Missychick21's Journal, 17 September 2011

Stay strong, you can be a huge influence on your mom's health. It works, if they will just stick with it! It's not NO carb, it's GOOD carb!  

I know that and I truly believe she understands that too, it was just the teacher or whoever that jumped to conclusions *sigh* it's just ignorance. I even told her about this site...maybe she will sign up even if it's just to help her keep track. She will have to really get past a lot of what she really enjoys eating like we all did, I hope she finds the strength to do it :) 

sometimes people talk, yet they don't know what they are talking about. honestly, you don't even have to call it Atkins or low carb. it's really about eating sensibly. no processed foods, cut out sugar and flour. it's better for anyone anyway you think about it. I've been promoting this kind of eating for about 15 years. problem is I am fallible just like anyone else and I give in just like anyone else. but I know that eating this way is much better. I will say that I don't really eat 60-70% fat though.  

She eats her sugars and flours and processed foods... I know it's all up to her to change the way she eats. For me to have guidelines to follow makes it easier for me to stay on track and lose the weight.  

You seem to be a young mom, so I am guessing, your Mom is likely fairly young as well. This is a literal GOLDEN opportunity for her to take control of her health if she wants to. And there in lies the problem. You can't make her want to. I don't know how much she knows about Type II Diabetes, or you for that matter. But under NO circumstances would I give up sharing information with her, encouraging her, going to appts with her, speaking to her dr.'s, nutritionists, etc., if at all possible. My Dad suffered w/ Diabetes. Diagnosed around 45 yrs old, the first decade or so, was mainly controlled thru medication, because they just did not emphasize the nutritional aspect back then. Basically told them to look on the ingredients list and if sugar was in the first 3, then go easy... What crappy advice. The next 2 decades were miserable. In the end, my Dad need to have both feet amputated, (after years of suffering w/ neuropathy).. but died before that was absolutely necessary. He had heart issues, eyesight issues, breathing issues, you name it... he had issues... all steming from the effects of Diabetes... including kidney failure and having to be on Dialysis for several years at the end. He never got control of the dietary aspects of his condition. He was forced into a Renal Diet when the kidneys failed, and he didn't stick w/ that either. By then he was 74. He gave up... and we all missed out on having a Dad, and a Grandfather, family trips, experiences, memories, etc... because he would refuse to make changes. I don't mean to scare you, or your mom, ... and I don't begin to suggest that every person's body is going to go thru the same things. But this is the most devestating condition - NOW - that I realize for myself, how this can be controlled thru your food choices. I pray you can help your Mom to see how important these daily choices are, to you... to her grandchildren, to your lives...futures, ... all of it. She can easily get the support and information...but first she has to WANT to change. Just keep loving her in that direction... and don't let up.  

Actually I am the youngest of 6 children my mom was 33 when she had me making her almost 57... She is very short and quite overweight has had knee surgery which they said will always hurt making just walking quite difficult :( She moved over 3 hours away from me, which honestly is the farthest ever in my whole life. Though she is talking about coming back to try and be closer. She misses me and my children greatly and wants to be more involved in our lives again. She will be at my place for the holidays so at least then she will get a taste of my low-carb eating and I still plan on baking goodies, just safe ones :) There's so much underlying problems with her health that even I don't know about and I am scared of losing her. I am only 23 years old I am not ready to not have my Mom. 

Great way to describe it Adeline. "Atkins" does seem to carry a stigma based on ignorance, so that's a great way to tell people who ask how you're losing weight when they ask. If they're really intrested, then I'll go into more detail. Missychick21, hopefully, your mom will be like mine. When she came to visit for a few weeks, I cooked all Atkins friendly foods and she loved them and even started weight loss on her vacation. Be sure to cook a few impressive recipes, but also easy stuff so she sees she could do it herself. I'll bet when she sees your progress, you'll have a healthy influence on her. =)  

I have been talking to her about it since I started, she has been over weight for many years and we knew the diabetes was coming... I just hope she hasn't decided that there's no point since there's so much else going on as well. 

If she has other health issues as well, which is common for women in their 50's... changing her LIFESTYLE for the better will only help. I couldn't agree more with fitby's description of 'loving' her along while she's visiting. Keep it simple, but keep it in line with what you normally do... and just let her live it during her visit without even saying too much about it. Then near the end of the visit you can perhaps go into more detail if she's open. Keep us posted on how things go... Much Love. 

Thanks you guys :) She was here for a visit not too long ago even after I changed my WOE but she brought along her snacks so she still munched on them too. We are all works in progress I just hope she gets the jumpstart she needs. I will keep you posted, I really want a healthier Mom. She has always been my support especially as I am a young single Mom, I will be there for her through all the trials in her life too.