The final three days of the challenge were a couple of weeks ago, but travel prevented me from writing about them. So now I need to get everyone caught up.
On March 17th (day12 of the challenge) I was in Winnipeg in the last push to get ready to leave on my first trip to Asia - Thailand to be exact. These last few days of the challenge the temptations to eat junk and sugar were high! I mean what is a road trip without junk food? My usual would have been a stop in Prawda for something salty, something sweet and something chocolatey. Lays BBQ chips, nibs and peanut butter cups could be the norm... who does that?? i used to... but not this last trip to Winnipeg. I had some diabetic muffins, water and gum. I have embraced gum again.
Once we were in Winnpeg it was rush, rush, rush. Diabetics can't rush, rush, rush and not time their eating so that they have a steady and constant blood sugar. And if I thought that day was difficult, just wait until I stepped on the plane!
I decided not to request diabetic meals for my flights - thinking that may pose an ethical problem for me and some uncomfortable expanations to theflight attendants, so that meant I ate mine and Erik's veggies and he got two desserts. Also, in keeping with the challenge I cut the carb intake down to what would be reasonable portion size. About 4 hours in to my 13 hour trans pacific flight and I realized how difficult this journey would be for a true diabetic. I simply hadn't eaten enough. For me this is okay, I can fast. A diabetic can not. For them fasting usually results in even higher blood glucose levels. Couple that with the inactivity of sitting for hours on end and a diabetic would be in trouble. Plus with all the travel restrictions these days how much food could a diabetic take with them on their flights - can you bring veggies across the world like that and how would you keep protein and cheese cold for all that time? It would be so difficult to strike the right balance between eating, not eating, how much to increase or decrease meds. So even though I didn't have sugar - no sweets, no pop, no juice and even though I watched my carb intake, I realized a true diabetic would have to had more thoughtful attention to their food and snack packing. I wonder if diabetics get to travel with a doctor's note explaining that they get to take provisions, including water on their journey. I don't think they can, but the ought to be able to.
The last day of the challenge was my first day in Thailand. Food is cheap there, but inevitably rice is a main part of any meal. It is Asia after all! : ) But there is plenty of other food around. I do think on this day it was another rush, rush, rush day as we were trying to see as much as we could in Bangkok that day and as Bangkok is exactly 12 hours time difference from home - all my body systems were messed up. So I was hungry at 4 am and not hungry at noon. But our family vacation motto is "You don't sleep on vacation!! you can sleep at home for free!" : ) And it really was all so exciting that there was not a moment of lethargy until it was 9 or 10 pm and we were back at our hotel room.
I have to say that on the second day in Thailand I was relieved to have completed the challenge to not have sugar and to be mindful of carb intake. It was nice to relax and feel free to eat whatever I wanted.... interestingly though in Thailand I didn't really crave sweets. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was because I ate the best food of my life there and that was completely satisfying to every taste desire ~ but for whatever reason I had no desire for sugar.
Now that I am home and settling back into my routine - I want to keep on eating the way I did the 2 weeks before I left. I weighed myself and I have lost a little bit more and i'll take my measurements in the next couple of days. Also, I'll be posting another note about the couple of times since the challenge ended when I went back to the dark side and tried straight up sugar or carb loaded - but right now I am feeling exhausted, still trying to reset my sleep pattern, so I will leave that note for another day.
