Confused

[JANeedtoloseweight]

Hi I'm still working my way around the site and still abit confused , overwhelmed etc. I have registered and become a member but then do I have to then register separately for the learning zone and other modules.
I am overweight and just started meds after controlling by diet - my thoughts are to concentrate on lowering my blood sugar by eating the right foods and a weight loss will follow instead of constantly watching the scales. Any advice or info welcome
Thank you

 

[JANeedtoloseweight]

Also which diet plan on here does anyone recommend and is there more than a 7 day plan or do you just repeat it. Can you swap meals around to suit your tastes as there are some I don't fancy and things I don't eat like mackerel if its the same calories and carb, protein etc.

 

[Leadinglights]

Also which diet plan on here does anyone recommend and is there more than a 7 day plan or do you just repeat it. Can you swap meals around to suit your tastes as there are some I don't fancy and things I don't eat like mackerel if its the same calories and carb, protein etc.

This link https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ may give you some ideas and some alternative meal plans, but yes substitutions are really no problem. No meal plans will suit everyone as everyone's tastes and tolerances to carbs is different.

 

[JANeedtoloseweight]

Thanks very much

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi JANeedtoloseweight, welcome to the forum.

Glad that you've been able to have a look through the site as there's lots of helpful info on here to support you along your journey. Yes, you will need to sign up separately for the Learning Zone but you will be able to make use of many more tools and once inside.

The diet side of things can be quite challenging to start with so it's best to have a look at what's working so far and build from there. You could take note of what you eat and look at ways to improve and reduce carbs if that's the route you're going down.

Replacing carbs with salads, cooking in healthier ways and paying attention to what you're drinking can go a long way to getting on track. Mix and match the suggested meal plans with some modified versions of your favourite meals so that it's not a total change which can sometimes be a bit daunting.

We've got a great food section on the forum so feel free to post your meals and get some specific advice as you go along.

 

[Callista]

Great if you want to follow a programme for weight loss and lowering blood sugar levels overall, but as a general guide the idea for diabetes is to shift away from eating foods with high carbs (ie, starches and sugars).

Ironically, for a 'thin' diabetic, fat is no longer the arch enemy it is traditionally held up to be for the rest of the population, so foods like cheese become 'OK'.

However, for those just entering the world of diabetes in the type 2 zone (I'm 'at risk' myself, and now trying to shift myself into 'out of risk' - or, 'less risk' more likely), most of us are here because (sigh) we are carrying too much weight/fat (which was the contributory factor to our being here in the first place).

So we need to be lower carb AND lower cal, at least until we have shed that excess weight. So we do need to keep a wary eye on fat in our diet.

Personally, I've found that the best way to shift away from starch 'filler' carbs (potatoes, bread, etc, the usual suspects alas!) and towards a lot more protein. Protein helps give that feeling of 'fullness' which carbs give, and if combined with a lot more fibrous veg, that can make a meal without starch (no potatoes etc) feel like a 'real' meal.

Those of us with sweet teeth are at risk of finding it hard to cut out things like toast and marmalade, or cake and biscuits, or puddings etc etc. Going more 'cold turkey' is probably the best, if not the easiest, or at least squeezing down and down and down as far as we can bear on 'sweeties' whether it's cake or chocolate or, again, all the usual suspects.

Ironically, one of the things we have to watch now is what fruit we eat, and how much. From being something 'healthy' as far as recommendations are concerned (all that 'five a day' advertising), we now have to pick and choose carefully, as so many fruits have too much sugar in them. 'Safer' fruits are the berries, especially strawberries, but things like bananas and mangoes are risky.

Even more ironically, fruit that we once ate and felt virtuous about, now becomes our 'treat' instead (ie, still better than cake/chocolate etc)

Good luck with it all, but shifting away off starch carbs is an essential part of the 'weight loss for Diabetes' regime.

 

[JANeedtoloseweight]

Great if you want to follow a programme for weight loss and lowering blood sugar levels overall, but as a general guide the idea for diabetes is to shift away from eating foods with high carbs (ie, starches and sugars).

Ironically, for a 'thin' diabetic, fat is no longer the arch enemy it is traditionally held up to be for the rest of the population, so foods like cheese become 'OK'.

However, for those just entering the world of diabetes in the type 2 zone (I'm 'at risk' myself, and now trying to shift myself into 'out of risk' - or, 'less risk' more likely), most of us are here because (sigh) we are carrying too much weight/fat (which was the contributory factor to our being here in the first place).

So we need to be lower carb AND lower cal, at least until we have shed that excess weight. So we do need to keep a wary eye on fat in our diet.

Personally, I've found that the best way to shift away from starch 'filler' carbs (potatoes, bread, etc, the usual suspects alas!) and towards a lot more protein. Protein helps give that feeling of 'fullness' which carbs give, and if combined with a lot more fibrous veg, that can make a meal without starch (no potatoes etc) feel like a 'real' meal.

Those of us with sweet teeth are at risk of finding it hard to cut out things like toast and marmalade, or cake and biscuits, or puddings etc etc. Going more 'cold turkey' is probably the best, if not the easiest, or at least squeezing down and down and down as far as we can bear on 'sweeties' whether it's cake or chocolate or, again, all the usual suspects.

Ironically, one of the things we have to watch now is what fruit we eat, and how much. From being something 'healthy' as far as recommendations are concerned (all that 'five a day' advertising), we now have to pick and choose carefully, as so many fruits have too much sugar in them. 'Safer' fruits are the berries, especially strawberries, but things like bananas and mangoes are risky.

Even more ironically, fruit that we once ate and felt virtuous about, now becomes our 'treat' instead (ie, still better than cake/chocolate etc)

Good luck with it all, but shifting away off starch carbs is an essential part of the 'weight loss for Diabetes' regime.

Thanks