Sometimes it's really hard to remember when I was thin. It's been so many years since everything didn't jiggle when I walked I'm beginning to forget what that was like. There are moments when I wish for those days to return...and then I remember why I was so thin. Most of my life I suffered from one minor ailment after another. Nothing so horrible as to require medical attention...except for those nasty migraine headaches, the constantly irritating eczema and the chronic diarrhea/constipation (my apologies if you find this offensive but this is/was my life). Doctor after doctor told me to get more fibre, or drink more water, less red meat, or you have IBS there is nothing we can do about it, etc., etc. When I was six years old the doctor told my parents the migraine headaches were caused by stress...I guess being in grade one was a little more than I could handle.
It wasn't until 2003 (30 years later) that a nutritionist suggested that I had Celiac Disease (CD). I was not overly impressed at the prospect of being diagnosed with such an unfortunate disease, but decided to have the test anyway.
On the advice of my nutritionist, I went on a totally gluten-free diet immediately. Within four weeks the eczema that had plagued me since birth cleared up almost completely. A week late I saw my GP and asked that he have me tested for CD. Although he initially questioned my motives, he decided to humour me. Sadly, I had to pay $167.00 to have a blood test to tell me whether or not I had CD. I must say the state of health care in the province of Ontario leaves something to be desired...but that's a story for a different day.
Two weeks later the tests came back a resounding positive. I was thoroughly disappointed. My doctor suggested that since I was feeling better being GF and since the level of antibodies was through the roof, having an endoscope was unnecessary...in retrospect that was probably not the best idea.
So now I have been gluten-free for nearly two years and I feel sooo much better. I never knew what it felt like to be well. For 30 years I felt like crap almost every day of my life and I didn't know I wasn't supposed to feel that way. It's amazing what a little adjustment to your diet can do for your well being...ok...so it was a major adjustment. But very much worth it.
Did I mention that somewhere between the age of six and 36 I had a couple of kids and got really fat? The BMI scale says I'm obese...but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone to agree with that. I do look like I could lose a few pounds but obese seems a little exaggerated.
So, after too many years of weighing way too much to be healthy, I have taken the first step in finally regaining my health and wellness. Now that I have my diet and the CD under control I figure it's the least I can do for myself.
This is what I did:
On January 16, 2005 I purchased a relatively new XBox game called Yourself!Fitness. It's not just a game...it is a fully interactive personal trainer...Right in your XBox!
The purpose of the game is to help you achieve your health and wellness goals by creating a personalized exercise program just for you. It's a fabulous concept and the game is flying off the shelves in the US. Currently the only Canadian retailer carrying Yourself!Fitness is EB Games and they only get one or two copies a week.
You can order the game in either XBox or PC format directly from the Yourself!Fitness web site (see link below) but it will cost you an extra $30 - $40 as it is an american company. I recommend you wait a week for your local EB Games retail store to get the next shipment and save yourself 40 bucks.
The Yourself!Fitness web site has fabulous message boards for technical, fitness, nutritional and emotional support. Anyone who has ever had any amount of weight to lose will undoubtedly understand the emotional turmoil involved in a serious weight challenge. Sometimes it helps to have someone else say "Keep up the great work" or "I know you can do it".
I have posted my own personal journal on the message boards for all the world to see. The way I figure...if I put it in print and show it to a gazillion other people on the internet, then I have to stick to my goals and keep to my plan.
Check out some of the links below if you have an interest in improving your health and wellness.
Links to other sites on the Web
Yourself ! Fitness
All Recipes
Mosaic Wellness Centre
Home Page
Check back often to see how I'm doing...as of today (Jan 17, 2005), I have 55lbs to lose.
My goal date is Dec 1, 2005.
Wish Me Luck!
February 4, 2005
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