Diabetics----ROBOTS in disguise

Today was a big day for me.  A couple of months ago, I received the Medtronic 670G pump.  It is the "artificial pancreas" pump.  However, the sensors weren't available immediately.  So, I  have been using the pump since July and loved just the newer technology.  But today.....I got the sensor!  YAHOO!  So what it does is it literally will manage my blood sugars on it's own.  The sensor tests your blood sugar through interstitial fluid under your skin.  It transmits a blood sugar every 5 minutes to your pump.  Then the pump will begin to adjust the insulin based on these numbers.  This week, I am just in semi-auto mode.  This means it will only shut off the insulin when my blood sugar reaches  low parameters.  Next Friday I go in for additional training and will be in full auto mode.  This is a very exciting advancement for me and can't wait to see how it will impact my A1C and my life in general.

Here's what the sites look like:

 

 

The top one is how I get my insulin.  The bottom one is the sensor.  Amazing how far technology has come.  My good friend Lindi said that when she got diabetes as a kid she carried a backpack around.  Imagine that!

 

Signing off for the day.....Julie...AKA ROBOT!  Take care and God Bless

One Week In---Ideal Protein

Well, I am just over one week in and feeling good.  Physically I feel great, but mentally I was a little bit of a mess when I saw the dr.  It's all a mental game and sometimes I struggle to remember this is my journey and my why's.  I weighed 6 lbs less that I did 10 days ago.  WOOT WOOT!  I thought that's not a lot but realized the scale is moving the way I want it to and 6 lbs of hamburger is a lot! 

So, here's my analysis so far.  I really have not been having hunger throughout which is huge for me.  It proves that so much is mental over physical needs.  While on this diet, you depend on their foods for a couple of meal, I think I'm beginning to look at food and portions as a whole different.  I am seeing that it's about the quality of food rather than the quantity.  Higher protein seems to be the key to staying more full longer.  Less carbs or choosing good carbs has seemed to curb my cravings for junk. 

Here's the only downfall thus far.  My blood sugars have been low.  But, that's fixable right?  After all, the less insulin I can take the better off I am as insulin makes you store fat as well.  So, tomorrow I go to my endocrine dr to review my blood sugars and we will just adjust according to my new lifestyle.

As far as the food goes, for the most part it has been good.  The soups are not my favorite.  But here's the good thing....it's your journey right?  So, you can pick from a huge selection of foods and customize the plan to your needs.  That is what I have liked about it so far.  Week one was rough because it's pre-planned and designed for you to try many different products.  Week 2, I got to pick my foods.  YAY!

Thanks for joining my on this journey to a healthier me. 

Here are my why's:
To be a good role model to my family
To gain energy
To be a stronger person
To prevent future health complications
Physical comfort
To like the reflection in the mirror building self-confidence along the way
To be able to give 100% in everything I do
And last.....TO LOSE WEIGHT AND INCHES!!!!

Until next time....take care and God Bless!

Day 3---the Mental Game & the Myths

So, this morning was rough.  Overnight, my blood sugars spiked and I struggled to get them back down.  I stepped on the scale and I was right back where I started the journey.  ARGH!

I had to stay home to try to get my blood sugars under control.  BIG mistake.  The majority of my food was here at work and I was left to my own demise.  So what did I do....I struggled.  I ate half a muffin for breakfast.  Skipped lunch.  For dinner, we went out and instead of ordering a salad, I ordered boneless chicken wings.  SIGH!

Ok, so here's the reality....nothing and no one is perfect right?  Something I have always struggled with is self sabotage.  The mental game of well there you go, you screwed up again.  Throw it all under the bus and give up. 

Well, I got news for you body.....you are on top of the double decker bus and we are on a mission to shrink you down!

So this morning is day 4.  I have all my food ready and guess what?  The scale was a myth!  I am down lower than I have been since I started this.  So, just a friendly reminder.  Moments are just that moments.  They are room to grow and learn, but they really are just a space in time.  I can't give up....I must continue!

Thanks for the constant support.  Take care and God Bless!

Day 2---Feeling Pretty Good

Day two complete!  Today was a much better day than yesterday food-wise.  For breakfast I had Ideal Protein Crispy Cereal.  You add water, not milk and it already has some powder milk protein in it.  While it wasn't sugary and full of junk I'm used to, I have to say it was good.  And it felt kind of normal to have some cereal in the morning.  But, about an hour after I ate, my blood sugar crashed to 68.  So, instead of panicking and grabbing the closest thing to me, in other words junk.  I just calmly moved my afternoon snack to morning and it worked!  On to lunch.....vegetable chili.  Neither of which I am a big fan of...vegetables or chili.  lol  But, let's give it a whirl.  So, on this diet there are RESTRICTED Ideal Protein Foods.  Basically it means you can only have 1 of these items a day.  Now I know why the chili is restricted.  It was sooooo good.  Made me very happy.  So, I had that, a salad which I added 1 egg to, counts as 2 oz of my protein.  I ate cucumbers & celery for my 2 cups of veggies.  For dinner, I had grilled chicken with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce.  I was so full though, I didn't get my veggies in.  Overall I felt that today was successful!

Day one of my Ideal Protein Journey

Day one is complete.  So, here's my opinion so far. 

Breakfast protein bar was delicious.  Tasted very similar to a fiber one bar which I always like.  I had that and 2 kiwis.  Amazingly, I skipped 10 o'clock starvation and made it all the way until 11:30 for lunch.  So lunch.....that was a little different story.  I had Ideal Protein Chicken Noodle Soup, 2 c of a combination of broccoli and cauliflower, a few blackberries, and a couple bites of salad.  The chicken noodle soup was not the greatest.  In fact, I ended up just drinking it down because I know the importance of the protein values.  In addition, 2 c of vegetables.  Holy Cow....that was a lot.  A small bag of steamers is 2 cups.  I am accustomed to eating smaller meals more frequently.  But, I am a woman on a mission and I ate them all.  By the time I finished that, I was pretty full.  I still ate 3 blackberries, and 2 bites of salad.  I couldn't eat anymore. 

About 2:30, I was bored and that is my biggest downfall.  SNACKING time.  Emotional eating....I eat my boredom away.  It was time for BBQ Crisps.  So my best comparison to them is rice cakes.  I tend to enjoy rice cakes, but BBQ didn't taste the best either.  So, I didn't finish them.  After all, I wasn't really hungry, it was just a gut reaction. 

Dinner Time:  You are pretty much on your own for dinner.  So, I had 10 shrimp, a salad, and because I'm on a modified plan for Diabetes, I am allowed a baked sweet potato.  This was delicious. 

In addition to the changes in food, I am mainly allowed to drink water only.  I purchased a 30 oz stainless steel tumbler.  It keep the water REALLY cold which is the only way I will drink it.  I filled it 3x yesterday and drank them all.  WOOT WOOT!  That is a huge change for me and I know it will help me feel better!

So, diabetes....how did I manage my blood sugars?  They seemed to truck on pretty well considering the changes.  I only had one low and that was about 3.  It was 70 which isn't awful but still had to be aware of the lower number.  So now day two.....Today I try, Crispy Cereal, Vegetable Chili, and Vanilla Crispy Square. 

And the saga continues.  Until next time, take care and God Bless!

 

Embarking on a New Journey--Ideal Protein

Heart palpitations, sweaty palms, overwhelming anxiety, mind full of what ifs....these are all things that may occur when embarking on a journey.  In the past several days, I have gone through all of the above.  Am I going on a trip?  Am I starting a new job?  No.....I am beginning a new weight loss journey.

Over the past 5 or so years, I have continued to increase in weight.  I have made several attempts at conquering it and have had some successes and many more disappointments. 

Last week I went to the Dr. and said I am exhausted all the time and feel pretty crummy most of the time.  We had discussed this weight thing previously.  His suggestion, however, was to go through weight loss surgery.  My husband, Neal, has had extreme success through his surgery.  However, I am not ready to jump on that boat yet.

So, he discussed with me a non-surgery approach of Medically-Supervised Diet.  His PA Mendy Peterson began offering a program called Ideal Protein.  I was apprehensively curious.  So, I made an appointment with her.  At the appointment, I learned more about the program.  It's a program on which you buy some of their foods and supplement with your own veggies and protein choices.  My primary concern was my diabetes.  Launching such a low-carb diet can cause my blood sugars to crash.  So, after discussing this, we decided I could do a modified program.  Basically, I'm allowed a few of my own natural carbs like fruit, sweet potatoes, etc. 

There is also high accountability in the program.  I purchased a scale that automatically uploads to an app call Ideal Smart.  The app then syncs directly to the dr office.  I will see her weekly for the first 4-6 weeks.  Then, I think it's bi-weekly, I can't exactly remember.

I nervously decided to jump all-in.  After all, there is no commitment.  You purchase food weekly so you can stop if you are not feeling success and reaching goals. 
Today is day 1 of the Ideal Protein Protocol for me.  It looks like this:
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Protein Bar & 2 kiwis
Lunch: Ideal Protein Chicken Noodle Soup, 2 c Broccoli, Salad, and 6 oz blackberries.
Snack: Ideal Protein BBQ Chips
Dinner: 8 oz pork tenderloin, salad, 1 c cucumber, 1 c celery, 1 banana

I think it's doable.  It's time I grab this weight by the horns and do this!  My beginning weight is 203.2.  I would love to get between 120 & 135 depending on how I'm feeling.  Below are some not so flattering but necessary before pictures.  Weight loss victories come in many ways and body changes are often the first to show.

Thanks for embarking on this new journey with me!  God Bless and Take Care!