In weight, that is. Also, feeling better than I have in a while health wise.This is a more detailed follow up to the short post I made earlier.
I wan’t to start by saying that this is what is currently working for me, it is relatively new, is based on my own health requirements tailored for me in consultation with my doctor, and is in response to where I am in my diabetes diagnosis over 18 months ago. YMMV…
About a month ago, I had my first physical in 18 months. About 6 months overdue. I had been officially diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic at my last appointment. The diagnosis was no real surprise. I have a near 100% rate of Type 2 Diabetes on both my Mother’s and Father’s side. I knew it would come upon me one day and about this age. I was prepared.
I was prescribed metformin, met with a dietician to discuss how and in what ways to change in my eating habits, and sent on my way.
I was good for a couple of weeks about all of it and then… Well, I was somewhat good at remembering to take the medication. The diet/eating part was not nearly as good. I really didn’t change much at all.
So, it was no real surprise when at this most recent appointment my A1C and virtually everything else was exactly the same as it had been 18 months ago. Make no changes and you will see no changes. So, my doctor and I had to have a bit of a heart-to-heart about it all.
She urged me to do better. Said where I’m at right now is completely manageable and the changes I make right now will stave off an even more drastic plan later. She had me make an appointment to follow up in 6 months and said if no change by then we’d have to come up with said plan.
So, here’s what we came up with…
Basically, what she is having me doing is essentially not that different from The Tim Ferriss Slow Carb Diet. Minus the “Faturdays”.
For me, it’s mainly lean meats, beans, and green veggies. Typical meals have been grilled shawarma chicken with hummus and tabouli salad or marinated steak with raw spinach and cherry tomatoes.
The idea is as low carb and high protein as possible to really reset my system and reduce the sugar cravings. Strangely enough, when I cut out most if not all sugar after about a month or so I’ve stopped craving it all together. This makes it much easier when the occasional cookie is offered to me or there’s brownies on the counter.
Another part of the plan I’ve been very good about is taking a daily vitamin supplement to account for the things I might be missing from cutting out certain foods like dairy, most fruit, and starchy carbs.
Next, I’m also making sure to do the 30 grams of protein as early as I can in the morning. I often don’t manage to do so in the first 30 minutes after waking up but within the hour for sure. Usually that’s 3 eggs (6-10 grams protein each) with a side of bacon (3 slices is about 7 grams). This jump starts my metabolism for the day and staves off late morning snaky hunger.
Also, I’m drinking a lot of water. Often at least a couple of litters a day.
That said, I’m also in the middle of what I call “Circus Rigging Season” as we are in the middle of rehearsals and shows at Circus Juventas which means for the past three weeks I’ve been essentially doing cross-fit for 30+ hours every week and that will continue for a couple of more.
All of this has me feeling really healthy. Down in weight about 15 pounds and no real bad hunger or low blood sugar crashes I can remember (and I used to have several a week).
I think I’m on the right track and hoping I can keep it up so my doctor doesn’t have to punish me at my next check-up.