[In my best Matthew McConaughey voice] Routine! Routine! Routine!
That’s probably the only way to make the word routine sound fun because who wants to do the same thing everyday? Eat the same food? Work on the same projects?
Where is the fun in that? While routine can definitely be difficult, it’s also hugely important to help maintain a well-balanced lifestyle for diabetics. By eating our meals at the same time eachday, our bodies can expect when to digest and more easily breakdown the food we eat.
Additionally, by eating similar foods the ability to correctly count our carbs and accurately give ourselves the necessary amount of insulin, will reduce the highs and lows we might experience.
If you think about our trips to the grocery store and the food we prepare, we often purchase and prepare similar items and by working out how our body reacts to these foods, we can learn where to cut out unnecessary carbs and how many carbs we are eating.
As a lover of all things lists, the idea of meal planning (and prepping food) isn’t much of stretch for me. I do have a few rules that I live by when it comes to helping plan and stay within my routine.
Rule #1 – Meal Planning! I start by planning out my meals for the week on Sunday. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. The best way to eat healthy and stay within your carb count is to PLAN!
I created a daily meal planner that helps me stay on track. A free downloadable version can be found here. I always say the best way to stick to a routine is with a pretty list. :)
Rule # 2 – Meal prepping! Yes, what we all love to hate most. I admit that I have intentions to make all my lunches for the week on Monday and start my marinades for dinner’s…blah…blah…blah.
Truthfully, I mostly do each of these things the night before, BUT what I will always stick to is my snack prepping.
You see I have a problem…I LOVE to snack! I am a boredom snacker. To avoid these pitfalls, I have my veggies and fruits cut, in containers and easily accessible. This will help prevent the unhealthy snacking on crackers and sweets.
Remember this is a lifestyle change, so don’t burn yourself out one week and feel too tired to do it the next week. Start small and build up to a fully planned week.
Rule # 3 – Plan to exercise! This is the most difficult of the 3 rules, but one that is a major component to our success. No one expects you to become a marathon runner, but giving your body just 30 minutes of exercise a day will help lower your blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of insulin your body requires.
All three of these rules help me stick to my routine and in turn control my diabetes. There are days (and sometimes weeks) where I go off the routine, what matters most is coming back and sticking to the plan. The past is in the past and nothing matters more than what you do with your future.
I believe in you!
xo – Allie