Food and drink on holiday

[Martywolfman]

Hey everyone, I hope you're all finally enjoying the decent weather like me!

So a bit of background. I'm 54. I was diagnosed with Type 2 about 3 months ago, with a HbA1c initially of 52, and then 50 at a confirmation test a couple of weeks later. It was the kick up the backside that I needed to sort myself out. Yes, I know, I should have done all this sooner! hehe. At time of diagnosis I weighed 22 and a half stones.

I have completely changed my diet, not a single crisp, chip, chocolate, cake, biscuit, or sweet drink has passed my lips since I received the diagnosis letter. And whilst I might occasionally crave something, most of the time i'm completely fine with it. I'm exercising regularly, mostly with walking as I can't do much in the way of other strenuous activities. The weight is just falling off - I've lost around 2 and a half stones so far.

Anyway, on to the point of my post. Tomorrow I'm going on holiday to the seaside for week in dorset and devon.

As for my question. It's a holiday. I will want to eat some treats. I never really drank much alcohol anyway, so cutting that out completely is no real challenge for me, and I have no plans to drink whilst away. But rather than just drinking water all the time, I'd like to drink the occasional coke or 7up or something (I can't drink diet drinks. I absolutely hate the taste of all the ones I've ever tasted. I'd much rather drink water than those) I'd like to have an ice cream. I'd like to eat fish, chips and mushy peas, by the sea. I'd like to eat some donuts. I'd like to eat some clotted cream fudge! I'd like to drink a cream tea 🙂

If I do these things while I'm away, just for the duration of the holiday, will I do myself any real harm? I will still be very active, I have a lot of day trips and activities planned which are active, lots of walking, probably more than I do at home actually. Some sea kayaking too, which I'm looking forward to, seems fun.

Just to be clear, I don't intend to eat 20 ice creams a day or anything, hehe. I fully intend to go back to eating as I am now, when I come home next week. But if I do slip back into these old habits, just for a week, will it likely affect my general blood sugar numbers too badly?

 

[Felinia]

Well done with the weight loss so far. You mentioned what you have cut out, but have you also reduced your daily carbs - things like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, processed foods, most fruits? It's carbs that turn into glucose in the blood. I don't know if others will agree with me, but as you are just into the diabetic range, I don't see any harm for one week of treats IN MODERATION. I wouldn't advise you have a cream tea followed by fish and chips for dinner - perhaps one treat a day. Hopefully you will be able to get back on the eating plan without problems when you return. I hope the sunshine lasts for you!!
Regarding exercise, have you tried the swimming pool? I go twice a week for aquafit, mostly ladies of a certain age, but some gentlemen. Just before my classes, there are general swimming sessions for adults of all ages, shapes and sizes!!
PS: I'm in Devon and it's glorious here at present

 

[Martywolfman]

Well done with the weight loss so far. You mentioned what you have cut out, but have you also reduced your daily carbs - things like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, processed foods, most fruits?

Yes. completely. Basically everything I eat now, pretty much is a meal recipe from Here on the Diabetes UK site 🙂 I batch cook them, and freeze them, since I can't be bothered to spend that much time cooking every single day, hehe

I don't know if others will agree with me, but as you are just into the diabetic range, I don't see any harm for one week of treats IN MODERATION.

Yeah, that's kinda what I'm hoping (and I was planning to limit to just one treat a day) just wanted to get other's input on it 🙂

Regarding exercise, have you tried the swimming pool? I go twice a week for aquafit, mostly ladies of a certain age, but some gentlemen. Just before my classes, there are general swimming sessions for adults of all ages, shapes and sizes!!

I've thought about that kind of thing, as the low impact nature would be ideal for me. But I've looked for aquacise / aqua aerobics sessions. there doesn't seem to be anything like in any of the pools in my area any more. I'm sure I've seen them in the past, but that would be auite a number of years ago. Unfortunately the general swimming sessions , as in the times that are reseved for just swimming, rather than kids playing and enjoying themselves, i'm unable to get to the times they do, due to my nightshift work, which is a shame.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think if you pick your 'treats' carefully and decide which you would rather have, is it worth 30g carbs for a can of full sugar coke or mushy peas which will just compound the carbs in the fish and chips, you could have coleslaw instead.
Some alcoholic drinks will be less carbs than the coke.
The book Carbs and Cals will give you a better idea of what might be better choices.
Also have a look at this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
You sound to be doing really well with the weight loss so keep up the good work.

 

[Felinia]

I guess I'm very lucky, as despite being in rural Devon I have 4 swimming pools all within a 20-30 minute drive. One of the pools opens at 7.30 am for general swimming, which is ideal for those coming off night shift.

 

[RYNO1154]

Hey everyone, I hope you're all finally enjoying the decent weather like me!

So a bit of background. I'm 54. I was diagnosed with Type 2 about 3 months ago, with a HbA1c initially of 52, and then 50 at a confirmation test a couple of weeks later. It was the kick up the backside that I needed to sort myself out. Yes, I know, I should have done all this sooner! hehe. At time of diagnosis I weighed 22 and a half stones.

I have completely changed my diet, not a single crisp, chip, chocolate, cake, biscuit, or sweet drink has passed my lips since I received the diagnosis letter. And whilst I might occasionally crave something, most of the time i'm completely fine with it. I'm exercising regularly, mostly with walking as I can't do much in the way of other strenuous activities. The weight is just falling off - I've lost around 2 and a half stones so far.

Anyway, on to the point of my post. Tomorrow I'm going on holiday to the seaside for week in dorset and devon.

As for my question. It's a holiday. I will want to eat some treats. I never really drank much alcohol anyway, so cutting that out completely is no real challenge for me, and I have no plans to drink whilst away. But rather than just drinking water all the time, I'd like to drink the occasional coke or 7up or something (I can't drink diet drinks. I absolutely hate the taste of all the ones I've ever tasted. I'd much rather drink water than those) I'd like to have an ice cream. I'd like to eat fish, chips and mushy peas, by the sea. I'd like to eat some donuts. I'd like to eat some clotted cream fudge! I'd like to drink a cream tea 🙂

If I do these things while I'm away, just for the duration of the holiday, will I do myself any real harm? I will still be very active, I have a lot of day trips and activities planned which are active, lots of walking, probably more than I do at home actually. Some sea kayaking too, which I'm looking forward to, seems fun.

Just to be clear, I don't intend to eat 20 ice creams a day or anything, hehe. I fully intend to go back to eating as I am now, when I come home next week. But if I do slip back into these old habits, just for a week, will it likely affect my general blood sugar numbers too badly?how about some alcohol-free cocktails?

 

[RYNO1154]

what about some alcohol-free cocktails .. they will still have some sugar ... but not the Alhahol

 

[RYNO1154]

Well done with the weight loss so far. You mentioned what you have cut out, but have you also reduced your daily carbs - things like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, processed foods, most fruits? It's carbs that turn into glucose in the blood. I don't know if others will agree with me, but as you are just into the diabetic range, I don't see any harm for one week of treats IN MODERATION. I wouldn't advise you have a cream tea followed by fish and chips for dinner - perhaps one treat a day. Hopefully you will be able to get back on the eating plan without problems when you return. I hope the sunshine lasts for you!!
Regarding exercise, have you tried the swimming pool? I go twice a week for aquafit, mostly ladies of a certain age, but some gentlemen. Just before my classes, there are general swimming sessions for adults of all ages, shapes and sizes!!
PS: I'm in Devon and it's glorious here at present

yea its the carbs that are the hidden sugars ... complex as they are, they are just glucose in a chain and as soon as U begin chewing, they reveal themselves as just what they are ... gugar

 

[Martywolfman]

I think if you pick your 'treats' carefully and decide which you would rather have, is it worth 30g carbs for a can of full sugar coke or mushy peas which will just compound the carbs in the fish and chips, you could have coleslaw instead.
Some alcoholic drinks will be less carbs than the coke.
The book Carbs and Cals will give you a better idea of what might be better choices.
Also have a look at this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
You sound to be doing really well with the weight loss so keep up the good work.

Wait, are you suggesting eating fish and chips, mushy pealessly?!?!?! Well that's just crazy talk! and illegal too, surely?!

Seriously though, yes of course I understand that they will add to the, already excess carbs. but really that's the point of my post. Will doing it just this one time, do any real harm?

I guess I'm very lucky, as despite being in rural Devon I have 4 swimming pools all within a 20-30 minute drive. One of the pools opens at 7.30 am for general swimming, which is ideal for those coming off night shift.

Yeah my local pool opens around that time too, for it. I don't know if you've ever worked nights, but for me that's not an ideal time. FInishing a 10 hour shift exhausted, going straight to the pool to swim for 30 mins or so, coming home, eating dinner then going to bed. That just doesn't work for me🙂 I mean, imagine it as a 'normal' dayshift person. you'd be taking your swim at 11pm or whatever, driving home then going almost straight to bed. I don't think many would like to do it that way.

 

[Martywolfman]

what about some alcohol-free cocktails .. they will still have some sugar ... but not the Alhahol

I've never had them, but presumably that wouldn't really be that different, sugar wise, from a glass of coke, would it?

 

[RYNO1154]

I've never had them, but presumably that wouldn't really be that different, sugar wise, from a glass of coke, would it?

that kinda depends on which one U go for TBH some are worse than others .... I know from cutting out my sweets and goodies my taste buds have changed
, and I find even the lemon water I drink has a sweet note

 

[Felinia]

Wait, are you suggesting eating fish and chips, mushy pealessly?!?!?! Well that's just crazy talk! and illegal too, surely?!

Seriously though, yes of course I understand that they will add to the, already excess carbs. but really that's the point of my post. Will doing it just this one time, do any real harm?



Yeah my local pool opens around that time too, for it. I don't know if you've ever worked nights, but for me that's not an ideal time. FInishing a 10 hour shift exhausted, going straight to the pool to swim for 30 mins or so, coming home, eating dinner then going to bed. That just doesn't work for me🙂 I mean, imagine it as a 'normal' dayshift person. you'd be taking your swim at 11pm or whatever, driving home then going almost straight to bed. I don't think many would like to do it that way.

Never really thought of it like that. I used to go straight from work to a competitive table tennis match, getting in around 11pm. I didn't want to eat then, so had my main meal halfway through the day's work. I'd just have a shower, then bed when I got home. I played for over 40 competitive years, so I suppose I was just used to it.

 

[Leadinglights]

Wait, are you suggesting eating fish and chips, mushy pealessly?!?!?! Well that's just crazy talk! and illegal too, surely?!

Seriously though, yes of course I understand that they will add to the, already excess carbs. but really that's the point of my post. Will doing it just this one time, do any real harm?



Yeah my local pool opens around that time too, for it. I don't know if you've ever worked nights, but for me that's not an ideal time. FInishing a 10 hour shift exhausted, going straight to the pool to swim for 30 mins or so, coming home, eating dinner then going to bed. That just doesn't work for me🙂 I mean, imagine it as a 'normal' dayshift person. you'd be taking your swim at 11pm or whatever, driving home then going almost straight to bed. I don't think many would like to do it that way.

The sheer size of the portion of chips is likely to be the issue, if on the rare occasion we have fish and chips then even a cone of chips is too much for 2 people let alone the normal portion they serve.
Just have a few chips from somebody else's and still have your mushy peas.

 

[Martin.A]

I always see our week in Cornwall as a break for all the counting of carbs etc, but without being reckless. I'll have an ice cream (has to be Rum & Raisin), but not every day; I'll have chips if we eat out, usually on our last evening; I'll grab a sandwich if we're out somewhere if we hadn't made up a picnic, etc. Normal service resumes once we're back home.

I don't like diet drinks either @Martywolfman but for me Coke Zero beats Diet Coke for taste, as does Sprite Zero. They're the only sugar-free soft drinks I tend to go for.

 

[Martywolfman]

The sheer size of the portion of chips is likely to be the issue, if on the rare occasion we have fish and chips then even a cone of chips is too much for 2 people let alone the normal portion they serve.
Just have a few chips from somebody else's and still have your mushy peas.

As much as that sounds like a good idea, I think the people I steal chips from will be rather upset.

(I'm travelling alone, hehe )

I always see our week in Cornwall as a break for all the counting of carbs etc, but without being reckless. I'll have an ice cream (has to be Rum & Raisin), but not every day; I'll have chips if we eat out, usually on our last evening; I'll grab a sandwich if we're out somewhere if we hadn't made up a picnic, etc. Normal service resumes once we're back home.

I don't like diet drinks either @Martywolfman but for me Coke Zero beats Diet Coke for taste, as does Sprite Zero. They're the only sugar-free soft drinks I tend to go for.

Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking, hoping it wouldn't do any real harm after my good work so far (I'm very new at this still) I don't intend to eat nothing but sugar and carbs all day every day or anything, though eating out will make it more difficult anyway, I'm not self catering. It will be the first time I've eaten out since my diagnosis - it's not something I've ever done regularly anway, as I'm a very fussy eater even before the diabetes - fussy as in many many foods I don't eat because I don't like them, likely as a result of being on the autism spectrum, which always makes eating out quite challenging for me anyway. There will generally only be 2 or 3 choices of main meal on any menu that I will actually be willing to eat. sometimes even just one.

I've tried coke zero, unfortunately it's just as bad as the other diet drinks for me.

 

[Leadinglights]

As much as that sounds like a good idea, I think the people I steal chips from will be rather upset.

(I'm travelling alone, hehe )

Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking, hoping it wouldn't do any real harm after my good work so far (I'm very new at this still) I don't intend to eat nothing but sugar and carbs all day every day or anything, though eating out will make it more difficult anyway, I'm not self catering. It will be the first time I've eaten out since my diagnosis - it's not something I've ever done regularly anway, as I'm a very fussy eater even before the diabetes - fussy as in many many foods I don't eat because I don't like them, likely as a result of being on the autism spectrum, which always makes eating out quite challenging for me anyway. There will generally only be 2 or 3 choices of main meal on any menu that I will actually be willing to eat. sometimes even just one.

I've tried coke zero, unfortunately it's just as bad as the other diet drinks for me.

Some people are particularly sensitive to the taste of some sweeteners and different diet drinks can have different ones so check the label and see if there are any that don't have the same as the ones you don't like.
The seagulls may be happy to share your chips.
Have a good time whatever you decide to eat.

 

[Anna DUK]

@Martywolfman well done for making really positive changes.

A couple of links sprung to mind as I read through this thread which I thought I'd share to give you extra support and food for thought (pun intended, sorry, not sorry! 😎):

Eating out with diabetes

Most of us experience times when we eat food outsid

www.diabetes.org.uk

And this one, although you're not abroad, there's still some good tips:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...ng-with-diabetes/out-and-about/holiday-eating

Hope you have a lovely time away!

 

[wantonnoodle]

As much as that sounds like a good idea, I think the people I steal chips from will be rather upset.

(I'm travelling alone, hehe )

Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking, hoping it wouldn't do any real harm after my good work so far (I'm very new at this still) I don't intend to eat nothing but sugar and carbs all day every day or anything, though eating out will make it more difficult anyway, I'm not self catering. It will be the first time I've eaten out since my diagnosis - it's not something I've ever done regularly anway, as I'm a very fussy eater even before the diabetes - fussy as in many many foods I don't eat because I don't like them, likely as a result of being on the autism spectrum, which always makes eating out quite challenging for me anyway. There will generally only be 2 or 3 choices of main meal on any menu that I will actually be willing to eat. sometimes even just one.

I've tried coke zero, unfortunately it's just as bad as the other diet drinks for me.

You mention that you are not self catering. Have you given any thought as to what is on the menu for breakfast (assuming you are bed and breakfast)? Generally, since diagnosis, if we're going away bed and breakfast, we make a point of booking somewhere that does a full English breakfast.

I tend to get the full works, but only one piece of toast (eaten at the end). Often that keeps me so full that I don't start getting hungry until mid afternoon. So I would then swerve the carb heavy sandwiches and cakes on lunchtime menus, and get other snacks once I was hungry. This does include ice cream - the fat in ice cream seems to help stop it spiking my BGs. Then I have what I fancy for dinner - nothing on the menu was out of the question. Fish and chips, steak, chinese, indian were all fair game. Not noticed any impact on my HbA1c - but then my annual blood test is in mid December, so I've probably well moved on by then.

 

[Martywolfman]

You mention that you are not self catering. Have you given any thought as to what is on the menu for breakfast (assuming you are bed and breakfast)? Generally, since diagnosis, if we're going away bed and breakfast, we make a point of booking somewhere that does a full English breakfast.

I tend to get the full works, but only one piece of toast (eaten at the end). Often that keeps me so full that I don't start getting hungry until mid afternoon. So I would then swerve the carb heavy sandwiches and cakes on lunchtime menus, and get other snacks once I was hungry. This does include ice cream - the fat in ice cream seems to help stop it spiking my BGs. Then I have what I fancy for dinner - nothing on the menu was out of the question. Fish and chips, steak, chinese, indian were all fair game. Not noticed any impact on my HbA1c - but then my annual blood test is in mid December, so I've probably well moved on by then.

Well, it's all over now, I got home a week ago 🙂

I didn't have much option of where to stay, since i booked it all last minute, like a few days before i left, so just had to take the affordable places I could find available. But yes, I had a full english each morning, since that's going to generally be low carb.

Sounds like I did much the same as you to be honest. I had a couple of ice creams over the week, a couple of cans of coke (full sugar, i despise the taste of diet drinks) fish and chips a couple of times. I don't measure my blood sugar at home - My diabetic nurse told me that in my case it's not really worthwhile spending the money so I don't know the immediate effects. I put on a few pounds, but I've gone back to my proper healthy eating plan for the last week, and lost that weight again without any issue, so I reckon no harm done. And no real desire to go back to my old bad snack filled eating habits, which was a bit of a worry for me after getting a bit of a taste for them again, hehe.