Healthy Lifestyle

Written By: Gina

As many of you know, my children have followed a wheat free, gluten free, sugar free diet since they were able to eat solid food. They have become very healthy kids and I thought I should seek the same help from our Holistic Dr. so I can stick around for a while.

I was addicted to the diet pill phentermine for 2 1/2 years. I was thin and had ample energy but I knew I was hurting my body and my heart rate was sometimes thought the roof. The weight fell off fast and I needed it to because I had gained a lot when I was pregnant with twins. Although I ate well, I was already heavy when I got pregnant so I ballooned- it was not pretty. In all my years of infertility, I told people I was not going to go on a diet because, "what was the point?" I would lose the weight after my pregnancy. That time never came so I kept the weight on for years while living in denial. After having my twins, I could not wait to shed the shame and the weight quickly- thus the addiction to diet pills. My regular family doctor prescribed the pills at first. Once I had lost 40 pounds, she refused to continue the prescription so I went to a weight loss facility to keep the weight loss going. I lost another 30 pounds and was thinner than I had been in over 10 years- I felt absolutely fantastic! Unfortunately, I knew I was hurting myself and putting my health and heart at risk.

Last October, I decided it was time to get real and face my weight loss head on. I have literally been on a diet since I was 26 and I was completely sick of the roller coaster ride. I have done every diet known to woman- Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Dexatrim, Soup & water based diets, Hydroxycut..I could go on and on. I ate only low-fat and fat-free foods- some of the worst things for your body. Dr. Cart (my Holistic Dr.) warned me it wasn't going to be easy to convert to such healthy eating. He suggested (strongly) that I cut out bread, sugar, alcohol and coffee. Surprisingly, the carbs and some of the sugars were the easiest to remove from my daily menu. I tried to give up coffee three times and heck no, it wouldn't go! I made it until 11:00 am one morning- the best I could do. I had to change my creamer, sugar substitutes, and someday I am going to have to give up my love affair with cheese and dairy. This hasn't been easy and it has honestly taken me some time to give up certain foods. It's so easy to be in denial and tell yourself that one piece of bread isn't going to hurt you! But now that I make healthy food choices, when I veer off my new menu even slightly, I feel it for an entire day after.

I have certainly evolved in this new way of eating. I can honestly say for the first time in years that I have successfully changed my lifestyle which was going to be the only way I was going to conquer this problem anyway. Now the weight is coming off so slowly- it's driving me absolutely nuts...but I know it's the healthiest way for me to lose the weight so it stays off permanently.

I do want to talk about my detox- it isn't pretty. One change in food program and yikes! Mood swings, dizziness, itching- it's crazy! The sugar roller coaster causes the worst crashes and if I have even one glass of wine now I can't sleep through the night. My legs itch like you wouldn't believe and I am so irritated by the smallest things. My point being that this has not been easy to do and I know why people put this sort of thing off but I do feel it has all been worth it. I can be honest with myself and my family knowing that I am doing what I have to do to stay healthy for my growing children.

I know I am doing what is right for my body so I can live my healthiest life. I don't want to sugar coat it- sometimes I miss a good juicy cheeseburger or ice cream, but for the most part I don't even notice what I am "missing" for the first time in years. I am starting to crave avocado and tomato- crazy, right? Now I have to work on my patience as it relates to a slow weight loss because that will be the ultimate payoff. I would be one happy camper. Then maybe the detox and sugar mood swings won't be so bad!!

Here's to good health!
Gina