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No willpower...

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GailPF

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
OK I'm old (83) but have to lose weight. I have zero willpower and I'm killing myself. I also have other medical problems and they would all lessen without me eating potato chips, etc. like they were going out of style. I hope talking to others would help so here I am. I have T2 diabetes and have trouble setting up a schedule to coincide with food and my insulin injections. Thanks for listening. I'm a fussy eater.
 
Gail - welcome to the forum. I’m T1D so probably can’t be of much help with regards to T2 …. But from what you’ve said you seem to know what you need to do - healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle…. I’m sure there are some T2 members who will jump in with some advice.
Normally that advice seems to be centred around reducing the number of carbs you eat.

That said, I’m curious about your insulin Injections, what type of insulin are you on - and what have you been told to dose?

wishing you all the best

J
 
Hi Gail and welcome.

I thought I had no willpower but what I found was that my body was craving carbs. Once I significantly reduced the carbs and ate more fat, I stopped craving them anymore and I am not even tempted when other people eat them in front of me or offer me them, even chocolates and sweets, which is really quite mind blowing for me as I was a sugar addict.
I love the control I now have over my eating, without needing willpower. Yes, there was an initial period of difficulty, but I stocked up on low carb foods which I enjoy and ate more of those when I got the cravings. So, things like cheese and olives and pork scratchings and boiled eggs with mayonnaise and salami sticks and veggie sticks with sour cream and chive dip and nuts. I made the effort to cook wholesome meals. Having a 2 egg omelette for breakfast with a big salad and a large dollop of cheese coleslaw really set me up for the day and meant that I often didn't need lunch at all.
Because you are using insulin, you would need to be wary of reducing your carbohydrate consumption too drastically all at one go, otherwise you risk going hypo and would need to test more frequently to keep yourself safe and be prepared to reduce your insulin doses as necessary, so you would likely need to discuss dietary changes with your nurse if you are not confident of adjusting your insulin doses yourself.

Keeping busy is also really helpful to distract you from the cravings. Getting out of the house and walking if you are able or getting involved in a new hobby or creative craft will occupy your hands and mind and keep them from straying to food.
 
Sorry to hear how difficult your are finding things @GailPF

Hopefully comparing notes with others here will help. Maybe start a thread in the weight loss group to track your progress?

Or drop into the ‘what did you eat yesterday’ thread

or the ‘7 day waking average’ thread

Lots of people find those regular check-ins help to keep them on track, and it’s a great way to get some encouragement from other members
 
Hi Gail and welcome.

I thought I had no willpower but what I found was that my body was craving carbs. Once I significantly reduced the carbs and ate more fat, I stopped craving them anymore and I am not even tempted when other people eat them in front of me or offer me them, even chocolates and sweets, which is really quite mind blowing for me as I was a sugar addict.
I love the control I now have over my eating, without needing willpower. Yes, there was an initial period of difficulty, but I stocked up on low carb foods which I enjoy and ate more of those when I got the cravings. So, things like cheese and olives and pork scratchings and boiled eggs with mayonnaise and salami sticks and veggie sticks with sour cream and chive dip and nuts. I made the effort to cook wholesome meals. Having a 2 egg omelette for breakfast with a big salad and a large dollop of cheese coleslaw really set me up for the day and meant that I often didn't need lunch at all.
Because you are using insulin, you would need to be wary of reducing your carbohydrate consumption too drastically all at one go, otherwise you risk going hypo and would need to test more frequently to keep yourself safe and be prepared to reduce your insulin doses as necessary, so you would likely need to discuss dietary changes with your nurse if you are not confident of adjusting your insulin doses yourself.

Keeping busy is also really helpful to distract you from the cravings. Getting out of the house and walking if you are able or getting involved in a new hobby or creative craft will occupy your hands and mind and keep them from straying to food.
 
Thanks so much for your prompt response. I really do need help/suggestion for the food and welcomed the actual foods that you found helpful. I needed those to fill in when I need a snack so I don't reach for things like potato chips and a jar of peanut butter.
 
Thanks so much for your prompt response. I really do need help/suggestion for the food and welcomed the actual foods that you found helpful. I needed those to fill in when I need a snack so I don't reach for things like potato chips and a jar of peanut butter.
It's good if when you snack, you snack on things that don't make your Blood Glucose spike. So Eggs, cheese, cold meat, and even a few nuts are much better than crisps. But obviously choose something that you actually like to eat - otherwise you will be straight back to the crisps! Best nuts are the low carb, high fat ones such as brazil, walnut, macadamia, try to stay away from cashews and pistaccios
 
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