Yesterday I was still in my funk, although I was working on coming out of it. Eating healthy was NOT on the agenda. Since that was the case I had dh pick up hot cocoa and donuts at the store when he went to get fried chicken, jojo's, rolls and potato salad for dinner.
I have to admit, the yummy greasiness of the crispy chicken skin was DELICIOUS! Bad, I know, but oh so good!
My two youngest had been tucked in bed and the next four were all out busy with friends and activities. When my dh went to pick up one of the kiddos I decided to sit down with a mug of hot cocoa and a donut and watch something on TV. As I flipped through the guide the words...Fat and Fatter caught my eye.
I didn't turn it on from the beginning so I'm not completely sure what the set up was but this is what I gathered:
There were two 20-something girls from the UK who came to Mississippi to live with some morbidly obese sisters whom, I think, all had diabetes.. During their week stay they watched their lives. Saw the $6 all-you-can-eat buffet they regularly visited and the plates and plates of food they ate. These sisters had diabetes. All the women on the show looked similar so I'm not sure if everyone they visited were one of the sisters or not but...
One of the UK girls massaged a lady's feet. Since she has diabetes her feet go numb and she needs to get circulation going.
They visited another lady at a clinic where she goes 3 days a week for four hours a time to have her blood cleansed.
The sisters took them to a cemetery where several of their loved ones were buried all dying from complications of diabetes. One of which had nasty gangrene in her leg. The sisters admitted that seeing their aunt in the coffin made them want to change their lives but after a little time passed they forgot all about and continued with their unhealthy lifestyle.
Struggling with their own weight (they both probably had around 100lbs to lose) this adventure had an impact on the two UK girls. The last minute of the show caught up with them about two months after returning home. One girl, they said, did not test positive for diabetes and had not lost any weight. Although the girl, herself, thought she'd lost a tiny bit. When they mentioned she hadn't tested positive for diabetes it made me wonder if she thought, "Oh, all I saw does not pertain to me since I'm not diabetic"
The second girl picked up running as soon as she got home. They said she'd lost 16lbs in those first two months home.
As I watched this show it impacted me! Me, who was in a funk and eating JUNK. As I watched it I was NOT able to finish my donut, it physically made me ill. I only consumed 1/3 of it. This is a HUGE change for me. In years past the old me would sit and watch The Biggest Loser every Tuesday with junk food!
What's scary is that my dh has diabetes. He's not doing anything to change it. His doctor has lectured him, I have pleaded, several of our kids have cried and begged him to eat healthier. I'm not sure why he hasn't wanted to get healthier. On Monday, as we drove to Taco Bell, I was opening up the mail. I mistakenly opened what I thought was a bill but it was results from my husband's latest doctor's appt. All his diabetes numbers were out of whack along with his fats and cholesterol. What will be his turning point? How low does he have to go before he decides to make the change? Hopefully not as far as I saw on the show Fat and Fatter.
As for me, that show helped snap me out of my funk. A reminder of why THIS time is going to be the time I DO get healthy. I even called to schedule an appointment with my doctor. Haven't been in almost 3 years.
That sounds like a powerful program. My husband also has diabetes and although he could take care of himself even better than he does, he's not one to pass up a sweet treat or indulge at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Fortunately he's pretty active and rides his bike an average of 60-ish miles per week which I know helps. But I know *I* need to encourage him more. It's a tricky balance between being a support and being a nag. I hope your hubby will follow your lead as you make efforts to improve your own weight and health.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on resisting the rest of the donut! That's HARD to do!!
Diabetes is a very scary disease. My dad has had it for years and never changed the way he eats. He just had a heart attack and they are thinking about removing his toes. He has ALWAYS constantly complained about the way he feels, and the pain he endures..but I think after a while you don't know a different way of life. You don't know what it is like to wake up pain free..or to stay awake for HOURS without exhaustion. I'm so glad this program helped you with your journey. I have to admit though, friggin' fried chicken is my FAVORITE food LOL!
ReplyDeleteI happened on your blog from Runs for Cookies' blog list, and this post really stuck out for me. My grandfather died from complications of diabetes. A simple burn from a heating pad led to gangrene, and eventually he was in a coma. While he looked healthy, and got plenty of exercise, diabetes was something that had started when he was overweight. Nothing can motivate your husband except himself. However, for you and your kids sake, make sure his life insurance policy is always kept up to date and that he has a will (btw these are both good things to have even if you are completely healthy). Sit down and talk with him about a plan for what would happen if he were to die of anything. Whatever you do, do not try and guilt him into anything, instead keep it practical. Say "Ok, you are diabetic, and these are the different possibilities, so lets plan for them." I hope you meet all your weight loss goals, and hopefully he will see the changes in you and want them for himself as well. Good luck!
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