Hi guys!

[sue34]

Well, after a long time absence I’ve returned. Seems I have a lot to catch up on!
I’m T2, taking Metformin 1000mg twice a day, Empagliflozin, and Lantus. I’ve put on a lot of weight....bout 2 stone, so I’ve decided to low carb....again. My problem is I want to eat all the time. All day....every day. I never feel hungry or full. Any hints, advice please? Oh, and I’m wheelchair dependant now so exercise is pretty difficult......
Here’s hoping.....

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome back.

Eating more fat and protein whilst following a very low carb diet can help with food cravings and binge eating. Fat takes much longer to digest, so it keeps you feeling full for longer, provides slow release energy and tastes good and contrary to popular belief, does not in itself make you fat..... unlike carbs, which produce BG spikes and lows and mean that you are hungry again a couple of hours after eating them, so you can end up over eating. I know I now eat a lot less that I used to but I eat a lot of fat and very little carbs. That said, you are on Lantus so may need to decrease your carb consumption slowly in case your BG drops too low, so proceed with caution and use a BG meter to test before and 2 hours after eating to tailor your diet to keep things steady

Finding things to occupy your mind and your hands also helps prevent snacking, so look at taking up a new interest or hobby.... maybe learning to play an instrument or knitting or just reading a good book.

As regards exercise, being wheelchair dependent does not mean that you are unable to exercise, it just limits the things you can do. Perhaps spend a little time researching online for exercise regimes for people with limited mobility... I am sure there will be You Tube videos of things you can do at home and once the swimming pools open again, maybe look at aquafit or other pool based classes as a possible option.

 

[sue34]

Thank you for that. It’s really difficult isn’t it? My problem is portion control too.....I never know when to stop eating!
I used to crochet but my hands are so deformed and painful it’s difficult for me to even hold a pen these days......

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

My problem is portion control too.....I never know when to stop eating!

Ive seen some people having great success with simply using a slightly smaller plate to control portion size.

Good that you say you never feel hungry. But interesting that you also say you want to eat all the time. If you can work out why that is, when it isn’t hunger, I think it would really help you. Like @rebrascora says, sometimes eating is habitual and connected to other ‘reward centres’ in the brain, so keeping busy can be very helpful.

 

[sue34]

You’re right, of course. I’ve had this compulsion to eat for many years. I often wonder if it’s down to being made to finish the food on my plate as a child, or, as an aunt of mine told me, being over fed as a baby....
Thanks for your advice, I’ll have to reevaluate my whole relationship with food I think.....‍♀️