2021 and beyond

The holidays came and went, and with them, 2020 is in our rearview mirror. Like many of us, we at ourlowcarb.com were looking forward to the holidays. Although somewhat tempered, given government and self-imposed hesitation on large family gatherings. Many of you have had significant stressors for most of the past year. This can lead to stress eating, poor sleep and excess cortisol, all deleterious to health. Then add holiday temptations.

Reflecting on 2020, I ended my second year of #NSNG. I had had refined sugar and flour on but two occasions during the year. The first occurred on my wife’s birthday celebration when we had a small butter cake and ice cream. The second was for Thanksgiving when I had a small piece of pumpkin pie, and a very small amount of flour in a lobster pumpkin bisque. So, we decided to end 2020 and ring in the new year by picking up takeout from PF Chang’s. Unfortunately, our new lifestyle is not compatible with regular Chinese takeout and this is something we have both missed over the past two years. I have tried to make some Asian substitute meals, and although they came out well, they were nothing like the originals. I decided that I would end the meal with their great wall of chocolate cake. As Vinnie Tortorich says, it is not what you eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it is what you eat between Christmas and Thanksgiving. We planned to have a little life into living and get back on the keto bandwagon on New Year’s Day. I personally had made it through the holidays with less than a 2-pound weight gain. Since this was really the first time that I had an entire meal containing flour, sugars, and starches, after I noticed my wife’s CGM showing an immediate spike from the meal, I decided to check my blood glucose. This was a rude awakening. The initial reading was 179 and subsequently down to 140. I had only consumed about half of the chocolate cake and had placed the rest in the fridge planning to consume with my New Year’s meal. However, after seeing what that did; it went straight from the fridge to the trash. Lesson learned. Tonight, it will be pan seared scallops with fennel salad courtesy Anna Vocino’s Eat Happy Too. I will repeat the blood sugar at the same time following this #NSNG meal and report the difference.

Now, this was one meal out of 365 days. Imagine having blood glucose spikes every day of the year with every meal. Now is the time for people to take stock and plan to change behaviors for the new year. Given COVID-19, there is never been a better time to get metabolically healthy.

Update: tonight's glucose reading eating NSNG 103 mg/dL.