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Birthdays and Christmas

Once the kids got to a certain age we stopped having parties. but they still got a a card and a present. They only get a card a phone call nowadays.

Xmas is to hot to be cooking festive food such as turkey chook and veggies. We normally have seafood, prawns, crab either sandies or spanner, oysters, scallops and salads for lunch, and sliced ham and cold cooked chooks from our butcher with salad stuff.

Plenty of fruit for those that want it, stone fruits are in season for xmas here cherries, plums, nectarines, lichees, plus all of the locally grown fruits.

Edit: Clarity.
 
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I knew I had beaten diabetes when, in 2017 at Christmas I went to visit the family on consecutive days and had two Christmas dinners - I cooked most of both, but I had roast turkey and roast pork and all the veges and even rather too many of the Yorkshire puddings I devised - and then saw 6.5 on the meter after both meals. I did not have the potatoes, but parsnips carrots sprouts cauliflower and peas were probably all involved. Later (much later) there was trifle.
I was just over a year from diagnosis then.
It is perfectly possible to make festive food without it being high carb - the Christmas meetings of the various dance teams I play for all seem to bring enthusiastic requests for things I have concocted in the past and as far as I know I am the only diabetic attending.
 
First Christmas post-diagnosis I decided to relax my rules and have some Christmas pudding. The sugar made me feel very unwell, and I have no desire to repeat that experience, or anything like it, ever. I do have infrequent non-keto days (every2/3 months?) but even then I'm probably having no more than 70g/day. I'd much rather have a roast potato on those occasions than anything sweety.
 
I am sorry to admit this but for birthdays and Christmas I eat what ever I like and then spend the next few weeks getting over it, after all I'm in my seventies how many more birthdays or Christmases am I likely to have I am not going to waste them because of diabetes.

Edit to delete some detail that was not helpful
 
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KennyA said:
First Christmas post-diagnosis I decided to relax my rules and have some Christmas pudding. The sugar made me feel very unwell, and I have no desire to repeat that experience, or anything like it, ever. I do have infrequent non-keto days (every2/3 months?) but even then I'm probably having no more than 70g/day. I'd much rather have a roast potato on those occasions than anything sweety.
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I'm with you on that one Kenny! I have completely lost my appetite for sweet things over the last 6 weeks of low carbing, which is great! Before that I could easily eat three or four chocolate bars of an evening!
 
JohnEGreen said:
I am sorry to admit this but for birthdays and Christmas I eat what ever I like and then spend the next few weeks getting over it, after all I'm in my seventies how many more birthdays or Christmases am I likely to have I am not going to waste them because of diabetes.

Further to this I had a friend who was T2 he just could not give up the carbs I used to berate him for this at times I regret that now as he if he had listened to me would have spent the last few years of his life not eating all the things he loved and then passing due to cancer any way. Because many years ago he was exposed to asbestos.

He did try very hard for sometime but then was put on insulin.
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I'm so sorry about your friend. We can only do so much to help but the person has got to want to change their lifestyle. However, going back to your point about the diabetes and eating what you like due to your age? Well I just had my 71st birthday two weeks ago and I'm very lucky in that people never believe my age, as I come from a family with young genes. Like you I don't know how many healthy years I've left but I still have a young daughter at home who gives me the incentive to stay as fit as I can for as long as I can. If you need the lift of spoiling yourself though, then as long as it's infrequent it will be fine :)
 
@coby Yes I see your point my last birthday also my my 71st I spent with my family in a local restaurant/carvery I had what I pleased including a desert.

I have a 26 year old grandson who seems to want me to live for ever yes it took me a few days back on my low carb diet to regain a bit of control however do not think that BS control is not important to me I went from 18 stone to ten stone in under a year by restricting carbs and calories drastically.

and I am still now only 11.5 stone and my HbA1c is now 44 it was down to 38 at one point but due to other factors has risen slightly.

But I have found keeping up a low carb diet indefinitely unsustainable without the odd day off

The other factors including varying doses of prednisolone fighting off infections that seem to come one after another and some other conditions that sometimes make life a little difficult. but at least with the odd day off from the daily slog that is diabetes I can't complain.
 
coby said:
Strange, but she never understood my diabetes, or even that it could be serious given free reign. Maybe because it wasn't something she was trained in?
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Yes people just think you cannot eat cake. Bless her. X
 
JohnEGreen said:
@coby Yes I see your point my last birthday also my my 71st I spent with my family in a local restaurant/carvery I had what I pleased including a desert.

I have a 26 year old grandson who seems to want me to live for ever yes it took me a few days back on my low carb diet to regain a bit of control however do not think that BS control is not important to me I went from 18 stone to ten stone in under a year by restricting carbs and calories drastically.

and I am still now only 11.5 stone and my HbA1c is now 44 it was down to 38 at one point but due to other factors has risen slightly.

But I have found keeping up a low carb diet indefinitely unsustainable without the odd day off

The other factors including varying doses of prednisolone fighting off infections that seem to come one after another and some other conditions that sometimes make life a little difficult. but at least with the odd day off from the daily slog that is diabetes I can't complain.
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Good post. Thank you. X
 
JohnEGreen said:
@coby Yes I see your point my last birthday also my my 71st I spent with my family in a local restaurant/carvery I had what I pleased including a desert.

I have a 26 year old grandson who seems to want me to live for ever yes it took me a few days back on my low carb diet to regain a bit of control however do not think that BS control is not important to me I went from 18 stone to ten stone in under a year by restricting carbs and calories drastically.

and I Wow you have am still now only 11.5 stone and my HbA1c is now 44 it was down to 38 at one point but due to other factors has risen slightly.

But I have found keeping up a low carb diet indefinitely unsustainable without the odd day off

The other factors including varying doses of prednisolone fighting off infections that seem to come one after another and some other conditions that sometimes make life a little difficult. but at least with the odd day off from the daily slog that is diabetes I can't complain.
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Wow you have certainly showed endurance to be able to make such a massive difference to your weight! Well done :)
 
SuNuman said:
Hi. I just wondered if you would tell me your views on birthdays and Christmas. Type 2s. Do you cheat? If so - just a tiny amount, or are you that focused you do not even buy a cake? X.
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For Christmas I usually make sure there's stuff around I can eat. I have a bit of a hand in the menu, no matter where we have our dinners. (At home, and with my family, and my inlaws, and with a friend. Christmas lasts forever!). I never leave the table hungry, and I don't leave the table high. Plenty of meat, fish and poultry, deviled eggs, cheeses, unsweetened whipped cream, that sort of thing. As for birthdays, I seem to have become the designated cake photographer with my inlaws. I photograph other people (read: the kids) demolishing theirs. Keeps my hands busy while I just have water and don't partake until snacks come into the picture. Usually cheeses and cold cuts here in the Netherlands, and considering that usually doesn't appear on the table until well after noon during a daytime party, that's my breakfast. For an evening get-together I might skip dinner and go with the snacks as my inlaws feel horrible if I can't join in. I don't care if I have to fast, but they certainly do. Vigorously. My husband and I celebrate our birthdays at an amusementpark we love as we both find parties stressful, and instead of cake I have a juicy steak, or salmon, or both! ;) I have more trouble with a different, Dutch holiday which mainly revolves around gifts for kids and lots and lots of candy for all. Of course, this past weekend we found a shop that sells the seasonal candy year-round rather than just in November/December, and my husband loves it as much as I do. I have 4 bags of different flavoured kruidnootjes screaming at me from the pantry, because he forgot to take them to work with him. Not going to go there though.

All in all though, it's entirely up to you. Some people can have a cheat day here and there, just for the holidays or a birthday. All-out or moderately. I found I get carb cravings rather badly if I lapse, not to mention migraines, and hey, keto flu when I want to get back on the wagon! So I stay on it for the most part. But for you it might be entirely workable to say, share a slice of cake with someone, or have some and have a quick walk after, or...? What works for one, may not work for another. You'll find out as you go along. ;)
 
Christmas for me is the easiest time because I am off work, my trouble is the on the move eating, I always have amazing control when not working.

Birthday cake or any cake puts me to sleep, deep can’t wake me sleep, still have kids at home so cakes are eaten but it’s not worth it for me, if I didn’t pass out I would for sure eat the cake.
 
JohnEGreen said:
I am sorry to admit this but for birthdays and Christmas I eat what ever I like and then spend the next few weeks getting over it, after all I'm in my seventies how many more birthdays or Christmases am I likely to have I am not going to waste them because of diabetes.

Edit to delete some detail that was not helpful
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And apparently birthdays are good for you ! The more you have the longer you live .:):)
 
Most days for the last several years I photograph what I eat, so below is exactly what I did on my birthday last October:

Ate out: Full rack of ribs with sauteed mushrooms and steak with garlic butter, sauteed mushrooms tomato and gravy:
Birthday1.jpg

Afters at home: Pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, toasted coconut flakes, diary farm milk and 100% chocolate:
Birthday2.jpg

and Christmas:
Rolled sirloin, gammon, pigs in blankets, sausage meat stuffing, sage stuffing, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, roasted butternut squash (with seconds....maybe thirds)
Christmas 1.jpg

Afters: 4 variety berries, 3 nuts and 3 cheeses:
Christmas 2.jpg

I bought a bottle of Tequila, and it is still unopened as I was satisfied. I think being "satisfied" physically (taste) and mentally (not feeling you have missed out) is key. I may have an advantage in that I went down hill from feeling fine in Nov 2014 to extreme Type 2 within 4 weeks due to so called healthy eating choices. Two of the items I over consumed (along with whole food fruits, no sugar pancakes, rice pudding etc) were leading brands of apple and orange juice; as the diabetic thirst got worse I drank more. So I was already sick, and made myself ignorantly worse, this has helped make my food choices a no brainer.
 
JoKalsbeek said:
For Christmas I usually make sure there's stuff around I can eat. I have a bit of a hand in the menu, no matter where we have our dinners. (At home, and with my family, and my inlaws, and with a friend. Christmas lasts forever!). I never leave the table hungry, and I don't leave the table high. Plenty of meat, fish and poultry, deviled eggs, cheeses, unsweetened whipped cream, that sort of thing. As for birthdays, I seem to have become the designated cake photographer with my inlaws. I photograph other people (read: the kids) demolishing theirs. Keeps my hands busy while I just have water and don't partake until snacks come into the picture. Usually cheeses and cold cuts here in the Netherlands, and considering that usually doesn't appear on the table until well after noon during a daytime party, that's my breakfast. For an evening get-together I might skip dinner and go with the snacks as my inlaws feel horrible if I can't join in. I don't care if I have to fast, but they certainly do. Vigorously. My husband and I celebrate our birthdays at an amusementpark we love as we both find parties stressful, and instead of cake I have a juicy steak, or salmon, or both! ;) I have more trouble with a different, Dutch holiday which mainly revolves around gifts for kids and lots and lots of candy for all. Of course, this past weekend we found a shop that sells the seasonal candy year-round rather than just in November/December, and my husband loves it as much as I do. I have 4 bags of different flavoured kruidnootjes screaming at me from the pantry, because he forgot to take them to work with him. Not going to go there though.

All in all though, it's entirely up to you. Some people can have a cheat day here and there, just for the holidays or a birthday. All-out or moderately. I found I get carb cravings rather badly if I lapse, not to mention migraines, and hey, keto flu when I want to get back on the wagon! So I stay on it for the most part. But for you it might be entirely workable to say, share a slice of cake with someone, or have some and have a quick walk after, or...? What works for one, may not work for another. You'll find out as you go along. ;)
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Thank you. You have it covered. Positive post. X
 
Mbaker said:
Most days for the last several years I photograph what I eat, so below is exactly what I did on my birthday last October:

Ate out: Full rack of ribs with sauteed mushrooms and steak with garlic butter, sauteed mushrooms tomato and gravy:
View attachment 50904

Afters at home: Pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, toasted coconut flakes, diary farm milk and 100% chocolate:
View attachment 50905

and Christmas:
Rolled sirloin, gammon, pigs in blankets, sausage meat stuffing, sage stuffing, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, roasted butternut squash (with seconds....maybe thirds)
View attachment 50906

Afters: 4 variety berries, 3 nuts and 3 cheeses:
View attachment 50907

I bought a bottle of Tequila, and it is still unopened as I was satisfied. I think being "satisfied" physically (taste) and mentally (not feeling you have missed out) is key. I may have an advantage in that I went down hill from feeling fine in Nov 2014 to extreme Type 2 within 4 weeks due to so called healthy eating choices. Two of the items I over consumed (along with whole food fruits, no sugar pancakes, rice pudding etc) were leading brands of apple and orange juice; as the diabetic thirst got worse I drank more. So I was already sick, and made myself ignorantly worse, this has helped make my food choices a no brainer.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you. Looks lovely. I have those plates lol. X
The pigs in blankets yum. X
 
SuNuman said:
Hi. I just wondered if you would tell me your views on birthdays and Christmas. Type 2s. Do you cheat? If so - just a tiny amount, or are you that focused you do not even buy a cake? X.
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Hi,

Hmmm,

I Was pretty much diagnosed & whisked onto a kiddy ward the day after my 8th birthday?
Oddly, as you can imagine at a kid's party in 1976 there was a fair bit of sugar placed out.
Though my apetite wasn't good rapidly approaching DKA. I seemed to be drawn to the sausages & the cheese on the "hedgehog" cocktail stick pineapple chunk wotsit.
Since then. Lol, Easter has been an endless round of mugs with the egg replaced by socks.
At the time as a kid..... Hey, I'm still here with what should be, intact & working.
Now you may notice my current profile picture? That depicts the decoration sat on our wedding cake.
I wished a black cake in the design of the vehicle I was picking my bride up to head to the registry office?
Though I cut it as is tradition with my wife. I've never tasted it.
Christmas, is more a cheery pagan event for me.. There is plenty of decent meat on the go..

Now I'm not sure what your aproach is to alcahol? But getting wasted on some decent spirits & some LC mixers don't have a detrimental effect on my BGs. Though I wouldn't advise a novice using exogenous insulin

Looking at your profile. We are pretty much the same age? It funny what life chuck at you at certain times.

I'm rooting for you to resist those "temptations." Mine are different. We are human & there seems to be more than a few variations detrimental to our specific conditions out there.. (Reading & listening to a veriaty of accounts.)
"Just one won't hurt you?" But it can throw a curve ball.. & "peer pressure" from a non D who don't get "it" may not do you any favours ensuing?

As a global cultural "thing" I've noticed the host wishes you eat be satisfied & be merry. Be complimentary to what you can consume. & never be afraid of just saying I can't eat this. Someone else can..

My sister got the Easter eggs omitted from my tea mugs...? Lol, I don't even like tea.

Best wishes.
 
Hi all, I'm new here 2day. My hubby's been diagnosed with type 2 & had his 1st advice sess with the nurse only days b4 his birthday! On top of this we both have Fibromyalgia so prepping any food is incredibly hard for us. I now have no idea what to do to buy a birthday cake. If it wasn't for the Fibro I'd make a low sugar one, but as it is I'm stuck in bed flaring coz of his diagnosis Any advice or help?
 
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