Obese, diabetic with high BP; need help with food addiction

HI, Minda! I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic about a year ago. In January, 2016, a friend sent me a YouTube link that inspired and encouraged me to start making changes. The name of it is "Simply Raw Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days". I hope you will look it up and watch it. I also hope you will find it as helpful as I did.

While I did not eliminate meat completely, I am using it more as a condiment than an aliment. I used to eat a lot of fruit, and I know, everyone says that fruit is good for us - and it is...in moderation. However, I used to eat fruit instead of meals (loaded with sugar). I started replacing fruit with veggies, and made raw and cooked veggies my main meal. I renounced everything that is white (anything made with sugar, flour, rise and potatoes). Two thirds of my meal is vegetable - especially the green ones (lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, etc.). I bought myself a Fit-bit, and I started listening to Dr. Furhman's book, "The End of Diabetes". I also started to walk - 15 minutes at first, then 20 minutes, then 30 minutes, until I reached about an hour. As I started loosing weight, my sugar stared to go down. I lost 36 lbs since January, and I am working on my last 10 lbs. Then I plan to maintain. My blood sugar now is normal (between 80 and 110).

I hope you will invest in yourself and watch the you tube video mentioned above, and then buy Joel Furhman's book. He also wrote "Eat to Live". You can find them both on Amazon in hard copy, audio, or Kindle - whichever is most convenient for you. I went trough the book at least a dozen times. It has changed my life. I recommend that you stay in touch with your doctor as you make the changes. He/she will be able to adjust you medication as your diabetes will gradually reverse. Diabetes can be reversed, but we need to do our part by eating healthy and being active. Blessings and strength!

Thank you for your testimony and words of encouragement. I am walking between 10-20 minutes and biking 10 minutes per day. Hope to do more soon. I will look up those resources. Good Luck on your last 10lbs!

Hello Minda, I am a food addict as well and I am really struggling with the weight loss. Like you, I know I can reverse this intense disease with the weight loss, but as of yet, I have not shifted my addiction to food, as a matter of fact it has gotten worse this year. I was diagnosed several years ago and I believe that I am just now coming out of denial that I am diabetic. I have done tons of research and I continue to so, I have Dr. Furhmans book, I love to cook, so learning new ways to cook in a healthier, more diabetic friendly way has been fun for me and I actually am growing to really enjoy the outcomes of my efforts. Unfortunately when the stress hits, I go for the juggler and completely blowout any progress I have made.
As far as exercise goes, I am limited as to what I can do. I have a ruptured disc in my lower lumbar area, which has created sciatica down my right leg and arthritis throughout my back. So...exercise is not easy for me, oh and have I mentioned my weight? I am 334. I do swim and when I am not in too much pain I can do the treadmill.
I thought that if I joined this community and talked about my issues with this disease, it would help with my denial and help me not feel so alone, not only with diabetes, but with my food addiction, and here you are. Thank you for being willing to get help. I think I might go back overeaters anonymous, I think that might help me. Take care and good luck.

Welcome to Connect, @danceshigh. I applaud you for posting so honestly and openly, and for continuing this discussion with @bogdel and @minda77.

Dancehigh, it sure sounds like you have the right attitude with shifting your cooking style without having to give up your joy of cooking, and swimming. Can you tell us about overeaters anonymous?

Hi Danceshigh,

Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. Had another health issue going on and just found out I have a huge cyst on my ovary and fibroids in my uterus. I have to have a hysterectomy. Good Grief!
I know what you mean about the denial, it was about a year for me. Don't tell me I can't have sugar again! Scarf it all down. Cokes, ice cream, cookies, whatever. Lots of carbs. Fact is, I just made myself sicker and sicker. Hit rock bottom. Get busy living or get busy dying.
Just in the last month since I wrote that post, I have found the more I walk and stay busy with anything other than sitting in front of the TV, the better I am mentally and physically. I think about food less. I still get major cravings for things, but now its more protein related (tacos vs. ice cream).
For me, OA didn't work. All I remember is them talking about food.... all the time. I did that on my own very well. Maybe it will be different for you. Good Luck.
Do whatever you can with the exercise and push yourself. I had a herniated disk (L5-S1) years ago so I know how that feels. Every pound off makes it easier to walk/swim/whatever.
I will find out my surgery date tomorrow. They are looking at Dec 2nd. I don't know what my recovery time will be until after the surgery. It depends on which way they are able to perform it and they won't know until they see how I do with my breathing because of the position they have to put my body in. Best case 2 weeks, worst case 6-8 weeks. I don't know what part of town you are in (I am South Scottsdale) but I would be happy to meet and do some walking with you and anyone else from these forums. Let me know what part of town you are in and we can get something planned for the beginning of 2017.
Hang in there! You are not alone.

Minda

I would like to suggest to Mayo Clinic Diet e-mail that I have subscribed to. I find it to be filled with useful and practical advice for maintain healthy diet and for staying on tract. It is also very forgiving when you get off track; encouraging to get back on track. Hoping for the best success as you continue your journey to better health. Rosemary

Thank you so much!

Hi, my name is Michael. I read your post, and I'm sorry to hear that you suffer from these conditions. I, as you, am a diabetic. I have been a diabetic for 35 years. I also am addicted to food as well. I currently weigh 330 pounds. Over the years my weight has been a major problem along with, and for my diabetes. My diabetes is more manageable when my weight is lower. Food abuse is an addiction just as the abuse of alcohol and drugs can be an addiction. unfortunately, not eating is inconsistent with life, so you cannot just simply not eat as a solution as you can do with drugs or alcohol. I have found that using food life styles with behavioral mechanisms related to eating, such as weighing food, Counting ounces, and measuring is very helpful because it's a substitute for choosing by using your impulses and moods, or just simply eating to make you feel better. This gives me a sense of control, and when I do this my weight is managed pretty well. In the past I have used the Weight Watchers diet from the 1960s. This is very simple easy to follow food style. It does not require a lot of choices as some of the newer diets do. I managed to maintain my weight for 15 years using this method in the past. This diet can be found by Googling Weight Watchers from the 1960s, if you wish to see if this (diet) lifestyle would be manageable by you. In the past I have used some supplements for assistance, however, I need to organize my thoughts in order to discuss them.

Hello, Here is a link that has some great information which our mentor @rosemarya mentioned about Mayo Clinic Diet. http://mayocl.in/1HGxMMO
Here is a link of email subscription. http://mayocl.in/2gaozLj

Thank you, Michael.