Almost over —

–the holidays, that is.

Made it through the Valentine torture — you know what I mean! EVERYWHERE you go those damn red hearts follow. Filled with those delicious candies. Ugh.

I tried to convince myself that the boxes are heart-shaped for a reason, and that reason is to remind me to take good care of my heart! For the most part, I was pretty successful. For instance, if I have to pick up a prescription, I go through the drive-up window. It’s the only sane thing to do. The minute I walk into Walgreens, the chocolate attacks me — it’s everywhere! So, I don’t go in.

 

Now, here we are again — chocolate bunnies wherever I look.  Torture to this Type 2 diabetic. Just one won’t kill you, I tell myself. HA! When did I ever eat one of anything? It’s over tomorrow. Then there will be no more chocolate bunnies stalking me.

I can do it!

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all!  Good luck.

 

Valentine’s Day Massacre?

NOPE! Not this year. I haven’t gone near a store that sells those Satan-colored, red, heart boxes filled with poison!

I made it through the day with ease, actually. Busy schedule and didn’t have time to make any extra stops. I’d love to say it was my self-control, but that would be a lie.

TOMORROW, now that’s a day that will require self-control. I love a sale, and you know they’ll practically be giving away those chocolaty delights. Deep breaths! Use your HEAD!

Luckily, tomorrow’s another day that’s pretty full, so I’ll have to just stay out of the stores and pray that they run out FAST!  🙂

Healthy choices, Kathy. Healthy choices!  Keep those numbers under control.

 

*Check out last year’s Valentine’s Day post, folks.

 

 

Effect of Weather on Appetite?

 

Welcome to Winter in New York

Ha! Not MY favorite time of the year, that’s for sure. We got hit with eight inches on Saturday — beautiful, but messy and dangerous.

I was in NYC with my children, celebrating my birthday (NOT revealing the number!). 🙂  We went to the Met to see the exquisite Christmas Tree, sometimes referred to as the Angel Tree, and Neapolitan Baroque Creche. It’s a sight to behold, regardless of the religion you profess (or don’t). It’s art, at its finest. Put it on your calendar for next year. You won’t regret it — I promise!

“Angel Tree” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

While we were strolling through the museum,  enjoying the VALETIN DE BOULOGNE — BEYOND CARAVAGGIO Exhibit, it was snowing outside; like CRAZY! We were warm, relaxed, and hungry, so we headed to The Petrie Court Cafe, one of the Met’s restaurants, for lunch — so, Let It Snow! 

We had worked up an appetite and feasted on food fit for royalty. Most museum food doesn’t do it for me, but our lunch was deeeelicious! I won’t write the specifics — just the thought of our epicurean delights is making me salivate!  We were full, and moved on to the remainder of our journey in the museum. Evidently, we walked off that full feeling, because…

View of Central Park from Petrie Court Cafe, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Later, after viewing some other exhibits, we returned for dessert. Yes, you heard me right — DESSERT! Something I normally skip when out to lunch/dinner; but, C’mon, it was my birthday. I indulged in a serving of dark, chocolate fudge cake with a small scoop of cappuccino gelato — there go my salivary glands, again! Joking, I said to my kids, “What! No candle?” They chuckled, as my daughter reached into her purse and pulled one out. I laughed knowing they couldn’t light it, but just to be on the safe side, I said, “We’ll get thrown out, if you light that!” At that very moment, my son lit a match and they quickly sung Happy Birthday to You, as I made a wish and blew out the candle!

🙂  That was one of many laughs we had on Saturday. More took place in two Uber rides through the snow (to and from Penn Station), along with a serenade — Happy Birthday to You, just prior to my train’s departure. They made sure that the guests at the restaurant, the visitors and employees at the Met, and the passengers on the train wished me a HB! My stomach hurt from laughing; a multitude of thanks to my chickadees for making yet another birthday — SO much fun. Contrary to research, we believe that a sense of humor is genetic — actually, we know that for sure.

BACK TO WEATHER AND APPETITE and T2D.  I don’t know about your inclinations, regarding food and the change in weather, but I know that I definitely BULK UP in winter. Let’s face it, if you live in the “change of season” states, you’ll be cold in the winter months and looking for a nice warm soup or stew, hot coffee or tea. For me, the warm summer weather signals salads and cold drinks.

That being said, it’s been really cold here in the Northeast of the U.S. and so, along with donning my long johns, I HAVE been drinking a lot of herbal tea and eating heavier meals (while monitoring my blood sugar, I might add).  HOLY METEOROLOGY! Our temperatures ranged from the 20’s on Saturday (with 8″ of the white stuff), moving up to 46 degrees today (Wednesday), to a predicted possibility of 60 tomorrow!

Jones Beach, of course!

CRAZY! BEACH WEATHER! So where will that put our food cravings tomorrow? Chicken salad, tuna salad, big fat Greek Salad? Dare I say, ice cream? NOOOOooooo. I won’t go that far. Just as the outdoor plants are getting confused with the roller-coaster weather, our internal barometers may not know which way to direct us in terms of food. But fret not, It’s “suspected” that the thermostat will take a dive into the 20’s come Saturday, and then rise up once again during next week.

What to eat? That is the question — not Shakespeare!

It matters not the weather (feeling British), the bottom line is that this Type 2 Diabetic must stay on track — regardless of the barometer.

• Monitor blood sugar levels
• Exercise — in my case, walk, walk, WALK
• Eat properly (Yes, we ALL know what that means!)

Monitor glucose regularly

Started WALKING!

Enjoy the journey, folks. We’re going to be just fine,   🙂   despite the weather.

Up, Up and Away!

October 26, 20116

I LOVE to fly!

I have good, long-time friends — you know the kind; you haven’t seen them in eons and then, when you finally get together, it’s like time never passed. That’s Carol and Walter, my North Carolina friends. Due to life getting in the way, I haven’t been down there in probably three years. That’s crazy!!! To rectify that situation, I relied on my other good, long-time friend, Jet Blue. I hopped a plane and, in the blink of an eye, I was engulfed in a hug that made it all better. Charlotte airport is a piece of cake (hmmm, interesting analogy) and we were in their house within half an hour. There was a large basket of apples, staring me in the face when I walked into their welcoming home. Good friends.

Travel makes this Dedicated Diabetic’s life, well let’s say, “interesting.” Airports are wall to-wall junk food — at least that’s what I see! I know, I know, there are a multitude of concessions that carry clothes, jewelry, books and magazines, perfume, etc. But it’s the walls of junk food that call my name.

I needed water. Usually I bring an empty bottle to get through security and then fill it  once I’m through — not this time. No matter. I knew I’d pass five places, where I could buy a bottle, before I got to the gate. I chose one that didn’t have aisles of candy — Bravo, Kathy; good choice! You might think that but, while waiting on line with my ice cold aqua, I spied cookies. It was 7:15 a.m. and I had a quick breakfast before I left home, so there was NO NEED. This isn’t about need, crept through my mind. NO, NO, NO, was bouncing around in my head. I resisted. Then, just as I went to pay for the water, my left arm reached over (like a bolt of lightning) and grabbed a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Next thing I knew I was at Gate 4, waiting for the plane to Charlotte. I was like an alcoholic in a blackout!

I opened my carryon and there they were, looking up at me with their big, brown, chocolate-chip eyes, like a puppy with his head tilted to the side, wanting to be held. I can’t resist puppies, and I didn’t resist the cookies. I took the package out, my mouth watering, and attempted to open it. I said “attempted,” because with all the poking and prodding, pulling, trying to tear open the bag, it remained intact. It was like a castle, surrounded by a moat. There was no getting in.   😦

• I could have walked back to the concession and switched the package out for one that might actually open.
• I could have leaned over to the guy next to me and asked for help, I needed my DRUG!  
• I could have tossed that bag into the garbage (where it belonged).

There is a list of actions I COULD HAVE taken but, instead, I placed the chips back into my bag. I started to read an article in The Times and the craving passed. You’ll be happy to know that while I was waiting for my flight back to New York, I reached into my bag, saw the package of chocolate chips, and placed it (reverently)  into the garbage!

I’m very fortunate. Carol and Walter are healthy eaters, so my visit wasn’t torturous. No one was pushing food down my throat. He grills most everything, so that helps and, they’re major veggie fans.

GOLDEN zucchini, RED and YELLOW tomatoes from Meyers Farm!

So, for the most part, it was a healthy trip.

Notice I said, for the most part…

Walter is a retired baker — retired is the operative word, resulting in NO leftovers from the bakery coming home. But, he does love his cake. Usually allowing himself a dessert once or twice a week; I’m not gonna lie, I joined in. Their food stores, as do ours, have a bakery department that you can smell a mile away. The good news is that besides whole cakes, pies and other confectionaries, they also have slices packaged separately — one piece per container. This made it easy to at least limit my intake. Twice while there I had one slice and walked it off.

You’ll NEVER convince me that sugar isn’t addictive! The reality is, it’s my drug of choice and is a constant battle. Not that I never cave at home, but when traveling, I admit — it happens!

Once on the plane heading north, I started to reflect on my trip. Health wise, it was fine. I walked, caved into my cravings only twice, and otherwise ate healthy, diabetic-friendly foods.

All in all, it was a great trip. There’s no better medicine than laughing with friends!

 

 

 

 

Invasion of the Rabbits!

Still, believe it or not, Saturday, March 26, 2016!

They’re everywhere! I’m sure you’ve noticed — you can’t miss them. Wall-to-wall RABBITS/BUNNIES!

I have no problem with them, I actually like the real deal.  We had “one” that inhabited our backyard for years. I convinced my kids that “Peter” lived in our yard — “but, don’t get too close!”  It could have been twenty different rabbits, how would I know? They were all brown, had two floppy ears, a cotton tail, and hippity hopped all over the place. But Peter was “ours” (or so we claimed) and we loved observing him from afar — even to the point of greeting him/her (with, “Hi Pete!” every morning).  🙂

My daughter’s friend (Hi Denise!) and her husband (Hi Thomas!) had a gorgeous rabbit. His name was “Buster” or “Busterina.” I was never quite sure…   🙂   But that was one beautiful, spoiled rabbit!  C’mon, Denise, you know that’s true!  He/she had his/her OWN room. I had to SHARE a room with my sister when I was a “bunny” — didn’t want to say “kid” in case the goats are listening!   (groan — sorry)

Back to the DIABETIC ISSUE at hand:  It’s the CHOCOLATE bunnies I have an issue with.  BIG surprise. THEY  ARE  EVERYWHERE!  To this Type 2 Diabetic, it’s TORTURE!      

{Hi.  I’m Kathy, and I’m a CHOCOHOLIC!}  

I can’t take it anymore. Every single store I go into has those damn chocolate bunnies — and they’re calling my name!  “Kathy, I’m over here!  One won’t hurt!” It’s like waterboarding for diabetics!    😦     Make it STOP, I’m pleading with you.

NOW, LET’S FACE IT — whether you’re a Christian or not, you KNOW that Easter is NOT about the freakin’  chocolate bunnies!  It’s not about ANY Bunnies!!!

STOP THE INSANITY!     PLEASE!    STOP THE INVASION OF THE RABBITS!

HAPPY EASTER!   🙂

 

VALENTINE’S DAY! :) OR :( ..?

February 14, 2016

So, how did it go?  Take your blood sugar lately?  🙂

If you feel you’re making all the right decisions — BRAVO! Good for you.  If perhaps that’s not the way your day is moving along, remember — you can always start over. We are only human, so just do your best.

Hey! Maybe you’re not a sugarholic or chocoholic — count your blessings! But, if you are,  you’ll relate to this post, and this time period may be rough for you.  It’s interesting, I’ve found that many of my friends don’t crave sweets. Their “drug of choice” is carbs! Is their a difference?   😦  [Too many links to post.]  If you’re in this category, Google carboholic.  You may be in for a surprise…

For those of us who crave sweets, please — BE ON GUARD against the sales next week.  All those bright, shimmering, pink and red heart-shaped containers, beautifully decorated square and rectangular boxes, that are left over and filled with shiny pieces of chocolate, will likely be 70% off!  I LOVE a good sale, AND, I am a “chocolate addict,” so I know those boxes will be calling me.

Here’s this Dedicated Diabetic’s PLAN  to avoid temptation — I’m simply NOT going into the stores tomorrow.  I just can’t.  I know my limitations. That chocolatey odor will seep from the containers and I’ll hear my name being called — “Kathy, I’m over here.  Buy me — 70% OFF — how can you resist?” UGH! Torture. I seem to be most vulnerable around Halloween and Valentine’s Day, for obvious reasons. My plan is to take my “vulnerable” self as far away from those stores/displays, as is humanly possible.  I have my trusty Grapefruit Oil, always at the ready,  (IMPORTANT:  Check with your doctor; this oil really should not be smelled directly from the bottle — could cause irritation in your nose.  Instead, a drop or two on the palms of your hands, held away from your nose, is the more appropriate method. Check it out before using!).  For the past week or so, I’ve been sniffing away when I even think chocolate, dessert, any tempting delight.  I’ve mentioned it before — I think the odor of the grapefruit oil simply “detours your brain” away from craving the sweets.

My “HEARTfelt” (get it?) suggestion to you, my fellow Type 2 Diabetics:   Make the healthy choices — for yourself.  Begin TODAY, right now. Do it for YOU — the effect will trickle down to those you love. you’ll see.

The good news is the stores will be sold out in two or three days, and “Satan’s Attack” will be over. Ended. Kaput!    🙂

Whew!                              

Glucose-free Valentine “Alternatives”

February 9, 2016      5 more days until VALENTINE’S DAY  (just sayin’)

At the end of my last post, I promised to discuss alternatives to those sugary, sweet, delectable, delicious, chocolate delights.  You know the ones — that fill a box the size of New Jersey and are the shape of a beautifully wrapped red heart! Marketing gurus would have us believe that this product symbolizes LOVE, and is obligatory. You’re too smart for that.

 

LOVE is defined, in the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary, as “a feeling of constant affection for a person.”  Dictionary.com refers to LOVE as “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.” Lastly, and MY all time favorite definition of LOVE is from the Urban Dictionary — “Love is nature’s way of tricking people into reproducing.” (Anonymous, April 7, 2003)   🙂   Now THAT’S funny!  🙂

So, I’ve given you a few of the ways love is defined and NOWHERE is a heart-shaped box of candy mentioned.     NOWHERE!

My goal in writing today’s post, is to speak to the issue of alternatives to candy, heart-shaped cakes, cookies, and the like.  I’ll give you some HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES to expressing one’s undying love for another that won’t raise anyone’s BLOOD SUGAR.

What says I LOVE YOU more deeply than showing someone that their HEALTH is more important to you than anything else? Here are a few GLUCOSE-FREE IDEAS that will fare as a much better symbol of your LOVE than a box of chocolates: (Drum roll, please) —

Starting out with some GENDER-NEUTRAL, GLUCOSE-FREE gifts:

JEWELRY always wins — a watch, cuff-links, heart-shaped locket (Get creative!)

PERFUME or COLOGNE

MASSAGE Gift Certificate  (Maybe a couple’s massage…)

HEART-SHAPED container filled with bright red, fresh STRAWBERRIES!

THEATER or CONCERT TICKETS — something you’d BOTH enjoy!

For the WRITER in your life, consider a RUBY-RED JOURNAL — maybe paired with a beautiful RED PEN!  (I see that as “gender-neutral”)

FLOWERS, of course. By the way, they don’t HAVE to be red but, for some reason, that color seems to get the message across on this “particular” day.

 

For the MAN in your life — you know exactly what his likes and dislikes are:  TICKETS TO A SPORTING EVENT, CAR/BOAT SHOW, MUSIC., etc., etc.  (I know you KNOW!  — and you can show you’re love by being sure they’re GLUCOSE FREE!

 

Some GLUCOSE FREE ideas for that special WOMAN you hold near and dear:

A beautiful, bright red, leather PURSE (or maybe GLOVES?  That will get you some Ooo’s and Ahh’s. What says LOVE better than leather???

LINGERIE — RED, of course.  (Hmmm.  Who’s that gift really for?)  🙂

A gift certificate for a MANICURE/PEDICURE — with a bottle of a beautiful shade of red nail polish (chosen by you) attached to it.

It’s easy to SAY, “I love you,” but not always as easy to SHOW it.  One important factor to consider is your budget — stay within it!  There’s nothing sexy about debt.

Oops!  I almost forgot.  If you have children (yours or someone else’s) to whom you wish to express your LOVE, there are a zillion ways to choose GLUCOSE FREE gifts for them.  Whether they’re diabetic or not, nobody needs junk food.  Cruise around any department store, there are hearts everywhere!!!  Oh, and remember, BOOKS are always a great gift for ANYONE!

For those of you who feel that Valentine’s Day is a bourgeois symbol of LOVE,  a Hallmark Holiday, or one created by the chocolate companies, you may be right! But, be careful — be sure you’re both on the same page… for   love — IS — in the air!

Get on it,  folks.  The “big” day is just around the corner.

Oh, and one more suggestion — a nice walk, with the one you love, at the end of the evening  =  sheer joy!

A Happy and Healthy Valentine’s Day, to all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Revere — Who’s Coming?

Saturday, February 6, 2016

How accurate is history?

I read an interesting article the other day about Paul Revere.  I questioned myself as to whether or not he said, “The British are coming…the British are coming,” when warning the townsfolk, or did he simply yell out, “They’re coming — they’re coming!” What was I really taught?

It was fun reading about him.  I remembered that Paul Revere was a Bostonian and a silversmith’s son who did that type of work as well.  He was quite a rebel that Paul! Around 1773 he was involved in the Boston Tea party and became a courier delivering information to the colonies in the northern sector. (You knew that.)   🙂

I learned that he probably didn’t say, “The British are coming…” because those living in the colonies were British; they wouldn’t have know who he was warning them about! My “research” revealed that it was much more likely that Revere hollered out, “The soldiers are coming…” OR “The redcoats are coming…” from atop his horse.

I vote for “The redcoats are coming…” What do you think?

BUT, I digress.  This is NOT a historical blog, although I’m sure the colonists probably had diabetes too. Now that’s something to research.

Instead, my WARNING to all of us is, “VALENTINE’S DAY IS COMING…Valentine’s Day is coming!”  This “holiday” is the worst for me — maybe even worse than Halloween.  They are everywhere, in every store, ranging from HUGE red hearts — almost life-size, down to tiny, child-sized boxes chocked full of delectable chocolate delights. TORTURE! They’re wrapped in shiny satin or glistening cellophane calling out to us.

I’m serious.  Enter any store and the display will smack you right in the face.  BAM!

RUN, like the wind — you can do it!  Avoid making that purchase, at all cost. No good will come from leaving the store with the red heart in your hand. For that matter, you know it’s not really good for your heart. We’re not talking about a square of dark chocolate (that some are claiming is actually good for us). NO WAY, I’m talking about that big red heart that’s filled with irresistible shiny, chocolate bonbons, or mouth-watering chocolates in all shapes and sizes. My blood sugar is rising, just talking about it.

 

So, my friends, this Type 2’s advice to you is RUN, RUN LIKE THE WIND.  You can do it.  I’ll be right next to you.  You’ll be proud of yourself!

Tune in tomorrow to discuss the alternatives —

For now, RUN!!!

 

Be On Guard!

The other day I completed a ton of chores and on the way home I decided to stop at the deli.  I love their Light Vegi Tuna (very little mayo; perfect for lunch).  Of course, there was a line, so I focused on what I was getting — nothing else.

As I waited on line, my eyes wandered into a basket of homemade baked goods.  A brownie topped by the crumbs of a crumb cake, drenched in confectioners sugar, caught my eye.  Interesting.  Seriously, I’ve never see that before.  My “crazy self” screamed, Buy it — try it — one isn’t going to kill you.  Along came the guy with my tuna.  “Anything else, ma’am?”  “No thanks, I’m good,” came out of my mouth.  And then, my hand inched its way over to the basket of goodies.  “Wait, I’ll take one of these.” Money exchanged hands — similar to a drug deal…  I took my small bag and drove home, not giving a thought to what I’d just done.

Once in the house, I removed the tuna and the brownie/crumb cake from the brown paper bag.  I still can’t believe what I did.  I put the tuna in the refrigerator and the brownie on a plate.  I sat down at my dining room table, read the newspaper, and ate the brownie. When I was done, I looked up, much like an alcoholic coming out of a stupor, and thought, What did I do?  It was pretty amazing.  I don’t even LIKE crumb cake, and frankly, I couldn’t tell you what the brownie tasted like.  I paid no attention while I was eating. I likened myself to an alcoholic in a blackout, I barely remembered eating it — I swear, it was really strange. I felt awful; remorse took over.  I yelled at myself, vowing never to let my guard down again. Physically, I felt like garbage, not unlike the junk I had ingested.  All this over a brownie! I took a nap. 

Hindsight is a great thing.  I knew better, but I did it anyway.  I went into that deli hungry — bad decision. I let my guard down. When it comes to food, I realize that I need structure. Planning is the key to success, and I certainly didn’t do it that day. For the most part, my failures regarding my diabetes regimen are centered around a lack of planning.

O.K., I lost that battle, but NOT the war.  So, moving forward, get out that LIST, Kathy, and PLAN.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. One day at a time!

Success! “I Don’t Like Chocolate Anymore” :)

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Yesterday was rough. Last night I had a conversation with my daughter; we discussed my struggle with junk food. She suggested that I tell myself, “I don’t like chocolate anymore.” I laughed; like it’s that easy. We laughed some more and moved on to another topic.

A few hours later, I started to think about our conversation. Why not try it? I looked in the mirror and I said out loud, “I DON’T like chocolate anymore!” Then, I said it again, and again, and again, three more times. I went to sleep.

Today’s another Day One. I started out with a blood sugar of 116, pre-breakfast, and post-bkfst = 107. As I got dressed, I repeatedly told myself, “I don’t like chocolate anymore.” Calmly, I kept repeatedly saying this to myself. My brain was absorbing these words, and I felt good about it.

Went to the theatre, a matinee, today. On the train, I slipped into a seat with a friend and looked up. Further down on the end wall was a large poster with a picture of a bunch of nuts. (Did you think I was going to say YODELS?) The caption above the picture read, New York is full of nuts!” We laughed, and I told her about my Yodel incident on the train. We were seated at the opposite end of the train, and as we were talking to each other, I had my back to that wall. After a while, I turned and what do you think was next to me, plastered on the wall? A gigantic poster of, yep — a Yodels ad. Bright orange background with two “highly-polished,” cream-filled, chocolate delights, staring right at me. The caption read, “YES, PLEASE. Listen to Your Craving.” We both burst out laughing; I clicked a photo and turned away from it, because — “I don’t like chocolate anymore.”

“Torture” on the LIRR

My pre-dinner blood sugar was a beautiful 95. We walked in the city today, so that, in addition to eating the right foods/portions, probably helped to bring it down.

I am one happy lady tonight. 🙂