So much for reporting in daily..... :-)

OK, I admit it.  I am terrible at writing a daily blog :-) I'm also terrible at sticking to a diet.
Having said that, I've been doing well, its more a problem of eating too much of a good thing rather than eating naughty stuff.
I haven't been pigging out on junk, but I've been eating way too much of the things that I am allowed to eat.

Which means that, in terms of my hypoglycemia, it is starting to get under control - physically I feel exceptionally well, and mentally, I have improved - I used to get regular 'black days' - I haven't had one since I've started eating correctly.
I am still on my anti-depressants though - the plan is to be well enough to stop them - but I think it will be a good 6 or more months before I feel comfortable enough to plan their exit.
It is a fantastic feeling knowing that you are doing what is good for your body - I've lost a few kgs during the process so far, and I can't imagine why that weight loss would stop - its extremely slow - only 1/2 a kilo or so a week, but because weight loss is not the focus, I haven't been all bonkers about sticking to calories, or beating myself up over gaining weight.
I've found it quite easy to stick to the hypoglycaemic diet - my blood sugar doesn't seem to be overly bothered by fruits like pear, mandarin and strawberries, so I've been using them to balance out my sugar cravings.  I have the odd sultana in amongst my nuts & seed mix as well.  I know sultanas are naughty, but mixing them around with the nuts/seeds seems to work ok for me.
I also use some sweetener when I need to - though I hate the aftertaste! I use Madurah teabags because they are extremely low in caffeine, and a splash of skim milk in my tea.  I've almost stopped having sweetener in my tea at all - I've been happy with just milk - but every now and then I feel like it needs to be sweet, and thats when I put in a bit of sweetener. 
Actually, I've just realised that today I've not had caffeine at all, and I really haven't missed it!! This is a milestone, believe me!
The other interesting thing is that since I've been on the diet, my body is alot more sensitive to when I go off the diet - for example, I had a Saturday recently where I was out all day, and didn't have opportunity to eat correctly - the next day I could hardly get myself out of bed, and my stomach made it very clear that it was not impressed!!!
All in all, things going along nicely.

Last Day of Week 1

It seems I've made it through the first week with no massive dramas, and the advice of two of my friends who independently said I look as though I've lost weight to provide impetus to continue.
I still wonder, tho, if I'm eating correctly to combat the hypoglycemia symptoms.  I'm eating differently, for sure, but am I taking all the right steps?
Only time will tell, I guess :-)

Almost a Week Down - Progress Report!

Well, as you know, I did have a hiccup at the start of the week that taught me alot.
Having said that, I've done really well over the past few days - and I think the scales are showing a little improvement as well, which is always welcome! Tho not the purpose of the exercise.
Its really quite difficult to balance up all the different things, but I think with a bit of practice, it will get easier.  I have found myself eating the same sandwich every day at work for the past few days - I need to consider other options for lunches.  I would have had a few warm lunches, except I didn't end up making some of the things because they didn't follow the 'new' rules I created in the middle of the week.
Tonight I'm making a chicken, walnut and rocket salad - warmed chicken, warmed red capsicum, rocket, walnuts, ricotta, seeded mustard....I think it will be delicious! Am looking forward to making it.
Made a 'breakfast shake' earlier this week with rolled oats - it was OK, but the oats left kind of a claggy feel to the whole thing, so I'll look for a different base I think.  Was skim milk, strawberries, natural yoghurt and oats.
What I really need to do is find some time to do a little exercise - I need to commit to dancing (that will help!) and fix my bike tyre so I can go riding - which I really like to do, but am too slack to fix the tyre :-)
Am going to a girlfriend's place tonight for a gossip and a video - I think this will be the telling moment - can I resist her snacks and wine, and stick to my own healthy snacks and water?? Only time will tell....
Until next time, stay happy & healthy.

Day Four

There is some truth, it seems, in everyone's advice that the first few days after the first few days will be the hardest.  I've stuck to my plans today, but am really craving.
It doesn't help that we've had some employees based in Belgium rock up at work and bring a lovely big box of Belgian chocolates.  I've been very strong - today I took a step in the direction of the box, then turned myself around. 
I reworked my diet last night to try to meet some more of the requirements to minimise sugar intake, but I just can't reconcile to having no fruit at all.  Fruit has its own health benefits, and I can't imagine a diet that pulls fruit out completely can ever be good for you.  I have stuck to strawberries, mandarines and pears, with maybe the odd 1/2 an apple and the odd kiwifruit.
Not sure about sultanas.  They are high GI, but I only have a few of them through my fruit & nut mix - are they going to mess the entire thing up??
I still have a headache, but its very minimal - so looks like the caffeine detox is perhaps working.  I suspect the sugar detox was kind of interrupted by the binge day I had the other day, so am still working on that.  Had a low kick in just after lunch today - I was working and all of a sudden I just started to fall asleep.  Had something to eat, and it went away...
I'm feeling kind of serious and a tiny bit stressy today - I badly feel the lack of a partner in my life - I'm just not the type to be alone - I don't need someone who lives with me, just someone who loves me.  Is that too much to ask??
Not sure if I told you that 'the guy' I was talking about at the very beginning has proven himself to be a first quality arsehole, so I'm not contacting him - it'll be up to him to contact me, and make me want to see him.  But personally, I think that will never happen.
Anyway, enough wallowing. 

Day Three - BACK ON TRACK

So I seem to have got it all back under control today - ate the right things, etc.
I woke up this morning absolutely lethargic - pressed the snooze button twice before turning the alarm off and going back to sleep for another hour and a half - not good for my morning preparation!! I had 1/2 an hour to cram 1 1/2 hours worth of stuff into - and I did it! But I'd prefer not to have to!

I'm what they call "Not a morning person" - and now, without even caffeine to give me a kick, it takes heaps of effort to start up in the morning.  I'm hoping along the way the new diet will help with that.
I did eat alot today - I think perhaps more than I should have - and definitely more fat than I should have.  I'm finding it difficult to balance protein, fat and carbs - if I eat lots of protein, I end up with a WAY higher fat content than I'd like. 
Then again, perhaps I need to concentrate on the fact that this is not a weight loss exercise, but a blood-sugar-balancing exercise.  On the other hand, being overweight is not good for blood sugar either...
I found a new site today written by a family that all have hypoglycemia, and giving not only other net references, but food ideas, general advice, and a little bit of encouragement. Its www.keepinghappy.com and it's great - info from a mum about feeding her family, what's on her shopping list, research that she and her son have done....
Til tomorrow stay healthy & happy

Day 2 Part 2

It only took 2 days for me to break my diet - but I discovered something extremely interesting about myself as a result, and will be able to look closely into that in the weeks ahead.
I had pasta.  I should have had a specific type, but I didn't have any, so I thought I'd cook normal pasta, cook it as little as possible so it wasn't too high carb.
Oh. My. God. As soon as I ate it, I wanted more.  I ate the leftovers.  Just the pasta by itself - not even with a sauce over it.  And then I was craving sugar, so I had some icecream.
Moral of the Story - Avoid processed white things.  COMPLETELY!!
Oh, but I still have a headache - I guess that's pure caffeine withdrawal.

Day 2 - No serious withdrawal, but headaches & lethargy galore!

Have made it successfully to Day 2 - with little more discomfort than a nagging headache and some severe tiredness (par for the course for a busy mum!)
I know that the first few days you are still running on your old stores of caffeine & sugar, and that tomorrow or the next day I should plunge, but I'm really pleased that it hasn't happened yet!!
Yesterday went to the park with my son & kicked the soccer ball around for a bit - I was also pleased to get a bit of exercise in - the hypo plan doesn't actually include exercise (although everyone knows it's good for you, the resetting of neuro-transmitters doesn't rely on it) - so I am trying to add a bit in where I can - can only do me good!
I was pleased to wake up this morning without being extremely lethargic - I certainly didn't spring out of bed, but I didn't get up moaning and groaning about having to get up either.
Today's diet is a little more carb & fat, and a little less protein - I have the feeling that after this first two weeks I will be making some adjustments to increase the protein back up - I've calculated the amounts of fat, carbs & protein in the first few days of meals, and found that there are more carbs than protein - which I think is not exactly how it's supposed to be.  From what I've read, a higher level of protein works better (without cutting carbs out all the way, of course - its still about balance).
There are so many things to consider - carb, protein & fat levels, whether to go with wholegrains (which can apparently upset a delicate tummy) or not (which will increase the GI level of the grainy things), adding supplements to my diet, making sure that I'm not damaging my iron levels (which are genetically low), keeping an eye on my energy levels but understanding that for the first couple of weeks (or perhaps months) I am still going to feel tired because the awesome highs in blood sugar aren't there anymore, finding something to have instead of my usual cuppa tea, working out how I'm going to go round to my friends places and not have a glass or three of wine or spirits or something else...
Then I look at the picture of my son on my desk and remember exactly why I'm doing this - its for me, so that I can be there for him, and so that I can get my relationship back on track with the love of my life.  All these sacrifices are worth it when I think about both of those guys and what they mean to me. 
Until next time, be healthy & happy