Seriously…here we go again!

[merrymunky]

You’ll all be bored of me popping up now and then to have a moan about how terrible I’ve been over the last year and how I am here for a fresh start but…

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

I have no idea why I haven’t been able to stick to it but my weight has crept back to over 20 stone since having Eris. That’s almost a 4 stone gain. The diabetes is wildly out of control and I’m too scared to even do a finger prick test to check at the moment.

I’ve been feeling progressively worse over the last few months and recently had blood work done to investigate my post-partum joint pain. Some results came back a bit borderline which totally freaked me out. It could be post Covid related as my white blood cell count was a little low, as was my neutrophil count and red blood cell sedimentation rate was also borderline. I have to have repeat tests in a month and the doctor thinks it is likely to be nothing and in the majority of cases a retest comes back normal. But abnormalities have to start somewhere right?I’m freaked out.

I started again today recording everything I eat. I’ve had a good day food wise. Food diary attached for reference

But here I am again with my tail between my legs begging for help/advice/support to start this long old battle to get this weight back off and my levels under control. I have to stay healthy for my baby!

 

[pippen]

Hi I'm fairly new to this and I follow a low carb diet.
It seems to me you're not eating enough and your choices of fruit is not the best.
Grapes are full of sugar and sweetcorn not the best vegetable.
I would eat more protein..chicken fish eggs etc and more leafy green vegetables.
Please I'm no expert...but plenty of amazing posters who are

 

[rebrascora]

Hi MM and welcome back.

You know fine well that you need to get a grip of this for Eris as much as yourself and if you are anything like me it is sometimes easier to do things for other people you love than for yourself, so look at her and remind yourself how important it is that you stay healthy for her if you can't do it for yourself. We all understand how difficult it is, but just take it one day at a time.

What strikes me first is that you had 11 diet soda drinks in one day. Is that correct? If so, that is feeding your sweet tooth and may be part of why you are struggling. What I found helped was diluting those diet sodas with a bit of water each time. So I would put some in a glass and then top the last inch up with water each time, thereby diluting it a bit. After a few days I would maybe just fill the glass half full and top it up with water. I now just have an inch of flavoured water or diet drink in the bottom of a glass and the rest water and I am quite happy with that. Those sweeteners may not be adding to your carb intake but they are adding to your craving for sweetness and cutting back on them will help.

I know you are vegetarian which makes things a little more difficult, but can't remember if you eat eggs? They can be so versatile and really filling. After 2 years of eating low carb I only just discovered chaffles (heard people talking about them but just got myself motivated to experiment making them) and find them brilliant. I make them in a frying pan like large pancakes and use them as wraps or make a sandwich with them. Obviously no good if eggs are out for you, but just thought I would mention it. So quick and simple to make. I made some and kept them a couple of days and still tasted good and worked well and no special equipment needed.

Anyway, well done for starting again. Be brave and get that finger pricked tomorrow morning and join us on the Group 7-day waking average thread. You know we will be so happy to see you there and having a regular commitment to testing and reporting the result does help keep you accountable even if it is a naff result and goodness knows i have had a few recently! Anyway, hope to see you there in the morning.

Love to you and Mr MM and Eris of course. XX

 

[pippen]

Apologies I didn't realise you were vegetarian. Hope I didn't cause offence

 

[Inka]

Like @rebrascora I noticed the diet sodas too. I’d try to cut those right down and then if possible get rid of them altogether. I read that they mess up the microbiome in your gut. I wouldn’t think they’re helping you at all. Don’t cut them out all at once. Cut the number down gradually.

I’d also ditch the grapes and stick to berries for your breakfast with the yoghurt. Could you add some seeds maybe?

Sorry if I’m being thick, but I’m not sure what your numbers are written in green on the right.

Certainly, what you’ve listed doesn’t look like a lot of food. You could take out the evening’s cheese maybe, and also add more green veg eg watercress or salad with lunch, and broccoli with your evening meal.

It is harder when you have children. I’m not overweight but I do know that I sometimes don’t eat as well as I could because I’m busy with the children, my brain’s addled, or I’m simply tired. So do acknowledge that fact, and don’t beat yourself up about things. Make a plan and go along steadily. Don’t forget exercise either. Pushing a baby in a buggy and going on a nice walk is excellent exercise, and good for both you and Eris - if your joint pain allows it, of course.

 

[Ditto]

Well done on getting back on the wagon. My sister went up to 21stones after having her youngest, it's easily done. My highest was 18 3 eek, I did panic at that I must admit. It'll soon come off I'm sure because you have good reason to be healthy. 🙂

 

[merrymunky]

Hi I'm fairly new to this and I follow a low carb diet.
It seems to me you're not eating enough and your choices of fruit is not the best.
Grapes are full of sugar and sweetcorn not the best vegetable.
I would eat more protein..chicken fish eggs etc and more leafy green vegetables.
Please I'm no expert...but plenty of amazing posters who are

I don’t normally eat grapes at all. I literally just had five tiny ones mixed in to my fruit today as I was out of raspberries.

Sweetcorn I tolerate really well. When I was fully on track before getting pregnant I ate it in a lot of meals and never spiked.

Don’t worry…no offence taken. This is only one day example. I am going shopping to stock up on groceries in the next day or so. I don’t eat eggs and get most of my protein from quorn products usually.

 

[merrymunky]

Hi MM and welcome back.

You know fine well that you need to get a grip of this for Eris as much as yourself and if you are anything like me it is sometimes easier to do things for other people you love than for yourself, so look at her and remind yourself how important it is that you stay healthy for her if you can't do it for yourself. We all understand how difficult it is, but just take it one day at a time.

What strikes me first is that you had 11 diet soda drinks in one day. Is that correct? If so, that is feeding your sweet tooth and may be part of why you are struggling. What I found helped was diluting those diet sodas with a bit of water each time. So I would put some in a glass and then top the last inch up with water each time, thereby diluting it a bit. After a few days I would maybe just fill the glass half full and top it up with water. I now just have an inch of flavoured water or diet drink in the bottom of a glass and the rest water and I am quite happy with that. Those sweeteners may not be adding to your carb intake but they are adding to your craving for sweetness and cutting back on them will help.

I know you are vegetarian which makes things a little more difficult, but can't remember if you eat eggs? They can be so versatile and really filling. After 2 years of eating low carb I only just discovered chaffles (heard people talking about them but just got myself motivated to experiment making them) and find them brilliant. I make them in a frying pan like large pancakes and use them as wraps or make a sandwich with them. Obviously no good if eggs are out for you, but just thought I would mention it. So quick and simple to make. I made some and kept them a couple of days and still tasted good and worked well and no special equipment needed.

Anyway, well done for starting again. Be brave and get that finger pricked tomorrow morning and join us on the Group 7-day waking average thread. You know we will be so happy to see you there and having a regular commitment to testing and reporting the result does help keep you accountable even if it is a naff result and goodness knows i have had a few recently! Anyway, hope to see you there in the morning.

Love to you and Mr MM and Eris of course. XX

Not 11!! It was a tally mark! Haha. I had two glasses of Pepsi max. I’ve drunk much more water since writing that tracker out.

I don’t eat eggs. Not as a main dish. I can’t stand them. In a pancake or something cooked fine but not an actual egg dish. I wish I liked them as it would make things significantly easier.

 

[merrymunky]

Like @rebrascora I noticed the diet sodas too. I’d try to cut those right down and then if possible get rid of them altogether. I read that they mess up the microbiome in your gut. I wouldn’t think they’re helping you at all. Don’t cut them out all at once. Cut the number down gradually.

I’d also ditch the grapes and stick to berries for your breakfast with the yoghurt. Could you add some seeds maybe?

Sorry if I’m being thick, but I’m not sure what your numbers are written in green on the right.

Certainly, what you’ve listed doesn’t look like a lot of food. You could take out the evening’s cheese maybe, and also add more green veg eg watercress or salad with lunch, and broccoli with your evening meal.

It is harder when you have children. I’m not overweight but I do know that I sometimes don’t eat as well as I could because I’m busy with the children, my brain’s addled, or I’m simply tired. So do acknowledge that fact, and don’t beat yourself up about things. Make a plan and go along steadily. Don’t forget exercise either. Pushing a baby in a buggy and going on a nice walk is excellent exercise, and good for both you and Eris - if your joint pain allows it, of course.

The green bits are slimming world recordings. I don’t actually follow the plan anymore as it doesn’t really work with the amount of carbs that are ‘ok’ to eat on it. I just use it as a rough idea of my ‘syns’ and essential healthy extra choices like the dairy etc.

Yeah the grapes are usually non existent in my diet these days. Shame because I love them but I haven’t really eaten them on two and a half years but Eris loves them. Ross bought a huge punnet of raspberries today so I’m all set for tomorrow morning!

It doesn’t look like a lot of food but it is more than enough to fill me up and typical of what I would usually eat back when I was properly on track. Never felt hungry, levels were spot on etc. It got boring because I am fussy eater so I basically live off quorn and vegetables, salads etc.

 

[trophywench]

Hi I'm fairly new to this and I follow a low carb diet.
It seems to me you're not eating enough and your choices of fruit is not the best.
Grapes are full of sugar and sweetcorn not the best vegetable.
I would eat more protein..chicken fish eggs etc and more leafy green vegetables.
Please I'm no expert...but plenty of amazing posters who are

Pippen - MM is vegetarian - no, we don't expect you to know that, so don't worry, we all know you were trying to be helpful!
I'm never the best person to ask about vege options as you already know - but why not revisit your pregnancy thread(s) and pick out what apparently worked well for your BG during that time, for starters?

 

[merrymunky]

Pippen - MM is vegetarian - no, we don't expect you to know that, so don't worry, we all know you were trying to be helpful!
I'm never the best person to ask about vege options as you already know - but why not revisit your pregnancy thread(s) and pick out what apparently worked well for your BG during that time, for starters?

Oh I know exactly what works for me. Just not had the motivation to go back to that diet as I get so bored of it after a while. I’m such a fussy vegetarian that my meal plan becomes so samey.
But don’t worry, I will suck it up, put my big girl pants on and crack on for a while.

 

[Deleted member 25429]

Oh I know exactly what works for me. Just not had the motivation to go back to that diet as I get so bored of it after a while. I’m such a fussy vegetarian that my meal plan becomes so samey.
But don’t worry, I will suck it up, put my big girl pants on and crack on for a while.

I’ve found some lovely gluten free vegan wraps .. very low carb gorgeous with salad or stir fry veg in them would you try that ? I walk as much as I can rarely use the car , I lost 7 1/2 stone just over two years ago and the walking reduces my insulin requirements and keeps the weight constant. It isn’t easy so wish you all the luck in the world

 

[Maca44]

I would be testing levels again just to make sure they are not sky high and doing damage just take a deep breath and take regular readings. I know the feeling but head in the sand is not helping, you need the numbers.

 

[merrymunky]

I would be testing levels again just to make sure they are not sky high and doing damage just take a deep breath and take regular readings. I know the feeling but head in the sand is not helping, you need the numbers.

I wish I hadn’t checked on wake up. It’s horrendous snd obviously a build up of months of living of carbs snd sugar in blissful ignorance. No wonder I feel bad.

 

[Maca44]

I wish I hadn’t checked on wake up. It’s horrendous snd obviously a build up of months of living of carbs snd sugar in blissful ignorance. No wonder I feel bad.

It's good you did no matter how bad so you can move forward. Thing is @merrymunky often doing things for other people, your lovely girl or partner etc, is not always going to motivate you. This is about YOU and getting you well so you can feel good about yourself that's what is going to help you get results. You sound like a very nice lady and a great mum but are just struggling with your own demons regarding food and confidence so no matter what great things you have in your life your the only one who can look to yourself and see where it's not working out.

Stick on here more it will keep you focused .

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Great to see your renewed determination @merrymunky - and as you say you have the best motivation in your little bundle of gorgeousness!

We’ll be here to encourage you every step of the way, and to pick you up if you stumble over the weeks ahead 🙂

 

[merrymunky]

Great to see your renewed determination @merrymunky - and as you say you have the best motivation in your little bundle of gorgeousness!

We’ll be here to encourage you every step of the way, and to pick you up if you stumble over the weeks ahead 🙂

Not sure if it is determination or utter defeat and disgust right now!

I’m scared to eat anything this morning. I find breakfast really difficult.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Not sure if it is determination or utter defeat and disgust right now!

I’m scared to eat anything this morning. I find breakfast really difficult.

Awwww MM!

These are just numbers. Information. A way of measuring progress and checking to see what to do next.

They aren’t a measure of how hard you are trying, or all of the other things you have going on in your life.

Don’t let the numbers judge you. That’s not what they are for.

Don’t try to fix everything all at once. Slow, steady, sustainable progress is what you want to aim for. You’ve managed this before (with all the stresses of pregnancy on top) so give yourself the encouragement that you will be able to do it again.

Hopefully as your BGs improve, and some weight drops off your joint pain will begin to ease - but depending on the cause of thatit might also be adding to your elevated glucose levels?

 

[merrymunky]

Awwww MM!

These are just numbers. Information. A way of measuring progress and checking to see what to do next.

They aren’t a measure of how hard you are trying, or all of the other things you have going on in your life.

Don’t let the numbers judge you. That’s not what they are for.

Don’t try to fix everything all at once. Slow, steady, sustainable progress is what you want to aim for. You’ve managed this before (with all the stresses of pregnancy on top) so give yourself the encouragement that you will be able to do it again.

Hopefully as your BGs improve, and some weight drops off your joint pain will begin to ease - but depending on the cause of thatit might also be adding to your elevated glucose levels?

Thank you. I’m just feeling utterly defeated this morning snd not sure what do to…other than just crack on with my meal plans. I’ll need to do a proper grocery shop to stock up on some essentials.

I think I’m going to pull out my gym gear and wash it through ready to go for some local power walks with the pram over the coming weeks.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’m just feeling utterly defeated this morning snd not sure what do to

As Arthur Ashe once said, “to achieve greatness - start where you are, use what you have, do what you can”