I had hoped to be blogging much sooner than this, but I have been battling this cold that has lingered around for well over a week now and seems to have settled into my lungs. It has developed into this intense cough that makes me sick. Fortunately for me, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I am hoping something can be done.
I saw a posting on Facebook by someone who said that it was six days into the new year, and asked how the resolutions were coming. I didn't make any resolutions this year. They just set you up for failure and then you feel bad when you do fail. This blog just happened to start on the 1st, because things were shut down and closed and life slowed way down and gave me the time to actually sit down and start it, not to mention the nudge from my daughter, Sarah. I have actually been taking steps to improve my health the last eight months or so.
Today was a good day and I actually got to work out for an hour. It felt good, even with the battling of this cold. I remember the days of working out at the gym and playing racquetball, but that was before marriage, six children and 60+ lbs. of pregnancy weight. Today it was 30 minutes of speed walking and 30 minutes on the bike. I hope to keep the routine going for at least 4 days a week, with other added exercises throughout the week.
I really had been thinking about our country and how we are so unhealthy compared to other countries. We eat more than we need to and a lot of what we do eat, is processed and not good for us anyways. Some of this 'food' I wouldn't even consider food. It is my desire to make my eating habits, cleaner and healthier. I have tried to read up on the latest, and greatest, 'superfoods' out there. It seems that they are always changing and it is hard to keep up with them all. I also have to pay attention to the sugar content with them too. I read something new today in a magazine and before I put anything down here, I want to read up on it more.
While I am trying to control my diabetes, I have heard that it can be reversed. I am hoping this is true. But, I am also interested in my whole health, as I have just been diagnosed with high cholesterol also. So, eating can be a tricky thing. It takes some effort initially, and time, to look at the foods for their health benefit, without raising the blood sugars, and to add variety. It is worth the effort and I am excited and if I can help anyone else along the way, even better.
So, as this next week starts, I challenge you to take a look at what is in your pantry and see what nutritional value it truly has. When you shop again, grab the things that will benefit your health and stay away from the junk!! I would also love feedback. I think with a lot of input we might all learn something and make some progress towards better health!
Until next time...
Suellen
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The Daughter's Intro
Hello readers!
2013 is upon us. Crazy to think about, really. It seems with each year that I age the passing of time does indeed go faster. I had heard all about it when I was a teenager, but of course, I was determined it wouldn't. Now as a young adult, I realize how much truth was in the apparent 'myth'. Over the past year, I've felt my health fluctuate. With that, it really made me reflect on my family's health history. Both diabetes and celiac sprue run in my family. In the past two years, I've seen family members die from diabetes and it really startled me into waking up about personal health.
We never know what we can loose until we nearly loose it.
Seeing family members die and my own mother have her struggles with the disease awakened a passion in me to not only see myself better my physical health, but my mother's as well. This year I am embarking on a journey with my awesome mother for physical health. I don't expect it to be easy or always "fun" but man, will it be a ride!
Sarah
2013 is upon us. Crazy to think about, really. It seems with each year that I age the passing of time does indeed go faster. I had heard all about it when I was a teenager, but of course, I was determined it wouldn't. Now as a young adult, I realize how much truth was in the apparent 'myth'. Over the past year, I've felt my health fluctuate. With that, it really made me reflect on my family's health history. Both diabetes and celiac sprue run in my family. In the past two years, I've seen family members die from diabetes and it really startled me into waking up about personal health.
We never know what we can loose until we nearly loose it.
Seeing family members die and my own mother have her struggles with the disease awakened a passion in me to not only see myself better my physical health, but my mother's as well. This year I am embarking on a journey with my awesome mother for physical health. I don't expect it to be easy or always "fun" but man, will it be a ride!
Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.
-Arthur AsheWith love,
Sarah
The Mirror....
Well, another year has come and gone and I can quite honestly say
that it has been one of the hardest years I have gone through in a very
long time. Between torn relationships, the loss of loved ones and
friends battling cancer and other diseases like diabetes, there has been
much heartache. I have had to take a very serious look at my life and
where I am at in it and what God's calling is on my life. What I had to
do was look in the mirror, both a physical mirror and a mirror of my
heart.
Life is not always easy and we are sometimes dealt a hand that is not what we want, or even what we had expected. But, we have no choice but to face it and deal with life as it comes at us. I am at that time in my life. A time where I have life changes taking place that I can not control. It is a time where I have had to put my trust in the Lord for literally everything. As I have said goodbye to family and friends this past year, I was forced to look at myself and see who I am and who God created me to be. I have been forced to see where I have fallen short in my life and to take responsibility for that, and that is one reason I am here, blogging, for my first time.....ever!!
I know many people who write, and write well, I might add. My daughter is a young writer and has decided to venture on this journey with me, to aide me along, and encourage me to better health and to tackle something that I have had a desire to do for quite some time. I felt writing about something I knew, and was going through, would probably be the best way for me to get my feet wet in writing, and so I start.
I spoke of looking into a mirror. A physical mirror, to see who I was, what I looked like, how I had aged. But, I also meant the mirror of my heart. I spent so much time taking care of my six wonderful children and my husband of 22 years to find that I had not taken care of myself like I should have. My energy and time was given to my family, whom God blessed me with, and whom I love. Yet, I was tired, never sleeping through the nights and sometimes falling asleep in my chair. I didn't feel good and I knew I was slowly deteriorating. I had failed in taking care of myself and I did not love myself like I should have. I felt guilty to take time out for myself. I poured my heart out, yet, I didn't take care of ME!
Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my pregnancies, and gaining 60+ lbs. with my first pregnancy due to the gestational diabetes, I was told that I was a high risk for full blown Type II diabetes later in life. In February of 2002, I was diagnosed with it. So, years after living with it, and watching my aunt pass into eternity after suffering from the complications of it, and having friends struggle with diabetes, I took a second look at life. God got my attention in 2012, after having half of my family leave the home, for various reasons. Things were downsized, priorities refocused and God was brought full center.
I realized how fragile we all are and how our time is very brief in the realm of eternity. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and we are responsible to take care of ourselves. Now is that time.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
So, as I venture down this road to blogging, and take on the challenges of living with diabetes, I hope you will be encouraged. I hope you will encourage someone you know who has this disease, to follow along, so we can help each other live a healthier lifestyle and fight this disease that has altered so many lives.
Blessings!
Suellen
Life is not always easy and we are sometimes dealt a hand that is not what we want, or even what we had expected. But, we have no choice but to face it and deal with life as it comes at us. I am at that time in my life. A time where I have life changes taking place that I can not control. It is a time where I have had to put my trust in the Lord for literally everything. As I have said goodbye to family and friends this past year, I was forced to look at myself and see who I am and who God created me to be. I have been forced to see where I have fallen short in my life and to take responsibility for that, and that is one reason I am here, blogging, for my first time.....ever!!
I know many people who write, and write well, I might add. My daughter is a young writer and has decided to venture on this journey with me, to aide me along, and encourage me to better health and to tackle something that I have had a desire to do for quite some time. I felt writing about something I knew, and was going through, would probably be the best way for me to get my feet wet in writing, and so I start.
I spoke of looking into a mirror. A physical mirror, to see who I was, what I looked like, how I had aged. But, I also meant the mirror of my heart. I spent so much time taking care of my six wonderful children and my husband of 22 years to find that I had not taken care of myself like I should have. My energy and time was given to my family, whom God blessed me with, and whom I love. Yet, I was tired, never sleeping through the nights and sometimes falling asleep in my chair. I didn't feel good and I knew I was slowly deteriorating. I had failed in taking care of myself and I did not love myself like I should have. I felt guilty to take time out for myself. I poured my heart out, yet, I didn't take care of ME!
Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my pregnancies, and gaining 60+ lbs. with my first pregnancy due to the gestational diabetes, I was told that I was a high risk for full blown Type II diabetes later in life. In February of 2002, I was diagnosed with it. So, years after living with it, and watching my aunt pass into eternity after suffering from the complications of it, and having friends struggle with diabetes, I took a second look at life. God got my attention in 2012, after having half of my family leave the home, for various reasons. Things were downsized, priorities refocused and God was brought full center.
I realized how fragile we all are and how our time is very brief in the realm of eternity. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and we are responsible to take care of ourselves. Now is that time.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
So, as I venture down this road to blogging, and take on the challenges of living with diabetes, I hope you will be encouraged. I hope you will encourage someone you know who has this disease, to follow along, so we can help each other live a healthier lifestyle and fight this disease that has altered so many lives.
Blessings!
Suellen
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