moderation

Truthbomb Tuesday – Nutrition

Image | | a peaceful diabetic

I try to live by the “if your food can go bad, it’s good for you” rule – the stuff that can survive on shelves for months is not good for you!

When you nourish yourself and your body with real, whole foods, you get the natural energy from foods, not the sluggish, fatigued feeling.

Key takeaway here: nutrition is NOT about deprivation! Deprivation usually leads to desperation, and you know how ugly THAT can get! All things in moderation, guys!

Food Swap Friday – Spices for Salt

Image | | a peaceful diabetic

Any salt lovers out there? I like salt in moderation… my husband is a master at seasoning and never overdoes it, thankfully. But I don’t like overly salty  things except for the odd salt and vinegar chip craving, really. Almost everything else I can take or leave it. Of course, a little salt activates the flavor… but thats a LITTLE.

A lot is a bad thing… puts you at risk for tons of health issues, bloats you, can dull your taste buds… so what can we better season our food with? SPICES!

There is no shortage of spices you can use to create a wide, and I do mean WIDE variety of flavors. And it’s a lot healthier, too.

Do you have a favorite spice to cook with?

spices-for-salt

Truthbomb Tuesday – I can eat anything…

Image | | a peaceful diabetic

I realize that people who aren’t diabetic, or don’t have a loved one who is have a limited scope/understanding of the disease. This is encompassed when someone asks me “should you be eating that as a Diabetic”? In my opinion (as in, for me personally) the answer is yes…

Because much of my lifestyle is in line with being healthy, I don’t feel guilty when I splurge on a treat. Do I keep it reasonable? Of course. But I don’t outright deny myself anything. My personality type is, when I get a craving or a desire in my head, it builds and builds unless I satisfy it. I find outright denying myself to usually have disastrous results. So I indulge, sensibly.

I try to be patient with people who don’t understand “the Diabetes” but I also feel its kind of rude to ask point blank “should you be eating that”, the same way its rude to ask someone overweight if they should be eating that cookie. Should they be? Perhaps not… But like I said, I feel like because most of my choices are in line with a healthy lifestyle, I don’t feel that treat should be forbidden.

I don’t make it a daily habit, of course. NO ONE, Diabetic or not, needs to be overindulging in sweets every day. But for me, denying myself is not the answer, either.

Balance. Moderation. Sensibility. These are the answers for me 🙂

truthbomb tuesday

Fit Tip Friday – 5 Keys to Fitness Success

Image | | a peaceful diabetic
  1. Stay in good taste. Stop worrying so much about food and start enjoying it. The first step will help you avoid the boredom factor and maintain your healthy ways for a lifetime. Try satisfying foods that provide the nutrients you need and taste great; try tangy citrus fruits, yummy sweet potatoes, spice some grilled salmon, etc. Yes, enjoy all foods in moderation, but don’t deny yourself anything. All that really does is set you up to inevitably give in, in a BIG way. Avoid that by being sensible and satisfying a craving in a controlled manner.
  2. Choose to exercise… every day. Try new activities and mix up your workouts to stay motivated. Incorporate at least 30-60 minutes of moderate activity at least 3-5 times per week. Check out a new fitness class, enjoy a bike ride, swim the distance, challenge yourself with yoga or Pilates, or just simply jog the neighborhood. Beachbody also has a great line of programs that has something for EVERYONE – if interested in more information, let me know and I can help you figure out exactly what you want! Remember to also find little simple ways to keep active – take the stairs to a meeting, park a little further from the entrance, stroll with your pup through a park…
  3. Add, don’t subtract. Deprivation is a sure path to disappointment. Balance your eating with your exercise, but don’t focus on what you can’t have, focus on what you CAN have. Get more bang for your buck by looking for nutrient-dense foods – those that offer loads of nutrients for fewer calories. Balance your meals and activities by making nutrient-dense choices like fruits and vegetables, light and low fat cheeses, and whole grains and lean meats.
  4. Fuel your activity. Before you hit the pavement, have a snack. Try an energy bar, yogurt, or PB&J. After your workout, look to refuel with some carbs and protein right away.
  5. Take a break… take time to eat! Eat with your mouth and your mind by slowing down, enjoying your food, and taking a break to eat. Taking just a few moments to be aware of the foods we eat can lead to better decisions and tastier choices. Enjoy each bite, savor each taste, and choose foods that are good for you, pleasurable, and provide the nutrients you need!

 

Tip Tuesday – Chocolate

| a peaceful diabetic
Are you among the many who think that, as a diabetic, you need to avoid chocolate at all costs? A tip received from DLife indicates that’s not the case!

Research suggests that dark chocolate may have benefits for people with diabetes, when eaten in moderation. Dark chocolate has a low glycemic index and won’t spike blood sugar. Studies have shown that dark chocolate may also reduce insulin resistance and help the body process glucose better. The flavonoids found in chocolate can improve circulation, which may reduce the risk of neuropathy in people with diabetes.

Mmm... you CAN have chocolate.
Now, as always, it is important to note the keywords “in moderation“. This doesn’t mean you can dive face first into a chocolate river a la Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but it does mean you can satiate a craving for chocolate here and there!
More tips on Chocolate and Diabetes can be found here.

Source: DLife