Lazy Ninja
Monday, August 13, 2012 at 3:12PM We don’t want to do more.
This is something I want to scream at the top of my lungs from a helicopter through a bullhorn. NO MORE WORK.
Checking blood. Counting carbs. Refilling prescriptions. Filling reservoirs. Changing infusion sets. Scheduling doctors’ appointments. Picking up prescriptions for the pharmacy. Seeing the doctor. Seeing the dentist. Saving receipts. Weighing food. Exercising.
That is not even all of it. It’s a lot of work.
So when I asked on another website for advice about eating better I was told to keep a food journal.
Food journal? Are you kidding? I will never do that. I know me and what I already have to do.
Maybe there is a food journal app that I can just take a picture every meal and be done. If not there needs to be. That would be easier but still would require more work.
I have tried a few diabetes apps and they all require work too.
This post makes me sound incredibly lazy and let me tell you something.
If you are alive and have type 1 diabetes than you are not lazy.
You have to work just to live. The laziest type 1 still has to put in some work to not be in the hospital every day. Even those who are considered in “poor control” still work some. Sure there may be more we can do but to call us lazy means you probably do not live with type 1. It’s a lot to think about and a lot to do.
That being said I know I need to figure this out. How can I either come up with a food journal that does not require more work or find a way to be motivated to eat right.
Both better and less, my two problems with food.
Too much, and too much crap.
I am open to practical ideas but please do not ask me to keep a food journal.
It will never happen.
Too lazy. ;)
Reader Comments (15)
I would never tell you to keep a food journal. I *will* share that after fighting it and hating it and fighting it and hating it for many many (30+) years, I decided to try to keep one myself. And I hated it. And it's a big ol' pain in the ass. And I kept trying. And I hate it. BUT what I realized, is that it helps me keep track of all kinds of things I would eat that I would either 1)forget to bolus, 2)forget to count the carbs whether or not I bolused, 3)forget to test my BG when I ate and/or bolused, 4)forget to think twice about whether eating whatever would make me feel worse after I ate it, or 5)forget that I even ate it at all. There was a lot going on with me and food that I didn't realize, and didn't want to think about, and keeping a food journal of the food I *really* ate (not what would make the dr. and dietician happy) helped me see what I was doing. No judgments!! So now, after more than a year, I miss it if I don't keep a food journal. It helps me. And I still hate it, and it's still a big ol' pain. I've tried some apps (like GoMeals) and it's more bother than just keeping a running list/journal on my ipod or computer. Maybe someday they'll come up with the one that just knows from a photo--that would be so AWESOME.
Maybe just taking photos with our phone of everything you eat. Keep it in a file on your phone or computer...and then when youre asked to show your log email the photos :) The whole point of a food journal is to be hyper aware of what you're consuming, I don't see why taking photos isn't the exact same as writing it all down :) You're on to something!
I really like the photo idea! They're dated, they have a time stamp. Lots simpler than writing it all down.
Dude, I am SO feeling this post. I agree with everything you have said, and struggle mightily with the same issues. NO MORE WORK! NO MORE WORK! NO MORE WORK! I feel like I should have a sign and be marching around a picket line or something.
I've tried food apps and failed. I've tried BG tracking apps and failed. I've tried keeping a log of my exercise.... and guess what, failed.
And I've tried all of these things multiple times. Enough to know that there's no way I'm going to write shit down. I rely on just BEING better as much as I can, every day. Every little bit helps and most importantly, smaller changes.
I think you can do this without the stupid apps!
My Fitness Pal isn't too bad.
I guess I am lazy because I am not a food journal person but I like the picture idea - that is a techno food journal! You just have to remember to do it for little things too - that is the stuff that gets you.
Take a picture of your meter next to the food item? BAM! Done! :D
I don't have an answer for you but I feel your pain-in-the-ass-iness. I'm "old school" in that I use a spreadsheet for glucose info and will occasionally keep a food journal...but it sucks! I've looked at apps for this, WAY too much work. If you're trying to "eat better" maybe just pick one thing that you know isn't the best thing you should be eating and eliminate it. If that helps, do another. No journal involved but you will know if your glucose improves or you feel better. Maybe that would work? Good luck (and it would never occur to me to think that you're lazy. :)
I agree with taking photos of your food. Mostly what's good about a food journal is it forces you to stop and consider your food momentarily before you eat it. For a lot of people, that's all it takes to notice what needs to change.
I think that is my viseral response to the CGM. It is supposed to make our lives better, but it is SO MUCH WORK!!! My brain is swelly enough.
I think taking pictures is great! Scroll through what you ate at the end of the day. It might just do the trick! And maybe I'll join you...since Ryan's diagnosis, food has been my BFF.
I'm with you on the food journal. It is a lot of work, but there is something about tracking it that makes a difference. Maybe you don't want that second helping or cookie or pizza or whatever if you have to write it down or take a picture!
Another thing to think about when trying to eat well... Count your colors. I know you count carbs and already do a lot of math but this is way easier, just aim for 7 different colors a day. You have to eat lots of fruit and veggies to do it. (And glucose tabs don't count as colors. :-))
Dude,
I HEAR you on this one! I've done the My Fitness Pal app, which isn't too bad. I can set an alarm to remind me to log my food after each meal, that helps. WW also has an app that I actually use more than MyFit but yeah, I get you. When I went on Symilin, and I was told that I had to take ANOTHER injection, and square my bolus, and calculate a percentage of my blog, and then... AND THEN... my doc wanted me to flag all of my sugars as before or after meal, I just about lost it. BUT, new habits CAN be formed, and sometimes, they do work... or help. Anyway, good luck man. And, you know, we ALL get it, how much work all of this is.
Loves!
jen
Meditation. No, seriously. Just 5-10 minutes of meditation a day has made me more mindful throughout the day & honestly improved my diet more than any other approach I've tried --when I'm about to reach for junk food or overtreat a low I'm now more likely to take a deep breath and make a better choice. Food journal, uugh!
I'm right there with you, George. We do so freaking much just to eat a meal when we have diabetes, and to add food logging to the mix seems enough to push us over the edge!! I've been trying to lose weight for months and months, and it's just not working. I know I need to log my calories, but I just can't seem to make myself do it. I don't know what the answer is. If I try, will you try too?? I bet we can do it together.