I started eating low-carb Oct. 2 2019 [View all]

At my well-check in Oct. 2018, my blood sugar was up. I thought I was doing good watching my cards, but in Oct. 2019, the sugar was higher still. I put myself on a low-carb diet (100 carbs or less daily) My cholesterol was down almost 20 points, and I was happy that my diet focus had helped. I saw I had a window, so I cut all carb laden food out. I stopped eating bananas, a snack bar I thought was healthy, white potatoes, skim milk and pasta, ketchup and BBQ sauce. I have avoided things like candy, desserts, and fruit juice for a long time.

I bought a glucose monitor and started checking my fasting blood glucose every few days. I wanted to share that today, it was 100. And I've lost 20 lbs. Getting down to 100 was my first goal. My next goal is staying as close to that or lower as I can.

I missed having a bowl of cereal, which had been my usual breakfast for many years, so I found coconut almond milk that is less than 1 carb in a cup. I cut the cereal serving in half. Instead of having 44 grams of carbs, I have 18. I've been baking my own bread, with flour, water, salt and olive oil, just enough sugar to start the yeast. I have a slice with an egg a few mornings a week, about 24 carbs.

I am amazed at the low carb options you can get. My daughter got me shirataki noodles and rice, which are about 2 grams a serving. I have almond flour and coconut flour. For the first time in over 40 years, I didn't bake the cookies I bake at Christmas. I made almond flour biscotti, meringues, and rum balls for others in my family. I used Stevia to sweeten the things I baked. This weekend, I used the coconut flour to bread chicken and fry it. First breaded fried food I've had for ages. I'm going to make sushi with shirataki rice. I think I'll be able to make 2 - 4 rolls, with vegetables, maybe shrimp and have about 4 carbs in each roll.

I think I'll be able to stick with the way I'm eating for a long time. I am not on a diet to lose weight, and with grandkids, I have good reasons to diet for the hidden benefits. I am the only grandparent they have left, and I'd like to see them graduate from high school.

Happy New Year!