Sunday, March 22, 2015

Blood sugar and hunger pangs



So for the past couple of weeks I've been reading the The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now! by Dr Mark Hyman. And I've become aware of processed carbs and their effect on my body. It is amazing how they can shut down my body really quick by putting me in a mini coma/nap after a meal full of refined carbs. I've also become aware that I need to have healthy food in the house and have shopped for healthy foods. I am not following the plan completely yet as I am still reading the book, clearing out my cupboards and shopping for my new pantry ingredients. I will still have additional snacks and regular lunches for my kids but I am hoping they give the healthier dinners a try. In the summer we usually eat healthy with our CSA (community supported agriculture) food co-ops anyway. Most of Dr Hyman's meals are GFCF (Gluten & Casein free) with very few processed foods.

I have been trying out some of the meals in the book even tho I am in the prep phase and I can say I feel like a new person already and I haven't even started. I am dreading seeing my doctor next week as I am suspecting my Blood Sugars are elevated, perhaps more than the pre-diabetic stage, we shall see.  I can also feel the effects of eating refined carbs like never before! I am aware of the effects on my body and can feel them taking over and taking hold. It isn't pretty, I may get tired, I get ravenous hunger pangs perhaps an hour or two after a meal where my body is forcing me to eat again even after a very full starchy meal. Insulin isn't my friend when I want to lose weight. My body isn't as bloated as it was before just from the minimal changes I have done in the prep phase. I don't weigh myself often as it makes me sad but my clothes feel looser.

Now that the weather is better, I have been getting out and walking with friends, keeping my activity level going too. If you are getting any of these symptoms, see a professional, don't rely on a blog for your health and safety. But if you are in a similar position it is interesting to compare and contrast plans. Or perhaps you are healthy as a horse but need inspiration on 'what not to do'! LOL either way, do keep reading and keep coming back.

Thanks

@myHFjourney Lose weight with Medifast!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Hypo/hyperglycemia or blood sugar imbalances

Anything over 190 Lbs for my height is obese and have had trouble loosing weight for years perhaps over a decade. Just recently I have had some symptoms that brought to light a possible reason for my troubles. Severe tiredness, in particular after meals (especially after starchy processed meals), extreme hunger an hour or two after a meal in particular if the meal didn't have enough protein or good fat or too many starchy carbs.

The condition was never severe enough to make me faint even tho I have had nice naps after a big meal.  I could get jittery if I skipped a meal or had too much coffee.

This condition makes losing weight VERY difficult but necessary.  All those attempts I have made have been crucial but have been wasted cause I was watching calories or fat or carbs but not necessarily glucose. 

I have to admit to myself that I am in that special category of prediabetic or have hypoglycemia linked with hyperglycemia and have to watch the carbs/fiber like a hawk. No more processed carbs over 15 pts for me without cause. Only fiber or natural carbs, or low glycemic foods or unprocessed foods. The biggest downer for me is there is NO cheating on this plan!! OH NO, blood sugar doesn't give you a day off. I can't have a snack one day a week, I will go hypo immediately(short for hypoglycemic) unless my condition is reversed. UGH how did I get in to this? I have to think of the positives, that I can do my best and will do my best and perhaps my hypo will reverse.

I have a physical scheduled soon and have regular medical care and suggest you do too.

At least now I know why my journey has been so hard. But now I know I CAN"T cheat ever until my condition is reversed! A big hurdle for someone obese. Give me some love people...



Sunday, March 1, 2015

How I dropped my cholesterol over 50 points!


I've always had high cholesterol numbers since I was a young adult with normal weight. But I've always loved food and chocolate and snacks. Growing up my mother cooked traditional Greek vegetable dishes mostly, so why was my cholesterol so high? My parents had high cholesterol most of their lives too. Doctors told me it was genetic and I need to be cautious with lifestyle. I would also have periods of activity bursts throughout my life lasting for weeks or months at a time.

I went for a blood test physical a few years ago and my cholesterol was in the high but normal range! My cholesterol was usually in the mid two hundreds and on this occasion it was 187! I was amazed, and looking back there were some major changes I had made but didn’t know they contributed to this drop.

We had joined a farm co-op that summer and prior to that we had a veggie share box from a co-op in the spring so I had been eating a LOT of vegetables for most of the year. We ordered the full box share and my kids are picky eaters so I would get more than my fair share of the veggie boxes so I would be eating a LOT of vegetables on a daily basis.

I was focusing on organic and natural products too but I suspect the amount of veggies I was eating had more impact than the organic nature of the vegetables. However I would recommend you minimize your exposure to chemicals and buy organic when you can.

I was gardening and spending a lot of time outdoors with my kids. Perhaps vitamin D also contributed. But I suspect the amount of vegetables I was eating was a bigger factor in my unusual cholesterol drop than vit D or activity levels or anything else. I was still overweight and still trying to fit activity in my lifestyle. So I suspect the amount of veggies I ate daily was the major factor in surprising me with such a major drop in a key health number.


Do you have high cholesterol? Any interesting findings from your history?

@myHFjourney

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