Hello

[SandyS]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but was diagnosed a year ago. Initially I (and my nurse) was amazed at my determination. I lost 3 stone was enjoying exercising and my bloods came right down. Like a switch that determination disappeared. I have put 2 of those stones back on, have not kept up with my exercise routine and my sugars are through the roof. I lost my dad to complications of type 2, my brother is dying in the same way and my sister doesn't look after herself. I was so determined not to be like them yet here I am.
I have struggled like this all my adult life. Its almost self harming. I am going for some CBT therapy but wondered if anyone experiences the same thing.

 

[Windy]

Hi SandyS, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your troubles, losing your dad and putting the weight back on. I've not experienced the same as I'm a relatively new diabetic, and still in the "lose 3 stone" phase. Can I ask if there was anything that flipped the switch for you so you stopped with your diet/control? I'm thinking of life stuff like family illness or the pressure of the pandemic (it's none of my business, clearly, I want you to think about the pressures that made you stop, rather than me being intrusive. It's too much to keep going on a diet sometimes when there's other pressure knocking you off course.).
Can you make little changes to try and put the brakes on? Perhaps just look at one meal a day, for instance breakfast or lunch and swap it for the better food that you had before when you were losing weight. Set yourself a time limit, for instance, a month, and see if you can stay on track with that one meal. After that, review where you are and maybe have soup for lunch instead of a sandwich, and do that for another month and see how you go. You don't need to do everything at once, if little steps are easier to take, then take them.

It's better that you start and harness the little bits of motivation that you do have to do the little things than jump straight into a massive diet and exercise programme that you struggle to stay on and beat yourself up over if it goes wrong.
It's difficult to stay on track, I want you to be kind to yourself. Make a list of goals, ie, lose half a stone in the next three months, or drop a dress size by Xmas, or go out for a 10 minute walk after dinner, or borrow the neighbour's dog and go for an hours walk, or whatever you think is achievable.

You can do it, as you've done it before. Start slowly, but do start.

Be kind to yourself and get restarted, you've made the first step by joining us.
Also, ask at your surgery if they do the Low calorie diet programme for diabetics or any support for weight loss. You're not alone in this, we're happy to support you if you have questions. There's a weight loss thread on the forum that I look on for inspiration. Seeing that others have done it and kept their weight off gave me comfort in the dark days at the start of my diet.
You can do it. Best wishes, Sarah

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @SandyS and welcome to the forum.
Determination/will power is finite and ultimately exhausts. You need something sustainable and for me and probably most Type 2 diabetics that is a Low Carbohydrate 'way of eating'.
Don't count calories, just reduce the carbs (which all turn to glucose when digested) and increase protein and a little traditional fat to prevent a calorie deficit.
For the majority of people this will reduce Blood Glucose (due to eating fewer carbs) but the excess weight will fall away (almost as fast as on calorie restriction) and also blood pressure will reduce (if high to start with).

This can either be described as counting carbs instead of calories; or eating to your BG meter.
Low Carb used to be called Low Carb High Fat, but it is actually Low(er) Carb, High(er) Protein and Normal Fat as in what was normal before this crazy low fat fad took off!

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi SandyS, welcome to the forum.

So sorry to hear about what your family has been through. I'm glad you've joined us as I can only image how challenging it must be to be on this journey given the background .

The good thing is that you've done it before and can do it again? Might be worth getting and update on your HbA1c level so you know where you're starting from.

It's great that you're going for therapy as w often underestimate the link between food and mood.

Sometimes, making big changes scare us a bit after the initial adrenaline has worn off which is a natural reaction as we're wired for familiarity. Might be worth just keeping a food diary for a week to see what improvements can be made and take it step by step.

Do have a look around the forum and let us know if we can help in any other way.

 

[SandyS]

Hi @SandyS and welcome to the forum.
Determination/will power is finite and ultimately exhausts. You need something sustainable and for me and probably most Type 2 diabetics that is a Low Carbohydrate 'way of eating'.
Don't count calories, just reduce the carbs (which all turn to glucose when digested) and increase protein and a little traditional fat to prevent a calorie deficit.
For the majority of people this will reduce Blood Glucose (due to eating fewer carbs) but the excess weight will fall away (almost as fast as on calorie restriction) and also blood pressure will reduce (if high to start with).

This can either be described as counting carbs instead of calories; or eating to your BG meter.
Low Carb used to be called Low Carb High Fat, but it is actually Low(er) Carb, High(er) Protein and Normal Fat as in what was normal before this crazy low fat fad took off!

Thank you. Just writing on the forum seems to have re-focussed me. Just got to keep at it. I have an appointment now which will help keep track of my carb intake. Thank you

Hi SandyS, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your troubles, losing your dad and putting the weight back on. I've not experienced the same as I'm a relatively new diabetic, and still in the "lose 3 stone" phase. Can I ask if there was anything that flipped the switch for you so you stopped with your diet/control? I'm thinking of life stuff like family illness or the pressure of the pandemic (it's none of my business, clearly, I want you to think about the pressures that made you stop, rather than me being intrusive. It's too much to keep going on a diet sometimes when there's other pressure knocking you off course.).
Can you make little changes to try and put the brakes on? Perhaps just look at one meal a day, for instance breakfast or lunch and swap it for the better food that you had before when you were losing weight. Set yourself a time limit, for instance, a month, and see if you can stay on track with that one meal. After that, review where you are and maybe have soup for lunch instead of a sandwich, and do that for another month and see how you go. You don't need to do everything at once, if little steps are easier to take, then take them.

It's better that you start and harness the little bits of motivation that you do have to do the little things than jump straight into a massive diet and exercise programme that you struggle to stay on and beat yourself up over if it goes wrong.
It's difficult to stay on track, I want you to be kind to yourself. Make a list of goals, ie, lose half a stone in the next three months, or drop a dress size by Xmas, or go out for a 10 minute walk after dinner, or borrow the neighbour's dog and go for an hours walk, or whatever you think is achievable.

You can do it, as you've done it before. Start slowly, but do start.

Be kind to yourself and get restarted, you've made the first step by joining us.
Also, ask at your surgery if they do the Low calorie diet programme for diabetics or any support for weight loss. You're not alone in this, we're happy to support you if you have questions. There's a weight loss thread on the forum that I look on for inspiration. Seeing that others have done it and kept their weight off gave me comfort in the dark days at the start of my diet.
You can do it. Best wishes, Sarah

Thank you for such kind advice. Yes I think going back to work (I had been off sick) and back into old routines did it. Once lost I couldn't get it back. I think joining the forum and writing it down helped. I am going to try to take it one day at a time. I retire this week so hopefully will be able to focus again. Thank you again. X

 

[SandyS]

Hi SandyS, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your troubles, losing your dad and putting the weight back on. I've not experienced the same as I'm a relatively new diabetic, and still in the "lose 3 stone" phase. Can I ask if there was anything that flipped the switch for you so you stopped with your diet/control? I'm thinking of life stuff like family illness or the pressure of the pandemic (it's none of my business, clearly, I want you to think about the pressures that made you stop, rather than me being intrusive. It's too much to keep going on a diet sometimes when there's other pressure knocking you off course.).
Can you make little changes to try and put the brakes on? Perhaps just look at one meal a day, for instance breakfast or lunch and swap it for the better food that you had before when you were losing weight. Set yourself a time limit, for instance, a month, and see if you can stay on track with that one meal. After that, review where you are and maybe have soup for lunch instead of a sandwich, and do that for another month and see how you go. You don't need to do everything at once, if little steps are easier to take, then take them.

It's better that you start and harness the little bits of motivation that you do have to do the little things than jump straight into a massive diet and exercise programme that you struggle to stay on and beat yourself up over if it goes wrong.
It's difficult to stay on track, I want you to be kind to yourself. Make a list of goals, ie, lose half a stone in the next three months, or drop a dress size by Xmas, or go out for a 10 minute walk after dinner, or borrow the neighbour's dog and go for an hours walk, or whatever you think is achievable.

You can do it, as you've done it before. Start slowly, but do start.

Be kind to yourself and get restarted, you've made the first step by joining us.
Also, ask at your surgery if they do the Low calorie diet programme for diabetics or any support for weight loss. You're not alone in this, we're happy to support you if you have questions. There's a weight loss thread on the forum that I look on for inspiration. Seeing that others have done it and kept their weight off gave me comfort in the dark days at the start of my diet.
You can do it. Best wishes, Sarah

Thank you Sarah for you really good advice. Yes I can do it. I think retiring this week will help me re-focus. I do tend to beat myself up but gonna take it one day at a time. I think the forum will help too. Good luck with your journey. X

 

[Windy]

Thank you Sarah for you really good advice. Yes I can do it. I think retiring this week will help me re-focus. I do tend to beat myself up but gonna take it one day at a time. I think the forum will help too. Good luck with your journey. X

Thanks Sandy, good luck to you too and best wishes for a relaxing retirement. Keep posting to let us know how you're doing, or if you need any support, Sarah