A friend of mine once told me “Make a bucket list … everything you want to do until you die, no matter how crazy or far-fetched.” The first thing on my list is: Stay healthy, be strong, & live long enough to see my grandchildren.
Shortly after I met the man who is now my husband, I became very ill. I had been relatively comfortable at 130 lbs on my 5 ‘5 frame but within months I shrunk to just over 100 lbs. I ate constantly but the weight still dropped off. Coworkers were concerned – One joked “So, have you named your tapeworm yet?” Others were convinced I was Bulimic … binging and purging my way through the work week. In reality it turned out I had Type 1 diabetes.
Once I started a necessary insulin regiment, the weight crept back and by the time my husband and I wed I was healthy again at a solid 125 lbs. 2 years later I became pregnant and after following a strict insulin regimen & monitoring my diet religiously we were blessed with a beautiful healthy son. After he was born I was not only unsuccessful losing my pregnancy weight but I in fact continued gaining. I found it very easy to get into my old pre-diabetic
habits... fast food, tons of junk and bad choices in general. Now tipping the scales at 178 lbs, I know I need to take serious steps – Diabetics have a much greater risk of heart disease and stroke. My dad (who had heart disease after years of smoking, unhealthy eating and lack of exercise) was 53 years old when he died of a massive heart attack. My grandmother also died from diabetes related complications. Genetically speaking, it appears I haven’t got that much going for me.
After reading the article Half the Man He Used to be” I find Doug Varrieur to be inspiring. He understands the struggle and has succeeded. I want to be there for my family and I NEED to do this for myself. My son is 3 years old and deserves a mom who can be as active & energetic as he needs her to be.
I have lost 10 lbs in the past month just by cutting back on junk food and I’ve started walking most evenings. I have a very long way to go but I want to be able to cross everything off my bucket list and then some! Life is just too short.
Kelli age 38
Poll
