A FAT GIRL'S GUIDE TO HEALTH

Five years ago I quit smoking. I always thought this was the hardest thing I had ever done. But taking care of yourself is hard. All of it is hard. There's garbage thrown at us daily with commercials for food and candy. Stress making us give in to temptation and stray from a healthy lifestyle. We all have challenges. Let me tell you about the ones I battle daily.
On the eve of my 51st birthday, I ate a pound of chocolate/peanut butter fudge. OOOOHHHH, how yummy it was! I had hidden it from my husband; it was mine; homemade by one of my girlfriends. But something happened to me that night. I became dizzy, nauseated, and emotional. Uh, oh, was I getting "sugar" as my family called it? Probably. I come from a long line of diabetics. My father, his mother, his sister, my cousin, and an aunt on my mother's side of the family. Speaking of my mother, she harps with every cookie or doughnut she has ever seen me put in my mouth, "Watch your sugar." or "I worry about your sugar".
My husband is a diabetic, so periodically I would check my blood glucose with his accucheck machine. Being a nurse, I know where the numbers should be. Although not horrible, non-fasting was in the 130's. I was on my way to becoming a diabetic.
So last year, October 1, 2007, I started the Fat Flush. The book, written by Anne Louise Gittleman, set me on a path to change my eating habits. It was very strict, but healthy. I lost 50 pounds in 8 months. Then I gained 10 back, that I still struggle to get back off. The important thing is that I am managing my diabetes without medication.
I am also managing my blood pressure without medication. I have been off medication for almost a year through diet and exercise. The doctor also wanted to put me on medication for my cholesterol, but I promised him and myself that I would get that down with diet and exercise, too. I hate to take pills and have found that the side effects of medication make you feel worse. So now I am on a mission to get the numbers down by April.
Diet and exercise- don't you get sick of hearing it? But it is the mantra of every doctor, nutritionist, and trainer for years, and it is true! You can't fight it! If you don't listen to your body, you'll be one of those fat ladies on disability riding a scooter-cart around Wal-mart. Take control! Prevent your problems!
Last but certainly not least in prevention of disease, I found help and support at my chiropractor's office. I was scared and skeptical at first. But chiropractic care has helped me so much! In the book, Setting Things Straight, John Madeira, D.C. explains how important it is to have a healthy, aligned spine. He also says the four worst thing you can put into your body are sugar, soda, trans fats, and things in the "white family " (white flour, white rice, white potatoes, white sugar) . He will teach you how the body can heal itself and how to boost your immune system.
So take control of your health. Look at your family history. Be pro-active in prevention of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and lung ailments. If you are healthy, happiness will follow. But that's another blog.....