Bakechef and simonbaker, and all others who are trying to lose weight, when I was first diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the late 90's, I was in a panic. Give up BBQ sauce? It has sugar in it. Give up coffee? I can't drink it without sugar. Cookies and milk? My favorite snack. Hot cocoa? Anything better on a cold winter's day? Pasta? I grew up on pasta. As the months flew by, I calmed down. I had been seeing all foods as carbs or had sugar in them. Common sense took over. I did cut way back on foods that had sugar in them. My sugar levels were some days too low. A quick glass of orange juice or a very large spoonful of sugar brought my sugar right back up. And I didn't die from having that sugar. As time went by, I slowly adjusted my diet so that those episodes happened less and less frequently. And when they did, I was finding that the sugar trick was just too much. I had been going without sugar so long, that I now couldn't tolerate the sweetness. I also discovered that there are good and bad carbs. Potatoes are a good carb. (What a relief. I love baked potatoes.)
Today, the only sugar in my diet at all is in my coffee. I promised myself, after trying all the chemical sweeteners, if I could have sugar in just my coffee, then I would gladly give up sugar in every other form. As time went by, I started to cut back on the amount of sugar. I now put less sugar in my coffee and do not stir it. As a result, I get a mouthful at the bottom of the cup. BIG YUK! So I never drink that last mouthful.
Today, I will on occasion eat a small chocolate chip cookie. I never finish it. Too sweet. I would rather have a big bowl of broccoli than peas, carrots, or other veggie that is high in natural sugar. I love most veggies. but have developed a strong fondness for the veggies that are best for me.
It is all a matter of changing your life style. And it happens over time very slowly. You learn new eating habits and they become a natural part of your life. With portion control, you find that if you go into a restaurant and they bring you an enormous plate full to the brim of food, you are lucky if you eat a quarter of it. And if you take a doggie bag home, it really goes to the doggie.
Don't be so hard on yourselves. All of you will get a handle on this thing called "sensible eating." You will run into folks who all have an aunt or uncle who is on insulin. They cheat all the time and it didn't do them any harm. That's them, not you. For some, counting calories works. Others, it is keeping track of sugar and carbs. Keeping a food diary works for others. The only right system is the one that works for you.
Picture your heart doing a 'happy dance' every time you eat right. Think of your blood just rushing though your arteries and veins when you eat foods low in cholesterol. You know how you feel when you have eaten way too much? Well that is how your arteries feel when you eat a big fat grease laden burger. Sluggish.
You will hit plateaus, your body's shape will change. Just remember you put the weight on over a long period of time. It will take time to lose it. It doesn't happen over night.
A.A. has an acronym of H.A.L.T. When a member feels like they are going to fall off the wagon, remember H.A.L.T. Don't allow yourself to get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. When any one of those feelings creep up on you, that is when you are most likely to fall off your diet wagon.
