Starting over...again.
I don't even know where to begin.
This is me now.
I'm 40, getting healthy and mentally doing better than I have in a long time.
Back in October 2015 I was officially diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic. It was going to happen eventually, almost everyone on both sides of my family has it. Heck, I've probably have been for years but ignored it.
Something changed though. I don't want to be on insulin. I struggle monitoring my blood sugar as it is. I can't push the button to do my finger stick. I have to take off the cap and watch myself stick the lancet into my finger. Crazy, I know, but that's how I get it done. There is also something else. I don't want to be on any medicine, I don't want any of the complications that being diabetic can bring on. I watch my dad, who is also diabetic and he hasn't changed any of his habits, he just gives himself more insulin. No.
So, I had a come to Jesus meeting with myself. This is my new normal, there is no more denying it, I have diabetes and unless I make changes, my health isn't going to get better. The first month or so I lost 10lbs, I stopped the soda and cut back on the chocolate. From October to January of 2016 my A1c went from 11 to 9.4, a great start but not good enough. I also began struggling just trying how to "figure" out diabetes so that I could manipulate and still eat what I want. Laughable now, but true.  Throw in all the favorite food holidays and I could've done better.
By January, my doctor was talking about insulin. Dread and self contempt poured through me. While he was happy with my changes it wasn't enough, my sugars were still too high. Instead my doctor surprised me, he was going to refer me to Dr. Gann's diet of hope. I was willing to try but skeptical all the same. I went in for my initial appointment and went through some quick tests, talked to the nurse practioner and received my first weeks menu. Lots of veggies and protein, okay, all things that I like to eat already just minus all the sugar that I am addicted to. Let me also mention I began this lifestyle change in the middle of girl scout cookie season and Robs 45th birthday party, yep, but I was serious. My first week I dropped 8 lbs and I had a cheat day on Robs birthday. That next week came off another 6lbs and I also had a cheat day. Then the weight slowed down coming off. A pound here, 3 there. Weekly visits, lots of questions asked. I was told, if I'm gonna cheat, go big or go home. I can't have a couple of Hershey kisses everyday, it not only throws my sugars off but I don't lose ounces for several days. I have also learned that if I have a carb heavy meal it takes me a day or more to bring my sugars back down.
So where am I now? I'm on week 8.5 and I'm down 20lbs. I haven't cheated since that 2nd week. I walk 2 miles a day, about 5 days a week. I plateau but push through. Rob has told me several times that there is no way he could do what I'm doing. At 6 weeks my A1c is down to 7.7 and my morning fasts are dropping daily from the beginning of 277 to now at 140.
While all the medical stuff is good and I have every intention of continuing, my favorite part is that I weigh less than I have in 15+ years, before I even got pregnant. I've gone from a size 24 to an 18.
When I did the weight loss challenge with the ladies from church a couple of years ago, I started at 296, I dropped 20lbs in 3 months mostly from exercise. I've kept that off and now this. Today I saw 247 on the scale. My ultimate goal, 215. Am I proud of myself, HELL YES! Do I still criticize myself, unfortunately yes. Diabetes isn't easy and there isn't a way to figure it out. You just have to keep plugging along and not give up.
Last week my doctor gave me a rare compliment after he received my test results. He said I was a poster child for a healthier lifestyle and he wished he could show his other patients my charts. I beamed with delight but I understand their struggle.