Eating habits

[Newbie777]

I usually eat a light lunch and then my main meal in the evening. If I'm really busy I sometimes only eat in the evening. Yesterday I was on a call until 13:00, made my son lunch when he finished his morning lessons and then raced back upstairs for a call at 13:30. Mind you, I was hungry by tea time!

That's hard work, I feel for you.

I block out my work diary so no meetings at 12.00pm, but I don't why am usually eating and working at the same time, not good as it's eaten very fast too

 

[Gwynn]

Well, I have seven meals a day! But I have been told that we should not as it might stress the endocrine system out, and increase insulin resistance being switched on all the time. 7nfortunately the internet has some mixed messages on this and I can see good arguments for few and many meals. However, my meals are small and I think they get sorted by my body pretty smartish. 7 suits me well and usually I don't feel hungry.

4 larger (still small portions) Meals and 3 snacks. All balanced for calories, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, fats across the day. Less than 150g carbohydrates per day. Eg today it is 75g. I use the NHS guidelines and the internet for targets for proteins, fibre and fats. The calories are significantly reduced at the moment during my weight loss diet, and that does pose a challenge each day. But it works easily using the App.

Is it hard work working out all the numbers and permutations of foods day on day? Nope, because I use an App to do all the hard stuff for me. I am sure there are some good apps on the internet to help with this sort of thing too.

One thing I have learned is that I cannot 'drive' my diet blind. I need to know what I am eating, the quantities and the effects on me.

No idea if any of that is any help, but there you go.

 

[Newbie777]

Well, I have seven meals a day! But I have been told that we should not as it might stress the endocrine system out, and increase insulin resistance being switched on all the time. 7nfortunately the internet has some mixed messages on this and I can see good arguments for few and many meals. However, my meals are small and I think they get sorted by my body pretty smartish. 7 suits me well and usually I don't feel hungry.

4 larger (still small portions) Meals and 3 snacks. All balanced for calories, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, fats across the day. Less than 150g carbohydrates per day. Eg today it is 75g. I use the NHS guidelines and the internet for targets for proteins, fibre and fats. The calories are significantly reduced at the moment during my weight loss diet, and that does pose a challenge each day. But it works easily using the App.

Is it hard work working out all the numbers and permutations of foods day on day? Nope, because I use an App to do all the hard stuff for me. I am sure there are some good apps on the internet to help with this sort of thing too.

One thing I have learned is that I cannot 'drive' my diet blind. I need to know what I am eating, the quantities and the effects on me.

No idea if any of that is any help, but there you go.

Listening about other experiences is always helpful and it was as great what you posted, so thank you.

I guess I am also a 6 meal person with 3 main meals and 3 snacks.

I don't do the calories or specific carb content, I am on a mission to reduce BG and get rid of some medicine at the same time, hopefully reducing the HbA1c reads too.

 

[adrian1der]

I block out my work diary so no meetings at 12.00pm, but I don't why am usually eating and working at the same time, not good as it's eaten very fast too

I know the feeling. I block out 13:00-14:00 for lunch as it is my son's lunch break so I make him lunch and then get him settled in his lesson at two. But sometimes work intrudes on the best made plans!

 

[Newbie777]

The ironic thing is I am well organised, (working as a iT Project Manager), but as the meetings are on MS Teams (video) meetings it's hard to get out or leave early and before you know it another one starts, so muc hfor the best laid plans!

I go back to work next week, so hoping the low carbs diet will still be as effective as it has been the last few weeks.

 

[helli]

I am one of those people that annoy others becauseI have no problem with weight gain (or loss) so I have never had to diet.
I eat what I want when I want. This may be 2 meals a day or may be constant grazing.
I try to avoid eating for about 4 hours before I go to bed to stabilise my blood sugars when I am asleep. Apart from that, any time is good for food.
Having Type 1, treated with insulin, I have learnt to dose insulin rather than limit the food I eat. I am conscious of carbs, because I count them but don't deliberately avoid or minimise them.

 

[Iwillgetthere]

The other thing that really is helping me is making a weekly meal plan. That way I can see the meals are balanced over the week, have the correct number of macros and mean that, like @rebrascora food is less important in my daily thinking- I used to constantly think about it. Now, once I've planned, I can make a shopping list and get what I need delivered. And there is less waste of food and I actually spend less on my shopping too.

 

[adrian1der]

The other thing that really is helping me is making a weekly meal plan.

I try and book a Sainsbury's delivery on Saturdays so Friday evening is menu planning for the week ahead and then shopping for all the ingredients I need except fresh meat which comes from the local farm shop

 

[nonethewiser]

Brought up to eat breakie dinner tea & supper, up until 20 years ago still ate that way, now eat 3 meals but don't snack, only time is in cafes where might get scone.

Always eat breakfast, sets you up for day, not just that keeps bg steady thru morning otherwise it goes up & needs corrections.

Can't get head around why some folk think eating few meals as possible is some badge of honour, food is there to be enjoyed & something to look forward to, but there again always enjoyed my food before & after diabetes.

 

[AndBreathe]

I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have never snacked, so that's easy.

@nonethewiser - personally, I don't see any form of fasting or few meals as any form of badge of honour or virtue signalling, if that is what they want to do, or indeed if they genuinely feel the better for it.

If they feel that or any other way of eating makes them superior or martyred, then they could well benefit from looking themselves in the eye and having a little chat. The only one they're fooling is themselves.

 

[nonethewiser]

@nonethewiser - personally, I don't see any form of fasting or few meals as any form of badge of honour or virtue signalling, if that is what they want to do, or indeed if they genuinely feel the better for it.

Afraid some do, see it all time on forums.

 

[helli]

I try and book a Sainsbury's delivery on Saturdays so Friday evening is menu planning for the week ahead and then shopping for all the ingredients I need except fresh meat which comes from the local farm shop

I never used to plan and used an amble to the supermarket to buy what I fancied that day as a bit of lunch time exercise.
During the pandemic, we have been avoiding too many shop visits and started doing a weekly "menu".
We have a veg box delivered on Monday which I use as the basis for the menu planning and put together a shopping list for that night when we both walk to Sainsburys, my partner goes in and I go for an amble. Then we carry it up the hill together.
It is important for us to have variety so the surprises in the veg box help us maintain the variety and act as the catalyst for trying something new.
The menu usually has 8 main meals. I have no days in mind for when we will eat what and always have something spare so we still have a choice on Sunday and something to roll over if we can't get to the supermarket on Monday night.
Apart from reducing supermarket trips, this also avoids last minute digging out the freezer when I haven't had time for the lunchtime walk and minimises food waste.

It means less exercise but the bags are heavier up the hill on the weekly trip which partially makes up for it.

My partner keeps suggesting getting a delivery but I fear we may never leave the house if we do that.

I think this may become a habit we maintain after the pandemic.

 

[AndBreathe]

Afraid some do, see it all time on forums.

I would agree totally, but then so much of living with diabetes revolves around eating and drinking, whether that be dietary restrictions to control blood sugars, dosing insulin or whatever.

I am a member of another couple of health fora, relating to conditions that have entered my life in the last few year. Every condition seems to have it's hot topics, it martyr friendly topics and some perceived order of seniority.

 

[Newbie777]

I am one of those people that annoy others becauseI have no problem with weight gain (or loss) so I have never had to diet.
I eat what I want when I want. This may be 2 meals a day or may be constant grazing.
I try to avoid eating for about 4 hours before I go to bed to stabilise my blood sugars when I am asleep. Apart from that, any time is good for food.
Having Type 1, treated with insulin, I have learnt to dose insulin rather than limit the food I eat. I am conscious of carbs, because I count them but don't deliberately avoid or minimise them.

Good for you, if thats works for you so be it.

I like the fact you carb count so you are in complete control.

 

[Newbie777]

The other thing that really is helping me is making a weekly meal plan. That way I can see the meals are balanced over the week, have the correct number of macros and mean that, like @rebrascora food is less important in my daily thinking- I used to constantly think about it. Now, once I've planned, I can make a shopping list and get what I need delivered. And there is less waste of food and I actually spend less on my shopping too.

That's very well organised and am sure it is less stressful.

My food plan at the moment is simple and sticking to the basics, protein, salads, cheese while I get by BG under control.

 

[Newbie777]

Brought up to eat breakie dinner tea & supper, up until 20 years ago still ate that way, now eat 3 meals but don't snack, only time is in cafes where might get scone.

Always eat breakfast, sets you up for day, not just that keeps bg steady thru morning otherwise it goes up & needs corrections.

Can't get head around why some folk think eating few meals as possible is some badge of honour, food is there to be enjoyed & something to look forward to, but there again always enjoyed my food before & after diabetes.

I think the Moto goes 'live and let live', fasting or eating once or twice a day may not be something that is for everyone, but I respect the people who donut if that is what they do.

As a Muslim, we have to fast 1 month in the year, between sunrise and sunset

 

[Newbie777]

I try and book a Sainsbury's delivery on Saturdays so Friday evening is menu planning for the week ahead and then shopping for all the ingredients I need except fresh meat which comes from the local farm shop

I think the weekly supermarket deliveries help, but we also have to shop at the local Asian supermarket, where we get our meat and other vegetables, unlike some Asian families, we don't buy our meat in bulk, we just buy what we can eat on the day and don't mind if it costs us a bit more.

 

[Drummer]

Oh my goodness, you have your work cutout, it must be very difficult.

I think your discipline is fantastic, do not worry about very low BG?

Actually it is really really simple and easy. It doesn't require discipline or I'd never do it.
As a type two without any medication my blood glucose doesn't go low, I had a few 'wobblies' early on, when I was cutting out all the 'healthy' carbs and my poor pancreas was still quite hysterical about the diet, which was all wrong for me, but the GP was going on about 'cholesterol reducing foods' and gave me a print out which started with cereal, porridge with low fat milk or wholemeal toast with low fat spread, which got me so over weight I was almost spherical.
At diagnosis I went to the butcher, then had two days just eating meat once a day, then gradually sorted out my diet - which turned out to be exactly the same as my needs on the Atkins diet - except that I could not lose weight after a year or so at 50 gm of carbs a day. I reduced to 40, which was working up until lockdown.
I find it so liberating to be able to eat first thing and they not need to bother about food all day - I check to see that there is nothing I need to defrost for dinner when I tidy up the kitchen in the morning, but the rest of the day is my own.

 

[Newbie777]

Actually it is really really simple and easy. It doesn't require discipline or I'd never do it.
As a type two without any medication my blood glucose doesn't go low, I had a few 'wobblies' early on, when I was cutting out all the 'healthy' carbs and my poor pancreas was still quite hysterical about the diet, which was all wrong for me, but the GP was going on about 'cholesterol reducing foods' and gave me a print out which started with cereal, porridge with low fat milk or wholemeal toast with low fat spread, which got me so over weight I was almost spherical.
At diagnosis I went to the butcher, then had two days just eating meat once a day, then gradually sorted out my diet - which turned out to be exactly the same as my needs on the Atkins diet - except that I could not lose weight after a year or so at 50 gm of carbs a day. I reduced to 40, which was working up until lockdown.
I find it so liberating to be able to eat first thing and they not need to bother about food all day - I check to see that there is nothing I need to defrost for dinner when I tidy up the kitchen in the morning, but the rest of the day is my own.

Well am glad you have a fine tuned process

I am not sure I can go lower than the 80g of carbs per day, I certainly don't think I will lose a lot of weight due to the masses of cheese that I currently enjoy

I am lucky my wife does all the cooking, but means there is always nice Indian food cooked at home, using fresh spices and herbs, but unfortunately, carb heavy so not for me.

However, all is not lost, I plan to add a variety of kebabs (minus the naan bread) to my diet and explore the use of gram flour (made from chick peas) in the next few weeks, so something to cheer about

I Ihink it is finding that rythym, knowing what works and what doesn't and most importantly trying to be happy/enjoying it as best as possible.

 

[Drummer]

Well am glad you have a fine tuned process

I am not sure I can go lower than the 80g of carbs per day, I certainly don't think I will lose a lot of weight due to the masses of cheese that I currently enjoy

I am lucky my wife does all the cooking, but means there is always nice Indian food cooked at home, using fresh spices and herbs, but unfortunately, carb heavy so not for me.

However, all is not lost, I plan to add a variety of kebabs (minus the naan bread) to my diet and explore the use of gram flour (made from chick peas) in the next few weeks, so something to cheer about

I Ihink it is finding that rythym, knowing what works and what doesn't and most importantly trying to be happy/enjoying it as best as possible.

Low carb can be fragrant with herbs and spices and the flavours of things I can't eat, such as oranges - I have a large basket full of things to add to my foods. I make a curry with chopped cauliflower instead of rice.