New way of eating - one day at a time

[JohnLarson]

A1C down to 7.6 from 10.5. I am still diabetic. My next lab and appointment is in April. My goal is to have my A1C under 6 and to be deemed "non-diabetic".

[~Beth~]

A1C down to 7.6 from 10.5. I am still diabetic. My next lab and appointment is in April. My goal is to have my A1C under 6 and to be deemed "non-diabetic".

I think that's a pretty good drop in just a little over 90 days

[JohnLarson]

BS: 110

B: 1/2c oatmeal w/banana
L: (Wendy's) salad, two baked potatoes
D: salad, brown rice with steamed veggies, teriyaki and soy sauce.

E: 30min treadmill

Drank plenty of water today. I also stopped eating when full, have leftovers.

[peasouper]

Thats a big drop John. Congratulations! The time is coming when you will no longer be diabetic.

Best wishes Sue

[JohnLarson]

BS: 140

B: 1/2c oatmeal w/banana
D: salad, noodles with leftover steamed veggies.
S: apple

E: 30min treadmill

Not sure why the sugar was up. Maybe the brown rice or the sauce on it all.

[JohnLarson]

Weigh-in day!

216.2 a loss of 1.6.

Busy weekend, well post more later.

[JohnLarson]

I am going to cut back on my journal and posting on the forums for a few weeks.

I find myself obsessing a little too much on the internet and would like to spend some time with family and friends without "having" to get online. I will still be around, but just not posting as much. I will be posting primarily from work, which is fairly busy this time of year also.

Here is a run down of my meals and routine.

My breakfast is pretty standard. 1/2 cup of oatmeal with a banana. I did get some Royal Rivera Pears from Harry & David and had one in my oatmeal Saturday.

I am eating a large salad with romaine lettuce, cucumber and tomato topped with my homemade dressing (vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, good seasons salad dressing pack) before every meal. I am pretty sure the large salad has made an impact on the quantity of the rest of the meal.

I currently eat very little bread and am trying to follow the suggestions of the MWL program.

My favorite snack items are: hummus (chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and salsa) with celery to dip or once in a while I will use fat free pretzels or pretzel thins; air popped popcorn sprayed with water and lightly salted; and gardenia mix.

I bought a potato cooker plastic container for cooking potatoes in the microwave. I use it every time. I also like making rice in a rice cooker, it comes out better for some reason. I used to microwave my vegetables, but now steam them. I really, really like steamed mushrooms.

As far as exercise, I am now doing the treadmill for 30 mins at least 5 times a week. I also have a set of 15 lb and 20 lb dumb bells that I do a few exercises at home with. I plan on looking at ways to be more physically active. Another reason to post less and be online less.

I will not be posting my meals like I have in the past and will just use this thread for weight and any medical updates. I will also post things I need to vent. When I get under 200, I will post another picture.

[JohnLarson]

A few quick updates to my journal.

This past Saturday I went with my wife to "our" resturant, a local Mexican place where we went on our first date. We have gone there pretty much regularly for the last nine years. This was our second time there since I changed how I eat. The waitress asked me what I was doing to get skinny. That was very cool.

A month ago I bought new jeans (size 36 waist). In my excitement, I got 30" length as my baggy loose fitting jeans were that length. It was pretty noticabe that I should have gotten 32" length. I could wear them low and was just going to live with it. Today it was bothering me, so I called JC Penny's and explained that I had been wearing the jeans for a month, but they were the wrong size. They said if I am not happy to bring them in. I used my JCP card, so they could look up the purchase and exchange them. I gathered them all up and exchanged them, no hassle at all. To make it even better, the ones I got are size 34. Yep, 34 x 32 Levi 501's.

Had to share!

[JohnLarson]

Oh, today I also celebrate 23 years without a drink or drugs.

[raimel80]

I love this journal and reading about your journey. It's all so simple- straight as an arrow. And you say 'when I get below 200' none of this bemoaning if it will ever happen. The plan works if you work the plan. Thanks John, for being here and for being a clear sighted inspiration! Congrats on your success and on your other anniversary as well (23 years! ). awesome. Melissa

[peasouper]

Great stuff John!

Sue

[pamplemousse]

Hey John!
I just found your journal and wanted to say congrats on the 23 years. I just celebrated a similar number this summer and it's hard to believe sometimes, but very grateful.

Just finished the 5-day program in Santa Rosa and now have been released back into the wild and doing pretty well. Your words give me good encouragement, so thank you!

Kate

[JohnLarson]

raimel80 Thanks for stopping by. I think Dr McDougall is pretty straight forward, so it is easy. I guess I have been a true believer right from the start.

peasouper Thanks!

pamplemousse Before getting sober and off drugs, I had no concept of being older. I am very grateful to be alive and to be free. I think those of us here that are in recovery from alcohol and drugs have it a little easier with giving up SAD.

-------------

I am going to start journaling more again. I have had a few ups and downs. It has been good for me not to be obsessed with this WOE in some sense, but my progress has not been as good as I want.

My eating has been okay, but not as good as it could be. I still have acne on my forehead from four pieces of pepperoni pizza and a piece of birthday cake on my daughters birthday on Dec 6th. I also ate a SAD meal at my wife's work Christmas Party on the 8th. Add to that a few Hostess Ding Dongs here and there. The acne is getting better, but it is amazing that a 46 year old man would be dealing with big spots of acne. At least it was not on my cheeks.

I used to play racquetball, years and years ago. I found my racquets while looking for old clothes. I got this idea of playing again and got pretty excited about it. I went to the place I used to play at. It is gone. It was a nice place, tennis courts indoor pool and lots of racquetball courts. Gone. After a little research, I have discovered there are no racquetball courts here in town. I am pretty bummed out about that.

I have thought about joining a gym, but I have a treadmill here. Plus I have dumb bells and can get more if I need them. I have a step thing somewhere in storage. I also have a friend that has a weight bench with weights that I can have, I just do not have any room. I want to do more physical stuff, just not sure what. I have decided against joining a gym. This might sound odd, but I do not want a gym to take credit for my lifestyle change. I might try doing push-ups and sit-ups. I have done good on the treadmill. I made a rule: no treadmill - no TV. I have a rusty bicycle that I could fix up and ride, but if it is nice enough to ride, I would rather ride my motorcycle.

I have decided to try to stay away from Facebook for the next 10 days. I find myself on it too much. That means I will be on here more for a bit. I will do my best not to be obsessed. I really like the journal's. Norm's, geo's, and Dissolution's journals make me feel like I know them, even though we are all strangers. They have inspired me in more ways than I can describe. Really all of the journals are awesome.

[JohnLarson]

After reading Norm's journal I have been inspired to do push-ups.

I have never been a push ups guy. Even in the Air Force, my push-ups were weak at best. I do not think I ever did 5 good ones in a row in basic training.

So every morning I am going to do 10 push-ups. They might be good ones or bad ones, but I am going to get on the ground and push. Today's were better than yesterday's.

Today I received a package from my Mom. A little Mom info, type one diabetic, cried on my last visit because I would not order pie at a truck stop diner with her, and thinks eating a whole sliced cucumber on a salad is excessive. In years past she has sent steaks from Omaha Steaks, which at the time was awesome, for Christmas. She knows that I do not eat meat, dairy, oils and refined flour. I have sent her Harry & David's fruit of the month for a while now. She has let me know she is still ordering the meat for my wife and kids (knowing the kids do not eat the steaks). So today a package from Sherrie's Berries showed up. A dozen chocolate covered strawberries.

[carollynne]

Just reading your journal and wanted to say hi! You are doing great, keep it up, the rewards of eating as a McDougaller are so cool!