Call Me Minnie

Jennifer, I am over the moon on your diagnosis!!! Not that you have it, of course, but rather the fact that it's just that and moreover, its TREATABLE! I have battled the same thing, and I will probably go have myself screened now for it again. When I first met you I was diagnosed with the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome as my reason for not being able to get pregnant. My gyn broke it down to the insulin resistance and started me on Glucophage/Metformin. I think with diet and meds, I dropped 16 pounds in 4-6 weeks, 3 months for my ovaries to absorb the cysts and then I got pregnant with Elijah. So it turns around pretty fast... = )

I have spent this week scrutinizing my lifetime diet. From age 7 I was always a pretty chubby kid, not necessarily that the foods I was eating were bad for me, but I was always made to clean my plate before I was allowed to leave the table. I never think I really learned proper portion sizes. I will read the back of a cereal box, and it will say something like 1 cup, or 3/4 cup...then give the calories earned with the different kinds of milk-- 1/2 cup. Now, I'm sitting here looking at my cereal BOWL and looking at the measuring CUP....WTF??? The seven mini-wheats now laying in the bottom of the bowl look SO lonely! So right there, you think properly chosen cereals would be healthy, but not if you're eating 2-4 times the serving size that's needed to fill your bowl. I NEED DOLL DISHES! And one ounce of cheese is a serving, usually containing 5-8 grams of fat....do you know how many of those I have hoovered at a wedding or party? AT LEAST a third world country's caloric/fat intake for a week, I am sure. And that's just for starters...Just call me Minnie Mouse! SO,

Step1--LEARN PORTIONS for the foods that I am eating. I'm also going to use our salad plates as dinner plates to make sure my eye isn't tricking my brain into thinking it's being deprived.

I am also keeping a journal of my 'trigger' foods-- the other day I had a nature valley granola bar, and I had to stomp the urge to eat three more. I think it might have had something to do with the after taste. The urge went away when I rushed off to brush my teeth.

Step 2-- food journal with any reactions to food during or after consumption--including emotional/nostalgic.

Step 3-- brush teeth after meal; cleanses the palate, and the dentist is going to love me!

I have also sworn off of fast food competely, and I am giving up all carbonated drinks, "diet" included.

Step 4-- exercise! And don't laugh at me, as I will be climbing ACTUAL stairs at my house, one flight, up and down. I will also be pulling the kids in their wagon around the block, until I get a little stamina to be able to jog.

WHEW, anyone else exhausted!?!?!