Joella found some snails in her potted plants and rode her bike at 1:00 a.m.

She is making very slow progress with her weight loss. Three pounds since we started this journey. Doctor told her not to eat bread, so she bought pancake mix so Gerald could make pancakes. This was last week.

Talked to her today, she was all excited about the snails she found in one of her pots. Seems there are two big ones (about the size of a dime) with shells, four babies without shells and a patch of eggs in the middle of her plant. I looked up snails on the internet, seems land snails are both female and male, have sperm and eggs but need to swap sperm to reproduce. She didn't like it when I told her the first hatched out babies often eat the other eggs and smaller babies.
Said her legs were hurting last night so instead of eating in the middle of the night she rode her exercycle for about an hour while watching TV. Just ate a FEW cheerios and some milk.

EATING TO GET HEALTHY CAN BE FUN!

Joella gets bored and forgets to try new things to keep staying on a health giving diabetic diet.  An easy recipe for the uninspired is my version of Corned beef and Cabbage.

First, get a large pot, I use a stainless steel 4 quart pot with a heavy aluminum bottom to spread the heat.  Next I add a little olive oil about 2 tablespoons, slice up a large onion and start it to "fry" on medium heat.  Since carbs are somewhat limited, I peel and slice a medium potato for each person who is eating...actually two are enough for up to four servings.   After adding the potatoes, put a lid on the pot and stir occasionally to keep things from sticking.  Cook for about 15 minutes...while this is cooking thinly slice a medium head of cabbage, not over three lbs.   When cooking reaches the 15 minute mark add the cabbage, drizzle with about 1 tablespoon of oil  and stir to coat the cabbage.  Add any salt or pepper you might need at this point and about 1/4 cup water.  
I use canned corned beef, remove from the can and break it up or slice it and put on top of the cabbage, onion and potato mix.   Leave the lid cocked and cook for about 5 minutes or until cabbage is done enough for you.  I like mine a little crispy and not boiled to death..but cook how you like it. Nice served in soup bowl with a wide rim so you can add sliced tomatoes and cucumbers along the outside for decoration and enjoyment.  Even if the corned beef is a little heavy on calories it can meet the calorie test because it is mixed in the the cabbage....
Enjoy

EATING RIGHT ISN'T EASY ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOVE SPAGHETTI!

Jo called yesterday....said she was making spaghetti and wondered should she cook one box or two?  I asked if she was having company...answer no.  Asked why making spaghetti when her doctor had told her not to eat anything  "white" until she got that 14.3 A1c down in the 6 range.
Well, it seems she now has a specialist  and claims that  he said she could have pizza and spaghetti....but I think she forgot the part about making sure the portion she ate was correctly sized so that it didn't blow her calorie count for the day.  
I also think the new specialist should  realize that Joella has a hard time with meal planning, tends to eat what is there and since she is now taking Insulin depends on it to keep her blood sugar low.

Since he is new on the job with Joella he might believe that old song and dance, "I'm drinking water and eating broccoli for my snack!"   RIGHT!
She is getting better at riding her exercycle since her foot with the open sore healed. She has found that if her sugar is up she can ride the exercycle and bring it down.

JOELLA LOST 4 POUNDS! JOELLA LOST 4 POUNDS!

Talked to Joella,   She said she lost 4 more pounds!  Hope she doesn't let up.  

Some times she forgets her meal planning and goes on a binge....gains her weight back and has to start over.

Eating five meals a day on a 1200 calorie diet is the way to consistently loose weight. 
Keep a mealtime schedule.
Break total calories consumed into three larger meals and two snacks .
This keeps the body's furnace going so calories get used up and not deposited .
If we don't eat regularly the body thinks it may be on starvation and wants to save every last calorie as a fat deposit.  
The most successful way to fight diabetes is to schedule meal times, maintain portion control and have at least 30 minutes of exercise  everyday.   Walk or ride an exercycle...IT WORKS!

FRIDAY MORNING RESULTS

117 WAS THE MAGIC NUMBER.

Guess it wasn't so very bad with all the food from the buffet.   Probably also had a dessert that wasn't mentioned.  

My favorite salad to help with getting fresh vegetables with lots of fiber and micronutirents is:
chop all in bite sized pieces
1 head of CAULIFLOWER
1 bunch of  BROCCOLI
1 whole bunch of  CELERY  

It makes a lot, so I often share.  To keep for a few days put in a gallon sized freezer bag and store in the refrigerator.  Keeps well.  
To serve:  1 cup plus tomato, cucumber, sliced onion and other raw vegetables as desired.  Can also add a small serving  of lean chicken, turkey or one boiled egg.   I like with olive oil, vinegar and spices for dressing.  Use your own favorite or whip up a homemade low cal dressing.

Another favorite way to serve is add a few chopped almonds, a teaspoon of raisins and buttermilk ranch dressing.  Just be sure to keep track of calories in dressing as this is often the downfall in dieting...since a salad makes you think you're eating light.

SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO THE ENDOCRINOLOGIST

Fasting sugar 109 on Thursday a.m.
Joella's  specialist said she is making good progress and she won't have to return for three months.
She took her  driver to lunch at Golden Coral.
Joella had  White turkey meat, sweet potato, a huge salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and  romaine lettuce.  Just in case she also had a LOT of  green "string" beans and some Turnip Greens.  
Guess she was making up for all those days with no green vegetables.
For dinner she said she only had a bowl of Honey nut Cheerios!   Wonder what her Sugar was on Friday morning.
I'll update later!