My struggles with weight started when I hit my teens. I moved from South America to the United States...the land of the pre-packaged meals, and here is where I discover foods that I never knew existed. My weight was always a yo-yo. I was never truly thin...but I was truly heavy!
My heaviest was last year - I weighted myself at 190 lbs. For a 5'2" frame woman in her early forties...this was a devastating blow to my self-steem and my body. I had no energy. Vitamins were not helping and neither was exercise. The saying - go and get yourself checked by a physician is the wisest advice you can follow!
So I went and what she discovered was not pretty! I had thyroid issues - hence the weight gain, the low energy, the mood swings, the food cravings, the depression. I was placed on medication for a year, but I was not getting any better - in fact, I began to get so sick everytime I ate, that I was getting very worried!
More tests were performed and finally had a diagnosis...I was a Type II Diabetic. Now, when I was given this information, I pretty much went into denial. I always believed that being diabetic just meant that I needed to watch my sugar and take medication. Well, in my ignorance, I began to eat foods that were so unhealthy thinking that because they were sugar-free, I was doing well. This is when I reallized, that I was un-informed about food. Labels, ingredients, books...I read everything I could get my hands on. One thing I knew I did not want and that was medication! There was no way, I was going to live attached to a pill for the rest of my life. My doctor basically gave me two choices...you either change your food intake or be on medication for life.
Being a diabetic has its issues. Anything that turns into sugar is a problem for me. But, with Our Lord's help, I have been able to manage it so far...I am going on a year here, without any type of medication!
What did I do? I am glad you asked :)
I began to really read every label of every food I had purchased and I discovered that EVERYTHING has sugar! Corn syrup is an additive - a preservative. No wonder we are all so heavy!
salmon fillets with rosemary, sea salt and olive oil - ready for the oven
I realized that grains were not my enemies but my friends. That sugar was not really the culprit, but refined sugar was. Carbohydrates - good ones, are needed for my energy level and for my sugar level to stay even. I also discovered that protein is wonderful, but too much can cause gas and will make me very sluggish! Not all fruits are good for me due to their sugar content, and that sweets CAN NOT be eaten in moderation!
whole wheat dark chocolate chip scones
Oh, I much on chips sometimes...but the reactions are so harsh, that it is just not worth it!
my ingredients for whole wheat bread...whole wheat flour, honey, olive oil, sea salt and water.
Take your time dear friends. The key is commitment. Next time I will share a typical menu that my family and I eat to stay eating healthy.
Until next time...
Maria
Thank you so much for sharing your story!! You give me hope!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that very inspiring story. I must admit I'm not much of a cook as I explained here but I'm now finding that doing it on weekends when I'm less tired is really working for me. Hopefully I will soon have some more energy to cook a meal when I get in from work, but for now I'll have to just cook it and freeze it.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful story! I so agree with all you have said. We can do this!
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