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Do We Give Up Too Quickly?

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question šŸ’­
Inverary, ON

I haven't rambled on in a bit - have been preoccupied with a couple family issues, anyhow...

I work with a local wellness group and sat through a good presentation on Mental Health in the Workplace - fascinating talk - ok, so what?

Well the psychologist who was giving the talk asked "how long do you think it takes to create a new habit?"

There was a number of guesses but we all missed the mark

The answer is (somebody must have studied this) - 254 Days

That's about 8 1/2 months (roughly) -ā€¦ read more

November 27
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A DiabetesTeam Member

In my experience you have to really convince yourself you want to change and adopt new habits.

Not having that conviction is like driving a car with the handbrake on.

Having that conviction makes it easy.

For instance, it took 13 attempts for me to give up smoking over 21 years ago. On that 13th attempt I really convinced myself I wanted to give up and I simply dropped the habit with no cravings ever since.

Before that I fooled myself into thinking I wanted to give up when I didnā€™t want to.

With carbohydrates I donā€™t want to give up naughty carbs and this is reflected in my eating patterns.

I weigh all my food for most meals as this keeps an eye on the carbs and unconscious over eating.

Most times my blood glucose is reasonably controlled, sometimes not but most times - thatā€™s my choice.

There are two options- either follow a diet:exercise regime of some sort or possibly die a horrible, lingering painful death with blindness, amputation, kidney dialysis and devastating neuropathies.

Itā€™s as simple as that. Maybe I should consistently go on a very low carb diet but Iā€™ve not convinced myself yet.

My BGs range from 5.5 (99) to 9.5 (171) but average mostly around 7.5.

November 28
A DiabetesTeam Member

Some do, but others are more resilient. We must fight and not give up.

November 29
A DiabetesTeam Member

Creating new habits, especially those related to managing diabetes, can indeed take time. Here are some key points to consider:

- Time to Form a Habit: Research from the European Journal of Social Psychology found it can take anywhere from 18 days to 8 months to form a new habit. This aligns with the idea that it might Show Full Answer

Creating new habits, especially those related to managing diabetes, can indeed take time. Here are some key points to consider:

- Time to Form a Habit: Research from the European Journal of Social Psychology found it can take anywhere from 18 days to 8 months to form a new habit. This aligns with the idea that it might take around 254 days (about 8.5 months) to establish a new routine.
- Diet Changes: Transitioning to healthier eating habits, such as reducing sugar intake or switching to whole grains, can be challenging and requires patience.
- Weight Loss: Achieving weight loss goals can take time and may not always follow a straight path. Persistence is key.
- New Year's Resolutions: Instead of setting binary goals, consider adopting intentions that allow for gradual progress and flexibility.

Remember, patience and consistency are crucial when making lifestyle changes to manage diabetes effectively.

November 27
A DiabetesTeam Member

I normally tell people it takes a minimum of 8-12 weeks to establish a habit. To make it more natural can take a year or more.

I tell people it takes a compelling reason to do what's necessary to change. Find your compelling reason and make the change necessary.

It sounds in line to what you are saying @A DiabetesTeam Member. 254 days is substantial.

Our middle baby boy has had long covid for about 6 weeks. He has no energy, no breath, no desire to eat, and at rest his pulse Ox is 90-92. It drops below 90 when he goes up the stairs and he must rest to catch his breath.

He has been eating some even though his taste buds are confused and nothing tastes right. He's dropped more than 20 pounds.

Yesterday his ninja warrior 3 boys were enamored by the monkey bars in our downstairs hallway.

The crescent rolls, fried mozzarella sticks, bacon, strawberries, apple cider, potato chips, other chips, and fruit kept them busy till they were ready to eat Linner (lunch- dinner).

They seemed ready at 1435 hours so we told everyone to fill their plates.

The rest is history.

November 29
A DiabetesTeam Member

Well said and explained. Makes a lot of sense.

November 28

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