So what happens when....

[rebrascora]

So very sorry to hear about your friend. I can't begin to imagine how you are feeling, but I can sympathise as I was/am an emotional eater... I now just make sure I have plenty of low carb foods that I enjoy to cope with occasions when I need comfort rather than the high carb (usually chocolate) which was my crutch before. It is not ideal in the sense that I know I should not be over indulging those foods either but it gets me through those occasions.

 

[trophywench]

Autumn - diabetes is a marathon not a sprint, For heavens sake flower - take the time to grieve properly for your friend - the better you can manage to do that, the more energy you'll have to spare to look after your diabetes.

 

[Docb]

Ah, sorry to hear about your friend @Autumn2020. @rebrascora and @trophywench have got it spot on.

 

[grovesy]

Thank you. If I'm honest I'm just really struggling.

I lost my best friend last week, aged 34. The day she found out she had 3 months to live, i found out I had diabetes, her 3 months turned into 9 days and I just feel lost in the tangle of emotions, guilt, anger, heartbreak. I have emotionally eat my entire life and at a time like this I would usually turn to food so I am just struggling with how to now deal with things.

Sorry for the rant, I know this site is about diabetes and not for therapy. Thank you all for your replies, trying to take it all on board xxx

You have to find what works for you and can maintain. I have been down the very strict route and was unable to maintain it for long term. I have also adjusted what I eat many time over the years, as sometimes what worked does not work any more. I have also found sometimes it is not what you eat it how much of you eat, so sometimes you can eat a smaller portion. Also the time of day you eat somethings seems to have less of an impact.
My personal aim is to stay on the wagon more than I am off it.
I suggest you make small changes, and take things at your own pace.Take care.

 

[ColinUK]

If I have a “relaxed” day then it’s always harder the next day to have a normal one.
The only way I’ve figured out that works for me is to follow a relaxed day with a semi-relaxed day and follow that with a good 16hr or 18hr fast. That seems to reset everything for me.

 

[Autumn2020]

So very sorry to hear about your friend. I can't begin to imagine how you are feeling, but I can sympathise as I was/am an emotional eater... I now just make sure I have plenty of low carb foods that I enjoy to cope with occasions when I need comfort rather than the high carb (usually chocolate) which was my crutch before. It is not ideal in the sense that I know I should not be over indulging those foods either but it gets me through those occasions.

Thank you. If you dont mind me asking what type of low carb snacks or comfort foods do you go for ? X

 

[Autumn2020]

Autumn - diabetes is a marathon not a sprint, For heavens sake flower - take the time to grieve properly for your friend - the better you can manage to do that, the more energy you'll have to spare to look after your diabetes.

Thank you x

 

[Autumn2020]

If I have a “relaxed” day then it’s always harder the next day to have a normal one.
The only way I’ve figured out that works for me is to follow a relaxed day with a semi-relaxed day and follow that with a good 16hr or 18hr fast. That seems to reset everything for me.

What type of things do you enjoy on a 'relaxed' day if you dont mind sharing x

 

[rebrascora]

Hi. I usually go for (low carb goes without saying) high fat and high protein foods but I try to eat them slowly, chew them well and be in the moment with them, so that I appreciate what I am having rather than just guzzling, which was my habit with comfort food before.
A cup of coffee or two with real double cream (not Elmlea) is a favourite.
Half a square of dark, min 70% cocoa chocolate with a spoon of crunchy peanut butter and the other half later... put the bar somewhere away from you so that you have to consciously get up and go back for seconds rather than have it to hand and get carried away.
Interestingly I find a crunchy texture is a big part of my comfort eating now.
A bag of nuts like brazils or walnuts.... you could always get a box of dark chocolate brazils and have those instead of choc with peanut butter as Brazils are much lower carb than peanuts.
A chunk of good quality cheese.... I now like the ones with intense flavour and that slight crystalline texture running through them.... Lidl do a Deluxe Vintage Somerset Cheddar which is really nice and has those slight crunchy crystals in it. Pork scratchings are my really guilty pleasure.... you can't get more crunchy than those!!
I also have veggie sticks with sour cream and chive dip.... the proper refrigerated kind not the Dorritto stuff in a jar which has all sorts of oils and additives.
Boiled eggs with a spoon or two of full fat mayonnaise.
Salami sticks.
Bacon butty made with low carb microwave bread (takes a few minutes to make) and I usually have it as a BLT with lettuce and tomato or mushrooms.

We have a few innovative bakers on the forum who make low carb cakes and cup cakes etc so if that is your thing then maybe @NotWorriedAtAll can help you with her fantastic low carb baking recipes.

I confess that I also resort to a glass or two of alcohol if it is after 6pm and I feel it will help me chill. Again, making low carb choices is key, so spirits with low calorie mixers are fine and dry wine (red or white) but be aware that alcohol is empty calories, so don't overdo it, particularly if you need to lose weight.

I am sure that many of those things will not do it for you but hopefully it gives you some ideas.

 

[SueEK]

Thank you. If I'm honest I'm just really struggling.

I lost my best friend last week, aged 34. The day she found out she had 3 months to live, i found out I had diabetes, her 3 months turned into 9 days and I just feel lost in the tangle of emotions, guilt, anger, heartbreak. I have emotionally eat my entire life and at a time like this I would usually turn to food so I am just struggling with how to now deal with things.

Sorry for the rant, I know this site is about diabetes and not for therapy. Thank you all for your replies, trying to take it all on board xxx

Hi, can I correct you - this forum is ALSO about therapy. We all have a rant from time to time, we all need to rant and we all understand that need. Don’t think there is one of us that hasn’t had a rant meltdown etc at some point. Diabetes can be very frustrating and overwhelming and at times we are just sick of having it. I totally get what you are saying about constantly thinking about food, a lot of us do.
At the moment you are also grieving for your friend and I’m so sorry to hear this. This has a massive impact on us, our thoughts and feelings and these can be even bigger at a time like this. You will be fine, it just takes time and slow adjustments to get used to.
You can come on here at any time and have a rant, ask questions or just share what is happening in your life. This forum is for information yes, but a very important part of it is to support each other whatever is happening in our lives. Be gentle with yourself, you will get there. Sue xx

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

Thank you. If I'm honest I'm just really struggling.

I lost my best friend last week, aged 34. The day she found out she had 3 months to live, i found out I had diabetes, her 3 months turned into 9 days and I just feel lost in the tangle of emotions, guilt, anger, heartbreak. I have emotionally eat my entire life and at a time like this I would usually turn to food so I am just struggling with how to now deal with things.

Sorry for the rant, I know this site is about diabetes and not for therapy. Thank you all for your replies, trying to take it all on board xxx

Hello you,

under my post is a link to my Facebook page where I keep track of my keto adventures.
Most of my recipes are keto which means very low carb so they are unlikely to cause anyone to have a spike and as I love food I try and make things so that even if I go out of control and eat the entire thing (like a pizza or a cake) then it won't cause a major disaster. That said as long as you are not gluten intolerantI have recipes so you can have pizza and real bread and cake but made with the fibre and protein part of things and without the carbs and sugar so that you get the taste and structure and texture of the 'naughty' food but not the carbs and sugars. They are still nutritionally dense and they are not low calorie by any means but if you stick to low carb/very low carb (and the stuff I make it is pretty much like eating anything you like as long as you stick to the 'safe' ingredients) you won't gain weight and doing a bit of exercise here and there will help to lose weight if that is what you want to do.

Pop along to my page and if you have any questions about any of the stuff I have on there - drop me a message and I will happily talk you through and explain stuff. I have recipes for cakes you can make in about five minutes flat using the microwave. Life is sad and difficult enough without food being a stressor on top. I firmly believe food is meant to be fun and comforting and once you know a few basic pieces of information you can use it as fun and comfort without it being at all harmful and in fact quite the opposite - it does you good.

 

[Autumn2020]

Thank you all. I will have a look for some recipes that suit. X

 

[Mr Lee]

Hi Autunm.
Just thought that i would say that i am in a similar position to you in struggling with it all, Like many others.
Its easy to have a "relaxed day" and sometimes with very little effect. Then sometimes you have more and sometimes you have them that are beyond your control..
These all add up, then maybe problems with you legs, feet and eyes occur. If you are struggling now, then you will struggle even more then. Please don't treat (harm) yourself by having to many "relaxed days".. Take care of you