Need Help I'm making bad choices eating badly during this pandemic

It is difficult and I'm guessing that most of us are experiencing the same problems. I know what you mean about the hot cross buns, our local co-op does some with chocolate, luckily not my favourite, and some with apple and cinnamon, different kettle of fish all together.

annabell1 said:

So I ask how are you coping with this challenging time how are you keeping your motivation to staying true to eating better choices and Avoiding foods. I'm having one of those days and So over this isolation only because live on my own these days and so I'm unable to visit my family and friends it's hard its Easter this weekend and I'm sad I can't travel to visit my mum and family and missing mums 90th a week ago was bad enough and now easter then next mother's day. Sorry just one of those days. my only outings are med appointment or grocery shopping. But its causing anxiety eating my LCHF diet is out the window and I'm buying comfort foods carbs bread hot cross buns knowing what harm they are doing isnt stopping me at the moment. I need some tips, motivation and any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks ☆

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For me personally, I keep reading things like how being overweight increases the odds of, you know, becoming a corona statistic. I picked this time to actually go farther in my diet than I did before. (And for the first time in a year and a half, the scales are actually moving again). Not for myself, but for my husband and my mum, I have to keep breathing. So I'm IF-ing my behind off, literally. They're all the motivation I need. Does the chocolate Easter bunny my husband got from a distributor wink at me often? You bet it does. So then I pour myself another tea and keep fasting. I've been cooped up at home since the 7th of March, have only left the house to get a shot at the deserted doc's office (my husband took time off to drive me there, didn't want me to walk the half an our there and back and be exposed to other people on the way.), and that's it. I keep busy with the usual things... Trying to get the house in some sort of order (failing), keeping the cats entertained (success), and just drinking buckets of tea. Oh, and doing some Facebook challenge of photographing my daily life. Which isn't very exciting as it is, and is now downright dull. Yesterday I actually posted a picture of dishes drying in the rack. Try to keep your mind occupied with things other than corona, and the related anxieties that go with it. They'll still be a hum in the background, unavoidable as it is, but it might keep you from the buns.

Now I have those buns in my head though. Kettle, here I come!

Hugs,
Jo
PS: Sorry I don't have quick fixes... I don't think many of us do right now. But any motivation you find is a good one, whatever it may be.

I think it is human nature. Stress, boredom, isolation - they all impact on our eating habits.

I am trying to take the view that should I contract COVID-19 then if my blood glucose is at its best level of control, with the lowest standard deviation, and the best nutrition, then I stand a much better chance of not getting a bad case of the virus.

That keen, sensible, practical, reasonable view usually lasts until about 4pm, when the worms start biting and I start to remember all the little nibbles and interesting foods that are in Mr B's carb stash. From that point on, it becomes a balancing act until bedtime. Then the next day it starts again.

Had some rather distressing COVID related family news 2 days ago, and immediately fell straight into a comfort eating pattern of behaviour that I thought I had left behind some 20 years ago. Ah well, got myself back together by the following morning, and fortunately the carb craving consequences have been minimal, but the Gluten consequences are only just starting.

Basically, don't beat yourself up. You aren't alone in this. Many of us are going through exactly the same thing. But every time you can make a good/better/healthier choice, is a time when you improve your health and reduce the risk should you become ill.

In terms of isolation, I don’t know if you are based in the UK but we are still allowed out for exercise. I go out at lunchtime, and I arrange with a friend that we will go ‘together’ but completely separately. By which I mean, she goes for a walk locally to her and I walk locally to me, but we stick on our headsets and and have a good natter for 45 mins. Sort of walkie-talkie!

Double whammy, social contact and a bit of fresh air and exercise.

And I tend to shop much later in the evening, after the carb-munchers have cleared the shelves of things which I don’t want to eat. Much less choice to be tempted by...

I'm really struggling also, I desperately need to lose weight and before lockdown I'd made a little progress and lost 9lb just by cutting out snacks. Now the temptation to snack is so much higher and I know it's just comfort and boredom eating not hunger. I'd also come along way controlling my diabetes, managing to reduce my hba1c and also address some of my mental barriers regarding my diagnosis. Finding it so hard not to lapse.
Sending you big hugs right now and hoping you find strength to help your through!

I'm in the same camp as Jo and Brunneria. I'm hoping to have my blood glucose well under control in case I catch the virus. Each evening I'm planning exactly what I am going to eat the following day so that my blood glucose stays stable and I'm less likely to start stress- or boredom eating. I'm also booking a 5pm phone call with a friend each day which diverts me from the time at which I would be most likely to succumb to some carb-based 'treat'. I haven't got the mental strength needed to lose weight at this time so I am aiming not to gain any and am managing with this so far.
The current crisis will pass. I owe it to my family and friends to stay healthy so that they do not have additional worries!

Hi. Yes, it's difficult. For chocolate go for 85% Dark. For bread go for seeded wholemeal. It's still full of carbs but a bit better. For x-buns don't have the ones filled with honey etc, just read the label for carb content. Have eggs and bacon for breakfast, tinned fish, any form of meat, soup (watch the added sugar) and so on

I’m similar. Not eating carbs but definitely eating way more than I would when out at work/able to be out and about all weekend. It’s hard to break a pattern, but hang in there and don’t be too hard on yourself. This is a difficult time for everyone, especially those who live alone.

annabell1 said:

Thanks

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Thanks to you, until I read this I hadn't made the connection duh I suddenly want pasta again and I'm angry. Really helpful post.

Well here in my little rural town in Australia I'm still at work- actually working longer and harder than before- every phone call to another (bigger) law firm means they message their lawyer and he/she rings me and if I'm on another call I ran g them they message their lawyer etc- most working from home. I get home exhausted.

I was feeling really jealous of those at home- I would love a break but my silver lining is that I have no greater temptation to carbs- this weekend may be different since I will be at home most days.

My thoughts are much the same as everyones- I'm trying to keep my blood sugars low to give me the best chances if I get the virus but I also think this is n to the time to give yourself a hard time over anything. The world has enough fear and anxiety in it- don't beat yourself up. Your mental health is really important too. Don't add to your already heavy mental/emotional load.
I think the key is to be as compassionate to yourself as you would be to someone here. I see a lot of compassion here- this is the time to give that compassion to yourself too..

That said- I'm a sucker for hot cross bun s and my son's girlfriend who is living here for the duration of the lockdown is making some home made ones today This will really be a test.

Good luck to everyone- stay safe- mentally as well as physically. This time will end and there will be challenges ahead but with such a wonderful community we are in a much better place than some. This community means so much to me- thank you to everyone here.

The one advantage of being cooped up is I can't visit a takeaway or shop when I am hungry!! As someone else shops for me I'm trying not to take liberties so try and stick to the basics to an extent. Finding I am eating a lot of egg, bacon and sausages in the evenings and boiling some eggs as well so my lunch next day consists of either cold sausages or boiled eggs, so probably better than a sandwich when I am work!! I had a terrible self inflicted idiocy of sweets and have a tendency to pick so I now have black or red grapes. Conflicting opinion on them I know but I feel it's still far better than sweets! However I do for my sins still have a pack of cheese and onion crisps, don't have a pop please!!!!

Before this all started though after my disappointing HBA1C at Christmas I had started to make a few changes anyway. If I have bread it's granary now rather than white and brown rice rather than white, which I quite like funnily enough after thinking it would taste like cardboard. Not the whole pack either just a serving. Curries I'll have a Jalfrezi rather than Masala and I won't touch pizza now. I did love mince, potatoes, mushrooms and carrots but now I only throw in a couple of small potatoes. Still not great but better than it was before.

One change though is I've pulled the old exercise bike out of the cobwebs and do 3 miles up from 2 each night. Hope to increase that as time goes on. It doesn't take long but my dodgy knee doesn't take too kindly to it but something is better than nothing.

Ah - are you eating the brown version of starches thinking that they are a better option? Are you checking that that is actually the case with a glucose meter?
You might be better off eating 'fat head' pizza.

Resurgam said:

Ah - are you eating the brown version of starches thinking that they are a better option? Are you checking that that is actually the case with a glucose meter?
You might be better off eating 'fat head' pizza.

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Fair point. Just went with the advice of the diabetic nurse and the nutritionist. Never had a meter, had never actually heard of them before I came on here!! Something to talk to the GP about if and when they have any time!

My conversation with my GP about testing and a meter.

Me "Doctor will you prescribe a meter and strips for me"

Doctor "No"

Yes just like the James Bond movie

Doctor No

Walked from his surgery to the chemists next door purchased meter and strips and lancet and have tested ever since when I feel the need to, whether to test or not was and is my decision not his.

edit to add what i'm trying to say I guess is get a meter and test how can you formulate a plan on insufficient data and if you don't know what food is good and what is not good, how can anybody make good or bad choices by guesswork alone.

I 'm eating more carbs than I was like bread and potatoes but not sugar stuff I don't have a sweet tooth thank goodness. I am almost 81 I live on my own and my granddaughter gets my shopping for me .To be honest I do not really want to think about my T2 to much. Following the rules about self isolation and hoping not to get the virus is more important to me at the moment than eating a few more carbs but I do enjoy them and food is about the only pleasure we have got while in isolation

Oh forgot to add I have perforce made some rather poor choices of late myself as a consequence my blood sugar levels have gone a bit haywire so no ones perfect let alone me. Once this is all over and I can get back on my old routine things I'm sure will improve.