I know, I know. I’ve been away for a while. But I’m back now! How have you been?
A while back, I had a page on another site which sort of shared some of the information I would write about here. And it was too much to keep up with. Besides that, I am a writer of romance novels, and the writing for that has been eating into my other activities.
I discovered this online and decided to give it a try. Due to my diabetic condition, I have a restricted diet and eat a lot of fresh green vegetables. And I prefer to eat organic foods when possible and affordable. Since my first shipment, I’ve been buying my produce from them.
How does it work?
Once you sign up, you can order online from their featured products that week. There is a minimum purchase price and once you reach that, you’re all set for the week. Since I buy a lot of fresh foods, I have no trouble meeting the minimum.
What do I order?
I usually get tomatoes of some sort, curly kale, salad greens, cauliflower and broccoli. blueberries, and strawberries. And then whatever else suits my my fancy, be it potatoes, eggplant for Baba Ganoush, apples, or avocados
How much do you get?
One order is usually enough for one serving for two people. But you can order more than one! Since my husband loves broccoli and kale, I can order enough for us to have two meals with no problem.
For a discount, use this code when you order! COOKWME-FM5GAPNSBAC
What else?
As you may know, a friend of mine introduced me to the L’Bri company several years ago. And I love their products! They have taken the alcohol out and replaced it with aloe vera! And it does wonders for my skin. They have a full line of face and body products, hair products, and cleaning products for your home. All of them with more natural ingredients than the run of the mill types you buy over the counter at your local store.
My favorites?
Aloe Vera Gel, the minty rejuvenating foot cream, body butter, and their muscle rub.
Do you need fragrance free? They have it!
Love to experiment with different scents?
You can do that, too! I particularly love the Mandarin Fig.
So check out L’Bri for their Pure and Natural products! There is a monthly special each month, and right now they are having a 2 day sale. So if you hurry over, you can take advantage of this sale for some of my faves!
Come over to Facebook with me and join the fun this weekend. The L’Bri company is having their Customer Appreciation Sale this weekend only, in an online sale.
What do they have?
All types of skincare products, from lotions and creams to facial cleansing and makeup. They also have a hair-care line and household cleaning products.
Why do I like them?
They use more natural ingredients in their products, making them safer to use. And they’ve replaced the alcohol in their lotions with aloe vera, making them much more soothing and less drying.
My favorites are the Aloe Vera Barbadensis Jelly, the fragrance free lotion and body butter. They also have a wonderfully luscious body wash.
What better time to check them out than at the sale?
I’m having trouble believing that July is just two days away. Anyone else having the same problem?
So far this year, our deck and container gardens are doing well. I have tiny little cucumbers starting to come on and the tomatoes are about to blossom. Oregano is about to take over the deck, so I think it’s time to snip it back and put it in the dehydrator for wintertime use.
And the rosemary is thriving, in spite of the wet weather we’ve been having. Even the thyme, which I’ve had major trouble with before, is doing well, and the cutting I took from it has rooted and started to grow.
I have finally recovered to the point of being able to add a little bit of meat or cheese to my diet a few times a week and have discovered a new way to fix green beans.
Saute up a little onion and and garlic until transparent. Add the green beans and steam until tender. I add a little pepper or lemon, but season with your favorites and toss. Serve up and top with a sprinkle of feta cheese crumbles and you have a delightful side dish, or if you’re like me and love green beans, a nice main dish. Serve with sliced tomatoes and fresh cucumbers and you’re set.
Anyway, I’m hoping the beans do well. They’re up and growing nicely in their space out back. I’ve been encouraging them each time I go past. I know. I’m weird.
Wishing you a wonderful new month of healthy living!
Or it’s trying to be. And I discovered I haven’t really been telling you much about my diet and progress lately.
So let’s take a peek, shall we?
At my last appointment, my A1C was at 5.2 and my weight was just below 160. I still have about 10 pounds to go, but my doctor isn’t particularly worried, as long as it’s holding or going down.
And about a month ago, my stomach decided that a little bite of cheese or chicken wouldn’t be a bad thing, so I am finally able to add a little bit of animal protein back into my diet.
Not a lot mind you. We’re talking about half an ounce one day, and then maybe waiting two or three days–or a week–before I can eat any more. But it does prove my doctor right. Eventually I will be able to add things back into my diet. I won’t be able to go back to the diet I had before, but I can branch out a little for a treat now and then.
So what have I learned during the past year and a bit?
Potatoes only work for me if they’re boiled. I boil them in a lot of water until they’re about halfway done, drain and cover with water a second time, cook and drain. After that, I can eat about 1/4 cup of potato, or about 1/4 of a medium sized potato.
Beans and grains are about the same thing. Depending on the grain or bean involved, soak overnight and drain. Cover with a good amount of water and cook to about halfway done, drain, refill, and finish cooking. Drain and serve.
How much do I eat? That all depends. Some grains I can eat up to 1/4 cup with a big bunch of salad or salad and “stir-fry.” Others only about 2 Tablespoons.
What do I have the best luck with?
Millet, buckwheat (whole and raw), and hulled barley work well for me.
Not pearl barley.
Hulled barley. If it doesn’t have the fiber, it doesn’t agree with my system.
Rice–even whole-grain brown or red rice–doesn’t work for me. Wheat is pretty much off limits.
Oats, if I cook them carefully and eat only a tiny amount can work, but we’re talking by the tablespoonful.
For beans, I go back to The Zone, by Barry Sears, when it comes to figuring out carbs.
Take the total number of carbohydrates and subtract the amount of fiber in the beans to get the net carbs available.
If the net carbs are equal to or less than the amount of protein, I do better with them than others.
So, if I have some beans where the total carbs are 23 grams with a fiber content of 15 grams. The net carbs are 8.
In these particular beans, the protein is also 8, so I have pretty good luck with these, and can eat between 2 T and 1/4 cup, depending on what else I’m eating.
Some other beans I have have total carbs of 22 grams, fiber of 8 grams and protein of 7 grams.
Net carbs are 14 grams. Not so good. I have to be really careful with these.
Also remember, everyone is different. The foods that work for me may not work for you. Or some of the ones which don’t agree with me, you may be fine with. It can be a bit of a guessing game at first, but you’ll soon figure out the rules for you.
Where do I buy the different nuts, beans and seeds I eat? There’s a online place called Nuts.com. I am not affiliated with them in any way and make no money off this. I just discovered them when I was trying to find someplace to buy beans and nuts in bulk.
On their site, you can view the nutrition facts for the different items they sell, so you don’t even have to buy them first to figure it out.
I love their pink beans. They work well for me. They also have a variety of grains, seeds, and nuts. Since part of this diet includes eating nuts and seeds--chia and flax seeds are at the top of the list–it works out well. I also love raw sunflower seeds.
I’ve found a product that I love for BBQ time. I bought mine at an Ingles grocery store for a little cheaper than you can buy them online. It is a grilling bowl from Mr. Bar-B-Q. It holds a really good amount of vegetables that can go right on your grill, sort of like shish kebab without the sticks. It is non-stick, so clean up is easy, and I don’t feel left out of all the fun.
Again, I am not sponsored by this company and get nothing in return for mentioning it in my blog. I just love the thing and wanted to share.
So what’s for dinner tonight?
I haven’t made up my mind yet. But it will be tasty, nutritious, and it will keep my blood glucose where it should be.
Would I recommend this diet to someone else who’s having trouble with diabetes?
Yes. If you’ll stick with it, I feel it will work for you. If you’re not going to stick with it, nothing is going to work. It takes a little time, patience, and practice, but it has worked wonders for me.
OK, so technically it isn’t February yet. But close enough!
2019 proved to be quite a year, with many ups and downs. But I think things are beginning to steady a little bit, so perhaps I’ll be able to come to you more often.
The diabetes diet is working! My A1c was down to 5.0 at my last visit, without medication! So if you’re battling the condition, please ask your doctor about it, or find a doctor who is familiar with the process and work with them to help you get off the meds.
Yes, it takes work and dedication, but I feel it is well worth it not to be tied to the medications.
Along with diet, I work out–usual by walking–for half an hour each day, and it works wonders along with the diet, for keeping my weight under control and my blood glucose down.
Eating out can be an issue, but if you’re careful and choose wisely you can go out and have a bit of a break from your kitchen. There is a little Chinese place here in town which has a large platter of steamed veggies for a really good price.
There is also a Mexican place that has a Veggie Fahita platter, with broccoli, spinach, peppers and mushrooms, slong with a small salad. Or you can get a taco salad, hold the meat and cheese! Just don’t eat the tortilla!
If you’re like me, your skin takes a beating during the winter months. But you like to use products which are more natural than not. So if you’re looking for alternatives to skin care that work, please check out the L’Bri company. They have taken the alcohol out of their lotions and body butters and replaced it with aloe vera.
I love the stuff!
They also have a full line of cosmetics which are on sale during February. So if you’re looking to brighten or change your look, give it a try!
How is the weather in your part of the world? Winter decided to give us a preview of what to expect in a few weeks. We went from temperatures in the 80’s F to temperatures in the 60’s almost overnight. Our night time temperatures went from the high 60’s to the 40’s, with one evening down to 38 F.
Today it has warmed up a little after two full days of rain. I think they’re predicting temperatures in the lower 70’s.
What all this adds up to is sniffles and colds all around the area. With all the autumn grasses and flowers trying to bloom, the ragweed and all the other allergy aggravating pollen, adding this seesaw weather only increases the possibility of sinus issues.
And then there are the dry skin issues…
I have found a line of products I love during this time of year. They’re great year around, but they’re particularly wonderful with these changing weather conditions.
So if you’re looking for something to try, go over and look at this product line. They even have some scent-free products, which is great for my husband. When his allergies start acting up, scent is a big problem for him.
Hope you’re enjoying your autumn weather.
Don’t forget, it is still Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Get the girls checked out!
I do believe I am. This summer has been very hot and wet where we live. Of course, autumn will probably be dry, leaving my hair and skin flaky and itchy.
After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, my skin can’t take what it once could. Being diabetic can leave my hands dry and sore. But I have defences against both of them.
The L’Bri company has a fantastic line of skincare products that are much less drying for me than most other brands. They have replaced the water and alcohol in their lotions with aloe vera, which helps sooth as well as soften your skin.
Another thing I like is that they last a long time. It only takes a little bit to do the trick. The first time I tried the lotion on my hands, I had about enough to do most of my body!
I don’t endorse many products, but this is one line I really love. I use their lotion, body butter, and facial combos all the time. I also love the aloe vera gel I can buy separately.
They have recently added a line of fragrance free products as well, if you don’t like things with scent.
So check out the September Sale, browse the site, and give some of their products a try.
As you might guess, if you’re eating an all natural diet, it can be tricky to eat out, but we have a couple places here in town that work well for me. One of those is a place called the Peking Palace.
This is a small family run Chinese place near where we do our shopping. It’s not much to look at, but the food is tasty, and they have a couple things in their vegetarian menu I can eat with no problem. One of those is pictured below–a vegetable delight platter. It comes with rice, but since I can’t eat the rice, I usually just ask them to leave it out. It also comes with carrots, which don’t agree with me at the moment, so they leave those off for me as well.
They also have steamed vegetables, which is roughly the same thing, only with no sauce at all. Depending on the day, I order one or the other.
The last item I have eaten there since this change began is their sauteed green beans. Whole green beans seasoned with onions and garlic, it is a welcome change to the broccoli and other vegetables.
We also go to Ruby Tuesday for the salad bar. They have a good variety of toppings I can eat, as well as vinegar and oil, so I can grab the vinegar and have a little something on my salad.
And if we’re in the mood for Mexican, La Hacienda has a good taco salad, and they will substitute beans or grilled vegetables for the meat for me. Or they have grilled vegetables, or a grilled vegetable fajita mix. I just eat the veggies and leave the tortillas alone.
Yes, it is tricky, but it can be done. I can eat any of the items above and still have my blood sugar down where it belongs.
Is it worth the hassle?
I think so, if it keeps me healthy. But it is a shift in lifestyle and it did take a little getting used to.
Hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend. See you next time!
Mellie E. Miller 