Getting Punchy

I am punchy as you can see by my smiley breakfast bowl.  This picture shows the last of my fresh fruit until I get out to the store later today. I have been home for a week in CT with snow coming every other day.  From all the shoveling I seem to have upper body strength like the Incredible Hulk after our unusually snowy January. Yesterday I was shoving our daughter's Honda Civic around the ice to get it back into the driveway before the plows came through.

I find that the physical activity I am getting in by shoveling out from under the snow increases my appetite consideraby.  Last night I had a slight indescretion with a container of almonds.  I just didn't want to stop myself from having a second hit.  That unfortunate decision I made at 9 p.m. sabotaged the day's hard work. I won't let it deter me - this morning is a new day. 

Blue, our 11 1/2 year old Blue Merle Collie is punchy too.  She was interrupting my work on the keyboard by putting her snout under my wrists and shoving them off the keyboard.  I was tired of her little game so I cranked up the radio and played hide and seek with her to the tune of "She's A Brick House" and several other good old tunes.  She sleeps peacefully now and I got in 15 extra minutes of physical activity - I even broke a sweat.
 
My breakfast consisted of a small clementine, 1/2 cup of berries with a 1/2 cup serving of 1% low-fat cottage cheese.  I will add a 1/2 cup of high fiber cereal to this combo on occasion too but my morning bg was 129 and I like to keep things lower than that if I can.  I am searching for breakfast and lunch ideas that can be prepared ahead of time so that when it is meal time, I just grab, toss in measuring cup and plate up.  Any suggestions?

A1C Time again - Happy New Year

A1C Time Again - Happy New Year

Evidence of our family's Christmas has been packed away until next year. I expect I will be chewing on the Extra Dessert Delights chewing gum that filled my Christmas Stocking for weeks to come.

The family came through our first holiday season with me as a diabetic. My loved ones did an amazing job supporting my efforts and I know I could not have done as well without their help.  With their support it was not as difficult to stay on target as I thought it would be. To be honest, I have had more trouble staying on track since the New Year began. It is as if I breathed a big sigh of relief and went crazy eating 'healthy' food choices. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. More on that another time.

During the holiday seasion of 2010, I learned more about my body's responses to different situations. I had surgery in early December that raised my BS numbers as did a delightful visit from our daughter and son-in-law. This pancreas of mine still responds nicely to exercise. I was cleared to get back to cardio work yesterday - and I want to continue taking advantage of  the benefits of physical activity in 2011.

On Monday I will have a new A1C test taken and find out the truth about how well I managed diabetes during the most recent 3 month period. In truth, I expect it to be higher than the last time but not much higher. I am still getting the hang of tracking my numbers and carbs. It is so much easier to write down the food as I eat it. And better still if I have the day's meal planned before I have breakfast. My BS numbers range from 80's to the highest of 182. My doc recommends I stay below 140 and that I do not swing more than 40 points in either direction.

I still don't understand how I wake up with BS at 137, eat a "proper low carb breakfast" and find that my #'s go to high 80's before noon. Then have a spike only to 140 and a drop to 90 again between lunch, snack, dinner. I don't understand why I spike in the night while I sleep. However,  I do understand this:

It is my responsibility to control my numbers as best as I can. Armed with a low carb food plan, my sugar free gum, a new pair of sneakers and a walk around the block before or after work, I will keep tracking, counting, and praying the big D will continue to be under control.