As most diabetics know and can relate to, tracking is life. In order to maintain stable/controlled blood sugar you have to prick, prod, test, administer shots, carb count, plug numbers, etc. Dang we do a lot of math! We track pretty closely the carb content of our daily intake. Side-note: since my diagnosis I have become 100% more aware of what I put in my body. I thought it was a tad excessive at the beginning, and then after a few months I got used to it. I think this concept stands true for a lot of changes and habits, in order to develop a habit and make a change you have to be consistent and give it time. I know for me, I always start so strong and then 3/4 weeks in I begin to lose steam. Not this time. This is a lifestyle choice, therefore the only option is to work at it every single day. Knowing I cannot expect perfection, but recognizing that I can strive for better. I think the biggest game changer will be continuing to learn about nutrition and fitness and applying it to my life. Seems like the “Trial and Error” of my life, although at this point it can’t hurt to try.
I am for the first time in my fitness life admitting publicly that I do not know enough and therefore could use some help. I struggle with pride and vulnerability and for these reasons I have postponed creating this blog for quite some time. Anyways, I’ll keep you posted about this aspect, it’s currently in the works. I know that if I am held accountable by a third party I can learn more faster and see results quicker too.
To diet or not to diet? For my own personal mental health I will say that counting macros is not dieting, it is be aware about what you are putting in your body while enjoying normal foods. Clean eating is about fueling your body with the right nutrition to feel better, because let’s be honest you put good in and your body does work better. Yes you can eat like crap and get through your days sufficiently, but I refuse to settle for sufficient. I want a body that performs efficiently and effectively because if I feel good I am overall a happier person. I like being happy, I really do. So I am going to tidy up my diet, track my macros, take supplements, meal prep, and continue to put work in at the gym.
For IIFYM (if it fits your macros) flexible dieting you can still eat normal foods, so long as they fit your macros. Macros refers to Macronutrients including Carbs, Fats, and Protein. Micronutrients are important too such as fiber, calcium, etc. I have been using MyFitnessPal… and let me tell you this makes it SO much easier; it also helps you get an even better idea of carb counting. So whether or not you are tracking all of your food or just carbs from a diabetic standpoint I think this app is AWESOME.
To top off my tracking I am also working on keeping a daily journal of my food, BG numbers, and insulin dosages in an organized fashion. I just start with my morning (breakfast), afternoon (lunch), evening (dinner), and any snacks/weird high or low numbers. This is something really new, I began doing it when I added in CLA and L-Carnitine. The reason being because I wanted to be able to chat with my doctor about the supplements, remember the different effects, and practice keeping a food diary. I am hoping to post this information into a document in reference to the supplements so that fellow T1’s can check it out and have a heads up. This would be much later down the road once I’ve been taking them long enough to have representative insight on good and bad side effects I encountered during different trial periods with different supplements.
That is all for now, see ya later alligators!
