Posted on 05/14/2008 9:15:58 AM PDT by spotbust1
I went to see my doctor last week for an annual check up. Got some bad news about my blood sugar. I already have polycystic ovarian syndrome which hinges on insulin resistance, now she is saying that if I don't change my lifestyle, I may develop diabetes within the next year or so.
I have already started an exercise program, walking 2 miles a day and changed my diet. The weight is not coming off as quickly as I would like and I am worried I will loose my resolve to be healthy.
I really need to do this for myself as well as my family. I have two small children that I would like to see grow up.
I hope this is not too much of a vanity, but I would like to kindly ask for prayers for my will power and health. I have seen the miracles that happen when all the FReepers here get going on a prayer thread so I thought this would be a good place to come with this request.
Prayers sent.
When things go wrong; as they sometimes will
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
and you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit
Life is queer with it’s twists and turns
as everyone of us sometimes learns
and many a person turns about
when they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow.
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given up
when he might have captured the victors cup;
and he learned too late
when the night came down
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out -
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.
I think you are the keeper of Logan’s Prayer Warriors list. Can you ping them for me please.
Thanks
I think I will print that and post it on my fridge. ;-)
Prayers sent!
What type of dietary changes have you made?
Hang in there. Two people in my office lost a great amount of weight during the past two years and have kept it off via low carbohydrate diets. I think one used the South Beach diet.
I pray that you have the strength to continue living a healthier lifestyle and you are able to get your blood sugar levels under control. You do not want to become dependent upon drugs.
God bless you! Keep the faith! The good part of your situation is that you’re still in a position to make the decisions. Make your decisions and take pride and ownership of your decisions. As Benjamin Franklin said. “dilligence is the mother of good luck!”
We’ll be praying for you here. You relax and take the wheel! God Bless!
If your entire household works toward a healthier lifestyle - then it will be easier to get to where you need to go.
Prayer for your courage and strength that you will need to face this challenge....
Will be praying for you. Good luck. I know from personal experience it can be very hard to change our outlook on food and exercising.
Might I suggest a good couple of books for you. I know several people who’ve had great successes with weight loss and behavioral changes from changing to a whole/real food diet and getting away from refined foods. I’m slowly making the change (just not going to throw out all that refined food) and already feel so much better for it.
Refined To Real Food: Moving Your Family Toward Healthier, Wholesome Eating
The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook: Whole Foods Recipes for Personal and Planetary Health
I've lost lots of weight in my life.I've "found" a lot too.I was in a situation very similar to yours a few years ago...except for the ovaries (being a guy).Here's what I did.
Step #1)Atkins diet.Strict adherence.Atkins,today,isn't frowned upon by the medical community as it once was.Both my cardiologist and internist,both on the staff at a Harvard teaching hospital,approved.For me,Atkins was ****surprisingly*** easy to follow.I,who had *no* self restraint when it came to junk foods and "pigging out",was able to change my ways easily.My internist explained to me that there's a simple physiological reason for that (I'll spare you the details).
Step #2 (practiced along with #1):Exercise.Lots of it.Every single day.Specifically..power walking.At least ninety minutes a day (usually broken up into two or three separate walks a day).When the weather was bad (too hot..too cold...raining....icy,etc) I'd go to the local mall.
Under this regimen the pounds *melted* off of me at first.The first 15-20 pounds were easy and quick.The last 15 pounds weren't as quick (after 35 pounds I was close to being at a healthy weight for me).
After losing that weight my A1c went from sky high to normal (meaning my blood sugars were normal) and my blood pressure went from an average of 160/95 down to an average of 120/70.
Hope this helps.Good luck!
May the healing power and presence of the Holy Spirit be with you.
When I was losing the weight that I mentioned in an earlier post my cardiologist,although she approved of my using Atkins,suggested that South Beach would be an even better choice for me not because of any cardiovascular issues but because of cancer.She said that given that Atkins is so heavy on the fat,South Beach (which features less fat) would be better.But I stuck with Atkins because I didn't want to change horses in midstream (it was working so well for me) and I was,frankly,willing to take the risk.
Carolyn
Of course you have my prayers. Might I make a small suggestion please? I've found at least for myself when I rely on my willpower I can run into big problems. Reason being is, if even when using every ounce of willpower I possess I still “fail” (I prefer slip-up) then I most usually end up calling myself a failure and mentally beating myself up.
Over the years I've found it really helps me to turn my will or willpower over to God. My willpower is rather puny when it comes to His will for me and y’know, He doesn't make too many failures.
I will ping the prayer warriors when I get home from work
sarasota, if you have suggestions, I’d like to see them too. I am needing to do something about my weight, but don’t have much stamina to excercise.
I need to take off as much weight as I can while doing the exercise I am able to so I can increase my exercise levels as the weight goes away. **Does that make sense to anyone? I think I confused myself :)
I completely agree with you about the will power thing. I prayed about it and felt the need to post this for support and prayer. I appreciate your advice.
I can’t afford to fail (slip up) on another diet and exercise plan so I am asking for help from you guys in the form or prayer and I am trying to rely on God for the will power thing.
Lifting you up in prayer, and May God bless you and your family during this time.....BTW thank you to your hubby for his service too...
No offense taken. I am trying to help myself, but being a woman, we sometimes need a little extra support. We are more about emotions than you guys are. (Not knocking guys or girls, just stating what I have witnessed).
I have been thinking about Atkins and then there is always Kimkins which is similar to Atkins, but lower fat.
Thanks for your advice.
I’ll be praying for you. Tho not pre-diabetic, I do fight the battle of the bulge, sometimes more successfully than others. When I’ve succeeded has been on Weight Watchers (with exercise), or Atkins.
What a coincidence...that is EXACTLY when I scheduled the beginning of my diet. ;~)
Actually...I think I will quit procrastinating and really do it!
I have started to follow the Weight Watchers plan, without signing up, but I was also considering Atkins or Kimkins. These seem to be better for insulin levels.
Thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated. I know with God’s help, all the prayers, advice and kind words, this time I will succeed.
You’re going to get a lot of different opinions on what to do so you’re going to have to choose what is best for you.
As far as diets go I stick to the calorie counting method, it has always worked for me. No Atkins, cabbage soup diet (yes I know people who do this), etc.
The thing you really need to do is rev up your metabolism by building muscle. I would like to suggest to you classes, i.e. strength training, step, spinning, etc. Mix it up or your body is going to get used to whatever it is you do. Walking is okay but lets face it, it’s boring (at least I think it is). Taking classes with other women really helps. I have met some great people. Having a place to go where a teacher tells you what to do is great. For the most part, I have lots of fun doing it.
I have muscles now, that I never knew I had. Some women don’t like it but ten pounds of muscle burns tons more calories than ten pounds of fat. I’m getting ready to turn 51 and my body fat is around 17%.
Anyway, for what it’s worth that’s my two cents. In any case good luck.
I pray you have the discipline to make this happen because with the discipline it will happen. Keep in mind many overweight people are carrying around 200,000-250,000 excess calories. It took a long time to accumulate those calories and will take just as long to get rid of them. Fat has a way of defending its position and will not give up easily. Exercise as you are doing and more. Cut out all junk, sugar and most grain and you will be on the right road. Walking is great as a warm up for resistance training, meaning weights. Keep in mind that if you increase your muscle mass you will lose weight faster because muscle metabolizes many more calories than fat. Putting on muscle will ramp up your metabolism making the fat fall off faster. Just remember, sugar is the devil.
I've dropped a lot of weight in the past and really need to do so again, so I know what you're going through. I'll offer my prayers for you, and a few simple suggestions:
1. Don't try to lose weight. That may sound ridiculous, but if you try to "lose weight" you'll have a tendency to obsess about how much you weigh, how much weight you've lost, how much you need to lose, etc. Instead, you should make up your mind that adopting a healthy lifestyle is your real focus -- and do what it takes to change your life in a positive way. It may even help if you don't weigh yourself, or do it infrequently.
2. Sleep well. I found that getting a good night's sleep was the best lifestyle change I adopted. A "good night's sleep" will mean a normal 6-8 hours of sleep on a regular schedule every day -- with as much sleep as possible during hours when it is dark outside. Sleeping for six hours from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM may be better for you than sleeping for eight hours from midnight to 8:00 AM.
3. Exercise early in the morning. I found this to be very effective, since it helps to speed up your metabolism for the entire day and makes you feel alert, refreshed and alive by the time most people start their day. This may even help you fall asleep earlier in the evening, too.
Good luck and keep your spirits up! Feel free to Freep-mail me if you have any questions or comments.
Maybe we can make a pact and support each other.
I would like this very much!
I really, really hate to be nit picky...I really do! Sometimes though some of the words we use can affect our outcomes. If you slip up that doesn't mean you've failed, it simply means you slipped up so you say Oops and pick back up where you were before you slipped.
Do you remember the childhood story about the little train who struggled to get up the mountainside? That little train didn't tell itself "I can do this, I can do this" or "I will do this, I will do this." That little train said "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!" with every struggling turn of its wheels.
That story was a pretty good one for me because there've been a number of times when I really didn't know if I could do something but by using the "I think I can, I think I can", I was able to take that one more step whether it was something mental, physical or emotional I was dealing with.
Oh, I just wanted to let you know I'm not trying to preach at you or anything because there have been some health issues I'm dealing with where I'm using the same things I'm sharing with you.
Get a dog that you walk a mile per walk, twice a day.
Cut down on, or eliminate, white flour. If you have bread, have multi-grain or whole wheat. AVOID PRODUCTS WITH HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!
Increase your intake of fresh fruits, such as apples and berries, as well as vegetables such as beans, chick peas, squash, sweet potatoes, kale, cabbage and other filling vegetables.
Good luck to you. When I did all of this, I lost about 50 pounds, and it felt effortless. I have kept 80% of it off for about 18 months now. My blood sugar, cholestoral and other metrics are great and I feel much more awake and alert than I ever did before.
May God give you the strength!
Some suggestions that worked for me
- find someone who has the same goals as you for support, friend, relative, etc...
- you don’t need vigorous exercise, just take a walk if that is all you can do
- keep tempting foods out of the house!
- Change your daily habits and routine. Try being a vegetarian for a weekend, Try eating dinner earlier in the evening - anything to break the habits you are in. I lost 40 lbs when I changed jobs - my daily routine was forced to change due to job schedule, and I lost 10 lbs due to it. I saw the result, felt better, so tried to become conscious of what changed - and kept doing it.
- Stay Positive!
And nuts. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazel nuts, brazil nuts, and even peanuts (which are legumes) are a great snack. Eat natural peanut butter (unsweetened) from a spoon if you have to, if you feel insatiably hungry. It’ll fill you up quickly.
As I wrote below, if you need exercise, get a dog. You won’t be able to put off the walks. Two one-mile walks daily will do wonders.
I, too, have PCOS and have been dealing with weight issues. Here are some tips:
1) Don’t eat too little. You think that starving yourself will cause you to lose weight, but if you eat too little and then “binge” up to normal, you’ll end up storing more fat.
2) Count calories on everything...at least at first. Don’t feel shy pulling out a tablespoon or a measuring cup. Write them down; a site like MyDailyPlate is a wonderful tool for tracking calories. Later on, you’ll be able to make quick calculations in your head about what your meal means.
3) Get support! I use Spark (sparkpeople.com), which is a very friendly, diverse (numerous Christian groups there to talk with) bunch of people.
4) Accept that you will fall back sometimes. It’s okay. Just keep going forward.
5) Set tangible rewards not based on weight. If you’re good for a week, treat yourself to a quick nap or a little drive. If you’re good for a month, a new pair of pants, etc.
I have 2 small dogs...and a park next door to my apartment. I also have an MP3 player to make the walking less noticeable.
Sounds like a recipe for exercise. ;~)
Prayers going up for you for complete and total healing!!
{{Hugs}}}
Hang in there! Your kids need you to be healthy! No better reason on the planet than that to stay motivated. :*)
“...then there is always Kimkins which is similar to Atkins, but lower fat.:
No. No. No. Please do NOT do Kimkins. The woman behind that diet (Heidi “Kimmer” Diaz) is a fraud and is at the center of a class action lawsuit because of her lies about the safety and success of her plan. The diet has been proven to be dangerous - people have ended up in the hospital, lost their hair, and developed eating disorders after following it. Plus, there’s no safe, healthy maintenance plan. People can lose weight in all sorts of crazy, rapid ways, but it does them no good if they can’t keep it off. Stay away from Kimkins.
That said, Atkins and South Beach are great, esp., for pre-diabetics. I know many people who’ve done really well on both, including family members.
Do some research online. There are lots of Atkins and South Beach support forums (lowcarbfriends.com, forum.lowcarber.org) that are super helpful and full of people in your same situation. Best of luck to you - you can do this!! - and let me know if you need more “proof” about Kimkins.
Prayers up!
I will certainly pray for you during my own two mile walk today.
It’s worth it when you have to make a big change. Twenty years ago, I was an alcoholic on the way out. I had everything to live for, but wanted the booze. One night I came to my eleven year old daughter and said, “Baby, I’m going to leave you soon. I can’t stop drinking and I’m going to die.” I don’t remember it. I was in an alcoholic blackout.
She climbed out of bed and prayed, “God, please save my daddy.” She told that story in an essay for her college scholarship. And I’m approaching my twenty year anniversary without a drink.
Best of all, she just gave me a terrific grandson. Whatever you have to do, it’s worth it. My best.
You definitely have my prayers. I’ve struggled with my weight on and off for as long as I can remember. After I had my gallbladder out last year, I decided to go on Weight Watchers. I do the core plan, which is a really healthy way of eating (controls the carbs as well as unhealthy fats). I suggest you find a WW or go online to their support boards.
I’ve found I’m much more successful in my eating when I know I have to be accountable each week at weigh-in. It’s too easy for me to talk myself into, “just a handful of chips or a bite of ice cream”. That sets me up for gaining weight. WW keeps me in line and when you’re with a group of people like yourself that struggle with their weight, it’s actually kind of freeing. Hugs and prayers!
You definitely have my prayers. I’ve struggled with my weight on and off for as long as I can remember. After I had my gallbladder out last year, I decided to go on Weight Watchers. I do the core plan, which is a really healthy way of eating (controls the carbs as well as unhealthy fats). I suggest you find a WW or go online to their support boards.
I’ve found I’m much more successful in my eating when I know I have to be accountable each week at weigh-in. It’s too easy for me to talk myself into, “just a handful of chips or a bite of ice cream”. That sets me up for gaining weight. WW keeps me in line and when you’re with a group of people like yourself that struggle with their weight, it’s actually kind of freeing. Hugs and prayers!
I second the suggestion for South Beach Diet - very similar to Atkins, with multiple levels for different phases. It still lowers the carbs (which is crucial for insulin resistance) but it doesn’t go as high on the percentage of fat as Atkins. It’s surprisingly very easy to switch to, very tasty and satisfying, and easy to put the entire family on.
That’s what it will take to make it a success - Instead of just you being on a diet, the entire family needs to live a more healthy lifestyle, with nutrition and exercise changes combined. Good Luck!
Isn't God awesome in that he gives us little reminders of the wonders he has in store for us each day?
Almighty Father, grant that spotbust 1 be reminded by little smiles and laughter that You have already won the war of all ages, and with that comes triumph over all infirmity.
Please grant Your patience to not wish to accomplish all overnight, Your wisdom to realize we humans can have setbacks and still reach the goals we seek, and Your strength to reach those goals, as is Your will, and to Your greater Glory.
Grant also Lord, Your healing to keep her healthy, so she might enjoy the wonders of raising her progeny, the gifts and joys both given and recieved, that those with whom You have entrusted her may grow to love and wordship You as well, and rely on her for guidance as they raise their own, and those raise theirs.
I ask this in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
Great advice. I would love to do some classes, however, my budget is against it. I walk with a friend who loves to talk like I do. She has a 6 month old and I have a 2 1/2 year old so we both push a stroller while walking. We have found that this makes the workout tougher. When we don’t push the strollers it is much easier.
After the walk (which we do at a local park) I let my daughter play on the play structure and I use it to do push ups, sit ups and arm dips.
When the economy improves and I am not spending $4.20 a gallon for diesel, maybe the classes will be possible.
Thanks for the advice.
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