automated eating tracker

Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Oct 26, 2019 2:04 pm

Soprano, you are totally right. In that regard I'm lucky I check and I know and I'm doing what I can to minimize frequency and altitude of my glucose excursions. :-)

Latest data is that something like 50% of Americans are either diabetic or prediabetic. Although I'm not sure how they can even know this, because they speculate that 90% of the prediabetics don't know it. That could be a lot of people on our forum that deal with mid-afternoon slumps and/or stubborn weight.
And people are all so different, so there are many that have post-prandial spikes but normal fasting blood glucose, so they wouldn't be alerted by their doctor. What patients really need is to have a fasting insulin drawn along with fasting glucose each year - that would give a much fuller picture of who is insulin resistance (probably something like 60%+ of us - yeeks).

Saturday, October 26

119.0
Fasting Blood Glucose: 97

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 1 egg, collagen protein + MCT oil
Blood Glucose: 100 before walk
after long walk: 103
L: yogurt w/berries
decaf coffee w/half&half
glucose 90 min post-yogurt: 102
D: Ugh. Social event tonight. White bean chicken chili + squash side dishes + fall desserts. It is an S Day but I really don't want to eat this stuff. I might enjoy the taste-testing competition for the fall desserts. I'm personally bringing egg nog for taste-testing. So maybe I'll just have the green salad + taste-tests.
So, I just scooped out some chicken and broth, then had a big caesar salad, then taste-tested. When I got home, my BG was 127. That was 2 hours post-treats. So I'm pretty sure it was up to at least 140 tonight.
I also had more anxiety during and after the even than normal. I started out fine, but then my anxiety began building. For some reason, I kept worrying that I had underwear lines showing on my pants. ? Weird to worry about that so much. Then my usual worries about talking too much, bla, bla, bla, crept in and by the time I was driving home I was quite confused as to the source of all the fears.

Moving
I'm letting myself off the hook today. If I feel like going on a walk/jog, fine. But I think my body needs rest and I'm not going to push myself. My resting HR has STILL not gone back to normal from when I was sick, even though I've been "better" for 2 weeks.
I did feel up to a nice walk - went for a couple hours w/HappyHerder.
GMB Vitamin
GMB Integral Strength
Nutritious Movement
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

pinkhippie
Posts: 1293
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:00 pm

Re: Friday, Week 7

Post by pinkhippie » Sat Oct 26, 2019 2:54 pm

automatedeating wrote:
Sat Oct 26, 2019 1:56 am
A post of mine from October of 2013 -- just thought it was fascinating. Encouragement to all of those that wonder if they can really change. I have changed. Take a look -
automatedeating wrote:
Fri Oct 11, 2013 10:52 pm

Weird day. I didn't really have a breakfast, then when I got home from work around 12 noon I was very hungry and anticipating soup. We all went out to eat, but didn't get food until about 2pm. I was so hungry, I started thinking about eating things/snacking/sweets, temptations that haven't bothered me much on N days for the past month and a half. I think this might mean the 'honeymoon' of No S is fading for me. I am scared but steadfast, doubting but determined, discouraged but diligent, slow to change but sure of my habit, tired but tenacious.

Someday this will be just part of who I am--the weird part will be having an interest in snacks, seconds or sweets during the week.

I want to change so badly. I want to be a moderate eater. I have been eating moderately since August 25th. The problem is I am excruciatingly aware that most dietary changes don't stick long-term. I am painfully cognizant that most weight loss doesn't last. I'm on this forum for the social support that I know will help me experience lasting change. I look forward to a time when I don't have rely on a daily check-in, but that time seems so distant I can't really imagine it yet.
LOL about that last part. I love this forum! It's my diary! It's not so much that I need as it fulfills something in me. But I couldn't see that 6 years ago! Such a journey.
That is very encouraging and so cool to be able to look back on! It really is such a long journey to change your habits so permanently it doesn't even seem like work any more most of the time, its just what you do. Thanks for the reminder!

I also have a fitbit and study my sleep on it. I find it fascinating that it thinks I am awake for about an hour total every night, even when I think I slept straight through. The only time I get really good scores are on the weekend when I sleep for 9.5 hours and then it thinks I got 8 or a little more.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say Hi! :)

ladybird30
Posts: 1118
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 10:41 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by ladybird30 » Sat Oct 26, 2019 8:33 pm

Taste testing deserts as a social activity? I've never heard of such a thing. Perhaps I need to get out more.
Three meals a day - not too little not too much, but just right

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:53 pm

Ha! Ladybird, it's just something silly my friends do to make the get-together more fun.

Sunday, October 27
118.4
FBG: 99
Sleep Score: 84

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, bacon & an egg, collagen proteins + MCT oil
dessert 1: banana slices & peanut butter - baseline 102; 30 min 106; 60 min 119
L: yogurt w/berries - 120 after 45 min; 113 after 2.5 hours
D: decaf coffee w/half&half. Just wasn't hungry, which was weird because I was hungry all morning.
BUT, and this is an important BUTTTTTTTT, I have LEARNED the HARD WAY!!!!! that when I am not hungry it just makes me feel sick to eat because it's "time to eat".

Moving
Will walk/jog during either Creator's play practice or during Challenger's basketball tryouts. Also set up a walk date with a friend and her dog.
GMB Vitamin
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:26 pm

Monday, October 28th

118.4
FBG: 92
Sleep Score: 85

Eating
B: Coffee w/half&half, collagen proteins + MCT oil
L: yogurt w/berries
D: hamburger patty, cheese slice, liver, onions, bacon, pickles, tomato, guacamole
decaf coffee w/half&half and milk

Moving
Thinking a walk/jog in this cold fall weather will be pretty awesome at some point today.

Creator and I finished Harry Potter #5 and now we are taking it easy with Gregor the Overlander, book 4. It feels so much easier to get through a chapter. :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

cedar
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am
Location: Australia

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by cedar » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:40 am

I love how you read with your son, that's so lovely. My youngest reads the Harry Potter books and then we watch the movie as he reads them, we are waiting patiently for him to finish The Half Blood Prince so we can watch it 😂.

TexArk
Posts: 804
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:50 am
Location: Foothills of the Ozarks

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by TexArk » Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:22 am

Yes...listen and watch Paul Saladino. He talks so fast that it takes several listens. Here is a good one if you haven't seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ImBig6Jv0

I have a grass fed farmer friend who gives me all the liver that they haven't been able to sell after a certain time period. They are vacuum sealed and frozen and I have a freezer to hold my stash. They recently gave me a heart, but I haven't tried it yet.
24.7 bmi Feb. 2019
26.1 bmi Sept. 2018
31.4 bmi July 2017

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Oct 30, 2019 12:16 am

Cedar - I totally get the "waiting patiently!" I read all the HPs to my Challenger and probably finished them all 4 years ago. So he has not been allowed to (re)watch anything beyond where Creator and I am!!! Poor kid!

Tex - I will check that youtube out! I definitely tend more toward the podcasts, since I can listen while I walk - but I liked the title. :-)

Tuesday, October 29
118.4

Eating
B: coffee w/milk, collagen proteins + MCT oil
L: yogurt w/berries
D: baked white fish, saurkraut, guacamole - a surprisingly good meal.

Moving
A fairly low-key day. Lots of meetings, grading, and teaching, then came home and decided to spend a couple hours cleaning and reorganizing my bedroom corner where I'm putting a desk and dreaming about my sabbatical work. I want to buy a monitor to hook up to my laptop so I can work with 2 monitors like I do at work. And I want great lighting and I want to get my printer/scanner/copier all hooked up.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Oct 30, 2019 1:15 pm

Wednesday, October 30

FBG: 91
Sleep Score: 90!

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, collagen proteins + MCT oil
L: yogurt w/berries
D: date night - porterhouse steak w/ broccoli and asparagus and blue cheese
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
I should get some decent walking in today during Creator's play practice.
My resting heart rate is kind of stuck at 68/69 (normal 65), so I am not sure what's going on with my recovery, but I don't want to overtrain.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:13 pm

Thursday, October 31
Happy Halloween!

118.0
FBG: 95
Sleep Score: 84 - I feel tired and gritty and unmotivated today!
Resting HR: 69

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, collagen proteins + MCT oil
L: yogurt w/berries
D: leftover steak, ground lamb, onions, tomatoes, cheese
decaf coffee w/half&half
regular coffee before trick-or-treating!

Moving
Taking Creator Trick or Treating and then to a Family Fun Night so I'll get lots of steps.
I'm dressed up as a kangaroo (with a joey, of course) and Creator is Chewbacca
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 01, 2019 1:02 pm

Friday, Nov 1

FBG: 95
Resting HR: 71 (hmmm, I also have a sore throat but just assumed it was dry air or something but maybe I'm fighting something....)
Sleep Score: 78 (mostly because I just didn't sleep long enough, I think)

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, eggs and bacon, collagen protein + MCT oils, walnuts (hungry this morning!)
L: yogurt w/berries (BG 125 90 min postprandial, 114 2 hours postprandial)
D: 3 fried chicken legs and 2 thighs - so hungry today!
decaf coffee w/half&half
diet coke

watched Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them. :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:11 pm

Saturday, November 2

FBG: 100
Resting HR: 72!

Am I sick again? I've had a sore throat for a couple of days, and quite a bit of congestion this morning. But the real clue earlier this week was how tired I got + my resting HR started climbing again. I wonder if getting sick also helps explain that I had sugar cravings yesterday. I managed to avoid eating candy, but I had to use willpower.
I think perhaps Halloween triggered me to want to eat candy. I've never taken a Halloween "off" from eating candy...... my limbic system is probably not pleased that it did not receive the usual dopamine-hit. That combined with the cold coming on, and .... boom.

So I haven't had a cold since early 2018, and then got one about a month ago, and now seem to be sick again? :evil:
I kind of think I had been overtraining. So much walking and jogging, every day, and resistance work often thrown in too. Just a bit too much too fast, even though I thought since it wasn't "intense" I didn't really have to worry about an upper limit.

I want to be extremely lazy today (Saturday). No schoolwork, only enjoyable housework, no driving kids from one end of the planet to the other based on their whimsical desires. Eat whatever I feel like today. I'm taking a generous S Day just to let the willpower decompress.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, bacon & eggs
L: yogurt w/berries
D: nachos w/ground lamb, cheese, and guacamole
planned dessert: peanut butter and dark chocolate (X2)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:59 pm

Sunday, November 3

FBG: 97
resting HR: 72

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts, a few banana slices
L: yogurt w/berries
D: meatballs
Planned dessert: dark chocolate & peanut butter
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Walked lots today. Even sprinted a couple times
Did my gmb vitamin moves. I'm designing a sort of routine using the daily moves - putting them into a longer series that I'm going to memorize.

Struggling with some... anxiety. About seeing my counselor tomorrow, about getting all my grading/feedback done, about my boys' facing hard things in their respective lives (friend issues for Creator, self-criticism things for Challenger) about facing/dealing with some difficult students (spring quarter! - but I'm already chewing on this), and worrying that my current students are dissatisfied. :|
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
BackToThin
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:29 am

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by BackToThin » Sun Nov 03, 2019 4:27 pm

Great job on Halloween even though you felt unmotivated!!
No-S Lifestyle (~Don't Eat Like An Idiot Diet) and re-learning how to eat like a normal person after failing post calorie counting. More than half a year of that sent me diving face first into a giant slice of cheese cake and ultimately fat again.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Nov 04, 2019 3:04 pm

Thanks BtT. :-) I can't believe it myself, kind of. Candy candy everywhere, and not a bit of nutrition. :lol:

Monday, November 4

119.0
FBG: 107 (eek)
resting HR: 73 (yes, I have the sniffles again - that could also help explain my high FBG.)

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries, last of the fried chicken
D: last of the ground lamb, onions, 2 eggs
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Went on a short walk first thing. Goal to get to 13.5ksteps through 2-3 walks.
Also GMB Vitamin

Working on meditating a little using a little biofeedback sensor I bought through HeartMath. Also have counseling today - I might show it to him.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:31 pm

Tuesday, Nov 5

119.0
FBG: 101
Sleep Score: 82

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries
D: ham, liver, bacon, onions
decaf coffee w/half&half
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
liveitup
Posts: 265
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:17 am
Location: California

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by liveitup » Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:15 am

You and I are completely opposite eaters, Auto. :lol:
Also, you have been doing extremely well with eating on autopilot this year!
BMI March 2021: 28
Using NoS to eliminate emotional eating.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:06 pm

Liveitup - ha! Yes, I've noticed that. :-) We all have different carbohydrate tolerances - if only my genetics were more cooperative.

Actually, I'm going to do some experiments with lentils and maybe some other beans to see if I can have small portions without sending my blood sugar through the roof. Grains of all types make my blood sugar spike (even the wholest of whole grains, lol and shockingly there's not even a noticeable difference in the blood sugar response for me between refined and whole!!), and so do foods like potatoes, but I'm not as sure about legumes. But I'm not much of a cook, and soaking and spicing and all that jazz is something I'm not very good about sticking with. So I need to find a way to make them simply but so they still have some flavor.

Wednesday, November 6
119.0
FBG: 96

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: 2 eggs, cheese, guacamole and a glass of milk
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
13.5k steps - 3 walks

Here is a quote from Ellen Davis (MS in Applied Clinical Nutrition). I loved it and it so reflects my own approach to eating. I was especially chuffed that she mentioned habits at the end, and my own philosophy of habit-building that makes me hug NoS with gratitude:

I believe that each of us is an expert in our individual care and feeding. You should know your body better than anyone else; after all, you are the one living in it. Yes, physicians have had years of training in medicine. And just like any profession, some are quite good at providing care, and some aren't. Doctors can provide assistance, but only you can make changes, and only you should have the final say on the treatment of your body.

It is my belief that each of us should listen to our own voice above all others. I also believe that good health is a journey. It is only over time and through experimentation that we are able to listen to our bodies and define for ourselves what foods and behaviors help us feel better, and let go of any behaviors which make us feel worse.

Habits aren't built overnight, and they won't be dismantled over the short term. Small changes add up, and you can feel better one day at a time.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:01 pm

Love that quote thanks for sharing

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

User avatar
BackToThin
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:29 am

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by BackToThin » Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:43 am

automatedeating wrote:
Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:06 pm

Actually, I'm going to do some experiments with lentils and maybe some other beans to see if I can have small portions without sending my blood sugar through the roof.
...
I made this one
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13978/lentil-soup/

and it was really good. I hope it's something you can eat.
No-S Lifestyle (~Don't Eat Like An Idiot Diet) and re-learning how to eat like a normal person after failing post calorie counting. More than half a year of that sent me diving face first into a giant slice of cheese cake and ultimately fat again.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:02 pm

Hey thanks BtT! I looked up that recipe right away. Unfortunately, after looking at the lentil soup recipe - the carrots and crushed tomatoes together would spike me. I could leave out the carrots and substitute chicken broth for the tomatoes, perhaps. But I think what I'll start with experiment-wise is just making plain lentils (do you have a favorite type - green or black? update - I think I'll use black because they have the most protein which should help offset the carbs) in chicken broth, and then eating them with meat, or adding meat to the pot. Depending on my results, I can include carrots or crushed tomatoes (not both), and start fiddling with things.
I have NOT adjusted to daylight savings this week (yet). I think I have a sinus infection, too, making my resting HR crazy high and my fasting blood sugar elevated too. So I am falling asleep around 8:30 and waking up at 5. Pretty much exactly an hour earlier than before we fell back. I'm not going to worry about it; I'll let my body adjust on its own. I'm lucky I can do that - spring forward is harder on me.

Thursday, November 7

FBG: 105

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts
L: yogurt w/berries
D: beef, eggs, and onions/spaghetti for kids
decaf coffee w/half&half
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
BackToThin
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:29 am

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by BackToThin » Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:30 pm

I hope the recipe mods work out for you.

Cool. I didn't know black lentils existed! I have to use them next time.

I wish we could be on daylight savings year round. But, I always do the time changes on Friday evening -- even though it messes up my Saturday appointments.
No-S Lifestyle (~Don't Eat Like An Idiot Diet) and re-learning how to eat like a normal person after failing post calorie counting. More than half a year of that sent me diving face first into a giant slice of cheese cake and ultimately fat again.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 08, 2019 3:21 pm

I've got black lentils on my grocery list! The "lentil blood glucose" experiment is scheduled for this weekend! :-)

Friday, November 8

FBG: 95

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 1 cup of bone broth
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: "wedgie" burger at Red Robin with the boys
decaf coffee w/half&half

I cheered this article about eating the same foods every day. :-)
https://medium.com/sugar-free-zone/how- ... 8a2a6354c2
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Fri Nov 08, 2019 5:28 pm

Interesting article, when I'm working my breakfast and lunch are the same each day :)

I do like variety for the evening meal but week to week is pretty similar :)

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:08 pm

Saturday, Nov 9th!

118.4
FBG: 105
Sleep Score: 80

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 1 egg, broccoli, carrots, celery - dipped in ranch (BG - 115)
L: peanut butter & dark chocolate (BG - 110)
D: salmon
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Despite fighting a sinus infection this week, I was feeling pretty good this morning. Resting HR down to 71 (from 73 all week), and after a great work morning (got lots done), I took a nice hot bath and then felt up for a nice hike. So HappyHerder and I got in a surprisingly good walk. I'm at 11.5K steps, not far from my daily goal of 13K.
I wisely opted out of a get-together with a friend and a birthday party invite tonight. So a very restful day. Creator wants to play a board game tonight after dinner.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:40 pm

Sunday, November 10
FBG: 100

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 1/2 banana (a few bites of banana shot me right up to 123)
L: 1/2 a banana, 1/2 a cinnamon twist donut, part of a brownie
D: some cheddar sour cream potato chips and chicken noodle soup

Moving
Went on a long walk. I'm at 12k steps at the moment.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

cedar
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am
Location: Australia

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by cedar » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:56 pm

You're doing so well with your steps Auto! 👏👏

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Nov 11, 2019 2:54 pm

Thanks Cedar. :-)

Monday, November 11
FBG: 98
Sleep Score: 80
Resting HR: 71

Been a rough weekend, fighting nausea and diarrhea and headaches. Probably party sinus infection related, is my guess, and partly stress related. I had very little appetite and also felt dizzy and lightheaded. Much worse during the night both Sat and Sun night. Thankfully today I don't teach because I am no shape to.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries
D: part of a hot dog, part of a banana
decaf coffee w/half&half
as the evening progresses my nausea seems to return

Moving
Will strive for my usual 13k steps. The nausea, etc. is generally absent during the day.

We are getting another puppy! (Yeah yeah it does not escape me that this decision might be what triggered the nighttime nausea. Last time we got a puppy I had full-on panic attacks. This time I refuse to let my fears stop me from doing what I love and what my kids love). Anyway, this litter of puppies will be born in the next couple of weeks. They will be 1/2 golden retriever and 1/2 american cocker spaniel. They'll be ready to come home in mid-Jan. HappyHerder will be getting a little sister! He happens to ADORE other dogs, so apart from the initial adjustment I expect him to be happy about this. We have picked out her name already, as well. But I haven't thought of her name on the forum yet. We will go visit the puppies when they are about 4 or 5 weeks old, around Christmas time, to surprise the boys with the news. :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Mon Nov 11, 2019 5:04 pm

Wonderful news re the Puppy so pleased for you.

Hope you feel better soon

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by sharon227 » Tue Nov 12, 2019 2:34 am

Hope you are feeling better! And a new puppy sounds awesome.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Nov 12, 2019 2:48 pm

Thanks Sharon and Soprano -
I'm feeling better in the mornings, but more icky in the evenings. I'm kind of wondering if it's anxiety. Anyhoo. Fine at the moment.

Tuesday, November 12
117.8
FBG: 100

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: a little bit of steak, chicken, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Yesterday I barely moved. LOL. And I think that was exactly what I needed. :lol:
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
BackToThin
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:29 am

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by BackToThin » Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:36 pm

How did the lentil experiment go?

Yay for new puppy!!!
No-S Lifestyle (~Don't Eat Like An Idiot Diet) and re-learning how to eat like a normal person after failing post calorie counting. More than half a year of that sent me diving face first into a giant slice of cheese cake and ultimately fat again.

cedar
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am
Location: Australia

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by cedar » Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:04 am

How gorgeous 🐕🐕!

Hope you feel better soon Auto x

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Nov 14, 2019 2:46 am

Hey BtT! No lentil experiment yet - I've been so weird-feeling, and very little appetite.

Thanks Cedar. 2 puppies. :-)

I'm feeling better, but still nervous that this sickness is hanging on. It's almost like that morning sickness feeling when you dread its return, and then sure enough it comes back. And no - not pregnant! Sexy has had a vasectomy, and I have an IUD. I kind of wonder if it's like a generalized anxiety attack of sorts? It comes on in the evenings, and then the evening just sort of weighs heavily on me. It started when we decided to get the puppy. I know I want the puppy. The same thing happened when we got HappyHerder, actually. I even ended up on Xanax for a month. So it triggers a lot of fears for me. But I want to push through because the joy I eventually have from pets is worth it to me. But golly I'm neurotic. :roll:

Wednesday, November 13

117.2
FBG: 102

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: 2 of Creator's chicken nuggets and a handful of fries
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Lots of walking today - over 15ksteps
also swam with Creator

Interesting that once I get triggered for anxiety, it's like a freight train to stop. I've been ruminating over work constantly, the kids - fears of them dying, etc., etc., thinking about flying to Europe with my mom next Sept and imagining the plane crashes and then my kids don't have a mom. Holy crimeny I am so neurotic this week!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
BackToThin
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:29 am

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by BackToThin » Thu Nov 14, 2019 8:35 pm

Sorry you're feeling lousy. I hope you're well soon.
No-S Lifestyle (~Don't Eat Like An Idiot Diet) and re-learning how to eat like a normal person after failing post calorie counting. More than half a year of that sent me diving face first into a giant slice of cheese cake and ultimately fat again.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Nov 14, 2019 8:48 pm

Thursday, November 14
FBG: 98

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, hard-boiled egg
L: walnuts, yogurt w/berries
D: beef bowl salad

Moving
Looking good for 14k steps - yep, got it. :-)
pushups, couple pull-ups
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

cedar
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am
Location: Australia

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by cedar » Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:55 am

Sending you peace and good thoughts Auto💕

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 15, 2019 2:00 pm

Thank you BtT and Cedar. I am greatly improved this morning.

So I woke up feeling more like me again. It's been a weird week, but life and work things have actually gone well - lots done that needed to be done. I'm feeling a tiny bit of a breather at the moment. And my appetite was normal yesterday and I didn't have any nausea, so victory there!

Friday, November 15
FBG: 99

Eating
B: coffee w/milk, hard-boiled egg
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: finished off the rest of Creator's leftovers from a Hibachi place (steak, chicken, with some veggies and a tiny bit of rice)
decaf coffee w/half&half that I always want lol
fail - had some of Creator's popcorn. That reminds me I failed last night and had one of Sexy's chocolate chip cookies. And then I had a small bowl of ice cream. That was super delicious, actually. Chocolate peanut butter.
I guess a weird week. Now I want more decaf coffee.

Moving
Feeling tired (but not anxious) this morning, but I still want to aim for 13.5K steps today. Update - only got 7k steps yesterday, but I did do a few pull-ups.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Nov 16, 2019 3:34 pm

Saturday, November 16

116.6 (this low number reflective of my lack of appetite this week - I'm sure this will rebound as my appetite returns)

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, bacon & eggs
L: strawberry sundae from Costco, a bowl of potato chips, diet coke
D: 1 piece of Costco pizza
dessert: peanut butter w/dark chocolate

Moving
Although I hope to go on a nice walk w/HappyHerder today, my main priority is home care today.
I'm going to clean up/puppy proof the backyard - I actually need to mow one more time. The grass is a little long, and I'm thinking about potty-training my new puppy out there, so I want it nice and short. It's winter here, so once I get it short enough it won't grow until spring. Challenger has a couple basketball games, but I might let Sexy handle those today. Also update - easily got 15k steps today. Got all my house chores done and then even had lots of energy to go on a long walk/jog w/HappyHerder

I also want to clean out the garage, take some stuff to goodwill, and reorganize the kitchen area for puppy (without actually getting the crate set up, etc., because the kids don't know yet). I have three different crates that I've been collecting for 3 years..... 2 summers ago I actually put a deposit on another mini-Aussie and then freaked out. That was also the summer HappyHerder got so sick. So I backed out. Then this last summer I came quite close again but couldn't commit. Finally I'm ready. I think picking a breed that is known for friendliness is what has helped me, and, believe it or not, therapy to recognize that it's OK to have interests that other people don't share. For example, pets are my hobby and that's OK. Most people want to make sure pets are relegated to "on the side" and it's almost considered like a character flaw to act like your pets are too important. Screw that! I like animals! They bring me joy, they bring my kids joy, and my husband is tolerant of my hobby. Ha.

The puppies are due today!!! I can't wait to hear from the breeder! I feel like we'll probably call her (on the forum - nickname) PuppyBaby or FluffyGirl or something like that. What do you guys think? She'll most likely be 50 pounds (full grown), black long fur, and very energetic and hopefully extremely sweet and friendly. I already call her BabySister when I talk to HappyHerder, but if I use that on here people might think it's a human, lol. Maybe PuppySister. We have her real name picked out and I adore it. Ooh, maybe I could call her SweetFlower, which is a little hint into her true name but I promise you'll never guess it.
So yes. I'm nesting. 8 weeks to nest, haha. Update - puppies born! There are 2 females and 5 males, and we are pick #2! So we'll get a female for sure. Whoop, whoop, so exciting! It's like Christmas!

My other priority today is to simply NOT DO SCHOOLWORK. I haven't been sleeping well, or eating enough this past week because I've been so scattered with work. I have multiple ongoing projects, all requiring creativity, focus, and time from me. I've been working as hard as I can, and I know from experience I need to have a full day of break from this type of work. I'm also hoping the puppy will distract me a bit from being so overly invested in my teaching.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Sun Nov 17, 2019 8:41 am

Love that you are so excited about the puppy, name suggestion "flowerpup" :)

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 17, 2019 1:39 pm

Soprano, Flowerpup it is! That's perfect!

I'll be training Flowerpup as a Therapy Dog. Even if it doesn't work out, the early efforts should make for a very socialized dog!

Sunday, November 17

117.2

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: steak
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Lots of walking today - 13k steps reached. Creator has play practice and Challenger has basketball practice. I walk during these events. Did I tell you I'll be getting a jogging stroller to push Flowerpup until she's big enough to keep up?
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Sun Nov 17, 2019 6:02 pm

Therapy dog training is a great idea, glad you liked the name :)

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

cedar
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am
Location: Australia

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by cedar » Mon Nov 18, 2019 12:55 am

That's so gorgeous about the stroller for Flowerpup! How exciting. X

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Nov 18, 2019 3:53 pm

It is exciting Cedar! :-) I have a long list of "supplies" in my Amazon Wishlist cart. I'm also getting a second cat tree so the cats have a way to get away from the puppy when needed!

Monday November 18
Sleep Score: 90!!
Resting HR: 68

117.6

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts
L: yogurt w/berries
D: beef bowl salad
decaf coffee w/half&half

Last night I was so tired at 6pm that I had a diet coke. Guess what? I fell asleep at 9pm and didn't move until 7am. So this morning I was googling "paradoxical effects of caffeine". Ha!

Tonight I might be picking up my new Continuous Glucose Monitor!!! Let the data flood begin! :-)
Update - I got it and attached it! :-)

Been reading a very simple (and free on kindle) book called "The Joy of Not Thinking". 'Nuff said, yes? :lol:
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:46 pm

Tuesday, November 18

118.6

FBG: 110 (according to CGM) - I was able to see my cortisol spike at 2:15am, after which my BG rose steadily until I got up.
Resting HR: 67

Well, first night with my CGM and how disappointing (but not surprising) to see that my glucose stays above 100 virtually all night. It was even as high as 117 at 9pm as I was reading in bed.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half (BG climbed to 120, although it had started at 110), walnuts (BG DECREASED to 102 before lunch)
L: yogurt w/berries (102 to 116 30 min later; then walked for 25 min and it went down to 85 - then sat for an hour and back up to 114 - up to 120 2.5 hours after eating.... - crimeny it's 4:10pm and I'm 121. I ate 4 hours ago! Finally went on a run and it plunged down to 75, then crept back up to 97 by the time I started dinner)
D: London Broil w/ a little bit of guacamole
decaf coffee w/milk

No walk this morning. And my BG is going high, just from coffee! I'm at 118 after 2 cups of coffee w/half&half. I suppose a walk would have blunted this. The real question is - at what BG level does microvascular damage occur? Does this 118 matter that much? Or do I really need to have it down at 85 like the healthy people?
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by sharon227 » Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:33 am

This has some interesting info about sugar levels and possible internal effects https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/ ... se-levels/

It says post-meal levels of 140 and above might be a problem.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 20, 2019 3:29 am

Sharon - thank you for this good article! I appreciate the link - it's a nice summary. It actually is kind of scary -
Glucose can also start killing beta cells at levels below 140. One study found that people with fasting blood glucose from 110–125 (within the official “prediabetic” range) had already lost up to 40% of their beta cell mass.
I am happy to say that my post-prandials stay below 140, UNLESS I indulge in carbolicious meals (Spaghetti, Indian food, McDonald's, and Mexican food would all be the culprits that have put me into the 160's!!)
“Post-meal blood sugars of 140 mg/dl [milligrams per deciliter] and higher, and fasting blood sugars over 100 mg/dl [can] cause permanent organ damage and cause diabetes to progress,” Ruhl writes.

**I chronically am over 100 for my fasting. :cry:

And then I really appreciate this paragraph -
Keeping normal numbers may require extraordinary effort. It may require very low carbohydrate intake. It may not be possible for you..... The whole thing can make you crazy, because sometimes numbers will go up for no apparent reason.
So true!

The author sums up with a statement that could fit into NoS Philosophy:
People can trade off how low they want their blood glucose against how much work they are willing to do and how many foods they’re willing to cut back or give up. They are adding to their risk, but, to me, quality of life is the most important thing.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:44 pm

Wednesday, November 20

117.8
FBG: 101
Resting HR: 68
Sleep Score: 81

Went on a walk first thing. Blood sugar dropped to 85. That's amazing! I remembered a previous experiment where it went UP after a morning jog. So I'd sort of avoided doing too much in the morning. So my CGM is already helping me see patterns. It will be interesting to see how things vary over the next month.

I'm starting to get the feeling that my particular body thrives on frequent movement - indeed, that for my metabolism, movement is essential to blood sugar control. Diet is only getting me so far.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, hard-boiled egg
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: 3 chicken drumsticks
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Walk/Jog w/HappyHerder this morning
More planned later to get to 13K steps
update - got over 20k steps today!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Nov 21, 2019 3:45 pm

Thursday, November 21

Such a beautiful fall/winter day here! It's in the 30's, very frosty, but SUNNY! We Washingtonians love this weather. :-)

117.7/BMI 21.5
FBG: 94
Sleep Score: 89
Resting HR: 68

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts
L: yogurt w/berries, 2 hard-boiled eggs
D: chow down on the last of the London Broil. You know, it is really hard to eat meat "fast". I have to chew like a million times when I eat meat.
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Slept in this morning, so no morning walk.
But I'm really looking forward to work today - I only teach 2 hours this morning (unusual) and then I will devote the rest of the day to some projects I've been wanting to get chomping on. So I'll plan on at least one 30 min walk as a break, and a couple of smaller walks.

Thinking about this new motto - "The only thing I need to do is what is right in front of me." For some reason that is resonating with me.

I have been exploring some Buddhist concepts about the "self" being more of a fictionalized story created by the left side of the brain. How often our "stories" are wrong! We might recognize it sometimes (I thought that person was mad at me but it turns out they had just found out some bad news, for example) - but then think of how often we go along and NEVER realize the "story" we made up was completely wrong.
Just started the book, "No Self No Problem"
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 22, 2019 3:13 pm

Friday, November 22

FBG: 98
Resting HR: 69
Sleep Score: 81

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts, eggs?
L: yogurt w/berries
D: last 2 steaks - fry them up with an egg. My BG goes DOWN after meat. I'm contemplating. I'm assuming the protein stimulates insulin.
decaf coffee w/half&half
Experiment! Peanut butter & banana - starting BG = 89
Failed experiment, lol. I basically took an S night and had a bowl of doritos and then a bowl of popcorn so who knows what the pb and banana actually would do on its own. But my BG only went up to 120, then the only notable thing was that it bounced around more than normal - quick drop to 91, then right back up to 120, then repeat. I felt exhausted, but that was probably just because it was Friday night, haha!!

Moving
Hoping to get a walk in. Yesterday I didn't.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Nov 23, 2019 2:07 pm

Saturday, November 23

Sleep Score: 82
Resting HR: 70

OK, so picking a fasting blood glucose time of 6am. Going to look at the past few days:

FBG at 5:45am - 103, but then I was thinking now that I have the CGM I can compare mornings at the same time...! Take a look:

Today: 97
Friday: 97
Thursday: 97
Wednesday: 96
Tuesday: 108

The thing is, I stay near 100 all night long (for that matter, assuming I eat lowish carb, I stay around 100 all day long too). Healthier people (metabolically speaking) are down in the 70's and 80's. That is just not my body (I wonder if I was like that as a teenager or if I already was a teeny bit insulin resistant at that age).
But on the extremely bright side, my postprandial numbers are nowhere near prediabetic, assuming I eat lowish carb. And those postprandial excursions are definitely the more dangerous ones (we think anyway, at this stage in the research).

Moving
Today is going to be crazy! Challenger has THREE basketball games, spread from 10am until 6pm. I'm going to get a lot of walking in! I'll need to bring both headsets for when the first one dies, haha.

An Observation on diet:
I have noticed that I feel best when I eat a meal that proportionately has a lot of protein and reasonable fat. This is actually a realization that challenges what I had previously thought. I have been generally thinking to get as much fat in a meal as I can in order to meet my energy needs, and not to worry about the protein. However, the protein makes me feel good, even WHILE I eat it. I'm not saying that I think I should be eating crazy high protein. I'm just contemplating that, for example, when I eat plain hard-boiled eggs I feel better (immediately while eating and after) than when I eat eggs fried in butter. This is food for thought.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs
L: walnuts, yogurt w/berries
D: french fries and a few bites of a chicken sandwich (see post below for blood glucose response)
decaf coffee w/half&half
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Lizzy6
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:22 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Lizzy6 » Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:27 pm

Thank you for posting your experience. It is interesting to read.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 24, 2019 3:01 am

Thanks Lizzy.

I had some crazy results today!!!

I tried the "French fry" experiment. I started at a nice steady 92mg/dL. I ate most (but not even all) of a medium french fry. Within 30 minutes, my blood glucose had spiked to 160mg/dL! I got an alarm on my phone that it was rising more than 3mg/dL/minute. Then, it started going down - FAST! I got more alarms because it was falling so fast. Before I knew it, I was at 48mg/dL!!! That is classic reactive hypoglycemia. I had NO IDEA that this ever happened to me..... By 90 min post-meal I was at 102. By 2hours it was back up to 125?!
Someone that waits the traditional 2 hours to test would have entirely and totally missed seeing this wild blood sugar roller coaster.
Update - then it went down again - and now I'm low again at 62! All of this up and down in the course of 2.5 hours....!!!!! Unbelievable.
And this french fry nightmare after an incredibly boring graph for days when I eat a low carb diet.
But I've also recorded 4 separate occasions where I went into the 60's this week while I was exercising. So apparently I do go low (as well as high) but have never caught it with my finger sticks.

BTW, I made numerous typos while I typed this...... coincidence, I think not. Also, notable that I got a headache about when I saw the spike - although it might have been the drop that brought on the headache because there is a small time delay in the CGM data. Mild headache sticking around, also had palpitations and a sort of light-headed out of body feeling.
I have had these symptoms many many times and just attributed it to fatigue. Hmmmm.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:05 am

Your blood sugar experiments are really interesting.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 24, 2019 4:28 pm

Soprano - yes, I'll say they're interesting!! Of all people, you would think I would have seen this at some point with my fingerpricks!!! But the changes are so rapid I was missing them.

So I woke up this morning and I'm like omg I have reactive hypoglycemia. This really explains so much. A really clear thing is how, before I went low carb, I essentially knew that after lunch I would be ready for a nap. I would conk out from the high insulin & resulting low blood sugar, but then wake up during the nap sweaty and with palpitations (my adrenaline doing its best to kickstart my liver into raising my blood glucose).

This makes every penny of this continuous glucose monitor worth it. And makes me never want to have french fries again.

Sunday, November 24th

FBG at 6am: 102
Sleep Score: 77 (noticeable poor sleep after that crazy roller coaster of blood glucose before bed). I was wide awake and yet felt lethargic at 5am.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, I also brought back a cup of coffee w/MCT oil this morning
L: 3 hard-boiled eggs, 2 apple slices, peanut butter w/half a banana - this brought a rise to 123 within an hour, then stayed around 112 for the next 3 hours
D: 1 chicken drumstick, 1 steak, 1 diet coke - glucose still riding along at 100
Blood glucose was in the low 90's when I went to bed. It's often at 100 at bedtime, so I considered this a victory.

Moving
Walk planned while Creator is at play practice

OK, so I need to brainstorm and think this through. Last night I was confused for sure and not thinking super straight.
I appear to make MORE insulin than needed after a carb-based meal - this condition is called hyperinsulinemia. My fasting insulin is a tiny bit high but I didn't realize that my real problem is that carbohydrates cause my pancreas to make WAY more insulin than needed. The result is that my blood glucose goes DOWN too far!! Dangerously far - last night it went down to 42mg/dL. Then my liver started pumping out glucose as fast as it could and my blood glucose went BACK UP to 125mg/dL. Then the second phase insulin released caused the blood sugar to crash AGAIN down into the 60's. At this point I was done with this experiment and had a small amount of milk (just a few swallows). This rapidly stabilized my blood sugar and I went to bed, although I still felt a little weird. I slept badly, probably a reflection of the high stress hormones needed to bring my blood sugar back up.

Potentially confounding my situation is that I've gotten in pretty good shape this past year! I walk/jog and do body weight exercises almost every day. So my muscle cells are probably pretty insulin sensitive, so this massive amount of insulin quite possibly drops me LOWER than it would have a couple of years ago, when I was living in a high-carb world.

Also to point out - not all carbs have this effect on me. So far, I am certain that WALNUTS are my friend. Probably all nuts, but some are very high in oxalates and I am somewhat careful with those due to my previous kidney stone. I still need to do my lentil experiment and see if they can be my blood sugar friends too. :-)

Dairy carbs (at least in whole fat varieties) do not have this effect on me, which is fascinating because from everything I've read, dairy stimulates a lot of insulin (relative to its macronutrient composition).

I end with this sense that my metabolism is out of wack. For example, my liver overproduces glucose when I am not eating (slightly elevated fasting glucose). My pancreas overproduces insulin after carbohydrates (reactive hypoglycemia). My muscle cells are still at least somewhat insulin resistant (blood sugar spikes after carbohydrates). Theoretically, by staying low carb(ish), can I teach my liver and pancreas to settle down? I think I shouldn't neglect to reflect on my alcohol-free experiment. Before quitting alcohol, but eating this moderate low carb diet, my fasting blood glucose was normal! After quitting alcohol, my fasting blood glucose has gone back to pre-diabetic. So, alcohol may have raised the "thermostat" on my liver's glucose output. I quit over 6 months ago, though, and my liver refuses to settle. I can't really blame it though - every time it turns around it might be seeing a scary low blood glucose that needs to be rescued by the lovely liver!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:47 pm

Monday, November 25

FBG: 97
Sleep Score: 86
Resting HR: 68

I have some goals this week eating wise. Nothing too different, but I want to type them here for remembering.... I cooked up a bunch of round steaks, I bought a container of fried chicken, I bought 2 salad bags, I bought pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs (ha!!!! who would have known those were a thing!), and I have plenty of cream for my coffee. I want to eat super simply this week. I want to limit myself to 1 caffeinated cup of coffee. I want to eat dinner early (even 4 pm, possibly). I want to limit myself to one serving of cream in decaf coffee in the evening (I often have 2). The early dinner and the limited evening cream are efforts to bring down my FBG.
A very helpful woman on diabetes.uk.forum told me it took over a year for her to get her fasting blood glucose down. For me, I think I should start from when I quit drinking in April (209 days ago) to "count" my year. So maybe I just need more time. But come April, I might consider some things like removing dairy (oh the pain!!!!!!! Say it ain't so!!!!!) for a month and see what that does. I would also consider trying intermittent fasting; my version of this would just be tightening up my mornings and waiting until lunch to eat. So I have a few more tools to try. I could also try more weight-lifting, although I think my outside walk/jogs are doing amazing things for my body (you know when you just KNOW something you do makes your body happy?) OK. Anyway. So that's lots of ideas moving forward. But now I just need to do what's in front of me: today. :-)

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, walnuts, 2 hard-boiled eggs
L: yogurt w/berries
D: chicken drumsticks, steak
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Walk/jog planned - 15,000 steps today
pull-ups, push-ups, handstands
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:56 pm

My sister is type 1 diabetic and I'm pretty sure she told me alcohol reduces blood sugars...

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by sharon227 » Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:45 am

I went to a "stay on track during the holidays" nutrition seminar at my gym. Nutritionist had an interest formula for healthy meals: grams of protein + grams of fiber should be more than total carbs. I'm not going to be tracking and counting my food indefinitely, but I do think it's not a bad idea for the next few weeks.

I discovered that my breakfast fruit bowl and plain yogurt is kind of eeek. Have a big bowl of fruit (one big bowl/plate!), which is a lot of carbs. It's all healthy, but not necessarily balanced. She suggested trimming my fruit portion a bit and maybe adding some nuts for healthy fat and feeling sated. Actually all of my breakfasts are too carb-heavy as are most of my other meals, even though I've cut out most of my carb-y side dishes for now. I'm not going to get too crazy about it, just keep it in mind to use as a general guide on tweaking my meals to see if I feel better or worse as I make changes. Right now I'm trying to focus on how I feel. The continuous glucose monitor sounds interesting, though, as a way to check on how you're doing. Good to hear you're already finding insights!

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:33 pm

Hi Sharon!
It's so cool that you continue to make use of your gym's programs! I love it! Go you!
My yogurt w/berries is approximately 400 cal: 25 g protein; 20 g fat; 30 g carb - so I guess it fits that formula! :-) And I definitely second her suggestion about the nuts - they are delicious, they fill me up, they offer a nice source of magnesium, walnuts have omega 3's, and ..... no blood sugar change whatsoever! I'm totally flat-line when I eat them! If you like eggs, I think they are a great nutrition-packed punch to add to your breakfasts. I have been on a well-salted hard-boiled egg-eating kick. Another blood sugar "flat-line" food that fills me up and makes me feel good.

I love your approach (always have) - just very reasonable and moderate changes until you see/feel the difference you are looking for.

Tuesday, November 26

117.8
FBG: ............ 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and it was in the 80's/90's all night long for the first time since I got the cgm a week ago)
(I ate dinner at 4pm yesterday and then only had my decaf coffee later, but finished before 7pm)

Sleep Score: 84
Resting HR: 68

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs
L: walnuts, yogurt w/berries
decaf coffee w/half& half (I often do this after teaching but forget to log it)
D: chicken drumsticks, steak round
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Already had a nice walk/jog this morning. More hopefully planned

Feeling really excited for Thanksgiving!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Tue Nov 26, 2019 6:29 pm

Thought you might find this interesting

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/1 ... 53/5575334

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 27, 2019 2:58 pm

Soprano - I certainly did find that interesting! :-) It's just out, too! Although the studies he discusses are all observational (not actual experiments) so I generally don't put much stock in them (unless the relationship is massive like smoking and cancer or something like that), but it is nice that at least they aren't finding correlations with dairy and diabetes.

Oh, and I realized I didn't respond to your earlier comment. Alcohol DEFINITELY lowers my glucose, especially my fasting glucose. How old was your sister when she was diagnosed with T1D? And has she been feeling pretty good about her ability to manage it? There are a lot of T1D that adopt a low-carb diet to control their diabetes now, too - she's probably familiar with:

Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution (it's a tome!) https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bernsteins-Di ... 529&sr=8-1

Bright Spots and Landmines by Adam Brown https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Spots-Lan ... 0692875174

Those are amazing books, both written by T1D. Dr. Bernstein is in his late 80's now! Adam's book is much smaller, but chock-full of great suggestions.

Wednesday, November 27

Weight: 118.4
FBG: 97
Sleep Score: 83 (not much deep sleep this week)
Resting HR: 69

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 salted hard-boiled eggs
L: walnuts, yogurt w/berries
D: chicken drumsticks, 1 slice of pepperoni pizza experiment. I was pretty nervous, after the french fry fiasco, but at 1 hour out by BG has barely budged. Then I remembered - the fat and protein with this pizza will probably way slow down when the sugar hits my blood. So - I'll watch and report.
decaf coffee w/half&half
Update - so unfortunately the pizza made me sick. My blood sugar did spike and then drop into the 60's (reactive hypoglycemia but before it went to low I ate a piece of hard candy - planned recovery to avoid those 40's). Then I thought I would be fine but I woke up sick during the night. I also got heartburn from the pizza. I just can't handle these foods anymore - partly because I don't usually indulge, I think, but this trend was becoming apparent even years ago when I still just did Vanilla NoS. I will consider it a blessing, right?! :-)

Moving
Had to spend my walk/jog time finishing up some grading. Ooops. But it's done now.
I think I have time to fit in a walk between classes this morning.
did some pushups, squats, etc.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Wed Nov 27, 2019 3:23 pm

My sister has been diabetic since she was about 2. I'm not sure she does much with diet to manage it, it's quite new I think to think that way but she may start. She has an insulin pump now.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 27, 2019 3:31 pm

Yes, I agree it's a totally different world to use diet to keep T1D in target range and prevent complications. And of course insulin will always be required for her but reducing the necessary amounts could help her feel better day to day. Dr. Bernstein really thought outside the box at a time when no one was considering removing foods that spike glucose.

Does your sister use a CGM?

2! What a tough time that must have been for your mom.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:36 pm

No she hasn't got a cgm.

Awful time for mum, really hard work in those days. Weighing food, urine tests etc..

She was often in hospital.

No fun for sis either but you adapt and get on with it.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by sharon227 » Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:03 am

Thanks for the support Auto! Yogurt and berries sounds a lot better than my big bowl of mixed fruit and yogurt. I do berries in the summer, but the ones out of season just don’t seem all that appealing to me. Bought a bag of frozen berries today, maybe I’ll try those.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Nov 28, 2019 2:02 pm

Sharon, I also use frozen berries (although I can use fresh from my own yard in the summer!). I buy the frozen strawberries and the frozen blueberries at Costco. Both are locally sourced (I live in berry-growing land, haha) so they were frozen when ripe. I add them in the morning and they thaw by lunchtime. At the same time I make my yogurt, I make a smoothie with the same ingredients (plus 1/3 a banana) for the boys.

Thursday, November 28th!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

FBG: 100
Sleep Score: 66 (ugh - bad night)
Resting HR: 71

Eating - LOL here is my plan - we'll see, right?!
B: coffee w/half&half, hard-boiled eggs
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts - only half a serving
D: turkey, gravy, green salad, green bean casserole, a little bit of stuffing - blood glucose went up to 135 about 70 min after eating. Now 2 hours 20 min later - I'm at 115
dessert - pumpkin pie - BG up to 148 and sustained in 130's for ages. Heading to bed and still in the 130's
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Good walks planned. The weather here is cold and clear. Just amazing stars this morning.
Got to over 18K steps today! Not bad for a holiday/S day.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 29, 2019 4:52 pm

Friday, November 29

FBG: 117? I just put in a new CGM sensor and I think maybe it hasn't equilibrated yet..... I really don't think this is accurate.
Resting HR: 70
Sleep Score: 76

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, bacon
L: yogurt w/berries
D: turkey, green bean casserole, kale salad
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Walk/jogging between Challenger's basketball
Tons of steps! :-) Walked about 2 hours - 15K steps
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Fri Nov 29, 2019 9:20 pm

Your experimenting with your CGM is really interesting to me. It makes me want to get one too, as I have always been curious about what is going on in my body, and especially with my blood sugar. I'm not diabetic or pre-diabetic, but I've struggled with blood sugar issues like feeling light-headed, blurred vision at times that I could tell was related to a blood sugar spike.

Your journal is very inspiring to me. Your consistency and focus on your health is very motivating! Making that shift to a focus on my health seems like a very helpful and potentially life-changing one for me. Enjoy your Friday and your leftovers!

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Nov 30, 2019 2:32 pm

The experiments have been very interesting to me, too, Alene. The CGM is ridiculously expensive - it's only for true obsessives for myself at this point. In another 5 -10 years, I think it will be more reasonable for the masses.

But for pretty cheap on amazon you can order a blood glucose testing kit and just do some fun experiments with finger-pricking. That is what I did sporadically for 7 years before getting my CGM.

Saturday, November 30

118.8
FBG: 107 -- seriously, did a little stuffing and pumpkin pie throw off my numbers this much? I'm astounded.
Resting HR: 67
Sleep Score: 83

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 3 hard-boiled eggs
L: walnuts, liver, sugar-free jello
D: ham
decaf coffee/half&half

Moving
Maybe a walk if I feel like it; otherwise I'm considering this mostly a rest day.
Did lots of pull-ups and push-ups and ran up and down the stairs a few times every hour. Creator and I put up Christmas decorations. I reread most of Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by oolala53 » Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:49 pm

I am such a baby that the idea of pricking my fingers a lot is a wet blanket on the monitor idea. I'm not sick or close to it, but I am curious. Do you think a lightweight without a health condition to give me a good reason to suffer pain could benefit?



tx
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by oolala53 » Sun Dec 01, 2019 12:12 am

P.Sl, I checked on Amazon for the heck of it. The two highly rated monitors I looked at had several detractors claiming on multiple quick tests done back to back, there were big discrepancies. Hmm.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:03 pm

Oolala - My experience has been good with the meters. I often test more than once, especially if a number seems higher or lower than what I expected. The variance has never disturbed me. Also, I am looking for trends not perfection.
Many people may not realize that even tiny residues on their (unclean) fingers can throw off the numbers, so that is also something to consider.
I have used a variety of meters over the years. Of course, they can't compare to the beauty of my CGM, ha, but I think glucose meters are a hugely empowering tool for individuals with glucose dysregulation.
If you are certain you don't have such issues (meaning that your post-prandial peaks are never above 140mg/dL) than I doubt it's necessary for you.
But in my case, I am now taking an approach where I "eat to the meter", meaning that I have a long-term goal to only eat meals that do NOT spike me above 120mg/dL. I test these meals more than once to make sure there wasn't any funny business going on.

For anyone else reading this that is curious and wants to test their blood sugar to see if they have dysregulation issues, here's one easy article to read:
https://www.bloodsugar101.com/am-i-diabetic
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:39 pm

I have SO many things in my head that I am excited to journal about today.

**I feel renewed/reassured in my journey toward better health. I recently read this article by Jenny Ruhl about diagnosis of type II diabetes: https://www.bloodsugar101.com/misdiagnosis-by-design, and came away knowing that although some people think I'm a little over the top, I'm doing the right thing to work on stabilizing my blood sugars now, rather than wait for the type II diagnosis! Maybe that seems obvious once I wrote it down, but in the day to day lifestyle change, everyone thinks "this one piece of cake won't hurt", etc. and they don't realize that if I have that piece of cake, my blood sugar spikes high, giving me a headache, and then crashes SCARY low, making me confused and tired. Not a fun roller coaster to live on. It's not WORTH it to me to eat like that anymore. Further, I am experiencing complications of diabetes even though I only have pre-diabetes: chronic kidney disease and gastroparesis (slow stomach-emptying after a large meal, believed to be caused by nerve damage from high blood sugars). These aren't things to mess around with! And so it's not worth it to me to try to "moderate" fun foods.

All that said, I'm not expecting perfection from myself, I'm looking for decades of compliance/sustainable healthy eating and hopefully even more and more of the outdoor exercise/activities that I love to do.

As always, planning is going to be critical to my success in 2020. With the addition of FlowerPup in January (yay!!), I am going to even more busy for awhile and making sure I have my food together daily will be essential in avoiding temptations.

Speaking of Flowerpup, I ordered my pet jogging stroller so that she can come along with HappyHerder and me from Day 1. I also ordered a sling so that I can sneak her in and out of my work building. I'm going to take her to one of the classes I teach (it's small - only will have 13 students) so that she doesn't have to be crated at home so long. Then I'll take her home between classes and crate her. Then hubby will come home and let her out and then go back to work. (Lucky for us we live 5 min from work!) Then I'll swing by and get her and take her to pick up kids and get socialized some more at their school! I'm also going to regularly take her into the nursing homes (just for a few minutes each time) to get used to wheelchairs, hospital smells, oxygen tanks, canes, etc. I don't know if she'll end up a therapy dog, but at least we'll do our best to make it an option! So, it's going to be super busy winter quarter. By spring quarter, she'll be 5 months old and more able to stay home while we're all at work and school.

But, all this excitement and focus on FlowerPup could set me up for putting my own health on the back-burner (that's what I did when my babies were little, right?). Also the sleep deprivation for the first few weeks will probably make me hungrier and have less willpower. So it's all about planning.

OK. So on to the planning discussion. I recently finished a great course on vitamins & minerals with Chris Masterjohn (online - free). With my diet, there are many nutritional components I'm doing great with, and others that I'm more concerned about. I'd like to increase my Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and magnesium. Other than those three, I think my bases are well-covered, especially if I eat liver once a week. For vitamin C, as long as I have my green salads/kale/brussel sprouts/broccoli with dinner, I think I'm good (of course in addition to my berries with my yogurt). For Vitamin E and magnesium, I'm going to add in pumpkin seeds and cross my fingers they don't spike my blood sugar. I'm optimistic because I do fabulously with walnuts.

So a general layout for my ideal week:
B: coffee w/half&half, hard-boiled eggs
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: meat/fish + salad + pumpkin seeds (dressing - olive oil & vinegar)
liver weekly
mineral water (with magnesium) - 1 cup daily or at least every other day (it's expensive)
bone broth - 1 cup every other day (it's expensive)

So the last three things are the hardest to do regularly. None of them looks hard but because they are not regular it throws me off. Also some nights salad just does not sound good.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:40 pm

Sunday, December 1

117.6
FBG: 100
Resting HR: 66
Sleep Score: 78

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 4 hard-boiled eggs
L: yogurt w/berries
D: ham, kale salad w/walnuts
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
walk/jog planned before Challenger's game.
23K steps! :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Dec 02, 2019 4:43 pm

Monday, December 2!!!!

FBG: 100
Resting HR: 67
Sleep Score: 80
Morning BP: 97/64 - holy gob-stoppers. 2 years ago my blood pressure was typically 145/90. I've come a long way, baby. I need to remember this when I look at my (stubborn) fasting blood glucose.

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs, walnuts
L: yogurt w/berries
D: kale salad w/walnuts, ham & turkey
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Tired today, but planning to print out some of my Integral Strength workouts in hopes that I get back into doing those.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:36 pm

Tuesday, December 3

117.2
FBG: 101
Morning BP: 100/60
Resting HR: 66
Sleep Score: 89
Waist measurement: 28in (down from 33in at largest point)

Eating
B: 2 cups of bone broth, coffee w/half&half
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: baked chicken and kale & pumpkin seed salad
decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Nothing in particular planned today, although I am going to print out my Integral Strength workouts this morning. I feel overall very tired and needing to curl up in a ball this week! It's the week before finals - this is somewhat normal. As little as a few years ago I would have eaten and drunk my way through this week. I've come a long way, baby! :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Whosonfirst
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:32 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Whosonfirst » Tue Dec 03, 2019 7:05 pm

automatedeating wrote:
Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:36 pm
Tuesday, December 3

117.2
FBG: 101
Morning BP: 100/60
Resting HR: 66
Sleep Score: 89
Waist measurement: 28in (down from 33in at largest point)

Eating
B: 2 cups of bone broth, coffee w/half&half, hard-boiled eggs
L: (will be) yogurt w/berries, walnuts
D: (will be) leftover ham and kale & pumpkin seed salad
(will have) decaf coffee w/half&half

Moving
Nothing in particular planned today, although I am going to print out my Integral Strength workouts this morning. I feel overall very tired and needing to curl up in a ball this week! It's the week before finals - this is somewhat normal. As little as a few years ago I would have eaten and drunk my way through this week. I've come a long way, baby! :-)
Wow, down five inches on waist measurement! That's quite an accomplishment. Vitals look good all around. "-a few years ago I would have eaten and drunk my way through this week." Like how you phrased that line, you're like Johnny Cash with a lyric.
https://twitter.com/SipeEngineering
Current weight(9/2020)-212 lbs.
Goal Weight- 205 lbs.
NoS Goal: >= 80% Success days

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:26 pm

Auto, that is awesome that your waist measurement has gone down so much. That is something I'm tracking too for health reasons. I love that you've been able to move through finals week without using food for stress relief! You HAVE come a really long way! Well done.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Dec 04, 2019 3:54 pm

Thanks Whos! I was feeling so discouraged yesterday. I got my newest A1C back and it had gone UP. Not by a lot, but still, I think I maybe was ... devastated? That's too strong of a word.

I need to be grateful for the fantastic health that I do have, for the wonderful things my body can do. I need to stop obsessing about these less-than-perfect blood sugars. Fixing my diet hasn't fixed the problem. Alas. But that doesn't mean that eating like crap and giving up exercise will make it better. LOL. So there's no giving up. I just need to reenergize. When Flowerpup comes in January, I am going to too busy to worry about my blood sugar for awhile. Ha! But I don't want to let my diet fall apart.

In an effort to approach this A1C thing more logically (and not throw the baby out with the bathwater) I am reducing my yogurt by 1/2 and doubling my walnuts. And bringing a hard-boiled egg in case I'm still hungry. The yogurt may need to be reduced like this because it is my biggest spike of the day, albeit I didn't think it was bad....

Wednesday, Dec. 4

117.8
FBG: 104
Resting HR: 64 - this is funny because it's after a couple sedentary days this goes down. Simple as activity affects it (which is ironic because exercise is supposed to lower it but when I exercise a lot it's slightly higher)
Sleep Score: 94

Eating
B: coffee w/cream
L: yogurt w/berries, walnuts (less yogurt and more walnuts in an attempt to keep the BG lower)
D: 1 egg, steak salad (date night)
decaf coffee w/cream
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:25 pm

Just a thought auto could it be the berries spiking your sugar?

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Dec 04, 2019 11:41 pm

Soprano - yes, I think that even the relatively small number of berries I'm using is too much! Today I reduced yogurt (and therefore also the berries) and stayed below 110, so that was progress (normally I go up to about 120-125 after my lunch). And since I doubled the walnuts I wasn't any hungrier than before.
But more to your point, I have considered just eating the yogurt plain (sans berries) at lunch. I think I could do that, but instead I'll try some other options first.

I had a good talk with my co-worker nutrition professor - she is also a dietician. We don't have the same views on much of nutrition, but she was kind enough to work within my parameters and helped me come up with some great alternative lunches that I might try:

*edamame (assuming my T3 test comes back OK - even she agreed that if I have thyroid issues I should avoid soy)
*tuna fish w/celery & walnuts & maybe bagged salad - making sure to use oil and vinegar
*hard-boiled eggs (although I'm already having them in the morning, so I don't really want to have them at lunch too)
*microwaveable veggie bags - I thought maybe I could add some cheese
*chia pudding - she is going to make some for us next week to see how I like it.
*sprinkling some wheat germ on my tuna salad

She also kindly brought in a variety of non-dairy yogurts for me to taste test today. I didn't like any of them except the soy one was OK, so I'm going to try that this week.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Thu Dec 05, 2019 3:27 am

My lunches tend to be salad with nuts and cheese.

It keeps me more satisfied than fruit and yoghurt.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Thu Dec 05, 2019 3:06 pm

Soprano - I love salads with nuts and cheese, but have been doing those more for dinner. My yogurt/berries is 500 calories and has done a magnificent job keeping me full - 20 g fat, 20 g protein, 30 g carb. Alas, too much carb and I can no longer accept the 120 or 125mg/dL after meals, apparently. So, I might be joining you with your lunches, although I wish I could have more variety in my meals.

I've switched over to mostly cream in my coffee (instead of half & half), I'm never going to have 2.25 cups of yogurt for lunch anymore, and I'm incorporating more eggs and nuts into my days. Hopefully the nuts do not precipitate (literally) another kidney stone.

I'm also looking into more intense (but brief) exercise additions. I'm actually already of muscular build, but if I could build more muscle that will really help my insulin resistance + protect my bones and keep me strong and stable. With Flowerpup arriving in January, I won't have time to go the gym to lift weights, but I think there are many ways I can up the intensity of my at-home bodyweight work. I also have resistance bands. Then once summer arrives, FlowerPup will be more independent and my family will be home more so I could take up weights then.

Thursday, Dec 5

FBG: 100
Resting HR: 66
Sleep Score: 89

Eating
B: coffee w/cream
L: tuna w/mayo, walnuts, cheese, and pickles - max BG was 109 throughout the afternoon. Also this meal had a crazy amount of protein - like maybe as much as 45 g - and it seemed to keep me quite full until dinner. At least for today.
D: salad + liver, onions, ground beef & bacon - already up to 107 and I finished eating just a few minutes ago. OK, then it never went higher than that. Now heading to bed at my usual 102. Seems to be my "set point" blood sugar.
decaf coffee w/cream

Some recommendations for reactive hypoglycemia are to eat every 2-3 hours; however, my blood sugar remained stable all day with just the three meals. So for now, I'm going to just keep working the three meal concept.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:04 pm

Auto, it sounds like you're doing some good work in finding new options that will be more helpful to your blood sugar and A1C. You are so vigilant and disciplined, and I can imagine it was very disappointing seeing the number had gone up slightly. I know you will find a good combination of foods that are satisfying and will also move you toward your goals. I will be interested to see what differences these new choices make in your blood sugar.

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:12 pm

Do you find milk spikes your glucose. I drink tea in a morning and prefer it with semiskimmed milk.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:48 pm

Thanks Alene -- emotionally I had a rough day on Tuesday, but it is fascinating how quickly I bounced back with new plans. I think sometimes it's perfectly appropriate to grieve a little; we just can't let it paralyze from new experiments.

Soprano - milk doesn't exactly "spike" me - 1 cup of whole milk would raise me within 1 hour to 125mg/dL, and then it lowers within another hour. Supposedly milk extra stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, so blood sugar doesn't go as high as it would with the number of grams of sugar in milk. So for someone with good blood sugar control, I would hope milk could remain a happy part of their coffee. Also, you're not adding very much milk to your tea.

Friday, December 6

FBG: 98 (saw it went down to 92 during the night, which for me is nice to see)
Resting HR: 68
Sleep Score: 81

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs at work
L: minimal yogurt and doubled walnuts & macadamia nuts - up to 116mg/dL after this meal. That's higher than I want to see (110 is sort of my new ideal).
D: big salad & otherwise just not feeling hungry. I hope I don't get hungry right before bed.
decaf coffee w/cream

Moving
Trying to get 18k steps today (to reach 50K for the workweek - I was pretty sluggish early in the week)
Will do some mobility work
Ooooh, nice movement day! Managed to get to 20K steps just by morning walk and two mid-day work walks.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

TexArk
Posts: 804
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:50 am
Location: Foothills of the Ozarks

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by TexArk » Fri Dec 06, 2019 9:48 pm

I am impressed with your use of CGM. It really does give some helpful information because we do have individual differences. I am getting tired of sticking myself, but I think I have found out what I need to know about certain foods. I still have some body fat so I need to be careful about adding extra fat. On the other hand, I have to watch my carbs so I don't spike my blood glucose. I need enough fat to be satiated, but not enough to keep me from burning my stored fat! Ever so often, I enter foods into cronometer just to see where I am and I also have found Ted Naiman's P:E calculator informative. I have also started wearing my step counter again just to make sure I am getting my 12,000 steps in.

I really can't believe that CGMs aren't covered by insurance for everyone who is prediabetic or diabetic so they can make the necessary adjustments. Insurance would save on the med expense.
24.7 bmi Feb. 2019
26.1 bmi Sept. 2018
31.4 bmi July 2017

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:42 am

Thanks auto have a good weekend

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:37 pm

Tex - I am starting to feel a sense of panic at NOT having my CGM! It has been so enlightening for me particularly that I am not ready to part with it. :-)

I think eventually I will know better what foods I need to stick with, but at the moment I am tweaking my diet and my CGM is so invaluable for immediate feedback.

I definitely can't afford this thing forever, though! LOL! An expensive hobby my biohacking is.

I've been contemplating my weight lately. I haven't tried to lose weight since I was 134 pounds (August of 2018 when I did my 5 year check-in). At that point, I felt that I was at a good weight, but I had found a new way of eating to manage my blood sugar.

But since then I've just steadily lost weight. This morning I weighed in at 116.6! But my BMI is not low, by any means - it's 21.3. I am not hungrier than I used to be - my goodness, I'm actually LESS hungry, now that I reflect on this. I think what I thought of as hunger was mostly cravings for starches. Oh, how I loved my starches! :-)
I don't have any doubt that I am better-nourished now. I certainly have more energy now.

If I had lived 100 years ago, I think I would/might have been thin my whole life! My mom and maternal grandmother were overweight (and I think they passed me these delightful insulin resistance genes!), but my father and my paternal grandmother were thin. Indeed, my paternal grandmother was tiny! So although I gain weight when I eat the standard american diet, when I eat unprocessed foods and keep away from starches, my body finds its true set point, which isn't as tiny as my paternal grandmother (who was small-boned and not muscular - I am medium-boned and quite muscular).

Saturday, Dec.7

116.6
Resting HR: 69
Sleep Score: 86
FBG: 94 :-)

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs
L: 3 apple slices - sent me rapidly to 120mg/dL. 1 cup yogurt w/a few berries. 1 handful walnuts.
dessert: 1 choco-keto bar (sugar free) - promptly skyrocketed me to 148mg/dL - so much for being "sugar free". The monkjuice in it must spike me, but also notable is that the 13 g of fiber do nothing to blunt the spike.
D: fajita meat covered w/cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Delicious.
(will have) decaf coffee w/cream

Moving
walk/jog planned, GMB Integral Strength
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:27 pm

Sunday, December 8

117.8
Resting HR: 68
Sleep Score: 83
FBG: 100

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 2 hard-boiled eggs, fajita steak w/cheese, sour cream, and guacamole! Yes! I had all this for breakfast!
L: not hungry until dinner!
D: small portion of yogurt w/berries&nuts; roast beef w/cheese (finished at 5:15) - after eating this I feel overly full.
goal - finish eating dinner at 5pm, and finish decaf coffee before 6:30pm

Moving
Planning a 2.5 hour walk during Creator's Play Dress Rehearsal.

Feeling kind of scared about my lunches. Without my everyday go-to yogurt (which I've had almost daily since Sept 2018), I feel like I don't know how to prep and make sure I take a filling lunch everyday. Big breath. This is not a huge problem. I can deal with this.

One other crazy thought is I could start skipping lunch and then just eat an early dinner?
What if I had a big breakfast (eggs, yogurt, walnuts, you name it) and then see if I can make it until dinner? If I'm wearing my CGM, I'd be able to see if the big breakfast/dinner make me spike too high..... it's just a thought because prepping for lunch appears to be stressing me out. LOL!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:35 pm

Auto, do you rent your CGM, and is there a monthly fee? I can imagine how invaluable you're finding it and how much you will miss having that feedback. The good news is that you're doing a lot of experimenting now so you'll have all that information to use going forward.

Interesting about your weight. How nice to be losing without that being the focus! A dream come true for most of us. Your shift to focusing on your health has made this possible. I'm making that same shift. Eat to feel good, satisfied, nourished, and be healthy, lean, and fit. Your dinner sounded yummy! I'm not surprised about the apple. I have always found eating an apple on my own really messes with my blood sugar and I'm hungrier than when I started! Also very interesting about the chocolate bar. Have your tried Lily's chocolate? I think it might use sugar alcohols, but I'm not sure.

Enjoy that nice long walk today.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 08, 2019 5:19 pm

Hi Alene - I got a prescription from my doctor, then pay out of pocket at the Costco pharmacy. Each sensor lasts for 10 days, and I currently have one more. Then I will go buy more.

OK, folks, welcome to the "Massive Morning Meal" experiment. I am undertaking this for finals' week, which actually is perfect. I will be less hurried in the mornings as I try this out.
Pros: I will cook a good breakfast for my kids every day this week.
Cons: I will have to cook for breakfast. :lol: 8) :mrgreen:

Questions and Data to Gather:
1) Time-wise, can I do this? (And after FlowerPup arrives?)
2) How does this affect my hunger and mood, etc.?
3) How does this affect my blood sugar throughout the morning?
4) Will this allow me to skip lunch without hunger (I will bring yogurt and berries so I don't have a mid-day meltdown of ravenous hunger, just in case....but I'll try to see if I can "wait out" the hunger pangs)
5) Will I be hangry in the middle of the day? Since I'm not formally teaching this week, it's a fair time to try this experiment. I would not want to risk getting nauseated/hangry in the middle of a lecture.
6) Will this allow me to eat a lighter dinner - maybe just a big salad?
7) Will this have a positive impact on my fasting blood glucose?
8. Will and how might this impact exercise routines?
9) Will and how might this impact my sleep?

Here is today's experiment:

Blood Glucose was 94 (after 2 cups of coffee - only one regular):
then had steak fajita meat, cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and 2 hard-boiled eggs.
Then one more cup of coffee (decaf)
pre-meal: 94mg/dL
30 min: 96mg/dL
1 hour: 113mg/dL
90 min: 93mg/dL
2 hours:96mg/dL

This glucose profile is ideal for a meal. I have a small, but healthy raise to 113, then return to fasting levels within 2 hours of the start of the meal. When I have my large yogurt meal, the rise is not much different, but it stays higher for longer. After 2-4 hours, I often am STILL at the 120/125mg/dL range

I actually ended up doing one more experiment of sorts today. I had my small portion of yogurt w/berries and nuts for dinner, along with some roast beef and cheese for dinner. My blood sugar didn't go very high (up to close to 120mg/dL) but then has stayed stubbornly at about 112mg/dL for the past 2ish hours. I ate 3 hours ago. In other words, I'm still not back down to fasting levels (in my case, ~100mg/dL). This means I end up going to bed a little elevated.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:42 pm

I find if I have a late cooked breakfast I can easily skip lunch.

My lunches of salad nuts and cheese at 12 do last me until about 5

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:41 pm

I'm enjoying reading about the different food combinations you're trying and how they affect your blood sugar. It would be interesting to isolate the berries and the yogurt to see which one might be affecting your blood sugar more. I have read that dairy products have a higher blood sugar response than you would expect for the amount of carbs/protein/fat in them.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Mon Dec 09, 2019 3:00 pm

Soprano - I may be eating more similarly to you soon. :-)

Alene - I think it's actually the other way around - dairy's proteins are very insulinogenic, and cause more INSULIN to be released than would be expected, which results in a more stable blood glucose response. That was one of the reasons I chose the yogurt originally (although also I liked its overall nutrient profile). Of course, we are all individual, and so probably some of us still have a surprisingly high blood sugar response to dairy. I've tested whole milk in the past and been pleased with its reasonable blood sugar response, but that was several years ago.
I think I'll be able to keep the yogurt, but have to have smaller quantities..... alas, such is life.
I guess I could do this test (and I know you all are waiting, haha!) but I don't particularly love plain yogurt! Ah, what we do for science. :-)

Monday, Dec. 9

116.8
FBG: 97
Resting HR: 68
Sleep Score: 81

Eating
B: coffee w/half&half, 3 hard-boiled eggs, 2 pieces of bacon
(trying to force myself to eat a big breakfast....not really wanting it at the moment. This goes against my typical attitude toward eating, but I think it's still worth a try this week to "reset" my appetite to a little earlier in the day.) - this meal filled me up and my blood sugar staying between 90-100mg/dL all morning.
L: 1 cup plain yogurt (today will be Alexandre brand -14 g fat, 10 g protein, 10 g carb) and 1 ounce walnuts, but only eat it if I really need it - I ate maybe 1/2 of this. I didn't really need it but it was a nice security blanket.
D: salad w/pumpkin seeds & cheese; 3 chicken drumsticks finished eating by 5pm and finished coffee by 6pm
Ugh. I'm feeling a bit overfull actually.

Moving
Short walk/jog this morning, hoping for more before day is over - one more walk. Surprisingly did get a burst of evening energy and went on another walk - in the dark, which actually HappyHerder and I love. Made it to 17k steps.
Mobility routine - yes
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

alene1
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Washington state

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by alene1 » Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:58 pm

How did things go with your blood sugar after your yogurt?

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:33 pm

Alene - oops, yes, I forgot to include that about yesterday! I had two improvements - I only went up 10mg/dL after the small portion of yogurt w/nuts (instead of 20-25), and I came down to fasting levels within a couple hours (rather than remaining somewhat elevated throughout the afternoon). The carb load was reduced from 30g carbs to 10g, and that seemed to do the trick.

Tuesday, December 10

116.4
FBG: 92!
Sleep Score: 69
Resting HR: 70

Eating
B: I had a plan for a great breakfast, but I got an upsetting email from a student and lost my appetite... :roll:
L: yogurt w/berries (a very small portion) and walnuts - BG went up 15mg/dL over the course of 2 hours, then stayed there for a couple more hours. Down to fasting levels 3 hours after eating. So I guess this is OK - perhaps "good" even.
D: tortilla chips w/dip; salmon

Moving
Didn't sleep great last night, so not feeling super energetic this morning. But I still think I'll be able to fit in a nice walk mid-day to take a break from grading. I was able to get a nice nap after work. That was great.

I had a very difficult work day, but in hindsight, I feel that I handled it much better than I might have in the past. First, as soon as the initial (upsetting) information came in, I scanned my body, I did my breathing and I discovered the overriding emotion I felt was fear. Then I immediately went on a walk with HappyHerder (didn't think I had time for that, but under the circumstances, I made time......). Second, when I got to work I approached a "safe" friend to confide in. I immediately started bawling, bawling, bawling, which I suppose might sound like I didn't handle it very well - but really, I needed that good cry. I had so much fear and regret about the incident and I was able to just get most of it processed. Then I finished some "must-dos" and went home early and took a nap, which I think I also needed after such a big cry. Then I went on another very slow very woodsy walk with HappyHerder in the rain. Perfect for my mood, ha!
So, I feel like my coping skills helped me me process and diffuse the powerful emotions of the day better than I might have a year ago. I'm sorry I can't give more details - I don't mean to be cryptic but it is not an issue I can discuss on this forum. Basically, I really messed up. But my friend was able to finally talk me down by saying, "On a scale of 1 to 10, your flub was a 3." That did make me laugh. It could have been worse.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:55 pm

Breakfast sounded good! Good news re blood sugars with reduced yoghurt

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by automatedeating » Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:00 pm

Thanks, Soprano. I do think that I can keep yogurt; just less of it, lol!

I have an appt. with an endocrinologist Jan. 6th. Not sure what good it will do, but I might be able to get a few creative ideas from him. We'll see.

Wednesday, December 11

116.4
FBG: 100
Sleep Score: 83 - much better than the previous night!
Resting HR: 70
Morning BP: 113/66

Eating
B: coffee w/cream, 2 hard-boiled eggs tuna fish w/cheese, pickles, guacamole, walnuts
L: tuna fish w/cheese, pickles, guacamole, walnuts (I used a scoop of yogurt instead of mayo! - worked like a charm!)
had a cup of bone broth in the afternoon
D: (will be) steak & salad

Moving
Feeling sluggish. Yesterday was rough and today I'm feeling the need to take it easy. I still plan on walking though, just maybe not too much. I also got behind on my work yesterday because I spent so much time crying. So.... I really need to work a lot today.
Got in 2 mid-day walks!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: automated eating tracker

Post by Soprano » Wed Dec 11, 2019 8:08 pm

So sorry you are so upset, we all flub ( love that word, never used it before).
I'm glad you've got some support. In 6 months I'm sure you'll look back and see this from a different perspective.

Put it right, be kind to yourself and let the tears wash the negativity away..

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

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