Baby Steps

Repent is a word you read or hear about in church. One of the meanings of repent is "reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible." A month ago I wrote about my do-or-die feeling about my health. I'm now on medication to lower my glucose levels and a medication to resolve my acid reflux. I don't want to be on medications, in fact I want to get off most of them entirely. In the past month some changes have been made in my life.

Stop eating sweets - since I was taking by blood sugar daily, I figured that although sugar is not always the main culprit in high blood sugar, it probably does not help it. So I started to cut-down on sweets and then "gave it up" for the Lenten season. I have "discovered" fruit again and a tasty dessert is low-fat vanilla yogurt with raspberries.

Start chewing my food - one fork or spoonful at a time. With my acid reflux flare-up of a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly found myself unable to swallow without pain. In order to get some food into me, I started really chewing my food (over 20 times per mouthful) so that I could swallow more easily. I discovered that I tasted the food while doing this. I was able to savor the flavor of the food, something I don't think I really ever did when I would gulp down my food so fast. In chewing my food more, I found that I ate much slower, now hubby finishes way before me. What a complete turn-around! By chewing more, eating slower, I feel full or I get tired of chewing, so my portions have decreased tremendously.

At the hospital that I work at, we have a bariatric program and we perform lap-band, gastric sleeve and bypass surgery. A part of that program has a food program or diet. If you have these procedures, you can not survive or will have ill-effects, if you don't follow the above chewing process. Another aspect of the food program is to have a large glass of water 30 minutes before eating. Then you don't drink any liquids with your meal. At first it was tough not drinking any liquids with my meal, because I would drink at least one large glass of water or milk with every meal. Another complete turn-around!

I knew that I was a candidate for these bariatric programs because of my BMI (Body Mass Index) and my health problems, but I did not want to have surgery. I thought that since I would have eat and drink like this if I did have surgery, I might as well try it without surgery. I have been pleasantly surprised by the results. I taste food. I feel full faster. I love water (always have). I can live without sweets. I have lost 7.5% of my body weight since the beginning of 2010. The experts claim that even losing 10% of your body weight can have significant improvement in your body and your health. So, I'm excited!

To be truthful, I did not think or believe that I could do such a complete turn-around or "repent" - reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible. To be truthful, I did not pray or ask God to help me with this, other then my constant questioning Him, "Why can't I lose weight?" But I got a mixed-blessing in the acid reflux flare-up, when I had to chew my food. I've read that a person should chew their food enough so that you could take it and feed it to a baby. Gross, I know! But women did this for their baby many years before Gerber came along. Part of a turn-around is taking steps in one direction and then changing course and taking steps in another direction. I call this taking my baby-steps towards good health. I have changed my lifestyle. I'm not on a diet, I still eat what I've always eaten (exception sweets).

Baby, here I come!

Blessings

Today is a day that I celebrate the blessing of marrying a good man nineteen years ago. Right now he is taking his nightly nap while holding the remote control and "watching" TV with his eyes shut. Yes he is older now & should be allowed these privileges, however, he's been doing this for 19 years! :) I just have to smile and be thankful he's home with me and not out and about. Yes, thankfulness can lift a person's spirits.

Too often we forget all the things we have to be thankful for. Just today, I was talking with a co-worker about walking in the morning. She has little energy at the end of the day to walk as we keep her a very busy woman at work as our department receptionist and go-for person. I mentioned walking in the morning, but she has a four year old to get up and get ready for school. I know she is thankful for that little guy and truthfully, I'm thankful that I don't have a four year old to take care of and that I am free to walk in the morning. I am also thankful for mild weather year-round to walk in and a safe, gated community to walk around.

I am thankful that both my parents are still alive and doing well. I am thankful that my siblings are all still alive and that I have lost very few precious people in my life. Disease and illness can attack a body so quickly, that every day of health is a precious blessing. Today, hubby got the news that his recent stress test shows all is well, yet the evidence of a previous heart attack is there. A heart attack that awakens a person's perspective on life. I don't want a heart attack to happen to me and that is one of the reasons I am embarking on this life style change, to hopefully prevent heart disease and maybe other diseases as well. I am thankful for the health I have and will continue to improve.

Give thanks with a grateful heart! It will lift your spirits! Peace.