healthy living

In the past 5 years of my life, I believe GOD has been trying to get me to focus on healthy living.  HE has sent warning signs to me that things were not right within my body.  I however in my own selfishness said, "oh well, I'm going to eat this candy bar, and drink this soda, and eat pizza everyday, and NOT exercise, all because I don't want to!  I was so focused on meeting my every "want," and failing to see what I truly needed. 

The first sign of trouble I received was during my pregnancy with my 1st son.  In my eighth month I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  I naturally was "clueless" as to how this could happen to me.  In all of my "infinite" wisdom, I had made the choice to eat Oreo's and drink soda in the 1st 7 months of my pregnancy.  I NEVER told myself no, and didn't even consider how it would affect my son.  I quickly learned that the instant gratification wasn't worth it.  I learned the hard way what happens when I don't eat right, and take care of myself.  I learned the hard way what happens when I ignore the warning signs GOD has sent for me.

One of the consequences I suffered from my foolishness was I had to now do twice daily injections of insulin.  I also had to log all of my food, and call my dietitian daily. I was now being held accountable for every bite of food, or drink that went into my body.  I also had to check my blood sugar up to 8 times a day.  My fingers were so sore, and I cried every time I had to check my blood sugar.  I had to meet with my dietitian twice a week, and I had to go to my doctors office for non-stress tests 3 times a week.  I failed every one of those non-stress tests, and I had to take myself and my then 3 children to the hospital to see the specialists.   Now if that wasn't enough to do, I also had to see my Maternal Fetal Doctor in between all of the doctor and hospital life.

The final straw was when they said that my son was in danger.  They said that they need to monitor him closely.  You see I had only felt him move twice in my whole pregnancy.  I was so busy taking care of my daughter who was sick for 9 months, that I had forgotten I was pregnant.  I ignored all of the warning signs that something was seriously wrong.  Two weeks before I gave birth to him I had to have an amniocentesis.

I remember the morning of the test and being so scared.  D held my hand as they needle went in.  I remember laying there thinking, "why GOD why didn't I listen?"  The test confirmed that my son wasn't ready to be born yet, but it had become a battle between doctors about what was best for my son.  You see earlier in the week they had determined that the reason he wasn't moving, was because he was completely wrapped up in his cord.  from his feet, to his torso, and around his shoulders and neck.

I now know that it is by the grace of GOD that he survived.  When I found out I was expecting after my 1st son was born, I remembered everything I went through with him, and I vowed I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.  My 2nd son was an even harder pregnancy, but not because of anything I did.  I ate right got plenty of rest, and took good care of myself.  However, I didn't produce enough progesterone and had to receive twice weekly injections from D.  My pregnancy was rough, but I at least had the peace in knowing that I didn't cause what was happening.  I knew that GOD was in control and that HE work out everything for my good.

I learned a valuable lesson between the births of my two sons, and that was I can't expect for there to be any consequences when choosing to NOT follow HIS plans for my life.  I must choose to be healthy.  I know I should work out at the gym at least 3 days a week.  I know that when I do, I feel so much better.  In exercising , eating right, and drinking plenty of water, I know that HE will provide everything I need when I do everything HE tells me to do.

"Millions of people simply don't take good care of themselves."

I know that I must not be a person who puts all of my time and energy into everything else, and put my health on the back burner.  This not only includes my physical health, but my mental health as well.  I know that I can't expect to spread myself so thin in trying to do everything for everyone else, and not suffer the consequences of it.

By the Summer of 2005 I had been working out for 6 months, and wasn't seeing any improvements.  Desperate I sought help from my wonderful Chiropractor.  He told me exactly what I needed to do, and how I needed to do it.  It was grueling, but for the next 7 months I had lost almost 35 lbs, gained muscle, and looked and felt great.  I had choose the lifestyle of healthy living.

In those 7 months I learned the valuable lesson of shedding the excess stress in my life so that I would have enough energy to truly live a healthy  life.  Sadly, in my selfishness, I didn't keep up with what I knew I needed to do.  Instead I took the "easy" way out, and I suffered immensely from the consequences.  I now have to work twice as hard as then, I can not allow myself to have any caffeine, which means NO chocolate.  I absolutely cannot eat after 7pm at night, otherwise in  the morning  I will be in immense pain.  I must drink plenty of water, otherwise I will get dizzy, the list goes on and on.  I know that because I chose to ignore all the warning signs that GOD sent me, I now have to live a very disciplined lifestyle, in order to be able to live my life.

Today I am starting back on my vegan eating plan, in hopes of getting my blood sugar under control once again.  I am working on total health once again, and it's all because I chose instant gratification over discipline.  I am learning the hard way of what NOT to do.

Joyce Meyer defines wisdom as this: "doing now what you will be satisfied with later on."  I am learning this the hard way.  I am learning that I must choose to do things HIS way, and abandon my incessant need to do things "my way" as "my way" isn't healthy living.   I must praise HIM for giving me the ability, and supplying me with all the strength I am needing to achieve healthy living.

I know that I can't expect to just do what I want knowing full well it isn't good for me.  I most certainly cannot act surprised when there are consequences to my choices.  I most definitely cannot be all emotional and cry about how unfair my life is.  I must realize that the consequences I am living with are a direct result of my selfish need for instant gratification.

I know that in order to achieve healthy living, I must tell myself NO!  In telling myself NO, I will be following HIS plans for my life.   I will be living my life the way that HE intended.  I know that HE will supply me with all the energy and strength that I need to live every moment of my life.

If I have learned anything in my journey of healthy living is this: when I exercise, eat right, drink my water, rest, and learn to NOT sweat the small stuff, my life is much more manageable and enjoyable.  In my journey I have also learned that laughter truly is the best medicine.  I do believe this is why I am a Mama to five really funny children.  They all make me laugh more than anyone else I know.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22

I am so thankful that GOD  knew because of my pain and suffering in the 1st half of my life, that HE would bless me with more joy and blessings than I could ever imagine.  HE chose me to be a Mama to five of HIS amazing children, all who were sent here to teach me another lesson with HIS amazing grace.  

I pray today that you will heed the "warning signs" that HE is sending you.  I pray today that you will take the necessary steps in achieving the lifestyle of healthy living.  I pray today that you will seek HIS wisdom and HIS guidance and ask for HIM to give you all of the energy and strength that you will need.  I pray today that you will tell yourself NO and say YES to HIM!

Blessings,
Heather