It's been a while. Sorry. I've just become one of
those bloggers, haven't I? I wanted to update everyone on my health hassles, since several of you have kindly emailed checking on me (thanks!).
I went to get the blood tests that my doctor wanted quite some time ago, BUT- I never got to go back into the office to hear the results until just recently because I got the flu. No, wait... I didn't really get the flu. I got
The Flu. We seriously think it could have been H1N1, but I never went in to get tested so we'll never know for sure. Our doctor's office didn't want me to come in with the flu (go figure) and said I'd have to go to the emergency room if we suspected H1N1, so I kept thinking I'd ride it out at home as long as I could until it really felt like an emergency. I certainly felt sick enough for it to be H1N1, but eventually it started getting better. I've honestly never had the flu so long or so bad in my life. I'll spare you the disgusting details, of course, but it was bad. Really.Really.Bad. And... Just.So.Gross. Really. I was wishing I'd just die already and be done with it. Really. Bad.
So... Once I was well enough, I went to the doctor (haha... funny) and found out that I do in fact have hypothyroidism (that's
underactive)
and diabetes. I also have slightly high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I've been put on two new meds and the doc said I should begin feeling much better. Her exact words were,
"No wonder you've been feeling so sick." Ha. Yeah. No wonder. She said my thyroid levels were almost twice what they're supposed to be and that would account for the symptoms I've been experiencing. Even my ridiculously intense and embarrassing sweating could be due to one of my "conditions" (I forget which one causes the sweating. There was an awful lot of information to take in at the time). And here I thought I was just a fat, sweaty pig. For now my diabetes will be managed with one of the new meds and diet changes. She's giving me a couple months to get my diet under control and then I have to go back for more blood work.
Shortly after getting back in to see the doctor, I had a relapse of The Flu and I'm just now feeling better. I've been in self-imposed exile for what feels like an eternity, trying to keep my kids from catching this horrid crap. I feel like I've barely seen anyone for weeks. I was just telling Darrell today that it's really, really hard
not to kiss your babies. I have to constantly stop myself from kissing those gorgeous, fat, little faces. So far, so good though- no one else seems to be catching it.
The good news about the health problems is that the doctor said I should notice weight is just falling off (at least at first, then I'll have to work at it). She thinks the thyroid problem has been keeping me this heavy. The bad news is that I still have to make radical changes in the types of foods I eat. Here's the thing... I never eat a healthy meal on purpose. No, I'm not joking.
I don't know the first thing about eating or cooking healthy. These are the guidelines the doctor gave me: I'm supposed to get rid of everything white- meaning no more foods containing processed white flour or white sugar. I'm supposed to cut unhealthy fats and carbs. My whole life is one big unhealthy lump of fat and carbs. No joke. I'm supposed to eat lots of whole grains and lots of veggies. I can still have some fresh fruits, but more vegetables.
The only veggies I really eat are baked potatoes slathered in butter and sour cream, corn on the cob with butter and salt, or salad covered in fatty bleu cheese dressing and tons of cheese, so you can see I have a real problem on my hands. Even fruit is a problem for me- strawberries are covered in chocolate or dipped in sugar, apples are wrapped in caramel. I'm like a spoiled kid at a carnival, trapped in a big, fat adult's body. It's time for the kid to get a time-out and the adult to take charge.
I want to get better. For my kids' sakes. I want to change. Finally, it's not a matter of vanity and wanting to get into a smaller size jeans. I want to feel good and be healty and I want healthy kids.
So... how do I do that?
I've ordered a few books from Amazon about eating for adrenal health and managing diabetes through diet, and talked to the kids (and their father) and told them that the whole family is going to start making some healthier choices so we'll see how it goes.
The healthy changes are going to start the day after tomorrow though, because my hub and beautiful babies are taking me out to lunch for my birthday (They have already baked me a cake, decorated the house with balloons, and there is a huge gift- wrapped in Tinkerbell paper- waiting for me on the table. Yes, I know... I've got it good.).
Yes, my birthday. I'll be 43 flippin' years old tomorrow. And I'm giving myself a gift this year. The gift is in the form of a goal that I actually plan to meet. My goal is that I'm going to be healthier by forty-four. In one year (mark my words) my weight will be down (maybe not as far down as I'd like, but down), and I will have reversed my diabetes to the point of not needing the medication. I will have learned to incorporate healthy foods into our daily life and be feeding my family healthier meals. So there you have it. It's down in black and white, so I have to do it. And I'm giving up diet soda... Maybe. But not today. Let's play it by ear on that one.
As always, your comments and advice are appreciated. If I have healthy eaters out there, give me suggestions. And recipes! Healthy, but good-tasting meal ideas for the family would be awesome! The only thing I probably won't try cooking is seafood. We are not a family of fish/seafood eaters. If God had wanted me to eat fish, he wouldn't have made it taste so fishy.
And lastly- while I've been sick, I've totally lost touch with all my favorite blogs... again. I miss you guys. Hope all is well! It's going to take me forever to get caught up so drop me a comment letting me know you're okay!
