How I found my motivation
"In case of a loss in cabin pressure, be sure to secure your oxygen mask before helping others around you."
As a child, I was naturally thin, but by 24 years old, and two children, I was topping 200lbs for my 5' 2" frame. In my late twenties, I was beginning to notice lots of aches and pains in my body, and feeling exhausted in a way I had never felt before. I felt like I could not keep up with my children or the day in general.
I went to my doctor complaining about not feeling good and after running blood tests and such, not only did the doctor determine that I was in the morbidly obese catagory, big surprise, but I was also diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
I was now taking pills for acid re-flux, high blood pressure, pills to sleep, etc, and we were now going to add Metformin, (to control the diabetes), as well as another pill to protect my kidneys, since I was now diabetic. I was taking Metformin 3 times a day to start out, and I was taking handfuls of pills and supplements for various ailments.
I will remember my turning point as long as I live. It wasn't for me, it was for my two small boys.
We had plans to go to a friends house to decorate Christmas cookies with several young families. My boys and I were both very excited about it, as it sounded quite elaborate. Somewhere mid-day, I ate something that caused my blood sugar to drop, and I was so exhausted from it that I had to nap to recover, which was common. Me napping, meant we did not get to go decorate cookies. My boys faces were so disappointed, as was I, in myself and my body.
That was the moment! That was the moment that I decided that I was going to make sure that I never had to disappoint my children again because of my incorrect eating choices.
The medications were helping, but I knew that I was still having an underlying problem, I just wasn't sure what and how to verbalize it to my doctor. With a blood sugar test kit, I was now able to determine that not only was my blood-sugar going too high, but it was also dropping, which seemed to correspond with my exhaustion.
The doctor sent me to a nutritionist. Not only did she find a very rare low blood sugar side effect to a medication that I was taking, she carefully evaluated what I ate, and how my blood sugar reacted. I kept a daily journal of everything that went into my mouth, and I mean every single bite, weighed, measured, no cheating, no lying to myself. She taught me about glycemic index values, and how to make different food choices.
This was the beginning of my new way of eating and living. Of course it has not been easy, but it has been very worth it. Having my body feeling good is worth every ounce of effort.
Years ago, my motivation was my children, today, not only have I made healthier choices for my physical well being, I now have truly come to understand that in order to care for others, I must care for myself first.
"In case of a loss in cabin pressure, be sure to secure your oxygen mask before helping others around you."