Quick Update

OK, so we're about just about a month  into this whole diet/exercise/medication thing and I thought I would give you an update. We'll start with the good things:

• I have actually made it to the gym 3 times each week. I don't hate it quite as much as before.
• I've lost about 5 pounds and am fitting into some pants I haven't been able to wear in a while.
• My soda cravings are fewer and far between.

Now, here are the not so good things:

• I'm still not great about the diet. Definitely making smarter choices more often, but not always.
• My medicine actually makes me feel pretty sick most days. Hoping that will fade away ... STAT.
• My trainer has decided I can do more than I say I can. Yesterday's session kicked my jiggly butt.

With the exception of the side effects of the medicine, I think things are going well overall. I have another two months before my insulin/glucose numbers are checked again and I may be able to get off the medicine at that time, but the diet and exercise will remain ongoing staples to keep me heading toward better health.

Thanks to friends and family who have been supportive. I truly appreciate it! And by the way, since no one officially commented on the hair, I'm going to assume you all just loved it. Might go even redder next time ;)

Let them eat cake (except Liz, she gets spinach)

Oy vey. There is a difference between knowing you should do something and being told to do so by a doctor, as I learned yesterday at my appointment: you feel more pressure to actually do it when told by a medical professional.

As previously mentioned, I am insulin resistant. That means that my body secretes extra insulin (apparently a LOT of extra in my case) to help break down glucose and stop my blood sugar from becoming too high. Again, she reassured me that I am not diabetic, as my glucose was in the normal range. In order to manage my insulin levels, I have been placed on a strict diet, exercise and medication regimen:

• No white flour products, potatoes, rice, etc.
• Carbs are OK only if they are whole wheat and high in fiber
• Sugars and sweets are off limits
• Only certain, less sugary fruits allowed (goodbye, watermelon and pineapple!)
• Lots of lean protein and veggies
• Eat every four hours
• 20-30 minutes exercise, 3x week

None of this is rocket science; it’s the way we should all eat in the first place. Only difference is that now I know the “bad” foods affect me more severely than someone without insulin resistance. The interesting thing to note is that insulin resistance and being overweight is almost like a chicken and the egg kind of scenario: being overweight can lead to insulin resistance and insulin resistance can lead to being overweight, etc. Even when I was skinny I had a horrible diet so I’m not sure which was first for me.

In addition to the new diet and added importance of exercising on a regular basis (btw, we’re rejoining the gym this week — ugh), I have started a medication called Metformin, which, along with the other healthy behaviors, can help lower insulin levels, increase your ability to lose weight and get rid of other factors related to insulin resistance like acne and cycle irregularities. I’ll be following this routine for about three months and during this time J and I are advised to continue to try and conceive on our own. Then, I’ll be retested and whether I need any additional fertility assistance will be evaluated at that time.

Keeping up with diet and exercise have always been a really hard thing for me to do, so support is key right now. Even yesterday when we were picking up stuff at the grocery store, walking past the bakery and all the cookies, cakes and pastries was painful. I can’t tell you how bad I wanted something ... anything! But that’s not to say I will cut out absolutely every sweet — it’s just not possible — because at some point, I’ll break and binge. So this week’s indulgence will be a Gigi’s cupcake for J’s birthday on Sunday. I am already salivating.