazing. The bad news is that the pain was back this morning when I got up -- just as bad as ever. I'm thinking that maybe something in the tacos I ate yesterday has contributed. I'll just continue monitoring and seeing what is happening in that department. I believe exercise will help the back pain issue also -- because it has in the past.
Today, I exercised for about 30 minutes which is good news. I had previously been cowed by the idea of "30 minutes" of exercising, when it is quite an accomplishment for me to do 12 minutes on my old Aerofit machine (get on, swing your legs and arms back and forth at a steady pace). But it has dawned on me that that is not the only thing I do. I have actually already got a "30-minute program" that I devised for myself. The thing is, that I have not been doing it regularly, but "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" program is getting me motivated and I'm starting on it now. I believe there is probably a chapter where they start you doing this, but, on this, I'm going ahead on my own. I have read in the past that every other day is good because of my age -- alternating days -- or even three times a week -- which lets my body recuperate -- I'm not as young as I used to be.
Before I get on the machine, I warm up with some upper body exercises I learned in physical therapy for a herniated disk in my neck. I start off with about 10 shoulder rolls to loosen up the shoulders. I don't know the actual names for some of these so I'll describe them. Then I pull the shoulders straight back about 10 times -- like a shoulder roll but instead of going in a circle I just push them straight back while keeping the head and neck still. Then I do about 10 chin tucks keeping the head straight up. These three came from my physical therapist about a year ago and I have simply continued to do them, sometimes on a regular basis, sometimes only when I start noticing small shooting electrical sensations or pain up the back of my neck or have one-sided headaches. These particular exercises combat that for me, and I have almost no headaches any more.
After that I use a stretchy cord to do a 45-degree bent-elbow pull back, then straighten out my arms and pull back again for another 10. Then I turn to the side and do a kind of horizontal lower arm pull to the side for about 10 times on each arm. Then I do about 10 "sword pulls" that go diagonally up into the air. If I remember I also put my hands on a door jam at waist level and lean forward and relax to stretch my shoulders into place. After all this, I get on the Aerofit and do from 12 to 15 minutes. This morning I was able to do 15 minutes at a steady pace, changing hand positions to work different parts of the arms.
Then I use my Gold's Gym Ab Machine and do between 10 to 15 flat leg crunches. Since I have a herniated disk in my neck I have to be careful with this. I have learned that if I make sure my elbows are tight up to the circular hand bar that I am holding on to, I don't put stress on my neck and can do the crunches with no fear of neck injury. I do all this on my bed, because I cannot get down on the floor and ever hope to get up again. Also, I really just do crunches -- as soon as I feel the pull in the tummy area I don't go "up" any farther. After the flat leg crunches, I bend my knees and do 10 or 15 more which moves the pull in the abdomen to a lower position. After that I do 10 or 15 with my hips slightly tucked up which addresses the lowest section of abdomen. I also then do the same number of isometric type lower abdomen stomach flexes with my hips still tucked slightly up. Then I do the same number of slight leg lifts, after which I turn first to the left, then to the right and get the side abdomen muscles, too. Added up, at 10 per, that makes 70 crunches in differing positions. If I do 15 it is 105 of them. That is pretty good for a fat old lady, even if I do say so myself!
Doing all of this actually does take about 30 minutes and then I do traction on my neck with the at-home cervical traction unit my therapist recommended. Sometimes my back starts to spasm during the neck traction and I've learned to eliminate it by finishing up with pulling my knees up as high as I can comfortably get them, first the left, then the right, and doing foot circles in rotations of a count of 20 to 30. So each leg is pulled up three times as I alternate foot circles and foot points. Then I am done and sometimes just need to sit down and drink a bottle of water, which is what I did as I read "Day 8" today.
Reading "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" and taking the action for the day really is keeping me motivated to incorporate the changes. And what Dr. Rip is adding today is diabetes healing snacks. He does not list the "bad snacks" because basically the days up to this one have already eliminated most of those if you are actually following the program. We have already learned the harm that sugary foods do to a diabetic, so that was eliminated on day one and now he lists a whole bucket full of good healthy snacks we get to add in -- some now in phase one -- some in phase two. I'll mention only three that I know I am going to try, but leave the rest for you to read about starting on page 150.
Not only does he give a list of very healthy diabetic snacks but also gives advice on how to carry these to work. It is important that we learn not only what to eat, but how to incorporate it into our lives. If we don't make the necessary plans to make it work for ourselves -- we are choosing to make it not work for ourselves. Better to make it work. His day-by-day "additions and subtractions" from our personal daily food list is what makes the healing take place. The step-by-step nature of the program makes it much more easy to actually do, than trying to do it all at once from day one. And as we go along, eliminating something today, and adding something the next, we have already started the reversal process. How easy is that?
I especially look forward to home made popcorn (not microwave popcorn because of the sickly additives) -- it actually is a whole grain and good for you if you make it yourself! But don't think I can add it in, just yet. I have to wait for day 12 when we are given the whole grains we can begin eating. Since this is day 8, that is not very far away. I can see that eating veggies and protein, for now is really changing my body in a good way and I don't want to jeopardize my progress in any way. I'm actually feeling somewhat more energetic and more able to "move my body." Try carrying a 150 pound sack of potatoes everywhere you go (up and down stairs, at the dinner table, at work) and you will get an idea of what it is like to be as obese as I am currently. All that weight actually strengthens the bones and muscles but is very tiring to cope with.
I do have a small concern that in the past I have tended to overeat whole grains. Another diabetes doctor and expert, Richard K. Bernstein, who has a thriving diabetes practice in New England and is, himself, a type 1 diabetic who wrote, "The Diabetes Solution," says that simply eating too much in a meal will raise the blood sugar. So I am hoping Dr Rip also gives portion sizes for the grains that I can do and ways to combat over eating them. Veggies are OK in any amount, and normal size servings of protein are necessary -- but the grains are a new field for me.
Right now, I think, if the portions of whole grains are too small for me to bother with, I just won't eat them. Why bother trying to cook 1/2 C of brown rice, when it might just turn the eating machine on again, because I can't cook just a 1/2 C and can't stick to eating 1/2 C when there is a big bowl full of them in the fridge calling my name. I seem to get out of control over them pretty easily and I've got quite a bit of weight to lose so it might just be better to stay on the veggies and protein with a only a few whole grains to eliminate the incessant carb cravings, over a longer period of time. I'll see what he says on this subject as I go along.
The other healthy snack I'm looking forward to is high quality dark chocolate!! He describes which ones to use. It looks like only a small square per day -- so if I cannot keep it at that, I won't be doing that either. He says that dark chocolate is quite healthful in small amounts -- about 150 calories -- because cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols which are antioxidants. Among other evidence, he quotes a Spanish research paper that says that a daily dose of dark chocolate showed 45% less insulin resistance when compared with daily small doses of white chocolate, thanks to the higher concentration of polyphenols.
I also read about dark chocolate in "The Blood Pressure Cure" by Robert E. Kowalski but he suggests simply buying some baker's cocoa from the grocery store and making a nice hot cup of cocoa to which you can add Stevia and some low fat milk. It is cheaper that way and much less of a temptation because it takes some effort and preparation to get it ready for consumption. It is not just sitting there calling out your name, ready to be grabbed and eaten at any moment. Cocoa powder by itself is really quite unpalatable, but a nice hot cup of cocoa before bed, that is a pleasure.
But the amazing thing that Dr. Rip goes on and on about are nuts! You've got to read about it starting on page 151 to get the complete picture of how healthy they are, how they are rich in monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that reduce the risk of diabetes and KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL! He covers the benefits of different individual varieties and shows how to incorporate a small handful into different foods to make them heartier and healthier. If you like nuts, this should be an easy change to incorporate. I like to add them to tuna salad.
He does emphasize a few things to be very careful of when snacking -- but if we stay away from the snack machines and any processed foods, we should be going in the right direction.
If you have not purchased the book and you have pre-diabetes or type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you really ought to get it and start the program. I am happy with what I am seeing and I'm only on day 8. I am glad this is not a restrictive weight loss diet, I just don't think I could do it, if it was. I am permitted to eat any quantity of fresh raw or cooked veggies that I'd like to -- but I already believe, from experience, that raw veggies make more miracles happen more quickly than cooked veggies.
This program seems to be making a change and putting my pre-diabetes in reversal already -- I am, at least, losing weight. What have you got to lose by trying it? Just a condition that you don't want. You'll be reducing your medication expenses, even type ones will be better off. He gives patient statistics for unique individuals at the end of each chapter and it is really quite inspiring. The choice is surely yours.
Be back soon --
--Marcia
(revised and edited -- there was a little more I wanted to say and a couple of errors to correct)
I have some good news and some bad news to report on Day 8. Randomly I weighed myself this morning and I have now lost 9.5 pounds. That's pretty amazing. The bad news is that the pain was back this morning when I got up -- just as bad as ever. I'm thinking that maybe something in the tacos I ate yesterday has contributed. I'll just continue monitoring and seeing what is happening in that department. I believe exercise will help the back pain issue also -- because it has in the past.
Today, I exercised for about 30 minutes which is good news. I had previously been cowed by the idea of "30 minutes" of exercising, when it is quite an accomplishment for me to do 12 minutes on my old Aerofit machine (get on, swing your legs and arms back and forth at a steady pace). But it has dawned on me that that is not the only thing I do. I have actually already got a "30-minute program" that I devised for myself. The thing is, that I have not been doing it regularly, but "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" program is getting me motivated and I'm starting on it now. I believe there is probably a chapter where they start you doing this, but, on this, I'm going ahead on my own. I have read in the past that every other day is good because of my age -- alternating days -- or even three times a week -- which lets my body recuperate -- I'm not as young as I used to be.
Before I get on the machine, I warm up with some upper body exercises I learned in physical therapy for a herniated disk in my neck. I start off with about 10 shoulder rolls to loosen up the shoulders. I don't know the actual names for some of these so I'll describe them. Then I pull the shoulders straight back about 10 times -- like a shoulder roll but instead of going in a circle I just push them straight back while keeping the head and neck still. Then I do about 10 chin tucks keeping the head straight up. These three came from my physical therapist about a year ago and I have simply continued to do them, sometimes on a regular basis, sometimes only when I start noticing small shooting electrical sensations or pain up the back of my neck or have one-sided headaches. These particular exercises combat that for me, and I have almost no headaches any more.
After that I use a stretchy cord to do a 45-degree bent-elbow pull back, then straighten out my arms and pull back again for another 10. Then I turn to the side and do a kind of horizontal lower arm pull to the side for about 10 times on each arm. Then I do about 10 "sword pulls" that go diagonally up into the air. If I remember I also put my hands on a door jam at waist level and lean forward and relax to stretch my shoulders into place. After all this, I get on the Aerofit and do from 12 to 15 minutes. This morning I was able to do 15 minutes at a steady pace, changing hand positions to work different parts of the arms.
Then I use my Gold's Gym Ab Machine and do between 10 to 15 flat leg crunches. Since I have a herniated disk in my neck I have to be careful with this. I have learned that if I make sure my elbows are tight up to the circular hand bar that I am holding on to, I don't put stress on my neck and can do the crunches with no fear of neck injury. I do all this on my bed, because I cannot get down on the floor and ever hope to get up again. Also, I really just do crunches -- as soon as I feel the pull in the tummy area I don't go "up" any farther. After the flat leg crunches, I bend my knees and do 10 or 15 more which moves the pull in the abdomen to a lower position. After that I do 10 or 15 with my hips slightly tucked up which addresses the lowest section of abdomen. I also then do the same number of isometric type lower abdomen stomach flexes with my hips still tucked slightly up. Then I do the same number of slight leg lifts, after which I turn first to the left, then to the right and get the side abdomen muscles, too. Added up, at 10 per, that makes 70 crunches in differing positions. If I do 15 it is 105 of them. That is pretty good for a fat old lady, even if I do say so myself!
Doing all of this actually does take about 30 minutes and then I do traction on my neck with the at-home cervical traction unit my therapist recommended. Sometimes my back starts to spasm during the neck traction and I've learned to eliminate it by finishing up with pulling my knees up as high as I can comfortably get them, first the left, then the right, and doing foot circles in rotations of a count of 20 to 30. So each leg is pulled up three times as I alternate foot circles and foot points. Then I am done and sometimes just need to sit down and drink a bottle of water, which is what I did as I read "Day 8" today.
Reading "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" and taking the action for the day really is keeping me motivated to incorporate the changes. And what Dr. Rip is adding today is diabetes healing snacks. He does not list the "bad snacks" because basically the days up to this one have already eliminated most of those if you are actually following the program. We have already learned the harm that sugary foods do to a diabetic, so that was eliminated on day one and now he lists a whole bucket full of good healthy snacks we get to add in -- some now in phase one -- some in phase two. I'll mention only three that I know I am going to try, but leave the rest for you to read about starting on page 150.
Not only does he give a list of very healthy diabetic snacks but also gives advice on how to carry these to work. It is important that we learn not only what to eat, but how to incorporate it into our lives. If we don't make the necessary plans to make it work for ourselves -- we are choosing to make it not work for ourselves. Better to make it work. His day-by-day "additions and subtractions" from our personal daily food list is what makes the healing take place. The step-by-step nature of the program makes it much more easy to actually do, than trying to do it all at once from day one. And as we go along, eliminating something today, and adding something the next, we have already started the reversal process. How easy is that?
I especially look forward to home made popcorn (not microwave popcorn because of the sickly additives) -- it actually is a whole grain and good for you if you make it yourself! But don't think I can add it in, just yet. I have to wait for day 12 when we are given the whole grains we can begin eating. Since this is day 8, that is not very far away. I can see that eating veggies and protein, for now is really changing my body in a good way and I don't want to jeopardize my progress in any way. I'm actually feeling somewhat more energetic and more able to "move my body." Try carrying a 150 pound sack of potatoes everywhere you go (up and down stairs, at the dinner table, at work) and you will get an idea of what it is like to be as obese as I am currently. All that weight actually strengthens the bones and muscles but is very tiring to cope with.
I do have a small concern that in the past I have tended to overeat whole grains. Another diabetes doctor and expert, Richard K. Bernstein, who has a thriving diabetes practice in New England and is, himself, a type 1 diabetic who wrote, "The Diabetes Solution," says that simply eating too much in a meal will raise the blood sugar. So I am hoping Dr Rip also gives portion sizes for the grains that I can do and ways to combat over eating them. Veggies are OK in any amount, and normal size servings of protein are necessary -- but the grains are a new field for me.
Right now, I think, if the portions of whole grains are too small for me to bother with, I just won't eat them. Why bother trying to cook 1/2 C of brown rice, when it might just turn the eating machine on again, because I can't cook just a 1/2 C and can't stick to eating 1/2 C when there is a big bowl full of them in the fridge calling my name. I seem to get out of control over them pretty easily and I've got quite a bit of weight to lose so it might just be better to stay on the veggies and protein with a only a few whole grains to eliminate the incessant carb cravings, over a longer period of time. I'll see what he says on this subject as I go along.
The other healthy snack I'm looking forward to is high quality dark chocolate!! He describes which ones to use. It looks like only a small square per day -- so if I cannot keep it at that, I won't be doing that either. He says that dark chocolate is quite healthful in small amounts -- about 150 calories -- because cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols which are antioxidants. Among other evidence, he quotes a Spanish research paper that says that a daily dose of dark chocolate showed 45% less insulin resistance when compared with daily small doses of white chocolate, thanks to the higher concentration of polyphenols.
I also read about dark chocolate in "The Blood Pressure Cure" by Robert E. Kowalski but he suggests simply buying some baker's cocoa from the grocery store and making a nice hot cup of cocoa to which you can add Stevia and some low fat milk. It is cheaper that way and much less of a temptation because it takes some effort and preparation to get it ready for consumption. It is not just sitting there calling out your name, ready to be grabbed and eaten at any moment. Cocoa powder by itself is really quite unpalatable, but a nice hot cup of cocoa before bed, that is a pleasure.
But the amazing thing that Dr. Rip goes on and on about are nuts! You've got to read about it starting on page 151 to get the complete picture of how healthy they are, how they are rich in monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that reduce the risk of diabetes and KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL! He covers the benefits of different individual varieties and shows how to incorporate a small handful into different foods to make them heartier and healthier. If you like nuts, this should be an easy change to incorporate. I like to add them to tuna salad.
He does emphasize a few things to be very careful of when snacking -- but if we stay away from the snack machines and any processed foods, we should be going in the right direction.
If you have not purchased the book and you have pre-diabetes or type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you really ought to get it and start the program. I am happy with what I am seeing and I'm only on day 8. I am glad this is not a restrictive weight loss diet, I just don't think I could do it, if it was. I am permitted to eat any quantity of fresh raw or cooked veggies that I'd like to -- but I already believe, from experience, that raw veggies make more miracles happen more quickly than cooked veggies.
This program seems to be making a change and putting my pre-diabetes in reversal already -- I am, at least, losing weight. What have you got to lose by trying it? Just a condition that you don't want. You'll be reducing your medication expenses, even type ones will be better off. He gives patient statistics for unique individuals at the end of each chapter and it is really quite inspiring. The choice is surely yours.
Be back soon --
--Marcia
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Day 7
Hi,
Well it is both day 7 and Sunday. I went to church this morning but did not allow enough time to eat breakfast so went without. At church my friends Steve and Linda invited me over for lunch. Steve said he had made a big salad and I knew that was on the program. I asked Linda if I should bring anything and asked if there would be any meat (I need to eat protein with every meal -- not what the book says, just what I know I need.) and she said they had plenty of lunch meat. I was excited to receive the invitation. The salad was fresh and good, the turkey slices were perfect, and the water was plentiful, and I stayed on the program.
I left after about 45 minutes to come home and read and blog and call a friend who had said he wanted to go to church Sunday night with me. He gave me an excuse and declined going to church. On the drive home I noticed I had had plenty to eat but was still very hungry, so I stopped at Taco Bell and got three hard shell tacos. And when I got home and read the lesson for today it is about giving up fast food for lunch and replacing it with good home made lunch. Wow. I very rarely eat fast food but I did today. How odd.
The first thing Day 7 covers is the difference between grass fed and grain fed cows. The grass fed free range meat is a healthy choice to eat, but the "grain fed" cows which are part of what is called "agri-business" have been fed grain in order to fatten them up. They are also injected with antibiotics and growth hormones which we in turn ingest. I was also amazed to read that the meat in fast food hamburgers is a conglomeration of meat and meat "parts" and one hamburger can have meat from many different cows in it. I had no idea! This "conglomeration" of meat also is a source of bacteria that we should be avoiding. And that is what he means by "clean and lean" -- a lean organic cut of beef or meat that you cook yourself is a good source of protein for us to consume.
He also touches on the different kinds of oil and fat we should and should not consume. You can read about it on page 137.
Fast food is poor quality food. Just because it is cheap does not mean you should eat it. Your own lunch that you have prepared yourself is very much more healthy for you than what "business men" are making. Dr Rip gives us a wide variety of easy and satisfying take-to-work lunches that are easy to do. The main ingredient is preparation -- filling the pantry with the right "supplies." If you are prepared, then making a carry lunch is no big deal.
Another thing he touches on is "super-sizing" and how, since the 1990's we have been bamboozled by marketing strategies to "up sell" and we no longer even recognize a "normal portion" any more. No wonder diabetes is rampant! Moderate consumption of good fats will protect your health. Overindulgence will work against your goals.
"Now is the time to say 'no' to fast food for lunch -- now is the time to say 'no' to dining out entirely until after Day 22. Well. OK. In a couple of weeks I'll be better educated for going out but for now, no more dining out. That will save me some money, too.
Home is where the most diabetes-friendly foods come from -- IF you are an informed shopper. He suggests a wide variety of easy and satisfying make it yourself lunches and dinners to go along with the healthy breakfasts that were suggested yesterday. See page 144. Veggies rule and proteins keep you going, add a diabetes friendly beverage and you are good to go.
For now the plan is to continue through day 12 eating only meat/protein and veggies. The whole grains will be added after day 12 -- but the present regimen of veggies and protein will stabilize the blood sugar and control hunger. Although my experience at my friend's meal does not give good evidence of that. I think the problem was that when I make a salad myself I use hearty romain lettuce and add lots of filling broccoli or avocado with pungent spices... maybe I just did not have enough to eat. And skipping breakfast was the first thing that set me up to need more food later. If I want it to go better tomorrow, I am going to have to make better choices today. I know this works, I just need to do it.
For now -- I am off to church, again.
Be back soon
-- Marcia
Well it is both day 7 and Sunday. I went to church this morning but did not allow enough time to eat breakfast so went without. At church my friends Steve and Linda invited me over for lunch. Steve said he had made a big salad and I knew that was on the program. I asked Linda if I should bring anything and asked if there would be any meat (I need to eat protein with every meal -- not what the book says, just what I know I need.) and she said they had plenty of lunch meat. I was excited to receive the invitation. The salad was fresh and good, the turkey slices were perfect, and the water was plentiful, and I stayed on the program.
I left after about 45 minutes to come home and read and blog and call a friend who had said he wanted to go to church Sunday night with me. He gave me an excuse and declined going to church. On the drive home I noticed I had had plenty to eat but was still very hungry, so I stopped at Taco Bell and got three hard shell tacos. And when I got home and read the lesson for today it is about giving up fast food for lunch and replacing it with good home made lunch. Wow. I very rarely eat fast food but I did today. How odd.
The first thing Day 7 covers is the difference between grass fed and grain fed cows. The grass fed free range meat is a healthy choice to eat, but the "grain fed" cows which are part of what is called "agri-business" have been fed grain in order to fatten them up. They are also injected with antibiotics and growth hormones which we in turn ingest. I was also amazed to read that the meat in fast food hamburgers is a conglomeration of meat and meat "parts" and one hamburger can have meat from many different cows in it. I had no idea! This "conglomeration" of meat also is a source of bacteria that we should be avoiding. And that is what he means by "clean and lean" -- a lean organic cut of beef or meat that you cook yourself is a good source of protein for us to consume.
He also touches on the different kinds of oil and fat we should and should not consume. You can read about it on page 137.
Fast food is poor quality food. Just because it is cheap does not mean you should eat it. Your own lunch that you have prepared yourself is very much more healthy for you than what "business men" are making. Dr Rip gives us a wide variety of easy and satisfying take-to-work lunches that are easy to do. The main ingredient is preparation -- filling the pantry with the right "supplies." If you are prepared, then making a carry lunch is no big deal.
Another thing he touches on is "super-sizing" and how, since the 1990's we have been bamboozled by marketing strategies to "up sell" and we no longer even recognize a "normal portion" any more. No wonder diabetes is rampant! Moderate consumption of good fats will protect your health. Overindulgence will work against your goals.
"Now is the time to say 'no' to fast food for lunch -- now is the time to say 'no' to dining out entirely until after Day 22. Well. OK. In a couple of weeks I'll be better educated for going out but for now, no more dining out. That will save me some money, too.
Home is where the most diabetes-friendly foods come from -- IF you are an informed shopper. He suggests a wide variety of easy and satisfying make it yourself lunches and dinners to go along with the healthy breakfasts that were suggested yesterday. See page 144. Veggies rule and proteins keep you going, add a diabetes friendly beverage and you are good to go.
For now the plan is to continue through day 12 eating only meat/protein and veggies. The whole grains will be added after day 12 -- but the present regimen of veggies and protein will stabilize the blood sugar and control hunger. Although my experience at my friend's meal does not give good evidence of that. I think the problem was that when I make a salad myself I use hearty romain lettuce and add lots of filling broccoli or avocado with pungent spices... maybe I just did not have enough to eat. And skipping breakfast was the first thing that set me up to need more food later. If I want it to go better tomorrow, I am going to have to make better choices today. I know this works, I just need to do it.
For now -- I am off to church, again.
Be back soon
-- Marcia
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wonderful Day 6
Weight: up 1 pound
Blood Pressure: 166/94
Blood Sugar: 118 before a meal
I am calling this "Wonderful Day 6" because I have been looking forward to it. I have gone low carb before and experienced the changes that occur on day 6 a few times, so I knew they were coming. It makes you wonder how a person can know that, and still go off the program. My only excuse is that once you get to feeling good you forget how painful it was and begin to think you are invincible again meaning you can do anything and it won't hurt you. Not. And crazy too.
The thing that makes me a little more hopeful that I will stay on this one is their promise that they will soon re-introduce grain but not in the form of flour -- it will be whole grains and even fruit.This is not a "no-carb" program. This addition of whole grains should make it so that I don't crave carbs -- at least that is their promise. Perhaps with those additions, I will not be tempted to revert because I will have started eating moderate amounts of whole grains and beans that are very filling and do not cause blood sugar spikes. I am looking forward to seeing if the eating machine can be bypassed by this. Again, I am not going to beat myself up over the past, I shall simply look forward to the future, by making healthy choices today.
Day 6 is wonderful to me for the following three reasons:
1. The pain in my body was greatly reduced when I first stood up after laying in bed sleeping -- not entirely gone -- but reduced so much that it was only negligible. Thank you Lord! I will observe if it stays like this or comes back during the day, like it did yesterday.
2. Oddly, I slept through the whole night without waking -- that is really unusual for me -- This does occasionally happen, so I will be observing if it continues or was a fluke.
3. My ankles look nearly normal -- meaning they are not swollen -- I cannot see the bones in my feet, which is my own personal "marker of success," but the ankles appear normal. I do take a daily diuretic but eliminating the fast carbs from my diet, nearly always, reduces the swelling. I consider them to be "normal" when I can see the bones in my feet, so there is still a little ways to go, but they are looking very good.
I made the pitcher of green tea and had a cup yesterday afternoon, and one this morning. I was a little disappointed when I weighed myself and had gone up a pound, but I have to remind myself that this is not really a weight loss program, so I shall not be concerned over it. The program does not ask me to weigh myself, nor to check my blood pressure, nor blood sugar. I am doing that only to measure and record any changes for this blog. I just want some sort of measurable proof that I am improving and can report here -- and these are easy to do, myself.
In fact the authors claim there is no need to worry about any of these measurements because, as I continue incorporating the changes on the program, they should "right" themselves. If I follow the program, then I am supposed to end up with reversed diabetes, the side effect of weight loss, and a reduction in blood pressure, too. Looking forward to these improvements.
Dr. Rip (the nickname his patients have given him) says that monitoring your blood sugar does not help to regulate blood sugar or to eliminate the "side effects" or consequences of the disease -- such as blindness, amputations, heart attacks, etc. He has also provided proof from existing studies that regulating blood sugar with medications does not improve, and certainly does not eliminate, the "side effects" either. Just as many diabetics die of heart attack with or without blood sugar lowering medication. This is an eye opener. The thing is, medications that reduce blood sugar, do not actually change the disease -- you still have diabetes, even though your blood sugar is being "regulated." This was new news to me, but if you think about it, that is true. People tell you they "have" diabetes and take powerful drugs -- but that does not eliminate the diabetes or its complications.
Studies Dr Rip has provided as proof actually show that the only thing that really reverses diabetes (removing the possible horrific consequences) is life style modifications -- changing what you eat and how often you move, which is what this program is about. (They have not gotten to the exercise part yet, but have mentioned it.) The day-by-day, step-by-step program seems to be an easy and comfortable way to make the changes necessary to accomplish the task of reversing diabetes without going into a tizzy, or feeling the pressure of "I've got to lose weight." He even says that diabetes can be reversed and a person may remain over weight -- meaning that just because you are obese, does not mean, you have to have diabetes -- and I am living proof of this one. I have been obese for a very long time, but was only recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
That does not eliminate the other fact that doing a weight reduction program may, in fact, reverse diabetes in some people. Most of the testimonials from Dr Rip's successful patients do say they lost weight, and feel much better. It is just that you don't have to feel pressured and stuck trying to lose weight, when the actual goal is to reverse diabetes -- and any weight reduction or blood pressure normalization shall be a side effect of the reversal of diabetes through permanent life style changes. I'm in.
Well, it is day 6 and I do feel physically better. Wonderful!
Day 6 talks about eating a diabetes healing breakfast. Since we eliminated all the fast carbs yesterday, that leaves protein as the main staple of the breakfast domain. He calls it "eating your way to a better blood sugar" and gives suggestions on what to eat. From my own experience I find that eating spinach and eggs, or sauted zucchini and eggs is very filling -- "stick to the ribs" because it lasts a long time, too. He suggests that the protein be "clean and lean" and describes what that means.
He also covers the current research about eggs which are not as bad as people used to think -- and are, in fact, very healthful, having no effect of raising cholesterol, as once believed. I never gave up on eggs, because I knew that God made them. When it comes to food, I think it is better to trust what God created, than to depend on what man manufactures. God loves us. Man is concerned with the bottom line.
I suggest you read the book (see link in title) which talks about butter and the real effects of saturated fat, which are actually good for us, in moderation. He has believable proof -- at least I think it is. He says protein gives strength and stabilizes blood sugar, so don't fear it. Even Dr. Atkins proved that one a long time ago. I already knew that if you want to lower your cholesterol stop eating starchy carbs. But who can eat only protein for any length of time? Not me -- and I know it -- I begin craving carbs. My problem was that when I added anything back to the protein, it was not vegetables and whole grains, I added fast carbs and really got me into trouble. So "meat and potatoes" is a problem, "meat and fresh raw vegetables" helps to keep the body balanced. I am so glad to be doing this program.
As evidence, let me relate what happened to me a long time ago that made me a believer in meat, again. During the 90's there was a program being advertised that I purchased and did for four years. It was called "The McDougal Program." This is a vegan diet that eliminates any and all animal products. During the course of doing it I lost quite a bit of weight, which was my goal.
Then when I moved to Stone Mountain, the folks I was living with, ate what appeared to me to be a typical American diet, although they were very salt conscious. I was getting frustrated because it was hard to sit down to a meat and potatoes meal when you are a vegan. The only thing you have to eat are a few green beans and a pile of mashed potatoes. I did not have the money to eat separate meals so I simply kept doing what I thought was the best I could do under the circumstances.
I had already hit a plateau before I got here. and was not losing any more weight even before I started doing this, so was looking around for more information and another way to lose weight. It just so happened that they had a health fair at work and I went and got my blood checked. I was flabbergasted to find out that my cholesterol was way up over 350. I had already noticed that my ankles were now swollen every night and I had to keep them elevated for most of the evening to get them back to normal in the morning. To make a long story short, after I moved to Georgia, and after I moved into my own place, I purchased the Atkins diet and after I began to eat meat, eliminating all carbs, my cholesterol went down to 211. That proved it to me that it was not the meat causing the bad blood numbers, it was the carbs!
The thing about this 30-day Diabetes Cure program is that it is more balanced and teaching me a better way to do "slow carb" but not "no carb." Still learning and testing.
Let me know your experience. What do you think about this program? Have you tried it? Did it work or not work for you? What happened?
See you soon,
--Marcia
Blood Pressure: 166/94
Blood Sugar: 118 before a meal
I am calling this "Wonderful Day 6" because I have been looking forward to it. I have gone low carb before and experienced the changes that occur on day 6 a few times, so I knew they were coming. It makes you wonder how a person can know that, and still go off the program. My only excuse is that once you get to feeling good you forget how painful it was and begin to think you are invincible again meaning you can do anything and it won't hurt you. Not. And crazy too.
The thing that makes me a little more hopeful that I will stay on this one is their promise that they will soon re-introduce grain but not in the form of flour -- it will be whole grains and even fruit.This is not a "no-carb" program. This addition of whole grains should make it so that I don't crave carbs -- at least that is their promise. Perhaps with those additions, I will not be tempted to revert because I will have started eating moderate amounts of whole grains and beans that are very filling and do not cause blood sugar spikes. I am looking forward to seeing if the eating machine can be bypassed by this. Again, I am not going to beat myself up over the past, I shall simply look forward to the future, by making healthy choices today.
Day 6 is wonderful to me for the following three reasons:
1. The pain in my body was greatly reduced when I first stood up after laying in bed sleeping -- not entirely gone -- but reduced so much that it was only negligible. Thank you Lord! I will observe if it stays like this or comes back during the day, like it did yesterday.
2. Oddly, I slept through the whole night without waking -- that is really unusual for me -- This does occasionally happen, so I will be observing if it continues or was a fluke.
3. My ankles look nearly normal -- meaning they are not swollen -- I cannot see the bones in my feet, which is my own personal "marker of success," but the ankles appear normal. I do take a daily diuretic but eliminating the fast carbs from my diet, nearly always, reduces the swelling. I consider them to be "normal" when I can see the bones in my feet, so there is still a little ways to go, but they are looking very good.
I made the pitcher of green tea and had a cup yesterday afternoon, and one this morning. I was a little disappointed when I weighed myself and had gone up a pound, but I have to remind myself that this is not really a weight loss program, so I shall not be concerned over it. The program does not ask me to weigh myself, nor to check my blood pressure, nor blood sugar. I am doing that only to measure and record any changes for this blog. I just want some sort of measurable proof that I am improving and can report here -- and these are easy to do, myself.
In fact the authors claim there is no need to worry about any of these measurements because, as I continue incorporating the changes on the program, they should "right" themselves. If I follow the program, then I am supposed to end up with reversed diabetes, the side effect of weight loss, and a reduction in blood pressure, too. Looking forward to these improvements.
Dr. Rip (the nickname his patients have given him) says that monitoring your blood sugar does not help to regulate blood sugar or to eliminate the "side effects" or consequences of the disease -- such as blindness, amputations, heart attacks, etc. He has also provided proof from existing studies that regulating blood sugar with medications does not improve, and certainly does not eliminate, the "side effects" either. Just as many diabetics die of heart attack with or without blood sugar lowering medication. This is an eye opener. The thing is, medications that reduce blood sugar, do not actually change the disease -- you still have diabetes, even though your blood sugar is being "regulated." This was new news to me, but if you think about it, that is true. People tell you they "have" diabetes and take powerful drugs -- but that does not eliminate the diabetes or its complications.
Studies Dr Rip has provided as proof actually show that the only thing that really reverses diabetes (removing the possible horrific consequences) is life style modifications -- changing what you eat and how often you move, which is what this program is about. (They have not gotten to the exercise part yet, but have mentioned it.) The day-by-day, step-by-step program seems to be an easy and comfortable way to make the changes necessary to accomplish the task of reversing diabetes without going into a tizzy, or feeling the pressure of "I've got to lose weight." He even says that diabetes can be reversed and a person may remain over weight -- meaning that just because you are obese, does not mean, you have to have diabetes -- and I am living proof of this one. I have been obese for a very long time, but was only recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
That does not eliminate the other fact that doing a weight reduction program may, in fact, reverse diabetes in some people. Most of the testimonials from Dr Rip's successful patients do say they lost weight, and feel much better. It is just that you don't have to feel pressured and stuck trying to lose weight, when the actual goal is to reverse diabetes -- and any weight reduction or blood pressure normalization shall be a side effect of the reversal of diabetes through permanent life style changes. I'm in.
Well, it is day 6 and I do feel physically better. Wonderful!
Day 6 talks about eating a diabetes healing breakfast. Since we eliminated all the fast carbs yesterday, that leaves protein as the main staple of the breakfast domain. He calls it "eating your way to a better blood sugar" and gives suggestions on what to eat. From my own experience I find that eating spinach and eggs, or sauted zucchini and eggs is very filling -- "stick to the ribs" because it lasts a long time, too. He suggests that the protein be "clean and lean" and describes what that means.
He also covers the current research about eggs which are not as bad as people used to think -- and are, in fact, very healthful, having no effect of raising cholesterol, as once believed. I never gave up on eggs, because I knew that God made them. When it comes to food, I think it is better to trust what God created, than to depend on what man manufactures. God loves us. Man is concerned with the bottom line.
I suggest you read the book (see link in title) which talks about butter and the real effects of saturated fat, which are actually good for us, in moderation. He has believable proof -- at least I think it is. He says protein gives strength and stabilizes blood sugar, so don't fear it. Even Dr. Atkins proved that one a long time ago. I already knew that if you want to lower your cholesterol stop eating starchy carbs. But who can eat only protein for any length of time? Not me -- and I know it -- I begin craving carbs. My problem was that when I added anything back to the protein, it was not vegetables and whole grains, I added fast carbs and really got me into trouble. So "meat and potatoes" is a problem, "meat and fresh raw vegetables" helps to keep the body balanced. I am so glad to be doing this program.
As evidence, let me relate what happened to me a long time ago that made me a believer in meat, again. During the 90's there was a program being advertised that I purchased and did for four years. It was called "The McDougal Program." This is a vegan diet that eliminates any and all animal products. During the course of doing it I lost quite a bit of weight, which was my goal.
Then when I moved to Stone Mountain, the folks I was living with, ate what appeared to me to be a typical American diet, although they were very salt conscious. I was getting frustrated because it was hard to sit down to a meat and potatoes meal when you are a vegan. The only thing you have to eat are a few green beans and a pile of mashed potatoes. I did not have the money to eat separate meals so I simply kept doing what I thought was the best I could do under the circumstances.
I had already hit a plateau before I got here. and was not losing any more weight even before I started doing this, so was looking around for more information and another way to lose weight. It just so happened that they had a health fair at work and I went and got my blood checked. I was flabbergasted to find out that my cholesterol was way up over 350. I had already noticed that my ankles were now swollen every night and I had to keep them elevated for most of the evening to get them back to normal in the morning. To make a long story short, after I moved to Georgia, and after I moved into my own place, I purchased the Atkins diet and after I began to eat meat, eliminating all carbs, my cholesterol went down to 211. That proved it to me that it was not the meat causing the bad blood numbers, it was the carbs!
The thing about this 30-day Diabetes Cure program is that it is more balanced and teaching me a better way to do "slow carb" but not "no carb." Still learning and testing.
Let me know your experience. What do you think about this program? Have you tried it? Did it work or not work for you? What happened?
See you soon,
--Marcia
Friday, June 25, 2010
Day 5
Hi,
I had a good thing happen this morning when I woke up the second time. When I stood up from lying flat in my bed I oddly did not have any back or body pain anywhere. I was completely surprised and very pleased. That does not usually happen until day 6 of a low carb plan. I had gotten up a little early and went back for another hour or so and did have some pain when I stood up the second time, but it was not as intense as usual. And as the day has worn on, the pain seems to be back, so I don't know what happened this morning, but it was good while it lasted.
This sudden disappearance of pain is a phenomenon I have experienced before when I have been completely and strictly following a low carb program and, in the past, it always happens on day 6 and continues until I go off the wagon. But this is day 5 so that may be why it came back during the day. Perhaps because I am basically following low carb but now have eliminated all the cheats (candy and sugar). I guess this is the inflammation they talk about in the book that excess blood sugar causes in the blood stream. I am hoping that tomorrow on day 6 it will really go away. We shall see.
Sad to say, I did not actually try the tea yesteday, just continued to drink plain water. I don't really like tea but will continue to keep it on the list and maybe try it today or tomorrow. I have considered this a little further and have come up with a way that might work for me. I will brew some green tea in my coffee maker then put it in the fridge to have a pitcher of unsweetened ice tea. I can sip a cup or two whenever and it may be a nice change from plain water.
Yesterday I ate a two-cup salad of the two kinds of lettuce and some fresh broccoli with two of the Gorton's breaded fish fillets. I have stopped making my home made salad dressing because of the vinegar problem so for flavor I sprinkled the salad greens with garlic pepper, termeric, cinnamon, dried minced onion, and Italian seasonings. Then for wetness I drizzled a little extra virgin olive oil over the spices and stirred to cover all the veggies. I was pretty surprised at how pungent and good it smelled as I stirred. It tasted really fantastic, too -- I had never tried that particular combination of spices and herbs before. I am finding that I am really liking salads and they really don't take all that long to fix. And the fresher the better. I think the thing I like the most is that they actually seem to trigger the full feeling and I feel good after I eat them. It is so nice to have the eating machine turned off -- that is like a never ending and destructive tread mill -- and finding that salad quells that desire is great.
Later on, I was lazy and fixed some tuna/egg salad with mayo and the same spices as above but no fresh greens. Then last night I went the really lazy route and just ate cheese slices and drank water. But it was all on the program, so I did not do too badly, I think.
I've noticed that the fresh salad greens really seem to help the plumbing keep moving and it does not hurt to take some magnesium. I like the product called "Calm" in the orange flavor which is sweetened with Stevia, to which I add calcium and zinc tablets. I had to take a dose early this morning because I had a really severe leg cramp in my left leg -- the mineral concoction and additional water in the middle of the night always seems to handle the problem. Perhaps that is the reason I had no pain the next time I got up. I will see how it goes tomorrow which is day 6.
You know, I am a prediabetic, per my doctor and the tests I was given. I have known for about a year now. But I really do seem to have all the symptoms that a regular high blood sugar level diabetic has. I have already had cataract surgery last year and had two lense implants put in so I can actually read and see pretty well now. I still need glasses for driving but I set it up that way. Sometimes I wonder if I should not have tampered with the lens distance in my right eye but did what I thought was right at the time. Anyway, I feel like I see pretty well now. I had been legally blind in my right eye from neglect -- letting the cataract grow and go without seeing a doctor because I knew what it was. I was afraid of eye surgery. If you have been told you have cataracts don't let it go like I did. My doctor told me during the surgery that I had the largest cataract of the day, that day -- and he was not able to get it all out because the fibers had begun to grow into the back part of the cornea. (I am not sure cornea is the right word, but it was behind the lens. Anyway, my doctor said I may need another operation in the future to laser a whole for me to see through.) The operation is really not all that complicated and takes about an hour and then you are sent home with a patch on your eye for one day. You have to keep putting drops in your eyes for a couple of weeks but that is easy. I can now read without reading glasses -- yippee -- and only need glasses to drive, so no bifocals, too -- another yippee. I am pleased with what my doctor did. I was glad to see that in the book it says that green tea will help retard cataract growth, so I really need to get started on that.
Another thing I have that only a regular diabetic is supposed to have is the numbness in my feet. I only rarely have the tingling but I do have it. I have been observing it for years progressing from behind my second toe on the bottom of my foot to include the big toe now, and it is beginning to be on the top part of my left foot now and a little on my right foot. I guess maybe because I have probably been a prediabetic (I did not know it, though I did fear that I might be a diabetic, since my father and sister are) for a very long time and have kept it rather in check by my meandering on and off of a low carb program which is the solution to diabetes. I must have just been keeping the blood sugar levels lower and aiding my pancreas in the process. But I am still having nearly all the side symptoms of diabetes. I am hoping this program will get me going in the right direction and hoping I will stay on it. I don't want to begin worrying about when the program is over. I need to pray about this.
For the sake of curiosity I just weighed myself and I have lost 7 pounds. Wow. In only 5 days. I don't know if this will fluctuate up or down, but that is the number for today.
On to Day 5: Another wow after reading the chapter. It answers, I think, my "worry" concern stated above. The program going step by step like this really seems to be perfect -- for me at least. It seems to be addressing my concerns as they come up.
Day 5 is about eliminating all "fast carbs" and the very powerful reasons why. Dr. Ripich describes how to tell a fast carb from a slow carb but not until after he describes the real and, I'm going to call them "fatal" consequences, of eating a regular diet of food made with refined and bleached wheat flour. He says that one of the single most important things a person can do to quickly reduce their blood sugar is to stop eating white bread. I include "whole wheat" bread in this category too, because this flour is highly refined, also. He includes all grains that have been made into flour -- another way of saying "refined." He provides a long list of specific baked goods made from flour that he directs his patients to avoid. Even things made with grains other than wheat that have been refined into a flour. Even fast cooking refined white rice.
I know from experience that when you mention this to most people their hearts skip a beat and most of them will just walk away shaking their heads and mumbling under their breath that you are a lunatic and they are not giving up their most favorite thing in all the world to eat. They simply cannot even imagine life without this junk. But junk food it is. If you think about it a cake is made from the same stuff white bread is made from with the one exception that a cake actually might have some high protein eggs or milk in it. It is simply the quantities of the individual ingredients that varies. It is the same basic stuff, and we have no trouble thinking that cake is junk food because it is sweet to the taste. But that slice of white bread will turn into sugar in the blood stream just as fast as the cake, or a spoonful of table sugar. It all acts on the blood in exactly the same way: it makes blood sugar spike, demanding an insulin spike, which sweeps it all out of the blood stream turning it all into fat. Wow. So -- anything that is cooked or baked using the flour made from wheat or any grain is bad for a diabetic.
The doctor points out that eating these kinds of foods is really just a very bad habit that we have grown up with and the only thing needed to break a habit is time and commitment. He also promises to return whole grains to us in Phase two, the second 10-day period. For me, it is the commitment part that is most important. I actually do trust the time, because I have experienced it before. I very rarely eat bread of any kind. I have shared that my minor cheats have been getting me into trouble and actually leading me farther and farther away from the place I knew I needed to be. I had been letting in a little more and a little more. It is almost insidious. So in actuality they were not minor but major cheats. I was in denial. This program is getting me really focused again, and committed again, and that is what I have really needed: a way to get committed again.
One of the things about bleached flour that I did not know was that the bleaching process, which is done with chlorine gas, creates a dangerous and deadly toxin in the flour called "allozan" which scientists use to induce diabetes in lab animals, because they know it destroys the pancreas and allows high blood sugar to get out of control. The doctor says there are only two ways to combat this. First, stop eating that poisonous stuff. Second take Vitamin E (mixed natural tocopherols) every day. Scientists use Vitamin E to protect their animals from the affects of allozan and keep them from getting diabetes.
I am really giving a thumbs up to this very well written and researched book and recommend it to anyone who wants to be truly informed and also be shown the path to follow to correct the problem of diabetes. It has a wealth of information that I am only touching on. I know I am only on day 5, but I have scanned the whole book, and am seeing results after only a few days of following the program. So, get the book and do it. Take action for your health. Here is the link to the web site: http://30daydiabetescure.com/
Going for a ride with a friend. Be back soon.
--Marcia
I had a good thing happen this morning when I woke up the second time. When I stood up from lying flat in my bed I oddly did not have any back or body pain anywhere. I was completely surprised and very pleased. That does not usually happen until day 6 of a low carb plan. I had gotten up a little early and went back for another hour or so and did have some pain when I stood up the second time, but it was not as intense as usual. And as the day has worn on, the pain seems to be back, so I don't know what happened this morning, but it was good while it lasted.
This sudden disappearance of pain is a phenomenon I have experienced before when I have been completely and strictly following a low carb program and, in the past, it always happens on day 6 and continues until I go off the wagon. But this is day 5 so that may be why it came back during the day. Perhaps because I am basically following low carb but now have eliminated all the cheats (candy and sugar). I guess this is the inflammation they talk about in the book that excess blood sugar causes in the blood stream. I am hoping that tomorrow on day 6 it will really go away. We shall see.
Sad to say, I did not actually try the tea yesteday, just continued to drink plain water. I don't really like tea but will continue to keep it on the list and maybe try it today or tomorrow. I have considered this a little further and have come up with a way that might work for me. I will brew some green tea in my coffee maker then put it in the fridge to have a pitcher of unsweetened ice tea. I can sip a cup or two whenever and it may be a nice change from plain water.
Yesterday I ate a two-cup salad of the two kinds of lettuce and some fresh broccoli with two of the Gorton's breaded fish fillets. I have stopped making my home made salad dressing because of the vinegar problem so for flavor I sprinkled the salad greens with garlic pepper, termeric, cinnamon, dried minced onion, and Italian seasonings. Then for wetness I drizzled a little extra virgin olive oil over the spices and stirred to cover all the veggies. I was pretty surprised at how pungent and good it smelled as I stirred. It tasted really fantastic, too -- I had never tried that particular combination of spices and herbs before. I am finding that I am really liking salads and they really don't take all that long to fix. And the fresher the better. I think the thing I like the most is that they actually seem to trigger the full feeling and I feel good after I eat them. It is so nice to have the eating machine turned off -- that is like a never ending and destructive tread mill -- and finding that salad quells that desire is great.
Later on, I was lazy and fixed some tuna/egg salad with mayo and the same spices as above but no fresh greens. Then last night I went the really lazy route and just ate cheese slices and drank water. But it was all on the program, so I did not do too badly, I think.
I've noticed that the fresh salad greens really seem to help the plumbing keep moving and it does not hurt to take some magnesium. I like the product called "Calm" in the orange flavor which is sweetened with Stevia, to which I add calcium and zinc tablets. I had to take a dose early this morning because I had a really severe leg cramp in my left leg -- the mineral concoction and additional water in the middle of the night always seems to handle the problem. Perhaps that is the reason I had no pain the next time I got up. I will see how it goes tomorrow which is day 6.
You know, I am a prediabetic, per my doctor and the tests I was given. I have known for about a year now. But I really do seem to have all the symptoms that a regular high blood sugar level diabetic has. I have already had cataract surgery last year and had two lense implants put in so I can actually read and see pretty well now. I still need glasses for driving but I set it up that way. Sometimes I wonder if I should not have tampered with the lens distance in my right eye but did what I thought was right at the time. Anyway, I feel like I see pretty well now. I had been legally blind in my right eye from neglect -- letting the cataract grow and go without seeing a doctor because I knew what it was. I was afraid of eye surgery. If you have been told you have cataracts don't let it go like I did. My doctor told me during the surgery that I had the largest cataract of the day, that day -- and he was not able to get it all out because the fibers had begun to grow into the back part of the cornea. (I am not sure cornea is the right word, but it was behind the lens. Anyway, my doctor said I may need another operation in the future to laser a whole for me to see through.) The operation is really not all that complicated and takes about an hour and then you are sent home with a patch on your eye for one day. You have to keep putting drops in your eyes for a couple of weeks but that is easy. I can now read without reading glasses -- yippee -- and only need glasses to drive, so no bifocals, too -- another yippee. I am pleased with what my doctor did. I was glad to see that in the book it says that green tea will help retard cataract growth, so I really need to get started on that.
Another thing I have that only a regular diabetic is supposed to have is the numbness in my feet. I only rarely have the tingling but I do have it. I have been observing it for years progressing from behind my second toe on the bottom of my foot to include the big toe now, and it is beginning to be on the top part of my left foot now and a little on my right foot. I guess maybe because I have probably been a prediabetic (I did not know it, though I did fear that I might be a diabetic, since my father and sister are) for a very long time and have kept it rather in check by my meandering on and off of a low carb program which is the solution to diabetes. I must have just been keeping the blood sugar levels lower and aiding my pancreas in the process. But I am still having nearly all the side symptoms of diabetes. I am hoping this program will get me going in the right direction and hoping I will stay on it. I don't want to begin worrying about when the program is over. I need to pray about this.
For the sake of curiosity I just weighed myself and I have lost 7 pounds. Wow. In only 5 days. I don't know if this will fluctuate up or down, but that is the number for today.
On to Day 5: Another wow after reading the chapter. It answers, I think, my "worry" concern stated above. The program going step by step like this really seems to be perfect -- for me at least. It seems to be addressing my concerns as they come up.
Day 5 is about eliminating all "fast carbs" and the very powerful reasons why. Dr. Ripich describes how to tell a fast carb from a slow carb but not until after he describes the real and, I'm going to call them "fatal" consequences, of eating a regular diet of food made with refined and bleached wheat flour. He says that one of the single most important things a person can do to quickly reduce their blood sugar is to stop eating white bread. I include "whole wheat" bread in this category too, because this flour is highly refined, also. He includes all grains that have been made into flour -- another way of saying "refined." He provides a long list of specific baked goods made from flour that he directs his patients to avoid. Even things made with grains other than wheat that have been refined into a flour. Even fast cooking refined white rice.
I know from experience that when you mention this to most people their hearts skip a beat and most of them will just walk away shaking their heads and mumbling under their breath that you are a lunatic and they are not giving up their most favorite thing in all the world to eat. They simply cannot even imagine life without this junk. But junk food it is. If you think about it a cake is made from the same stuff white bread is made from with the one exception that a cake actually might have some high protein eggs or milk in it. It is simply the quantities of the individual ingredients that varies. It is the same basic stuff, and we have no trouble thinking that cake is junk food because it is sweet to the taste. But that slice of white bread will turn into sugar in the blood stream just as fast as the cake, or a spoonful of table sugar. It all acts on the blood in exactly the same way: it makes blood sugar spike, demanding an insulin spike, which sweeps it all out of the blood stream turning it all into fat. Wow. So -- anything that is cooked or baked using the flour made from wheat or any grain is bad for a diabetic.
The doctor points out that eating these kinds of foods is really just a very bad habit that we have grown up with and the only thing needed to break a habit is time and commitment. He also promises to return whole grains to us in Phase two, the second 10-day period. For me, it is the commitment part that is most important. I actually do trust the time, because I have experienced it before. I very rarely eat bread of any kind. I have shared that my minor cheats have been getting me into trouble and actually leading me farther and farther away from the place I knew I needed to be. I had been letting in a little more and a little more. It is almost insidious. So in actuality they were not minor but major cheats. I was in denial. This program is getting me really focused again, and committed again, and that is what I have really needed: a way to get committed again.
One of the things about bleached flour that I did not know was that the bleaching process, which is done with chlorine gas, creates a dangerous and deadly toxin in the flour called "allozan" which scientists use to induce diabetes in lab animals, because they know it destroys the pancreas and allows high blood sugar to get out of control. The doctor says there are only two ways to combat this. First, stop eating that poisonous stuff. Second take Vitamin E (mixed natural tocopherols) every day. Scientists use Vitamin E to protect their animals from the affects of allozan and keep them from getting diabetes.
I am really giving a thumbs up to this very well written and researched book and recommend it to anyone who wants to be truly informed and also be shown the path to follow to correct the problem of diabetes. It has a wealth of information that I am only touching on. I know I am only on day 5, but I have scanned the whole book, and am seeing results after only a few days of following the program. So, get the book and do it. Take action for your health. Here is the link to the web site: http://30daydiabetescure.com/
Going for a ride with a friend. Be back soon.
--Marcia
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Day 4
Hi,
My eyes are sure being opened to my own bad habits. I am now having to acknowledge those places and circumstances where I have been eating sweets. I was going to say "unconsciously" but I knew what I was doing, I just decided to ignore what was best for me and fulfill my lust for sweets. I really did not do it every day, but often enough that it was keeping me from lowering my blood sugar. Usually I ate candy on Sunday and Wednesday -- church days. If I went to a buffet restaurant I always had a little carrot cake or soft ice cream because, you know, what could it hurt? But it does seem to have been hurting me.
The candy man at church is back. My information must have been wrong, but I was able to refuse his offer of a handful of candy last night, thank him (he is very much a friend) and explain that I am not eating sugar for the next 10 days (although there are only 6 days left on that initial commitment.) When I went to lunch with a friend at a buffet restaurant yesterday I ate veggies and protein, with half of a small sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon, as I should. But it was a real temptation when I walked past the dessert bar, two or three times. I had to keep turning my head away and saying to myself over and over, "no sugar, no sugar, no sugar." I made it through. I have to remember to turn the head away, and not look at it. If I indulge first in the sight of it, it is much easier to indulge in the consumption of it. So turning the head away and vehemently reminding myself, "no sugar" over and over, really helped me get by without indulging in them.
Oddly enough the thing that has been a hard temptation (which I have also not succumbed to) is xylitol gum which I had just started using. I still have the print outs that say that it does not cause an insulin spike and is low on the glycemic scale, which is why I had started to use it, but a commitment is a commitment. So for the 10 days, at least, no xylitol. The info I have on xylitol is conflicting and I will sort that out later. I liked the way it cleans the mouth and kills dental decay germs, too.
I went shopping last night and got a lot of fresh salad fixings like two kinds of lettuce, cabbage, green pepper, and avocado, so I would have good food to eat today. I also bought cheese and nuts, which I am sad to say I binged on. I ate a small package of cheese and half a can of Spanish peanuts after I got back from shopping. The eating machine is still on, but at least, those items will not keep it primed, being mostly protein. I stayed up late last night watching a movie (I am also kind of compulsive about a movie, if I start it, I finish it). So I got up late this morning, but do not feel too awful bad. Just a little slow and only slightly groggy but with a bit of a gloggy throat.
I examined my breaded fish labels and found that Gorton's brand not only has corn syrup solids (whatever that is -- reminds me of the high fructose corn syrup) but monosodium glutamate, too, which I believe also raises blood sugar. The Aldi's brand seemed a little better not having the MSG (at least in a name that I recognized) but it contains sugar. I checked the turkey sausage and it too has sugar in it. Wow. I feel reluctant to throw these out because of the expense, but I am not going to be buying any more when these are gone. I guess I am going to have to try the real fish once again (meaning unbreaded), but maybe I can find a way to make that work.
On to Day 4 which is about adding healing beverages into the diabetic diet. "Diabetes causes dehydration." This happens because of how the body tries to flush the excess sugar out of the system through the kidneys and urination. A diabetic needs to drink plenty of good sugar free liquids if you want to keep your electrolytes balanced. My belief is that if you are taking magnesium, calcium, zinc, and potassium you will add in this electrolyte replenishment. You have to be careful with potassium and obey your doctor's orders. I am taking a potassium sparing diuretic for my HBP so I don't take a potassium supplement. But back to the liquid drinking.
One thing I have been doing for a long while is drinking my water out of glass bottles. I gave up on the plastic drinking bottles when I read that the plastic will leach unhealthy stuff into the body. At the time I was buying a few bottles of water in plastic bottles and then when they ran out I would fill them from my filtered tap water, throwing them out after a week or two and getting fresh ones. Then when I read somewhere that reusing the plastic bottles makes them even worse as they begin to degrade, than the initial water consumption I just decided to go to glass and found that it saves on the expenses, too.
I looked for some juice/tea product that was bottled in glass bottles and then reused those bottles indefinitely, bleaching them every now and then to clean them out. I found some bottled "fancy" juice for about one dollar and thirty cents at the health food store and purchased them. I hated the taste of the contents so I just dumped it out and washed the bottles, then began filling them from the filter on my tap. Make sure the caps are reusable. I like the metal ones that have been coated to prevent rusting because they are long lasting also. If you don't fill the bottles so full that they touch the cap and then keep them upright, they will not touch that coating. You can't always do that when you are taking them with you to work or whatever, but I figure the surface area is so small it is not such a threat as a whole plastic bottle.
I have always considered that when my skin gets really really dry and no creams and lotions alleviate the problem that is the main sign that I am dehydrated because I've been eating too many fast carbs over a rather long period of time. So I need to cut it out. I have been very pleased to notice that over the last few days the skin on my hands is very smooth and soft and there is no flakiness or itching and it was not from adding liquids but from eliminating sugar!
Other signs of dehydration are dry mouth, only very small amounts of urine being eliminated and it being very dark in color. If you are to the point that you don't have any tears and your eyes are sunken and you are vomiting or have diarrhea and lethargy then you need to drink liquids and get to a doctor immediately.
Even just feeling thirsty all the time is a sign of dehydration. I believe that in my younger years I was not able to differentiate "thirst" from "hunger" and would eat in response to a need for water. So if you are hungry all the time and never drink water, you may want to test and see if water will sometimes alleviate those "hunger pangs." You can test it yourself. I had a very painful kidney stone attack when I was in my twenties due to this, and have found that drinking plenty of water really alleviates that problem. Also taking the above mentioned minerals helps to dissolve the deposits that make kidney stones, so you can monitor and help yourself with that problem, too. I have only one time more had a kidney stone attack (a very small one) which I greatly improved by drinking glass after glass of water to help it float out of my tract. I try not to let that happen by making sure I drink plenty of water, even during the night when I get up to go to the bathroom, which happens once every night. I don't drink gallons of water, I just keep my three 12 oz bottles of water full and chilling in the fridge and drink and fill them repeatedly during the day and the night. I don't know how much I drink, but don't think it is a gallon, which seems overwhelming to me.
"The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" book ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) that I am following talks about "healing" beverages and I am impressed with what I am reading about that. They give a whole list of ways to rehydrate yourself and also heal your body at the same time. The two main suggestions were tea and coffee, of all things. I have always been a little proud of the fact that I don't drink either one of them very often. No more than two or three times year, but have discovered that I might have been helping myself if I had been drinking them. It seems that either green tea or black tea is beneficial as is black coffee and decaf is as good as regular for the diabetic. That is good news. I always wondered about decaf because it is chemically "processed" to remove the caffeine. Don't ruin the benefits by adding non-dairy creamers and sugar, though, as that will certainly defeat the purpose. Just plain tea and just black coffee is best, but they said you can sweeten with Stevia and low fat milk if you need to. They give a whole list of other ingenious ways to get more liquids into your body and improve your diabetes and your hydration starting on page 112 and suggested there are even more at http://www.myhealingkitchen.com/ which is maintained by Jim Healthy one of the authors of the 30 day program.
There was one suggestion that I question, though, and that was low-fat milk. They make the statement that "studies show that it helps you lose weight by burning extra calories." Good. Great. But then in the same paragraph it says "when whey protein (a byproduct of the cheese-making process) is added to a high-carb meal, INSULIN PRODUCTION IS INCREASED between 35% and 57%, helping to manage that flood of glucose into the system." An increase in insulin? I thought I was trying to lower my sugar and decrease the amount of insulin my pancreas is being forced to create. I can see that if you are eating a high carb meal even without the whey protein your insulin production will increase. I'm still a little stumped by that one.
But, the goal for today is to take action by not only removing sodas but adding healthy and healing sugar free beverages to the program. I'm going to try tea, as black coffee is a little much for me. But I shall try it out.
Still excited. Be back soon
Love ya
--Marcia
My eyes are sure being opened to my own bad habits. I am now having to acknowledge those places and circumstances where I have been eating sweets. I was going to say "unconsciously" but I knew what I was doing, I just decided to ignore what was best for me and fulfill my lust for sweets. I really did not do it every day, but often enough that it was keeping me from lowering my blood sugar. Usually I ate candy on Sunday and Wednesday -- church days. If I went to a buffet restaurant I always had a little carrot cake or soft ice cream because, you know, what could it hurt? But it does seem to have been hurting me.
The candy man at church is back. My information must have been wrong, but I was able to refuse his offer of a handful of candy last night, thank him (he is very much a friend) and explain that I am not eating sugar for the next 10 days (although there are only 6 days left on that initial commitment.) When I went to lunch with a friend at a buffet restaurant yesterday I ate veggies and protein, with half of a small sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon, as I should. But it was a real temptation when I walked past the dessert bar, two or three times. I had to keep turning my head away and saying to myself over and over, "no sugar, no sugar, no sugar." I made it through. I have to remember to turn the head away, and not look at it. If I indulge first in the sight of it, it is much easier to indulge in the consumption of it. So turning the head away and vehemently reminding myself, "no sugar" over and over, really helped me get by without indulging in them.
Oddly enough the thing that has been a hard temptation (which I have also not succumbed to) is xylitol gum which I had just started using. I still have the print outs that say that it does not cause an insulin spike and is low on the glycemic scale, which is why I had started to use it, but a commitment is a commitment. So for the 10 days, at least, no xylitol. The info I have on xylitol is conflicting and I will sort that out later. I liked the way it cleans the mouth and kills dental decay germs, too.
I went shopping last night and got a lot of fresh salad fixings like two kinds of lettuce, cabbage, green pepper, and avocado, so I would have good food to eat today. I also bought cheese and nuts, which I am sad to say I binged on. I ate a small package of cheese and half a can of Spanish peanuts after I got back from shopping. The eating machine is still on, but at least, those items will not keep it primed, being mostly protein. I stayed up late last night watching a movie (I am also kind of compulsive about a movie, if I start it, I finish it). So I got up late this morning, but do not feel too awful bad. Just a little slow and only slightly groggy but with a bit of a gloggy throat.
I examined my breaded fish labels and found that Gorton's brand not only has corn syrup solids (whatever that is -- reminds me of the high fructose corn syrup) but monosodium glutamate, too, which I believe also raises blood sugar. The Aldi's brand seemed a little better not having the MSG (at least in a name that I recognized) but it contains sugar. I checked the turkey sausage and it too has sugar in it. Wow. I feel reluctant to throw these out because of the expense, but I am not going to be buying any more when these are gone. I guess I am going to have to try the real fish once again (meaning unbreaded), but maybe I can find a way to make that work.
On to Day 4 which is about adding healing beverages into the diabetic diet. "Diabetes causes dehydration." This happens because of how the body tries to flush the excess sugar out of the system through the kidneys and urination. A diabetic needs to drink plenty of good sugar free liquids if you want to keep your electrolytes balanced. My belief is that if you are taking magnesium, calcium, zinc, and potassium you will add in this electrolyte replenishment. You have to be careful with potassium and obey your doctor's orders. I am taking a potassium sparing diuretic for my HBP so I don't take a potassium supplement. But back to the liquid drinking.
One thing I have been doing for a long while is drinking my water out of glass bottles. I gave up on the plastic drinking bottles when I read that the plastic will leach unhealthy stuff into the body. At the time I was buying a few bottles of water in plastic bottles and then when they ran out I would fill them from my filtered tap water, throwing them out after a week or two and getting fresh ones. Then when I read somewhere that reusing the plastic bottles makes them even worse as they begin to degrade, than the initial water consumption I just decided to go to glass and found that it saves on the expenses, too.
I looked for some juice/tea product that was bottled in glass bottles and then reused those bottles indefinitely, bleaching them every now and then to clean them out. I found some bottled "fancy" juice for about one dollar and thirty cents at the health food store and purchased them. I hated the taste of the contents so I just dumped it out and washed the bottles, then began filling them from the filter on my tap. Make sure the caps are reusable. I like the metal ones that have been coated to prevent rusting because they are long lasting also. If you don't fill the bottles so full that they touch the cap and then keep them upright, they will not touch that coating. You can't always do that when you are taking them with you to work or whatever, but I figure the surface area is so small it is not such a threat as a whole plastic bottle.
I have always considered that when my skin gets really really dry and no creams and lotions alleviate the problem that is the main sign that I am dehydrated because I've been eating too many fast carbs over a rather long period of time. So I need to cut it out. I have been very pleased to notice that over the last few days the skin on my hands is very smooth and soft and there is no flakiness or itching and it was not from adding liquids but from eliminating sugar!
Other signs of dehydration are dry mouth, only very small amounts of urine being eliminated and it being very dark in color. If you are to the point that you don't have any tears and your eyes are sunken and you are vomiting or have diarrhea and lethargy then you need to drink liquids and get to a doctor immediately.
Even just feeling thirsty all the time is a sign of dehydration. I believe that in my younger years I was not able to differentiate "thirst" from "hunger" and would eat in response to a need for water. So if you are hungry all the time and never drink water, you may want to test and see if water will sometimes alleviate those "hunger pangs." You can test it yourself. I had a very painful kidney stone attack when I was in my twenties due to this, and have found that drinking plenty of water really alleviates that problem. Also taking the above mentioned minerals helps to dissolve the deposits that make kidney stones, so you can monitor and help yourself with that problem, too. I have only one time more had a kidney stone attack (a very small one) which I greatly improved by drinking glass after glass of water to help it float out of my tract. I try not to let that happen by making sure I drink plenty of water, even during the night when I get up to go to the bathroom, which happens once every night. I don't drink gallons of water, I just keep my three 12 oz bottles of water full and chilling in the fridge and drink and fill them repeatedly during the day and the night. I don't know how much I drink, but don't think it is a gallon, which seems overwhelming to me.
"The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" book ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) that I am following talks about "healing" beverages and I am impressed with what I am reading about that. They give a whole list of ways to rehydrate yourself and also heal your body at the same time. The two main suggestions were tea and coffee, of all things. I have always been a little proud of the fact that I don't drink either one of them very often. No more than two or three times year, but have discovered that I might have been helping myself if I had been drinking them. It seems that either green tea or black tea is beneficial as is black coffee and decaf is as good as regular for the diabetic. That is good news. I always wondered about decaf because it is chemically "processed" to remove the caffeine. Don't ruin the benefits by adding non-dairy creamers and sugar, though, as that will certainly defeat the purpose. Just plain tea and just black coffee is best, but they said you can sweeten with Stevia and low fat milk if you need to. They give a whole list of other ingenious ways to get more liquids into your body and improve your diabetes and your hydration starting on page 112 and suggested there are even more at http://www.myhealingkitchen.com/ which is maintained by Jim Healthy one of the authors of the 30 day program.
There was one suggestion that I question, though, and that was low-fat milk. They make the statement that "studies show that it helps you lose weight by burning extra calories." Good. Great. But then in the same paragraph it says "when whey protein (a byproduct of the cheese-making process) is added to a high-carb meal, INSULIN PRODUCTION IS INCREASED between 35% and 57%, helping to manage that flood of glucose into the system." An increase in insulin? I thought I was trying to lower my sugar and decrease the amount of insulin my pancreas is being forced to create. I can see that if you are eating a high carb meal even without the whey protein your insulin production will increase. I'm still a little stumped by that one.
But, the goal for today is to take action by not only removing sodas but adding healthy and healing sugar free beverages to the program. I'm going to try tea, as black coffee is a little much for me. But I shall try it out.
Still excited. Be back soon
Love ya
--Marcia
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Day 3
Hi,
I almost never drink sodas, or what we called "pop" where I was raised in Ohio. You know, soda-pop. What an odd name. Day three in "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" by Dr Stefan Ripich and Jim Healthy ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) is about eliminating soda from the diabetic's diet. So no sacrifice to remove what has already been removed. I drink water almost exclusively. That may be the reason that I am still a prediabetic at 350 pounds. Thank God.
I was completely amazed by the information in this chapter. They gave very compelling reasons for not drinking regular soda, and diet soda's too. You should read it. Aside from the high fructose corn syrup in the regular soda, which they explain actually raises blood sugar higher and faster than regular table sugar (!), it contains phosphoric acid which "leaches minerals from bones and leads to osteoporosis." It also "inhibits your body's ability to absorb manganese" which actually weakens our ligaments making it much easier to injure a joint.
I already have a torn ligament in my left knee which is healing, so I don't need to start drinking, or eating, anything with phosphoric acid. Makes me think of "glow in the dark," anyway.
They had a quote at the front of this chapter that I just have to share with you. "We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons." -- Alfred E. Newman. Wow. How true is that? Just makes you wonder that manufacturers would really put artificial stuff in food because it is cheaper for them to make, and put real fruit in furniture polish because it sells better. This really lets me see where the priorities of the business world are, and people are not among them. They really don't care what they do to our food. Revolt. Don't eat it.
It also makes me wonder where our heads are, too. That we would eat fake food made with artificial stuff because we trust in science so much more than we trust in the food that God created for us. I'm thinking we are not only crazy, we are just plain lazy and stupid to boot. It is so much easier to eat something that some invisible company has manufactured than to take the twenty minutes required to prepare real actual food that we put our own, and our children's health and lives in actual jeopardy. The process is so slow we don't pay attention. We have become the frog in the pot of water that is coming to a boil.
Manufacturing is based on the bottom line and we all know what that is. If they can make something that looks and tastes like grandma used to make, but costs less because they make so much of it, and then reduce those costs by substituting cheaper or artificial ingredients, then we believe them to have our best interests at heart. Not. That is why it is important to continue to follow the first rule from day one: read the labels. And listen to what mom said: if you can't pronounce what is on the label, don't eat it -- it can't be good for you.
I have always been on the fringes of "health food nutdom." Some foods I am very careful about, but others, it seems like anything goes. Especially if it tastes good to me, and is fast to prepare. I guess I am going to have to be more real about that, now. I can see what my food habits have done to me. I weight over 350 pounds and am on the very edge of full diabetes. I have always felt like I was the victim, not being able to change that. Well, I can no longer ignore the fact that it is my own hands picking up the food and my own mouth eating it. It is my mind making the decisions; I am in charge of these things and I need to be more responsible for and to my own health and less responsive to cravings and appetite, and "whatever feels good." It is always better to live by principles than to live by emotion.
I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent person. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but my IQ is above average, especially in language skills, if not in everything. I need to use what God gave me in a more responsible and responsive way. Wow. I don't think I have owned up to my "addiction" so plainly before. I am going to give up beating up on me, too -- just pass it by. I am drawing the line, right now.
A scripture has come to mind:
Phil. 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Amen!! I can just forget about the past, and look eagerly to the future, by walking correctly today. Press toward the goal. Believe in the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, my Savior.
I really had no idea this was coming, but I am glad it did. I am going to be eating the food that God created, not the products manufactured by business men, unless they pass the "label test." No high fructose corn syrup because that is making us fat and pushing us into diabetes. No sodas. Period. No fruit juice which is loaded with fast access sugar, too. If we eat the whole fruit, then the pulp and fiber help to slow down the sugar jump, but the juice, even 100% juice, only causes blood sugar spikes and is a problem for the prediabetic and the diabetics of both types. So, for the first 10 days no fruit or fruit juice, too.
So read chapter three if you are joining me. It explains in good readable detail that I should not drink sodas, and avoid all sugary drinks (even artificially sweeten diet drinks) and the reasons are compelling. Artificial sugars have nearly all been shown to be dangerous to our health in some way or other, and they, too, make blood sugar jump, contrary to popular image. The chapter explains it in full detail.
Avoid fruit juice too, which plays havoc on the blood sugar of anyone who has problems with blood sugar control. I was amazed to read that if a person who drinks soda, drinks one less per day, then they would loose one pound every week without even trying. "Research shows that drinking sodas increases your risk of obesity by a staggering 60%."
All sugars, any kind, including honey and molasses, spike blood sugar and call for more insulin to clear it from the bloodstream. So, 10 days without, does not seem to be too much to ask, even for the likes of me.
Be back soon
--Marcia
I almost never drink sodas, or what we called "pop" where I was raised in Ohio. You know, soda-pop. What an odd name. Day three in "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" by Dr Stefan Ripich and Jim Healthy ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) is about eliminating soda from the diabetic's diet. So no sacrifice to remove what has already been removed. I drink water almost exclusively. That may be the reason that I am still a prediabetic at 350 pounds. Thank God.
I was completely amazed by the information in this chapter. They gave very compelling reasons for not drinking regular soda, and diet soda's too. You should read it. Aside from the high fructose corn syrup in the regular soda, which they explain actually raises blood sugar higher and faster than regular table sugar (!), it contains phosphoric acid which "leaches minerals from bones and leads to osteoporosis." It also "inhibits your body's ability to absorb manganese" which actually weakens our ligaments making it much easier to injure a joint.
I already have a torn ligament in my left knee which is healing, so I don't need to start drinking, or eating, anything with phosphoric acid. Makes me think of "glow in the dark," anyway.
They had a quote at the front of this chapter that I just have to share with you. "We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons." -- Alfred E. Newman. Wow. How true is that? Just makes you wonder that manufacturers would really put artificial stuff in food because it is cheaper for them to make, and put real fruit in furniture polish because it sells better. This really lets me see where the priorities of the business world are, and people are not among them. They really don't care what they do to our food. Revolt. Don't eat it.
It also makes me wonder where our heads are, too. That we would eat fake food made with artificial stuff because we trust in science so much more than we trust in the food that God created for us. I'm thinking we are not only crazy, we are just plain lazy and stupid to boot. It is so much easier to eat something that some invisible company has manufactured than to take the twenty minutes required to prepare real actual food that we put our own, and our children's health and lives in actual jeopardy. The process is so slow we don't pay attention. We have become the frog in the pot of water that is coming to a boil.
Manufacturing is based on the bottom line and we all know what that is. If they can make something that looks and tastes like grandma used to make, but costs less because they make so much of it, and then reduce those costs by substituting cheaper or artificial ingredients, then we believe them to have our best interests at heart. Not. That is why it is important to continue to follow the first rule from day one: read the labels. And listen to what mom said: if you can't pronounce what is on the label, don't eat it -- it can't be good for you.
I have always been on the fringes of "health food nutdom." Some foods I am very careful about, but others, it seems like anything goes. Especially if it tastes good to me, and is fast to prepare. I guess I am going to have to be more real about that, now. I can see what my food habits have done to me. I weight over 350 pounds and am on the very edge of full diabetes. I have always felt like I was the victim, not being able to change that. Well, I can no longer ignore the fact that it is my own hands picking up the food and my own mouth eating it. It is my mind making the decisions; I am in charge of these things and I need to be more responsible for and to my own health and less responsive to cravings and appetite, and "whatever feels good." It is always better to live by principles than to live by emotion.
I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent person. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but my IQ is above average, especially in language skills, if not in everything. I need to use what God gave me in a more responsible and responsive way. Wow. I don't think I have owned up to my "addiction" so plainly before. I am going to give up beating up on me, too -- just pass it by. I am drawing the line, right now.
A scripture has come to mind:
Phil. 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Amen!! I can just forget about the past, and look eagerly to the future, by walking correctly today. Press toward the goal. Believe in the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, my Savior.
I really had no idea this was coming, but I am glad it did. I am going to be eating the food that God created, not the products manufactured by business men, unless they pass the "label test." No high fructose corn syrup because that is making us fat and pushing us into diabetes. No sodas. Period. No fruit juice which is loaded with fast access sugar, too. If we eat the whole fruit, then the pulp and fiber help to slow down the sugar jump, but the juice, even 100% juice, only causes blood sugar spikes and is a problem for the prediabetic and the diabetics of both types. So, for the first 10 days no fruit or fruit juice, too.
So read chapter three if you are joining me. It explains in good readable detail that I should not drink sodas, and avoid all sugary drinks (even artificially sweeten diet drinks) and the reasons are compelling. Artificial sugars have nearly all been shown to be dangerous to our health in some way or other, and they, too, make blood sugar jump, contrary to popular image. The chapter explains it in full detail.
Avoid fruit juice too, which plays havoc on the blood sugar of anyone who has problems with blood sugar control. I was amazed to read that if a person who drinks soda, drinks one less per day, then they would loose one pound every week without even trying. "Research shows that drinking sodas increases your risk of obesity by a staggering 60%."
All sugars, any kind, including honey and molasses, spike blood sugar and call for more insulin to clear it from the bloodstream. So, 10 days without, does not seem to be too much to ask, even for the likes of me.
Be back soon
--Marcia
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day 2
Hi,
I just finished reading Day 2 in The 30 Day Diabetes Cure ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) by Dr. Stefan Ripich ND, CNP and Jim Healthy.
The guideline for today is to use a common, ordinary, everybody-has-it-in-their-cupboard spice, to speed up your metabolism. Like I said in my first post, I think it would be morally wrong for me to give away the information in the book so I am reluctant to reveal which spice this is. You may already know which one it is. I am encouraging you to purchase the book yourself if you want to see the program. And no, I am not affiliated with the writers in any way, except that I bought the book and am using it to help myself to improve my physical health.
Today I shall start sprinkling "the spice" on the things they suggest: yogurt, oatmeal, brown rice/yogurt, on sweet potatoes or on chicken. The only problem I have is I don't have any yogurt, oatmeal, brown rice, or sweet potatoes. Neither do I have the ingredients for the baked chicken dish they recommend. So I shall have to put them on my shopping list.
I am wondering a little if I'll be able to use it every day. But even as I'm writing it has occurred to me that I use my garlic pepper every day, why not that, too? I wonder if it would mix with garlic pepper? I like to make salad dressing, perhaps I could put it in that. I used to sprinkle it on ice cream, but am giving up sugar for the next 10 days. I will have to get creative to accomplish this one.
I am greatly encouraged to see that this particular spice actually lowers blood sugar, and reduces cholesterol and triglycerides. It is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and can be used with cloves and allspice, too, because they all have more antioxidant phenols per weight than blueberries which is one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature.
After I read that I began to consider if they were weighing blueberries and spices, it would certainly be a lot easier to eat a cup of blueberries than a cup of spice. Maybe the spices could be sprinkled on blueberries, too. I don't particularly care for the flavor of cloves -- although I don't quite hate it, and usually leave it out of any recipes I make that might call for it. I prefer the mild flavor of nutmeg, but I don't know if nutmeg is an antioxidant. I'll have to look that up, now, too.
If I am going to make this work, I think I should put some spice into a small shaker so I can sprinkle at will. I already sprinkle everything with termeric so adding this one, should not be too hard. I'll let you know how it goes.
I am really being encourage by writing this blog/journal. I believe it will keep me on track. Hope you are on the road to recovery, with me.
--Marcia -- (that is pronounced Mar-sha -- which is traditional [just like Patricia])
I just finished reading Day 2 in The 30 Day Diabetes Cure ( http://30daydiabetescure.com/ ) by Dr. Stefan Ripich ND, CNP and Jim Healthy.
The guideline for today is to use a common, ordinary, everybody-has-it-in-their-cupboard spice, to speed up your metabolism. Like I said in my first post, I think it would be morally wrong for me to give away the information in the book so I am reluctant to reveal which spice this is. You may already know which one it is. I am encouraging you to purchase the book yourself if you want to see the program. And no, I am not affiliated with the writers in any way, except that I bought the book and am using it to help myself to improve my physical health.
Today I shall start sprinkling "the spice" on the things they suggest: yogurt, oatmeal, brown rice/yogurt, on sweet potatoes or on chicken. The only problem I have is I don't have any yogurt, oatmeal, brown rice, or sweet potatoes. Neither do I have the ingredients for the baked chicken dish they recommend. So I shall have to put them on my shopping list.
I am wondering a little if I'll be able to use it every day. But even as I'm writing it has occurred to me that I use my garlic pepper every day, why not that, too? I wonder if it would mix with garlic pepper? I like to make salad dressing, perhaps I could put it in that. I used to sprinkle it on ice cream, but am giving up sugar for the next 10 days. I will have to get creative to accomplish this one.
I am greatly encouraged to see that this particular spice actually lowers blood sugar, and reduces cholesterol and triglycerides. It is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and can be used with cloves and allspice, too, because they all have more antioxidant phenols per weight than blueberries which is one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature.
After I read that I began to consider if they were weighing blueberries and spices, it would certainly be a lot easier to eat a cup of blueberries than a cup of spice. Maybe the spices could be sprinkled on blueberries, too. I don't particularly care for the flavor of cloves -- although I don't quite hate it, and usually leave it out of any recipes I make that might call for it. I prefer the mild flavor of nutmeg, but I don't know if nutmeg is an antioxidant. I'll have to look that up, now, too.
If I am going to make this work, I think I should put some spice into a small shaker so I can sprinkle at will. I already sprinkle everything with termeric so adding this one, should not be too hard. I'll let you know how it goes.
I am really being encourage by writing this blog/journal. I believe it will keep me on track. Hope you are on the road to recovery, with me.
--Marcia -- (that is pronounced Mar-sha -- which is traditional [just like Patricia])
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 1
Hi.
Well I finished reading day one and have taken the first commitment to eliminate sugar in all its forms for the next 10 days. I do not foresee this as being a big problem for me since I think of myself as not eating sugar, but some things have popped into my mind. Like the candy man at church who hands me a bag of about 6 to 8 candies which I binge on as I listen to the sermon. Wow. I had this picture of me one way but reality and checking the facts says my self picture was bogus. So I need to be alert to the temptation in it's many forms. I was grateful when a friend told me that the candy man had decided not to do that at church any more. I was excited at this answer to my prayers because I had asked the Lord to deliver me from that temptation. God is good.
Another rule of day 1, Phase One, Blood Sugar "Boot Camp" is that I need to read the labels on everything I eat to eliminate any sugar, sugar alcohol, or fake sugar except the two that he mentions that are OK. The author of the book (The 30 Day Diabetes Cure -- http://30daydiabetescure.com/) talked about sugar being poison and the most sickening food on earth and had plenty of evidence to back this up.
Another major part of Phase One which is the first 10 days of the 30 day cure is learning to tell the difference between appetite and hunger. This is something I have been observing recently because the eating machine has been on and I have been gaining weight. I knew that I was craving food, even though my stomach was full and even though I recognized it, I just ignored it and kept right on eating. But... with the new commitment and the new program, I am no longer doing that. Praise the Lord!
He also has a page full of tips to help combat and eliminate the sugar cravings on page 85. Tips that helped his patients to get past the yearnings for something sweet and kick the addiction. Sugar is as addictive as cocaine but once you get past the first three days it is much easier (personal experience talking -- and notice that a person can get away from doing what is right also -- but, thank God, all you have to do is change your mind and start at day one again. The Christian word for "change your mind" is "repent."). Some of the tips I already knew but a couple were new to me like "gargle and brush." What a great idea! I tried that one and it worked. And it will be good for my teeth and gums, too.
One major point for me to take on is to beware of all those hidden sugars in the foods I buy. I stopped reading labels a while ago, but need to start doing that again. I guess I have to agree that simply calling a truce on eating processed foods will greatly eliminate hidden sugars. He warns against eating "diabetic" foods too, because eating all those fake sugars in prepared goodies like "sugar-free" candies, goodies, and desserts only reinforces the idea that you have to have them in your life. I totally agree with that. I know from experience that if I start eating a lot of things with fake sugar in it, then it is real easy to slip over into real sugar -- they look exactly alike -- and the fake sugars don't really do what we as consumers think they do, anyway. Dr Ripich says that the sugar alcohols, especially, end up causing not only blood sugar increases anyway -- but gastric upset like bloating and excessive gas. So in the end they are not good for diabetics. Pun intended.
I wonder why we call them "goodies?" They are surely not good for us -- especially for diabetics and those of us on the brink of diabetes. In the past I used the idea in my head of calling them "pornographic foods" because they look sweet and enticing but they only cause havoc in a person's life. It is a road I would rather not go down and the only way to avoid slippage is vigilance. The way to avoid pornography (or any addiction) is to turn your head and not let the images in. Just walk away or change the channel. I have to do the same with that kind of food: just turn my head and walk away, or change the channel. When I have mentioned the idea of "pornographic food" to people in the past, they seem to be shocked by that idea, so I stopped sharing it. I am not sure why they reacted that way, but I still think it is an entirely accurate concept and one that works for me. I don't want that kind of temptation in my mind or my life because it only sets up cravings that I have to battle and the longer I look the harder it is to escape. If I instantly turn away, the battle is short and I always win. Thanks be to God! I guess that may be why it says in the Bible:
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
I scanned through the rest of the program and am very excited about it. I am looking forward to tomorrow's action. I like the idea of adding one thing per day and walking pleasantly along doing the right things to support my body's healing. For a change. It makes me feel good and like I am now headed in the right direction. Thank you Jesus for answering my prayers!
--Marcia
Well I finished reading day one and have taken the first commitment to eliminate sugar in all its forms for the next 10 days. I do not foresee this as being a big problem for me since I think of myself as not eating sugar, but some things have popped into my mind. Like the candy man at church who hands me a bag of about 6 to 8 candies which I binge on as I listen to the sermon. Wow. I had this picture of me one way but reality and checking the facts says my self picture was bogus. So I need to be alert to the temptation in it's many forms. I was grateful when a friend told me that the candy man had decided not to do that at church any more. I was excited at this answer to my prayers because I had asked the Lord to deliver me from that temptation. God is good.
Another rule of day 1, Phase One, Blood Sugar "Boot Camp" is that I need to read the labels on everything I eat to eliminate any sugar, sugar alcohol, or fake sugar except the two that he mentions that are OK. The author of the book (The 30 Day Diabetes Cure -- http://30daydiabetescure.com/) talked about sugar being poison and the most sickening food on earth and had plenty of evidence to back this up.
Another major part of Phase One which is the first 10 days of the 30 day cure is learning to tell the difference between appetite and hunger. This is something I have been observing recently because the eating machine has been on and I have been gaining weight. I knew that I was craving food, even though my stomach was full and even though I recognized it, I just ignored it and kept right on eating. But... with the new commitment and the new program, I am no longer doing that. Praise the Lord!
He also has a page full of tips to help combat and eliminate the sugar cravings on page 85. Tips that helped his patients to get past the yearnings for something sweet and kick the addiction. Sugar is as addictive as cocaine but once you get past the first three days it is much easier (personal experience talking -- and notice that a person can get away from doing what is right also -- but, thank God, all you have to do is change your mind and start at day one again. The Christian word for "change your mind" is "repent."). Some of the tips I already knew but a couple were new to me like "gargle and brush." What a great idea! I tried that one and it worked. And it will be good for my teeth and gums, too.
One major point for me to take on is to beware of all those hidden sugars in the foods I buy. I stopped reading labels a while ago, but need to start doing that again. I guess I have to agree that simply calling a truce on eating processed foods will greatly eliminate hidden sugars. He warns against eating "diabetic" foods too, because eating all those fake sugars in prepared goodies like "sugar-free" candies, goodies, and desserts only reinforces the idea that you have to have them in your life. I totally agree with that. I know from experience that if I start eating a lot of things with fake sugar in it, then it is real easy to slip over into real sugar -- they look exactly alike -- and the fake sugars don't really do what we as consumers think they do, anyway. Dr Ripich says that the sugar alcohols, especially, end up causing not only blood sugar increases anyway -- but gastric upset like bloating and excessive gas. So in the end they are not good for diabetics. Pun intended.
I wonder why we call them "goodies?" They are surely not good for us -- especially for diabetics and those of us on the brink of diabetes. In the past I used the idea in my head of calling them "pornographic foods" because they look sweet and enticing but they only cause havoc in a person's life. It is a road I would rather not go down and the only way to avoid slippage is vigilance. The way to avoid pornography (or any addiction) is to turn your head and not let the images in. Just walk away or change the channel. I have to do the same with that kind of food: just turn my head and walk away, or change the channel. When I have mentioned the idea of "pornographic food" to people in the past, they seem to be shocked by that idea, so I stopped sharing it. I am not sure why they reacted that way, but I still think it is an entirely accurate concept and one that works for me. I don't want that kind of temptation in my mind or my life because it only sets up cravings that I have to battle and the longer I look the harder it is to escape. If I instantly turn away, the battle is short and I always win. Thanks be to God! I guess that may be why it says in the Bible:
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
I scanned through the rest of the program and am very excited about it. I am looking forward to tomorrow's action. I like the idea of adding one thing per day and walking pleasantly along doing the right things to support my body's healing. For a change. It makes me feel good and like I am now headed in the right direction. Thank you Jesus for answering my prayers!
--Marcia
Before Day 1
Today my blood pressure is 168/99
My blood glucose is 115 after a handful of nuts, but no breakfast
Weight: 352
Age: 60 years
Time 11:40 am
I am about to begin the program I found online called "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" by Dr. Stefan Ripich ND, CNP, and Jim Healthy. It took quite a while for me to actually get the book, and when it came the envelope it was in was damaged because it was too flimsy for the weight of the book. The Post Office took responsibility and sealed it in a plastic sleeve with the imprinted message that it was their fault and they apologized. The book is not really damaged, it has only a few slight but permanent "bends" and I'm glad they put it in that plastic sleeve which protected it from further damage. Thanks USPS.
The long wait for the book (3 or 4 weeks) was helpful in a way, because it kept being on my mind and I have had time to pray and ask for the Lord's help. I've been evaluating where I am and where I'd like to be as I've been waiting. I have now read the front part of the book and found it to be both interesting and fact filled and written in a manner that is intelligent, informative and easy to read. It has some facts and view points that I had not considered or heard before. The research looks very good and encouraging -- that lifestyle changes are the only way to actually reverse diabetes which is a plague we cause ourselves. It is not contagious or even inherited. We affect our blood sugar by our own hands and mouths and we cause the chronic pain by eating sugar. And it can go away with the proper guidance and self action. As I went along reading, I began to highlight information that was relevant to me and my personal situation. I am feeling very motivated to begin and hope I do well and this program works.
(There are a few typos in the book -- they need a proof reader -- but it is still very readable. Hope there are not many in my blog.)
It appears to be well researched and Dr. Ripich seems to have very good intentions and appears to have helped many in his practice to reverse pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, too -- and has had good changes come even from type 1 patients. That is impressive. I also like that he sees no need to check blood sugar if you are not a type 1 and are actually following the program. (I'm going to check my blood sugar from time to time to see if I'm progressing. I like the scientific type of evidence or proof that I can do myself. I just filled in the statistics at the top. It will be a good record for me.)
Also for the record, I am obese, fluctuating up or down as much as five to ten pounds and have been so since I was about 10 years old. What I consider to be my standard weight is 352 and I've been trying to eat a low carb diet for quite a long time now (many years, actually), but I go on it and off it. My new doctor did a lot of tests the last time I went (about a month ago) and my A1c at that time was still slightly below 6, in the pre-diabetes range, which surprised me, because I've been "off" since Thanksgiving time. I'm hoping I never go over that number and in fact am expecting to reduce it to normal with this program. (Thank you Dear Lord Jesus for guiding me and helping me.)
At Thanksgiving of 2009 I had the opportunity to celebrate the holiday by making and bringing my favorite sausage dressing with cranberries and nuts to more than one occasion. And I made it for Christmas, too. I love that stuffing and after eating three Thanksgiving dinners in one week with all the trimmings and dessert, I went a little wacky, buying and eating candy on a few occasions and bread on a couple of occasions. In between I was still basically eating low carb, but the eating machine got turned on. What I mean by the eating machine is that I began craving and craving and eating and eating and never feeling like I was full. I was feeling frustrated that no matter what I ate, good or bad, nothing satisfied me and I just had to keep eating like I was a machine and out of control.
I have noticed in the past that the eating machine can be turned off if I just eat very low carb for three days in a row, which is a good thing. But it seems to be taking a little longer now to turn off, and it gets turned on much more easily, too.
My hope for the new program, is that the lifestyle changes in food selections and activity level will actually make a difference. It is not a weight loss program, but Dr. Ripich says in the book that it will correct the blood sugar levels and a side effect will be weight loss.
I am kind of glad because even thinking about another diet makes me anxious and sick. I've done quite a few. Some of them, in the distant past, were actually effective at weight loss,(Weight Watchers, and the McDougal vegan program [which caused my ankles to swell]), but I always put anything that was lost back on, plus a few and in the end I was worse off than when I started. I just did not want to go there one more time, no matter how many testimonials I saw, and I could not make me do it.
I had purchased the Six-week Body Makeover program, a few years ago, read the book, followed the instructions, made the eating changes and lost about 8 pounds the first week. The second week, still following the instructions, I put it all back on and the third week I gained a couple more. That was so discouraging that I quit and left it behind. Every once in a while I get it out and read it, but I cannot bring myself to follow the diet plan. And I'm not the type to call a support line for help -- because, you know, what can some one else do for me? But maybe I need to be more open minded -- I am about this program or I would not be at this point, which is "about to begin."
I've done low carb, as I said, for a long time but my version of low carb needs adjustment and updating, I think, and I'm hoping The 30 Day Diabetes Cure program will be the perfect adjustment for me. I have the idea it will be lots of unprocessed fresh veggies, some whole grains, some protein, and exercise for 30 minutes a day. Maybe some supplements, which I may already be taking. I am afraid of the "whole grains" but am willing to try them and see.
I do B vitamins every day. After my doctor's tests which said I was bordering on not having enough, I also increased my D3 to 5000 units every day. I take L-Theanine (three 1000 a day) and fish oil (six 1000 units per day) which both help with relaxing and lowering anxiety. I also take magnesium, calcium and zinc. I take Cozaar and a potassium sparing diuretic for high blood pressure. Had to stop Amlodipine due to swelling and bronchitis for four months -- I still have a cloggy throat but no deep deep coughing any more. It was not making my BP normal anyway, although it was lowering it some. I have had many bad reactions to BP medication so am leery of taking them. The 30-day program promises that blood pressure will be normalized by doing the program too, so I am really looking forward to that, too.
I'd like to describe my version of low carb, too, since that will give a more complete picture of where I am and where I'd like to go. I have been trying to include more vegetables (per my personal doctor's suggestions) so what I've been doing since April is already slightly different than what I was doing before -- although I've actually gained weight since then and am back up to 352 on my scale -- which I know will be 10 pounds higher at the doctor's office -- I am not looking forward to that.
Here is what I was doing before April when I found my new personal doctor: I would purchase lots of chicken nuggets, breaded fish fillets and canned tuna as my protein. Every once in while I would make some chicken soup in my pressure cooker. Very tasty. Nothing but chicken, flavorful herbs, and water. For the first day I would eat chicken and broth until the broth was gone and then make chicken salad with the left overs for the next two or three days. But I only did the soup thing a few times a year, so basically I lived on chicken nuggets, breaded fish and canned tuna in water.
For vegetables I bought a bag or two of fresh broccoli tops and cauliflower, some small whole zucchini, and also pre-cut coleslaw in a bag. I ate these either fresh or steamed as I felt like it. The cole slaw and tuna were thrown together with mayo and spices and sometimes peanuts for crunch and flavor. I purchased a majority of frozen broccoli, some cauliflower and spinach, and some green beans so I did not have to go to the store so often. (I am on unemployment and need to conserve.) So most of the protein I was getting had a breaded covering and a lot of the vegetables I was eating had to be cooked, so only minimal fresh and raw.
Occasionally I would start thinking about and craving some major starchy carbs so I would buy a box of macaroni and cheese and eat the whole thing in one sitting. Every once in a while I would buy some dark chocolate bridge mix from Walgreens and eat the whole bag -- I always bought two of the smallest bags I could find, until I noticed that the big bags cost about the same and had lots more in them. When I was binging on these, I could not finish the bag in one sitting, would begin to feel guilty, and throw away about 1/4 of the bag at the point that I got completely disgusted with myself.
After April when I saw my new doctor, I began to include more fresh salad greens and began eating salads. She (my doctor) really did not like my eating chicken nuggets, so I stopped eating them. She also wanted me to switch to fish that was not breaded, but I have not been able to make that change. I did try. I bought some bags of frozen fish fillets and put the fish in my Nu-Wave Oven but I am just not good at cooking fish and they tasted terrible and were like shoe leather. I tried coating them with extra virgin olive oil, which I've been using for years, with some garlic pepper and termeric, but it was just bad. I tried this eight or nine times changing the spices and shortening the cooking times but it was never any good. It was either not cooked enough and my teeth could not cut through the under cooked parts or over cooked like shoe leather. I ended up being reluctant to try again, giving away the rest of the fish to some friends who said they loved it. I am still eating the breaded fish and canned tuna, but not the chicken nuggets.
I have also had a physical reaction to the organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar that I was using to make my salad dressing. When I first started getting the red spots on my feet and ankles I thought I had bug bites. I started keeping my eyes open to see if I could see what was biting me and wondering why they were not anywhere else on my body, only my feet and ankles. To make a long story short, the spots were getting more and redder, but they never swelled and did not itch, and I began to suspect the vinegar. So, as a test, I stopped using the vinegar.
On the first day off the vinegar I did not get any new spots. Over the next few days they began to be a little less red, almost imperceptible but I thought they were improving. By today, (about six days) I can really tell they are going away and can only see shadows of them, so now, I am convinced it was the vinegar. I am considering if maybe I should just filter it, because the vinegar I had been using did not cause a reaction like that vinegar did and the "unfiltered" and "organic" are the only differences. I don't want to waste the two bottles I have in the pantry, but I might end up giving those away, too, and going back to the red wine vinegar I had been using.
I wanted to blog about this for a couple of reasons.
One is that I wanted a way to track my personal progress, and use it to help keep me on track and motivated. I tend to not be a super disciplined person, but if I have a class that I am taking or teaching, or a goal or something that I am actively participating in, I do better. I guess it is the structure that I need. If I think someone else may be depending on me, then I will be more likely to get the job done and stay on track.
Another is that there might be other people out there who are interested in trying the program and if they begin to read this, it may inspire them, or encourage them, but that will only happen if I go on it, stay on it, and report on it. Perhaps their comments may also encourage me. I don't recall how I found the program, it may have been an e-mail or a link that I followed, but I am encouraged to believe that this program might work for me. You can find it at: http://30daydiabetescure.com/
So here I am about to begin reading "Day 1." I am a little scared, but optimistic. I want to make the changes without modification if I can. (I often modify things, but first want to try this without doing that unless the author recommends it -- partly to see if I can.) I'll let you know how it goes.
Also: I don't think it would be morally right for me to reveal the actual program or its steps, because, if they work, I believe a person should buy the book and support the man, or men, who came up with this. But I do want to share in a full and open way about my experience. If you are interested in what I am doing, join me by making a comment. If you've been on this program, I would like your encouragement if you have any to offer. I suppose I should give equal time to negative experience, but I would prefer to hear experiences rather than opinions, if you know what I mean. If you have not tried the program it serves no purpose to simply bad mouth it, and I'm not really interested in reading it, unless there are some facts and experience to back it up. So. Nuff said. Here goes. I'll be back soon with new details.
-- Marcia
My blood glucose is 115 after a handful of nuts, but no breakfast
Weight: 352
Age: 60 years
Time 11:40 am
I am about to begin the program I found online called "The 30 Day Diabetes Cure" by Dr. Stefan Ripich ND, CNP, and Jim Healthy. It took quite a while for me to actually get the book, and when it came the envelope it was in was damaged because it was too flimsy for the weight of the book. The Post Office took responsibility and sealed it in a plastic sleeve with the imprinted message that it was their fault and they apologized. The book is not really damaged, it has only a few slight but permanent "bends" and I'm glad they put it in that plastic sleeve which protected it from further damage. Thanks USPS.
The long wait for the book (3 or 4 weeks) was helpful in a way, because it kept being on my mind and I have had time to pray and ask for the Lord's help. I've been evaluating where I am and where I'd like to be as I've been waiting. I have now read the front part of the book and found it to be both interesting and fact filled and written in a manner that is intelligent, informative and easy to read. It has some facts and view points that I had not considered or heard before. The research looks very good and encouraging -- that lifestyle changes are the only way to actually reverse diabetes which is a plague we cause ourselves. It is not contagious or even inherited. We affect our blood sugar by our own hands and mouths and we cause the chronic pain by eating sugar. And it can go away with the proper guidance and self action. As I went along reading, I began to highlight information that was relevant to me and my personal situation. I am feeling very motivated to begin and hope I do well and this program works.
(There are a few typos in the book -- they need a proof reader -- but it is still very readable. Hope there are not many in my blog.)
It appears to be well researched and Dr. Ripich seems to have very good intentions and appears to have helped many in his practice to reverse pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, too -- and has had good changes come even from type 1 patients. That is impressive. I also like that he sees no need to check blood sugar if you are not a type 1 and are actually following the program. (I'm going to check my blood sugar from time to time to see if I'm progressing. I like the scientific type of evidence or proof that I can do myself. I just filled in the statistics at the top. It will be a good record for me.)
Also for the record, I am obese, fluctuating up or down as much as five to ten pounds and have been so since I was about 10 years old. What I consider to be my standard weight is 352 and I've been trying to eat a low carb diet for quite a long time now (many years, actually), but I go on it and off it. My new doctor did a lot of tests the last time I went (about a month ago) and my A1c at that time was still slightly below 6, in the pre-diabetes range, which surprised me, because I've been "off" since Thanksgiving time. I'm hoping I never go over that number and in fact am expecting to reduce it to normal with this program. (Thank you Dear Lord Jesus for guiding me and helping me.)
At Thanksgiving of 2009 I had the opportunity to celebrate the holiday by making and bringing my favorite sausage dressing with cranberries and nuts to more than one occasion. And I made it for Christmas, too. I love that stuffing and after eating three Thanksgiving dinners in one week with all the trimmings and dessert, I went a little wacky, buying and eating candy on a few occasions and bread on a couple of occasions. In between I was still basically eating low carb, but the eating machine got turned on. What I mean by the eating machine is that I began craving and craving and eating and eating and never feeling like I was full. I was feeling frustrated that no matter what I ate, good or bad, nothing satisfied me and I just had to keep eating like I was a machine and out of control.
I have noticed in the past that the eating machine can be turned off if I just eat very low carb for three days in a row, which is a good thing. But it seems to be taking a little longer now to turn off, and it gets turned on much more easily, too.
My hope for the new program, is that the lifestyle changes in food selections and activity level will actually make a difference. It is not a weight loss program, but Dr. Ripich says in the book that it will correct the blood sugar levels and a side effect will be weight loss.
I am kind of glad because even thinking about another diet makes me anxious and sick. I've done quite a few. Some of them, in the distant past, were actually effective at weight loss,(Weight Watchers, and the McDougal vegan program [which caused my ankles to swell]), but I always put anything that was lost back on, plus a few and in the end I was worse off than when I started. I just did not want to go there one more time, no matter how many testimonials I saw, and I could not make me do it.
I had purchased the Six-week Body Makeover program, a few years ago, read the book, followed the instructions, made the eating changes and lost about 8 pounds the first week. The second week, still following the instructions, I put it all back on and the third week I gained a couple more. That was so discouraging that I quit and left it behind. Every once in a while I get it out and read it, but I cannot bring myself to follow the diet plan. And I'm not the type to call a support line for help -- because, you know, what can some one else do for me? But maybe I need to be more open minded -- I am about this program or I would not be at this point, which is "about to begin."
I've done low carb, as I said, for a long time but my version of low carb needs adjustment and updating, I think, and I'm hoping The 30 Day Diabetes Cure program will be the perfect adjustment for me. I have the idea it will be lots of unprocessed fresh veggies, some whole grains, some protein, and exercise for 30 minutes a day. Maybe some supplements, which I may already be taking. I am afraid of the "whole grains" but am willing to try them and see.
I do B vitamins every day. After my doctor's tests which said I was bordering on not having enough, I also increased my D3 to 5000 units every day. I take L-Theanine (three 1000 a day) and fish oil (six 1000 units per day) which both help with relaxing and lowering anxiety. I also take magnesium, calcium and zinc. I take Cozaar and a potassium sparing diuretic for high blood pressure. Had to stop Amlodipine due to swelling and bronchitis for four months -- I still have a cloggy throat but no deep deep coughing any more. It was not making my BP normal anyway, although it was lowering it some. I have had many bad reactions to BP medication so am leery of taking them. The 30-day program promises that blood pressure will be normalized by doing the program too, so I am really looking forward to that, too.
I'd like to describe my version of low carb, too, since that will give a more complete picture of where I am and where I'd like to go. I have been trying to include more vegetables (per my personal doctor's suggestions) so what I've been doing since April is already slightly different than what I was doing before -- although I've actually gained weight since then and am back up to 352 on my scale -- which I know will be 10 pounds higher at the doctor's office -- I am not looking forward to that.
Here is what I was doing before April when I found my new personal doctor: I would purchase lots of chicken nuggets, breaded fish fillets and canned tuna as my protein. Every once in while I would make some chicken soup in my pressure cooker. Very tasty. Nothing but chicken, flavorful herbs, and water. For the first day I would eat chicken and broth until the broth was gone and then make chicken salad with the left overs for the next two or three days. But I only did the soup thing a few times a year, so basically I lived on chicken nuggets, breaded fish and canned tuna in water.
For vegetables I bought a bag or two of fresh broccoli tops and cauliflower, some small whole zucchini, and also pre-cut coleslaw in a bag. I ate these either fresh or steamed as I felt like it. The cole slaw and tuna were thrown together with mayo and spices and sometimes peanuts for crunch and flavor. I purchased a majority of frozen broccoli, some cauliflower and spinach, and some green beans so I did not have to go to the store so often. (I am on unemployment and need to conserve.) So most of the protein I was getting had a breaded covering and a lot of the vegetables I was eating had to be cooked, so only minimal fresh and raw.
Occasionally I would start thinking about and craving some major starchy carbs so I would buy a box of macaroni and cheese and eat the whole thing in one sitting. Every once in a while I would buy some dark chocolate bridge mix from Walgreens and eat the whole bag -- I always bought two of the smallest bags I could find, until I noticed that the big bags cost about the same and had lots more in them. When I was binging on these, I could not finish the bag in one sitting, would begin to feel guilty, and throw away about 1/4 of the bag at the point that I got completely disgusted with myself.
After April when I saw my new doctor, I began to include more fresh salad greens and began eating salads. She (my doctor) really did not like my eating chicken nuggets, so I stopped eating them. She also wanted me to switch to fish that was not breaded, but I have not been able to make that change. I did try. I bought some bags of frozen fish fillets and put the fish in my Nu-Wave Oven but I am just not good at cooking fish and they tasted terrible and were like shoe leather. I tried coating them with extra virgin olive oil, which I've been using for years, with some garlic pepper and termeric, but it was just bad. I tried this eight or nine times changing the spices and shortening the cooking times but it was never any good. It was either not cooked enough and my teeth could not cut through the under cooked parts or over cooked like shoe leather. I ended up being reluctant to try again, giving away the rest of the fish to some friends who said they loved it. I am still eating the breaded fish and canned tuna, but not the chicken nuggets.
I have also had a physical reaction to the organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar that I was using to make my salad dressing. When I first started getting the red spots on my feet and ankles I thought I had bug bites. I started keeping my eyes open to see if I could see what was biting me and wondering why they were not anywhere else on my body, only my feet and ankles. To make a long story short, the spots were getting more and redder, but they never swelled and did not itch, and I began to suspect the vinegar. So, as a test, I stopped using the vinegar.
On the first day off the vinegar I did not get any new spots. Over the next few days they began to be a little less red, almost imperceptible but I thought they were improving. By today, (about six days) I can really tell they are going away and can only see shadows of them, so now, I am convinced it was the vinegar. I am considering if maybe I should just filter it, because the vinegar I had been using did not cause a reaction like that vinegar did and the "unfiltered" and "organic" are the only differences. I don't want to waste the two bottles I have in the pantry, but I might end up giving those away, too, and going back to the red wine vinegar I had been using.
I wanted to blog about this for a couple of reasons.
One is that I wanted a way to track my personal progress, and use it to help keep me on track and motivated. I tend to not be a super disciplined person, but if I have a class that I am taking or teaching, or a goal or something that I am actively participating in, I do better. I guess it is the structure that I need. If I think someone else may be depending on me, then I will be more likely to get the job done and stay on track.
Another is that there might be other people out there who are interested in trying the program and if they begin to read this, it may inspire them, or encourage them, but that will only happen if I go on it, stay on it, and report on it. Perhaps their comments may also encourage me. I don't recall how I found the program, it may have been an e-mail or a link that I followed, but I am encouraged to believe that this program might work for me. You can find it at: http://30daydiabetescure.com/
So here I am about to begin reading "Day 1." I am a little scared, but optimistic. I want to make the changes without modification if I can. (I often modify things, but first want to try this without doing that unless the author recommends it -- partly to see if I can.) I'll let you know how it goes.
Also: I don't think it would be morally right for me to reveal the actual program or its steps, because, if they work, I believe a person should buy the book and support the man, or men, who came up with this. But I do want to share in a full and open way about my experience. If you are interested in what I am doing, join me by making a comment. If you've been on this program, I would like your encouragement if you have any to offer. I suppose I should give equal time to negative experience, but I would prefer to hear experiences rather than opinions, if you know what I mean. If you have not tried the program it serves no purpose to simply bad mouth it, and I'm not really interested in reading it, unless there are some facts and experience to back it up. So. Nuff said. Here goes. I'll be back soon with new details.
-- Marcia
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