Changes

I posted this picture a couple of weeks ago on Facebook. On the left is me at Easter in 2017; on the right is me at Easter this year. 

I decided to get healthy last year after Easter when I went for an annual checkup with my doctor and got a lecture about my weight and bloodwork. Ultimately I decided that I didn't want to follow along in the footsteps of my parents and die in my early 60's from not taking my health seriously. 

So I gave up soda and sweet tea and started exercising and dieting. I was losing weight but I kept getting sick. After ending up in urgent care three times last summer for severe abdominal pain, I was sent to see a gastroenterologist. After a lot of testing in October and November, I was diagnosed with microscopic lymphocytic colitis and diverticulitis. This finally explained a number of puzzling physical symptoms that I have had since I was a child. The colitis I have is auto-immune, making it the second auto-imunte disease I have (also PCOS). I have quite a few food allergies that affect my system. Since December I have change dup my diet, going gluten-soy-dairy free, plus paying attending to a few other known allergies, the guidelines for the diverticulitis and colitis diets and watching my sugar since PCOS makes me insulin-resistant. 

This has been a hard journey as I learn to relate to food all over again, but I am committed to sticking with this. I've lost 27 pounds in the last year. My bloodwork was so much better at the doctor's this year. I feel SO much better physically. I'm learning how to cook differently. Daryl and the boys have been so supportive. Here's to keeping healthy in the next year too.