How bad was my binge??

Falling off the wagon is common ... I have never done it but lots here have.

Damage? Probably None as it was (hopefully) a one off. You'd need to do that a LOT before any great harm was done.

Did you test?

Hi Ali

You can test if you wish to just see what it did but if the number is high, you might not want to know .... just depends on your preferences. Me? I wouldn't as the guilt of eating that junk would be enough without the further stress of looking at a figure that would alarm me.

That headache is bound to be the sugars / carbs so it'll pass.

Mike

Alisonjane10 said:

Hi folks

I've done a REALLY dumb thing. After 3 months of LCHF, since diagnosis, with no cheating at all, I had a huge meltdown & have just downed a whole load of sugary, indulgent, totally inappropriate food. I just couldn't take another minute of my diabetic way of eating and lost it. Chocolate, muffins, banana, mousse & Jaffa cakes. I KNOW it was stupid...so don't tell me so please!! What I need to know is what damage have I done AND is this mad meltdown something that others go through as well? Anyone able to reassure me? Thank you folks.

Ali.

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You are not alone, I have done it a few times, especially with HUGE quantities of sour cream. Each to his own little temptation . Just put it down to experience and get back to normal the next day. It happens less and less as time goes by. se la vie.

Alisonjane10 said:

Sour cream Pasha....YUK!! Lol. Like you say though, I'm putting it down to experience & gonna be extra good today. BG 5.8 right now, which is a relief. I didn't test when I got home from night shift. As Mike D said, I'd probably just become alarmed by the numbers & I learnt my lesson. Not gonna say it won't happen again when I have a meltdown. But if it's only once every 3 months, then perhaps I can forgive myself. Think I need to broaden my diet to include a weekly treat. That way I won't feel so deprived. I LOVE pancakes. So, maybe low carb pancakes, with calorie free chocolate or maple flavour sauce, on my day off is an option. My very low carb diet has been brutal, & I needed another member to point that out to me. I need to have some pleasure from the food I eat. Guess I just want everything too quickly...BG under control etc. But diabetes is for life, & my way of eating just wasn't sustainable. Anyway, thanks for the reassurance & encouraging words. It's very much appreciated.

Ali. X

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At least your meltdowns are not radioactive.

Alisonjane10 said:

Hi Mike

I haven't tested. I'm going to wait until I get home from work & do it then. I feel ok....but got a bit of a headache. Calming myself down with a nice hot cup of green tea. No sugar! Lol. Guess I'll just have to mark it up to experience. And I'm glad to hear that "falling off the wagon" isn't gonna do me any major harm. Thanks Mike.

Ali. X

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Are you familiar with aversion therapy? I might test, and if the number is as big as you fear it might be, it would make for decent aversion therapy evidence.

That might be a bit harsh if you're feeling a bit delicate after what's happened, but I'm the sort who likes to deal with these things head-on.

Knowledge is power. If I understand the impact of something, there is a chance it will influence any further potential episode. If, when you get home, you have returned to near usual levels, you will either be reassured there's likely no lasting damage, or unconsciously persuaded it wasn't such a bad thing after all.

The past is past. It's no disaster, and happens to most people, sooner or later. It's how you intend to use the experience to "manage" the future you need to think about now.

Welcome back onto the wagon.

The worst you can do if you've been very low carbing and in ketosis, is kicking yourself out of it with a big binge, and needing to start over again.

I think if, as you say, your diet has been "brutal" you definitely need to ease up now to where you can cope long term with how you're eating. IMO it's better to do this than end up on a huge binge because you've been denying yourself too much. A low carb diet is often going to be a long term/permanent lifestyle change, so it really does need to be sustainable. Little steps are much better at getting you where you aim to be than trying to take flying leaps and falling flat on your face!

I've been very lucky so far in that most of my falls from grace are a one off scoff of the "I think I'll just have a taste of that", and they've not been enough to get my body shouting our for more carbs. But I do remember when I was getting almost permanent migraines many years ago when I was so desperate for sugar that I'd sit down and eat great spoonfuls out of the sugar bowl - I actually mentally found it totally revolting but my body was completely overruling my brain. I've never wanted to end up doing that again.

It is quite possible to have an enjoyable long term very low carb diet, but you do need to spend some time exploring acceptable alternatives for the high sugar/carbs foods that you are (should be!) no longer eating. High cocoa (75% or more) dark chocolate is fine to eat in small pieces; cakes, muffins, biscuits can be baked with ground almonds or other flour alternatives, and you can investigate suitable sweeteners such as Stevia or erythritol to use; many fruits can be enjoyed if you keep portions small - and use your meter to test what that portion size might safely be.

Robbity

Hey Ali,

We are not to dissimilar in that I started the LCHF in late January myself, so you fell of the wagon, I doubt you have done lasting damage based on 1 binge, after all consider advice given to diabetics in years past. Having said that I would climb straight back up and crack on with your BG control.

I have my Hba1c on the 27th of this month, it will be my first since diagnosis and should the results be super good, I plan on a naughty carby meal to celebrate, then straight back to fighting the good fight.

You know one of the things that makes me feel strong everyday when it comes to food is knowing that if I want something bad, I can do just that, have it! Maybe to the detriment of my own health, but it's still a choice.

Don't beat yourself up, just don't make it a habbit.

Daks said:

Hey Ali,

We are not to dissimilar in that I started the LCHF in late January myself, so you fell of the wagon, I doubt you have done lasting damage based on 1 binge, after all consider advice given to diabetics in years past. Having said that I would climb straight back up and crack on with your BG control.

I have my Hba1c on the 27th of this month, it will be my first since diagnosis and should the results be super good, I plan on a naughty carby meal to celebrate, then straight back to fighting the good fight.

You know one of the things that makes me feel strong everyday when it comes to food is knowing that if I want something bad, I can do just that, have it! Maybe to the detriment of my own health, but it's still a choice.

Don't beat yourself up, just don't make it a habbit.

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I'm certainly not telling you what to do or how to live your life, but I can just never understand when people say "...... should the results be super good, I plan on a naughty carby meal to celebrate.....", that sort of thing. Whilst one carby meal won't make a long term difference, unless it precipitates a spectacular, and lasting exit from the wagon, it just feels to me like saying,

"I've worked really hard on this condition and made excellent progress. Having taken two steps forward, I'd best press on and take a short one backwards."

I tend to just view it as decent decent feedback on an ongoing situation, but then I don't feel I'm denied anything the way I eat. I choose not to eat certain foods on a daily basis. Results day is just another day; albeit it can be a bit tense whilst waiting!!

Good luck. I do hope your efforts are rewarded.

Alisonjane10 said:

Hi folks

I've done a REALLY dumb thing. After 3 months of LCHF, since diagnosis, with no cheating at all, I had a huge meltdown & have just downed a whole load of sugary, indulgent, totally inappropriate food. I just couldn't take another minute of my diabetic way of eating and lost it. Chocolate, muffins, banana, mousse & Jaffa cakes. I KNOW it was stupid...so don't tell me so please!! What I need to know is what damage have I done AND is this mad meltdown something that others go through as well? Anyone able to reassure me? Thank you folks.


Ali.

Click to expand...

'It is human to err' Le Corbusier ( 1887 - 1965) Take good care now and put in down to experience x

AndBreathe said:

I'm certainly not telling you what to do or how to live your life, but I can just never understand when people say "...... should the results be super good, I plan on a naughty carby meal to celebrate.....", that sort of thing. Whilst one carby meal won't make a long term difference, unless it precipitates a spectacular, and lasting exit from the wagon, it just feels to me like saying,

"I've worked really hard on this condition and made excellent progress. Having taken two steps forward, I'd best press on and take a short one backwards."

I tend to just view it as decent decent feedback on an ongoing situation, but then I don't feel I'm denied anything the way I eat. I choose not to eat certain foods on a daily basis. Results day is just another day; albeit it can be a bit tense whilst waiting!!

Good luck. I do hope your efforts are rewarded.

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I don't understand what you don't understand, It's really quite simple, I was diagnosed in January and I miss my carb based food, I have worked hard to lower my bloods and my current meter monthly average is 5.3mmol/l.

It's been a dark time since I was diagnosed and one of my motivations and one psychology that has helped me through has been a reward, be it detrimental to my own health or not.

As far as a step backwards goes, I think it's a bit presumptuous to extrapolate that's what will or might happen as a result, especially seeing as you know zero about me.

I'm not telling anyone to do the same, it's my choice, and honestly I know it's not going to affect my future results.

Thanks for the feedback.

Daks said:

I don't understand what you don't understand, It's really quite simple, I was diagnosed in January and I miss my carb based food, I have worked hard to lower my bloods and my current meter monthly average is 5.3mmol/l.

It's been a dark time since I was diagnosed and one of my motivations and one psychology that has helped me through has been a reward, be it detrimental to my own health or not.

As far a step backwards goes, I think it's a bit presumptuous to extrapolate that's what will or might happen as a result, especially seeing as you know zero about me.

I'm not telling anyone to do the same, it's my choice, and honestly I know it's not going to affect my future results.

Thanks for the feedback.

Click to expand...

Daks said:

I don't understand what you don't understand, It's really quite simple, I was diagnosed in January and I miss my carb based food, I have worked hard to lower my bloods and my current meter monthly average is 5.3mmol/l.

It's been a dark time since I was diagnosed and one of my motivations and one psychology that has helped me through has been a reward, be it detrimental to my own health or not.

As far a step backwards goes, I think it's a bit presumptuous to extrapolate that's what will or might happen as a result, especially seeing as you know zero about me.

I'm not telling anyone to do the same, it's my choice, and honestly I know it's not going to affect my future results.

Thanks for the feedback.

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"I was determined to share my positive approach and not let diabetes stand in the way of enjoying my life."

Paula Deen

You are human. We all mess up from time to time. Hang in there!

Daks said:

I don't understand what you don't understand, It's really quite simple, I was diagnosed in January and I miss my carb based food, I have worked hard to lower my bloods and my current meter monthly average is 5.3mmol/l.

It's been a dark time since I was diagnosed and one of my motivations and one psychology that has helped me through has been a reward, be it detrimental to my own health or not.

As far a step backwards goes, I think it's a bit presumptuous to extrapolate that's what will or might happen as a result, especially seeing as you know zero about me.

I'm not telling anyone to do the same, it's my choice, and honestly I know it's not going to affect my future results.

Thanks for the feedback.

Click to expand...

Perhaps I was being a little figurative. I hope you enjoy your treat as much as the anticipation of it.

I binge most weeks on a donut and apple turnover but try to take my diabetic meds at appropiate times to soak up the sugar.
like Ali i do try very hard to obey the rules but i have type2, high cholestrol, high blood pressure, glucoma, so i figure i deserve treat each week.
I cant eat high fat due to the high cholestrol and im allergic to statins, so i restrict carbs most days, plenty fresh vegies, plenty nespresso with skimmed goats milk and voila, i run at 4.4 most of the day.

Alisonjane10 said:

Sour cream Pasha....YUK!! Lol. Like you say though, I'm putting it down to experience & gonna be extra good today. BG 5.8 right now, which is a relief. I didn't test when I got home from night shift. As Mike D said, I'd probably just become alarmed by the numbers & I learnt my lesson. Not gonna say it won't happen again when I have a meltdown. But if it's only once every 3 months, then perhaps I can forgive myself. Think I need to broaden my diet to include a weekly treat. That way I won't feel so deprived. I LOVE pancakes. So, maybe low carb pancakes, with calorie free chocolate or maple flavour sauce, on my day off is an option. My very low carb diet has been brutal, & I needed another member to point that out to me. I need to have some pleasure from the food I eat. Guess I just want everything too quickly...BG under control etc. But diabetes is for life, & my way of eating just wasn't sustainable. Anyway, thanks for the reassurance & encouraging words. It's very much appreciated.

Ali. X

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I have found a lovely recipe for sweet potato pancakes which I have with clotted cream and blueberries for breakfast. Doesn't affect my BG levels so may be worth a try? http://paleogrubs.com/sweet-potato-pancakes-recipe
Also have a go with coconut pancakes http://ditchthewheat.com/coconut-flour-pancakes/
and if you are wanting something cake like, try these http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/orange_sourcream_cakes.html They come out a bit like a scone so I slice them in half and have with clotted cream and a cuppa!
There are some great recipes on the internet that can be used for LCHF diets. Have a look at the paleo diet. I have based a lot of my cooking on this but included full fat organic dairy. It just depends whether you enjoy cooking or not!

I treat myself as well. I never say that I'm never going to have potatoes, or pasta or white rice or candy ever again. I just say I'm not going to have it *today* and that usually works. That way I don't feel too deprived and I feel as if I'm making a choice, not "forced" to eat low-carb. When it doesn't work and I slip up a little (or a lot), I forgive myself and try harder the next day. I'm human, not a robot.

@Daks enjoy your treat. You'll have earned it whatever the result. @AndBreathe if I followed your attitude then for me the cure would be worse than the disease. If it works for you great. But its unfair to claim you don't deny yourself anything and chastise daks for not denying himself anything!