I need help with stick-to-itiveness

[Tspencerbsa]

I am currently about 50 pounds overweight. I have the best intentions on sticking to a diet that’s diabetic and low carb, however I find it difficult to stick to any plan. I need! All suggestions are appreciated on how to cultivate this quality.

[ac7ss]

We are here to help!
As the 12 steppers say, "One day at a time".

Look at the trend on the scale, not the day to day. I fluxuate about +- 2 pounds per day.

Find someone to report to that you can be held accountable by.

[zoed · Accepted solution]

Me too!  but we CAN do it.

My problem is that once I've fallen off my plan...it all goes to pot 😞

But just get back on and think of what you want to achieve. Every step is better than none.

good luck

Zoe

[Tspencerbsa]

Thank you all for the advice and encouragement.

[Manticone]

I don't have diabetes, but I have blood sugar problems all the same, and diabetes runs in my family.

I also crave sweets. While I am not overweight, I need to watch sugar because I get very dizzy/ spacy on sugar.

I find the easiest thing is to find herbal alternatives to sugar that you can put in drinks, such as iced tea or home made hot cocoa (which can be made very healthfully!)

Also, for anything sweet, to stick to drink/ shake mixes that are lower sugar.

I find liquid stevia ranges from bitter as heck to actually...okay. There are all sorts of new brands now, many touting 'non-bitter.' Whenever I feel like something sweet, I usually go to David's Tea and get one of their dessert teas, and either make it hot or cold with stevia. Usually, it tastes so delicious that my craving for sugar diminishes right away.

Also intense sugar cravings can be caused by low protein intake or just all around low blood sugar. I find if I eat a little protein at every meal (I like soy cheese), that my sugar cravings die right down.

Good luck!

[Manticone]

Also, if you like fresh food (I am vegan so couldn't easily do the Atkins etc.) then try to stick mostly to non-starchy vegetables and berries, which are usually lower in sugar compared to tropical fruits.

The types of foods that are lower carb which actually fill me up and make me feel good are:

-avocado

-peanuts (raw)

-cashews

-pistachios

-pine nuts

-grapefruit

-spinach and kale

-mushrooms (I fry portabella mushrooms and melt soy cheese on top)

-almond milk

-raspberries/ blueberries/ blackberries

-tomatoes

-asparagus

-artichoke

-soy cheese, tempeh, and fermented/ smoked tofu

-if you eat meat, then any healthier meat product that isn't too high in fat, such as shrimp or tuna

I wouldn't cut fats too low, though. It can actually negatively impact your metabolism. 🙂 Some people find it helps to get a diabetic diet plan for the week, pre-make the meals, and keep everything in tupper ware to heat up so everything is already predetermined.

The #1 thing that will probably derail you is going too long without eating. That's when most people start nibbling on whatever is available.