A New Start

Last fall, after graduating college, I began working for the first time. I had been a house wife and stay-at-home mother/college student through out my twenties and decided I needed a big change in my thirties. A couple of months after I turned 30, started graduate school, and began a new job, I went to the doctor for eye irritation and come out with a diagnosis of high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and an enlarged heart. I worked on getting my medication under control for several months and in March my doctor suggested I start the South Beach Diet. I did very well all summer when my husband, who is a teacher and does not work during the summer, cooked most of the meals and I was not taking classes. I lost 19 pounds and was so excited. Then school started again and I did not have time to cook as often and my husband was never home, did I mention he is also a football coach. I quit my diet and opted for a more unhealthy lifestyle of fast food and boxed meals.

I woke up one morning to realize I was back where I started. My blood pressure is constantly high, I gained all of the weight back, and I felt awful. Not to mention getting full-blown diabetes was a real possibility. Over the weekend I got on the South Beach Diet site, the one I had been paying for but not using, and switched back to Phase 1. I set up my meal plan and searched for some sort of help to stay motivated. That is how I found Sparkpeople. I hope this combination will help me to become a healthier and fitter person. I owe it to my children and future grandchildren but most of all I owe it to myself.