An idea to chew on.

Adapted From: Hypoglycemia For Dummies by Cheryl Chow & James Chow, M.D.

No two people have exactly the same biochemistry. Research on biochemical individuality has shown that requirements for each essential nutrient can vary tenfold or more. With that in mind, you can see how a diet that may work for someone else may not work as well for you. Therefore, for best results, you need to customize your dietary plan.

Keeping a daily food journal is the backbone of your recovery process and of personalizing the general plan. The object of the food journal is to help you see exactly what you're doing. It helps you become aware of the foods and beverages you're consuming. With a journal, you can start to see the connection between what goes into your mouth and your moods, feelings, and bodily sensations.

Find a notebook that you like and feel comfortable using. You can get a regular notebook, or you can purchase something that is constructed of handmade paper or bound in leather. If you prefer, carry around large index cards or loose paper and then staple them together at the end of the week. Make sure that you write the date clearly on each card. You can also use a microcassette recorder; if you do, transcribe everything down onto paper at the end of the day (or several days).

When you keep your daily food journal, make sure that you write down the following items:

● Exactly what you eat and drink

● The exercises you engage in

● Your feelings, both physical and emotional

● Anything else that seems relevant (you may also want to add comments)

The journal will

● Prevent you from engaging your mental autopilot and consuming foods unconsciously. If you park yourself in front of the TV, it's very easy to eat a bag of chips or guzzle down an entire six-pack without really being aware of what you're doing.

● Help you pay attention to yourself. It may even be the first time in your adult life that you've taken the time to do so. As you continue to write in your journal, you'll begin to discover your own needs and rhythms. You may be so accustomed to taking your cues from others outside of yourself — your parents, your peers, television commercials — that perhaps you've forgotten how to listen to your own body.

Don't worry if you forget to write things down or if you don't know how to explain your feelings. Gradually, you'll become adept at recognizing your feelings. It's important to accept whatever you're feeling without blaming or criticizing yourself.

Writing down any physical or emotional changes you may be experiencing is especially important. For instance, if you have more energy or you're unusually irritable, be sure to note it. Instead of jotting down your feelings only after you eat, make a point of writing them down every hour or two. Recording your feelings can make it easier to see how certain foods (or combinations of foods) affect your mood or physical symptoms. You don't have to write lengthy essays, just a word or two will suffice.

When you write what you are feeling on a regular basis, you may begin to uncover

● Connections between foods that you never suspected before

● Whether a recurrent feeling is triggered by something you eat or by the stresses in your life

● What's working or not working in terms of your diet

● Where and how you drifted from your eating program (if you did drift; what are you, superhuman?)

The more you know about what's going on with yourself, the easier it is to make any necessary adjustments in your life. Highlight your journal, and circle any links you see. Have fun while becoming your own private investigator.

Look over your journal every week. If you can, look it over on the same day of the week (Sunday, for example) so that you don't forget. After you start identifying the patterns and feeling more confident about your food choices (perhaps in a month or two), you can review every two weeks. But if you notice anything unusual (like the appearance of certain symptoms), don't wait to refer to your journal.

Keeping a daily food journal helps you make refinements and get better results. On the other hand, avoid straying too far from the basic recommendations. You'll know when you aren't following your diet correctly, because your hypoglycemic symptoms will reappear. Don't sweat it if they do; just get right back to following your healthy eating plan.

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