Posted by Racer on July 18, 2004, at 15:39:38
In reply to Re: I've been doing better, posted by Dinah on July 16, 2004, at 17:11:32
I just read something from the NIH about artifical sweeteners: Apparently they interfere with the body's feedback mechanism for overeating, and reduce the hormones that tell you you're full. If you -- like my Type I husband -- drink diet drinks, that might be part of the problem.
Gotta tell you I have to kinda back up PC here: exercise is the best way to reset your metabolism, especially with Type II. Exercise helps reduce insulin resistance, which can actually get some people off meds. If you can get into the habit, it's a great idea. If you can't, of course, you can't...
Other than those comments, and telling you that I feel your pain (I have a very bad habit of eating just because, even if I'm not hungry -- and it's the "craving" foods, like potato chips, for me. Sucks a lot. I do have a couple of suggestions, things that have helped me in the past. Some are things that are so automatic now I don't think about them.
1. Keep a food diary. Trust me -- I think twice about what I'm putting in my mouth if I know there's a record of it. Never underestimate the power of the mind, right?
2. Take some Metamucil about half an hour before a meal -- or before the time that your overeating tends to happen. The fiber will help fill you up, so that there's a better chance that you'll stop before you overeat.
3. Make up serving size portions of the foods you generally grab, so that you aren't doing the "grab full box of Ginger Snaps," but grabbing "small baggie of 6 Ginger Snaps." That sort of thing. With the potato chips, I don't measure them out anymore, but I do use a bowl that holds [never you mind how many] ounces of the bad things that call my name.
4. I also snack on things like pickle slices when I'm a little ready to start snacking, but know that I'm not really hungry. They satisfy the "crunchy/salty" pretty well, which at least staves off the grab for the Ruffles.
5. Then there's the diabetic thing: keep a chart of what you're eating, blood sugar readings from before and one hour after eating, Glucophage dosage and times, etc, for a week or so. One of the possible complications of diabetes -- this is a very long shot -- is gastroparesis. Basically, the stomach doesn't empty normally, it's partially paralysed, and that will play havoc on your blood sugar. (Imagine: not eating because you're too full, while your blood sugar is falling rapidly because nothing it getting into your system; then feeling as if you're starving to death as your blood sugar goes through the roof for no apparent reason. As far as I know, it's not common in Type II, but you can check it so easily just by charting blood sugar, glucophage, and food for a few days or a couple of weeks. Why not, right?)
There's no doubt that overeating is a very difficult thing to deal with. It's always nice to have your company, Dinah, but I'm sorry you're with me with this one. ;-( If you find an answer, let me know, 'K?
poster:Racer
thread:365820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040523/msgs/367417.html