New ADBB Member, Insulin Pumper

[DebMcFr]

Greetings to all from Pittsburgh, PA.

Ive been a diabetic for 27 years and have been pumping insulin for 5 years. Ive been on and off Atkins for 3 years with the most successful weightloss of #45 about 2 years ago. I kept it off til I began experiencing female trouble and finally had an abdominal hysterectomy last August. Thats when it all fell apart.

I KNOW that when Im low-carbing, that my insulin requirements AND my A1c drop considerably. It IS the way my body was meant to be fueled. But stress is my enemy. Unless I formulate a plan of action during stressful times, I fear Ill fall off the wagon again. I check my blood sugars 6-7 times a day and see my doctor regularly. Im hoping to get some information and support during those stressful times here.

You know, being a healthcare professional (RN since 1979, Paramedic since 1990) whose DH is a physician and KNOWS the right things to do, doesnt necessarily make me DO The right things.

But Im trying....AGAIN!

[2big4mysize]

Re: New ADBB Member, Insulin Pumper

love your siggy go steelers

One thing you can do is have an emergency Atkins kit handy everywhere you go. then even if you are stressed you hve right there at your finger tips help.

Atkins Emergency Kit ready to jump into action for use as required;

pack:

1. some bottles of water to drink at the first sign of stress. This will do several things; one, it will give you a response to the situation that is Atkins friendly; two, it will fill your tummy a bit and delay eating the bad stuff; and three, it will reprogram your "food as a drug" response memories to use water instead (hopefully).

2. a picture of you in those new smaller size ____ and a friendly note from you reminding yourself why it is important to you to be able to wear them. This may help you get a hold of the situation.

3. a written out set of exercises you can do anywhere like isometric muscle contractions or heck even those famous kegel things the ladies were doing in chat a few months ago. Any exercise you can focus your mind on and do will use up the chemicals the stress is producing in a productive manner and deactivate the situation. Just think, your friends are eating cream puffs and you are kegeling. The mental image of that should cause you to laugh out loud and laughter can release stress too.

4. a copy of your goals and reasons to do Atkins as a reminder to again think whether you really want to do what you thought you needed to do. Include a pic of you at your biggest weight and at your smallest weight to help you visualize this.

Now if you still need some food:

5. a crunchie snack food you enjoy like cheese chips, pork rinds, flax chips, nuts, seeds whatever you like. This will give you mouth texture, noise, and chewing action to satisfy several of your "mouth taster" receptors and not just the ones on your tongue.

6. something high fat you enjoy like a small package of laughing cow cheese, creamcheese, macadamia nuts, whatever you enjoy. This will boost your ketosis helping you cutoff any blood sugar driven cravings and still allow you to eat.

7. a salty food you enjoy. Sometimes this will help handle the craving for a sweet. Packaged pickles maybe?

8. a sweet snack as a last resort something you really enjoy (sugarless of course).

Pack this all up like those of us that were Scouts did when we made our survival kits. Make sure you replace what you use and refresh the supplies as needed. For instance, when you drop a size replace the pic and update the note. Keep it handy and make one to take with you or better yet store one at work, in the car, and at home so you always have one at hand.

YOU CAN PLAN YOUR WAY OUT OF A CHEAT!

Above all, hang in there. We all know that deep down inside you love the healthier smaller person that you are becoming more then whatever enjoyable feelings your brain thinks you are getting from the cheating.

[Binsk]

Re: New ADBB Member, Insulin Pumper

Welcome Deb. That's great advice from 2Big. I think I had better get my emergency kit together.

[DebMcFr]

Re: New ADBB Member, Insulin Pumper

Its very good advice. Thanks bunches 2Big. Ive read and reread it and have printed it out to begin putting it together. As a matter of fact, I took a baggie wtih veggies and cheese with me last evening to teach a class at an ambulance service who said that they were providing dinner. Since I couldnt guarantee that there'd be anything Atkins-friendly there (and there wasnt) I had munchies! Its a baby step, but the first one in making sure I can stick with this.

Thanks again!

[Coop2004]

Re: New ADBB Member, Insulin Pumper

Welcome, Deb!!

As always, 2Big's advice is right on!! (Thank you, 2Big )