Dear Diary: What My Doctor Never Told Me About Dieting
by
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Wake Up Call
In April, my doctor told me my cholesterol was 240 (HDL was 47, LDL was 174, Triglyceride was 97). With my weight over 200 on my 5'7" frame and the fact that I'm an African American, I was on the path for diabetes. I've read about the effects diabetes has on an individual.
I do not want diabetes.
I was scared. Many times before, the doctor had warned me about my weight and my cholesterol levels, but what the heck. I've lived over 50 years with these problems. Why should I do something about it now? Sure, I had trouble sometimes walking up the six stairs from the living room to the bedroom, but doesn't everyone? And that last little bit of ice cream in the gallon jug will only go to waste if I don't eat it before I go to bed. Who knows if it would still be good tomorrow? And those leftovers - potatoes, pastas, BBQ, cookies, cakes, muffins, rice - I can't afford to waste food like that.
But the doctor used the dreaded "D" word and this time I heard him. I had to make some changes. I had to lose at least 50 pounds and get my cholesterol level down to 200 which, hopefully, would fix my HDL, LDL and Triglyceride levels. That was it. That's all I needed to do.
Really!?!
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Saturday, June 20
Today is the family reunion. No worries though. I am down 12 pounds. This should be a breeze. Picnics are known for grilled meats - hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken. I just need to stay away from the potato salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and tuna salad, beer, wine. Okay, this may be harder than I thought. Hopefully, they will have some sort of vegetables and not just starches like pastas and potatoes. I can wish for broccoli but it will probably be string beans. That'll work.
8:37 pm
I pigged out! What did I eat? What I was NOT supposed to eat. You can't have outdoor grilled hot dogs and hamburger without baked beans and corn on the cob - right? Well, I couldn't. And I did not resist the potato salad or beer or ribs slathered in BBQ sauce. It was yummy going down and I vowed not to be guilty. I was of course. But that didn't stop me from eating all those carbs.
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Tuesday, March 16
It finally happened. I had to buy new underwear. Oh, stop it! I've bought underwear before, but this is different.
I have been sewing in my clothes as the inches diminished. But sewing in my underwear? I think that's a little too much. I have lost and gained weight many times and never had a problem with my underwear before. I've worn the same size for years so that when they get loose from the yo-yo dieting, I just go get more of the same blimp size. But the thigh and waist areas have been stretch so much that, with all the inches lost and being 38 pounds lighter, my underwear are balloons. I've been so focused on the outer garments - pants, tops, belts - that I didn't notice how loose my underpants were. It's one thing sewing in the pants so they don't look so odd on my shrinking body. It's another thing to sew in underwear. I can't do it. It seems too wrong. For the first time in years - maybe even decades - I have to go out and buy new, smaller underwear.
And I have no idea what size to get.
Maybe I'll color coordinate it with my outfits. Hmmmm!
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About the Book
This is KATHYNE L. JACKSON's memoir of her personal journey to lose weight - 63 pounds - and the struggles she endured along the way. She was like everyone else, on the yo-yo trail to unhealthiness. She would play at losing 10 pounds and then gain 15 back, complaining all the way. She would get discouraged and eat more ice cream and chocolate and then hate herself for being weak. She would walk for three days and then would give up because on day four it rained. She would purchase a stationary bike and then use it as a clothes rack. And she continued to watch her weight climb to over 200 pounds. But still she did nothing. Then one day her doctor told her she had to get healthy, that if she did not start taking care of her weight, if she did not become serious about her cholesterol levels, she could develop diabetes. This knowledge scared her to finally make the conscious decision to get healthy. She did not make her goal weight, but she came close. She did lose 50 pounds. It was the longest 13 months of her life.
About the Author
KATHYNE L. JACKSON is the author of several books including, "Dear Diary: What My Doctor Never Told Me About Liposuction," "Ranger and The Gang Series: The Case of the Twelve Hour Deadline," and "My Way To Love." She lives in Maryland with her two cats, owns an internet business, and loves to travel. You may learn more about her and her books, and correspond with her, by visiting her website, www.kjacksonbooks.com.