The Sweet Diabetic

Taking Control Again

Broken

Diabetes sucks.  I think that's a given if you have it or love someone who does.  It can break you and honestly it's had me broken over the past year.  My a1c steadily climbed.  I felt so out of control.  I was frustrated, depressed and gaining weight.  I somehow became a victim of my own making.

At one point I gave up completely and tried insulin.  I thought maybe it would allow me some freedom from such a restrictive diet.  I was fooled.  I still had to take my Metformin and Glymidpiride with it.  I had to keep increasing the insulin.  I hated every minute of it. I really didn't see how it was helping me much.  I was heavier and unhappier.

Then I found Onglyza and asked my doctor if I could try that.  He said I could ... for a while.

Another Insulin Talk

My last a1c was 7.7 and my doctor gave me a shake down on straightening up or wer're having another insulin talk.  If you read my last post, you know that it felt like a good cop, bad cop kind of visit.  If his goal was to get me mad about diabetes, which I think it was, it worked.  He's a good doctor and I know he has my best interest at heart.

But ...

I am just as stubborn about not going on insulin again as much as he is about putting me on it.  I told him so.  My magic a1c is to be down to 7.0 by June.

Can I do it?

I believe I will.

Making Changes

I'll be honest.  I've let carbs creep back into my diet.  It happened little by little.  I told myself "a little won't hurt now and then".   Well, a little became more and more often.  I thought I was smart and could balance them out, but I wasn't.

Food has been a constant source of struggle for me my whole life.  In a way I've let it control me.  If it tasted good, I ate it.  Combine that with a poor self body image and it's a recipe for diabetes down the road.

Very willfully lately I've been taking back control over food.  I've gone fairly low carb again.  My carbs are coming mainly from green leafy vegetables and Zone bars.  Why Zone bars?  Well, I've found that no matter what they tell you, that chocolate craving never really goes away for some of us.  I can eat the dark chocolate flavors ot them without dire results.  I don't get the shakes by the candybars at the checkout line.  I don't cave to temptation.  I know I have them at home.

It's not a fun diet, but it's better than shots in my book.

Exercise

I hate it. Simply said.  I don't mind a walk now and then, but to carve a time out of the day to workout is like pulling teeth for me.  I KNOW I need to do it.  I often have good intentions, but my mind drifts to this or that project I think I need to get done and before you know it the day is gone.  I always say that tomorrow will be the day.

I need to stop making excuses.

I need to exercise.

End of story.

Taking Control Again

This is going to be quite an adventure.  One thing is for sure.  Cue the Rocky music...

Today I fell like a fighter.

Sherry

 

Getting Started With Kettlebell Training - Learn How to Get Started With Kettlebells

You may have heard of kettlebell training as being the next big thing in infomercials, on videos or even at your gym. It looks intriguing - a big heavy weight you get to swing around, but what exactly can it do for you? Kettlebell training can benefit anyone, from seasoned athletes to the average exerciser.

7 Easy Ways to Get More from Your Walks

There's a good reason to be a morning walker. According to a recent study in Journal of Applied Physiology, mental fatigue—a.k.a the brain drain you feel after a long day of working or dealing with family obligations—significantly affects workouts. When your mind is tired, exercise feels more difficult and you can't keep at it as long as you can when you're mentally rested.

via www.familycircle.com

This article offers some great tips on getting more out of your walks.

Personally, I used to always walk in the evenings, but now I've been doing my exercise in the mornings.  It's nice because I can forget about it and go on about my day.  Lord knows I'm not a morning person, but I'm making the effort.

To read the full article and get the rest of the tips you can go to this link:

http://www.familycircle.com/health/walking/tips/easy-ways-to-get-more-from-walks/?sssdmh=dm17.469346&esrc=nwlmb011_11&email=2382141820#

Sherry

How To Do The Kettlebell Fitness Workout

I've been doing the Kettlebell Fitness Workout since the beginning of the week.  I can tell you that I felt results even after the first workout.  Exercise has never been fun for me, but I have to say I'm really liking my kettlebell.

Here's a video I've found for you so you can see what I'm talking about.

Affirmations ...

I believe in the power of affirmations to change our mindsets about our bodies.  It's sometime I do regularly to drown out that little inner critic inside me.  I thought I would start a series of affirmations for us to do together to be kinder to ourselves.

Will you join me?

Another Day ... Another Chance To Do Better

Now that I’ve had a chance to sleep on my dreadful 8.0 a1c result, it’s time to put my big girl panties on and turn it around.  I’m still very upset, but I’m going to do my best to turn a negative into a positive.  I’ve done it before and I can do it again.

The Sweet Diabetic Fitness Challenge

I've decided to do something very simple to get more exercise into my daily routine and I hope you will join me.

If you follow this blog, you know that my left big toe has been amputated due to diabetes.  It was my first clue that I was diabetic and to sum it up that rocked me to core.  The whole catalyst to the amputation was a blister I got while walking for exercise. I got a staph infection and then my blood sugar skyrocketed.  The toe had to go.

Ever since then, I've been afraid of exercise even though I know it is vital to my health.

So here is The Sweet Diabetic Fitness Challenge.

My Fit Of Diabetic Rebellion

I've been a little rebellious again regarding my diabetes.  I've even found it hard to write about it.  I get so disgusted with myself when I make food choices that I know I should not.  I sometimes have compulsions for those carbs and sweets that I know I shouldn't be eating.  Perhaps you experience this too.

Red Exerciser : A Review

I've been using a Red Exerciser and I would like to share my review of it with you.

The first time I became aware of the Red Exerciser was  while flipping channels late at night and landing on an infomercial for it.  I was very intrigued by it because I liked that it didn't take up a lot of space and it was a seated form of exercise.

Easy Diabetic Guidelines

If you are like me, you are always trying to eat right. My doctor has given me a set of diabetic guidelines that uses a simple approach.  I thought I would share it with you.