Are you overweight or obese? Are you faced with illnesses that have stemmed from being overweight or obese? Do you have diabetes?
Losing weight or facing health issues that can arise from being overweight or obese can be challenging. It sometimes looks difficult to overcome and we can be overwhelmed by what we see, feel, or hear. When things look desperate we tend to take desperate measures to counter act the situation. However, in our desperation to fix a situation, we often look for the quick fix and most often see little or no change and end up right back where we started. Our endeavors to take back ground become futile and very discouraging. After all, it took years of input to get this way and it is going to take some time, effort and wisdom to get back on the right track. You need to stop! Take a deep breath, release it slowly. Now, its time to take a good look at what your diet has consisted of and what your lifestyle is like.
Many people walk through life with very little regard to their eating habits or lack of exercise and think “If I feel ok, then I must be ok”. All the while, eating their way to potential health problems and elevating risks for many diseases that invade their bodies, without the slightest notification…”Hey I am moving in”! One day they wake up and realize "I am sharing space with an unwanted guest!", "When did I put out a sign, Space Available or Room For Rent”?
Well, that is exactly what we do when we choose to eat at leisure whatever we want and when we want. Our choices tell our body, “This is what I like so deal with it”, only instead of our bodies dealing with it, over time they begin to experience symptoms of abuse and misuse, gumming up and wearing out. We have allowed ourselves to become physically inactive or dormant couch potatoes and refuse to accept that eating right and exercising is a necessary part on the road to a healthy lifestyle. Our lifestyles have become so busy, whether it is our jobs, families, etc, that we invest little or no time in how we eat or care for our bodies. To the chagrin of many, being busy does not mean exercise. We may be running from here to there, chauffeuring our children and keeping much needed appointments, but a busy life does not necessarily mean a physically active life nor justify eating whatever the fast food chain on the next corner offers for the sake of time. The food chains in the USA alone keep us constantly reminded of how we can fit a quick delicious meal in to a bag, to eat on the go, whenever we want, from sunup to sundown and all the hours in between! It is time to change the way we think about food and the care of our bodies.
Change can be a hard thing to do if you are used to doing things a certain way. Changing your eating habits and getting up and exercising can be some of the most challenging things we face, especially when everything around us has become so convenient.
Facing a challenging or life changing illness can be a desperate place and brings us to the realization that we need to change things in our life for our life and health.
From experience I have learned the hard way about eating right and exercise. Like millions of Americans I woke up one day to the realization that I had not taken care of this temple, this gift from God, and am now having to take back ground. I was diagnosed with early signs of Diabetes at the age of 49. I was a little taken back by the word diabetes, but did not take it as seriously as I should have. I was overweight, so I began eating a little less sugar here and there, saying no to sweets from time to time; until a year later my doctor said you now have full blown diabetes. I didn’t take the warning seriously and I should have.
I waned back and forth about eating right and of course the old attitude, “It won’t really ever happen to me” was nipping at my heels and denial had kept me from doing what I should have done… change my eating habits, start exercising and lose weight.
Over the next few years I had struggled eating right and exercising and I did not want to take any medications for diabetes. I was determined to beat this thing and get it under control. It was an uphill battle until I made the choice to just do it. I changed my eating habits, letting go of unhealthy habits I had formed throughout my life, which take time and effort, but you can do it. I am constantly learning more about nutrition and new ways to cook different foods. I eat a variety of delicious foods 5 times a day and I drink a Shakeology® milkshake once a day in place of one of my meals. I exercise 4 to 6 times a week which has helped me lose weight and keep it off. I am excited about this change in my life and I am grateful to God for His help and wisdom.
A healthy diet and moderate exercise can prevent the onset of many diseases and illnesses. You may be faced with a challenging illness or diabetes like me, but I want to encourage you that you are not alone. There are steps you can take to living a healthier life and you can find encouragement along the way. A healthy diet and exercise are always important no matter what you are facing. Here at The Journey for Life and Health we want to encourage those who are struggling with eating right, exercise or losing weight; and those who may be suffering from diabetes or other illnesses due to being overweight or obese. We don’t have all the answers, but we will help and encourage you along the way, so you can walk the path God has for you. Be encouraged!
