Posted on

Another NSV: Diabetes Medications

A year and a half ago I was taking 5 metformin pills a day for my diabetes, 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening, and 1 at noon. I now take it only if my morning blood sugar is high enough to warrant it. Over the last 17 days, I have taken 2 metformin pills. Doing the comparison, a year and a half ago I would have taken 85 pills over that same time period.

Similarly, a year and a half ago I was taking 180 units of long-acting insulin a day for my diabetes. I now take it only if my evening blood sugar is high enough to warrant it. Over the last 23 days, I have taken insulin only 3 times, totaling 21 units. Doing the comparison, a year and a half ago I would have taken 4,140 units over that same time period.

Posted on

Major NSV: Walking the Property

Because of my back injury I have never been able to just walk around my property. I have a large lot, and anytime I’ve been out walking I had to sit, or bring a chair, or just not go. Today our contractor was over, and I went out the front door, walked around past the garage and into the yard, walked all the way to the back of the yard (where I had never been!), all the way around to the side garden, carried some paint cans back and put them under the house, and came inside. I was in a small amount of pain the whole time, but I did it! And I am not in massive amounts of pain now!!

This is huge. This is why I’m on this journey! While the weight is coming off at an agonizingly slow rate, I am moving more, and with less pain.

Wow

Posted on

Further Reduction in Diabetes Meds

It is now a week since I needed to take my once-a-day Metformin pill, based on my morning blood sugar measure.

Over the last 2 weeks I have had to take insulin in the evening only twice.

While the weight is coming off agonizingly slowly, I’m clinging to the non-scale-victories (NSV’s).

Posted on

Body vs Weight

I continue to struggle with slow weight loss. If you look at the timeline, you can see that it’s going down, but just creeping down. I lose a pound, go up and down for 3 weeks, lose another, etc. I posted I was down 50 lbs total, but that was about 2 weeks ago and NOTHING since. I am following the plan. I have certain “macros” to follow:

  • Protein between 75 and 90 grams
  • Water at least 80 oz
  • Net carbs under 50

I don’t have a specific calorie target, but generally get between 900 and 1100.

I also follow all of the other guidance about not drinking while eating, and getting exercise. But nothing seems to change.

On the other hand… I’ve gone from a 4XL shirt down to a snug XL. That’s huge! I can wear some tops from a regular store! Unbelievable! I am thinner in many places: face, arms, legs, butt, chest.

On the other hand… I’m still carrying a huge amount of weight in my belly. I’ve gone from a size 26/28 to a 20/22. That’s 2 sizes, which is great, but actually I hit that many months ago, and since then, nothing.

Frustrated!!

Posted on

NSV: Free Shirt

Non-scale victory:: when they throw t-shirts to the audience at the basketball games, it was really theoretical for me: I was not going to be able to keep it if I caught it because it would be too small. Today we got a t-shirt, and it’s an XL. I can keep it! Made me cry…

Posted on

Six Months and Counting

Yep, 6 months since my surgery.

No regrets. I’m in such a better place with my body than I was 15 months ago when I started this journey. And I see improvements almost every day.

People have asked how hard it is sticking with the dietary regimen. I’m not finding it that hard because my whole approach is to be chill and not feel bad if I don’t stick 100% to the plan, but stick to it pretty religiously. It’s become a way of life to have a water bottle with me all the time, bring food with me when I go places where I know it will be mostly food I don’t eat (like lots of carbs and/or sweets), and have food in the house that I love that nourishes me. I generally don’t make a big deal out of most of my meals: just have some tasty protein and a few small things on the side. I go out to eat. I cook and eat with my family. I just make good choices, and my surgery is a tool that helps me not eat too much.

I feel like I’m being successful in my lifestyle changes.

I wish I was losing weight faster; some people have lost 70 or 80 lbs or more after 6 months. I’ve lost 50. That’s not trivial, but not as fast as I’d hoped. On the other hand, I don’t have any of the issues that a lot of people have, like nausea, inability to eat foods they love, hair loss, dehydration, or really anything else. I just can’t eat a lot, have trouble with only a small amount of foods, and need to pay attention more than others. I’m happy with that.

Posted on

Another NSV: Opthalmologist

You know when you go to the Opthalmologist and you have to scoot forward and put your chin and forehead on various machines so they can look in your eyes and take pictures and such? My belly used to get in the way and it was really stressful and uncomfortable. No issues today! 😁😁