"New Year, New you"

I just want to take a moment to tell you all about my most recent discovery....

Since last semester, I've made some major changes in my diet and exercise program. Yes, I took a PE class that forced me to do that to begin with. After I realized the benefits of the lifestyle change, though, I have been implementing it.

Part of what made me realize the difference was my most recent A1C. I went from a consistent 7.1-7.9 to a 6.9. I guess it doesn't seem like that big of a difference, but it definitely is! Some other things I noticed was an absence of depression, more energy, more drive and a clearer mind. I can process things much better and much faster now than I could before I changed my diet and exercise program.

Honestly, it isn't that difficult to follow my diet plan because of how I've changed it. It isn't expensive, like people say it is. It doesn't taste bad, like people say it does. It isn't boring food, like people say it is. It's easy when you get used to following a simple rule: cover you food groups. That's the only way to actually have a decent diet. Make sure that every meal is balanced (i.e., you have fruits, veggies, protein, dairy and some kind of grain). If you aren't able to make the meal balanced (I have a hard time eating a veggie with breakfast most days) then cover that food group with a snack a few hours later. The more difficult details about my change in diet are the calorie counting and the portion sizes. I have to make sure that I am eating around 1800 calories a day, which is difficult because I'm usually low on that. I also have to make sure that I am eating the proper amount of each food group every day, but I usually don't pay close enough attention to that. I just make sure that I have balanced meals. I cut out soda and most sweet stuff on the week days, too. I don't eat any processed foods if I can help it. I have to allow myself some way to escape it if I want, because otherwise I won't follow it. :) I know me. That is too true. The weekends are my way of allowing myself to splurge.

The exercise plan is harder to follow because of an ever changing schedule. Work, school, diabetes, life in general doesn't like to play along. I like to make sure that I get at least 1 hour of exercise in at least 5 days a week. That can be yoga, riding my bike, going for a walk or whatever I want to do that day. Preferably, 2 or 3 of those days will be a more vigorous exercise, but like I said life doesn't play along. I try to stretch for 30 minutes or so before bed because it helps me to sleep better, but I am not always able to do that. I don't follow a beach body program or any of the other trending exercise routines. I just do what works with and for me, and that helps me to better control diabetes and my body.

(Random Fun Fact: Until about September, I didn't think I could exercise regularly or vigorously. I always assumed that I would just die because of diabetes. I never imagined this kind of lifestyle to be possibly for me...)

I'm not doing any of this to lose weight or anything like that. I just want to be healthy, and I've come to the realization that this is the only way to do that. This year, my goal is to keep my A1C below 7. Please pray for me as I continue working to control My Little Monster (diabetes)....

"Bouncing" Makes for a Long Night

My sugar bounced after work last night. So, thanks to Dexcom I slept in 45 minute intervals (it kept alerting me that my sugar was above 180).

For those of you who don't know what bouncing is, it is when your blood sugar drops so low that the liver spits out sugar to keep you alive.

It is infinitely hard to come back down after a bounce. 

I got insulin about every two hours to make it come down, but it was a very, VERY slow decent. It still never went below 180, but I did come down from almost 300.

Finally, at about 6:30 AM I decided I'd had enough of the highness. So I got out of bed and did the only other thing I know to do to get my sugar to come down.

What do you do when your blood sugar is high for an excessive amount of time? Beach body!

When I got out of bed I (very quietly, so not to disturb my sleeping family) did what I could remember of Autumn Calabrese's "Dirty 30" workout program. Then I went for about a mile-long walk. It's only 9am, and I feel accomplished. My sugar is finally 113 and I think I could probably pass out and sleep now. The only problem with that is now I feel energized.

Momma always said "Diabetes first." I know she's right. Even when I'm exhausted and all I want to do is complain or sleep, I have to take care of diabetes first. I can complain and sleep later. My priority has to be my health. So, even when I haven't slept all night, and I am ready to throw my Dexcom across the bedroom, and I am not in the mood for anything really, I know I have to take care of myself. That includes getting out of bed to do a workout after a long night of no sleep. Thanks for the lesson, Mom!


**Side Note**
I am also thankful for Autumn--my sister Autumn--because she introduced us to the workout stuff I did this morning. She's been my "personal trainer" since like November. And because of her making me take care of myself in that way, I've lost like 15 pounds and I am a lot stronger now than I used to be. She's meaner than Jillian when she wants to be... But I love her and am thankful for her always!