Before I get too much further into the subject of mental health support, I wanted to take a minute and explain how I personally became interested in nutrition and integrative medicine. This is a new area for me; this blog is helping me learn, too!
In the summer of 2017, I found myself dissatisfied with my health and ready to change. I had a 3-year-old and an infant at home and was feeling well enough to begin the road to “getting my body back.” For me, that was quite an undertaking, as I’d never lost the baby weight from my first child or the “Europe weight” I’d put on while living overseas. (Who lives in Europe and doesn’t enjoy all of the bread, pasta, chocolate, wine and beer??) But I was 34 and feeling it; achy joints, exhaustion, just generally dull. Thankfully, I wasn’t experiencing post-partum depression this time (we’ll save that for another post another day), but I knew I needed to make some changes so I could live well enough to enjoy the beautiful boys God had given me.
As I ran internet searches for healthy recipes, I started seeing references to something called “Trim Healthy Mama.” At first glance, it seemed too complicated for what I could reasonably do in my life, so I swept past those recipes and looked for easier “keto” or “paleo” recipes instead. I lost a little weight, but not enough to make a difference in how I felt overall. I often found myself even more tired after a few days of eating so low carb that I’d binge on carbs just to feel like I could keep up with the demands of my day. I kept seeing Trim Healthy Mama recipes floating around, and even found I had a couple of friends who were on the plan, but I couldn’t get a grasp on how to start it in my life.
Jump forward to November, 2017. At a routine check-up, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2. It was a shocking, scary diagnosis. I argued with my doctor, and even though he ultimately changed the diagnosis to Hyperglycemia, the reality was that if I didn’t change what I was doing, I was going to get even sicker very quickly. Well, God directed my steps right back to Trim Healthy Mama. The testimonies of ladies on this plan were both inspiring and intimidating, but I was at a checkpoint in my life. No more excuses. I made the decision to jump in and make the changes, learning why the changes were necessary along the way. A year later my blood sugar numbers were so good that my doctor said he didn’t know what to do with me. I’ve lost 20 lbs and two sizes, and continue to see my health improve. In posts moving forward, you’ll hear me mention Trim Healthy Mama (THM) or refer to their products, because this is the way I eat now. So much of my interest in nutrition and what I have learned over the last 14 months started with this plan.
God is faithful to show us what we need to know at just the right time. He has redeemed my life, pardoned my sins, is healing my disease, shows me compassion and mercy and fills my life with good things. And because of the nutrition and life changes I’ve made, I’m feeling my youth being renewed! My weight loss has been super slow, with lots of stalls and even gains, which gets frustrating, but I can keep up with my little ones! And when I look back and consider how things are different now compared to last year, I’m only grateful.
If you’re interested in learning more about the plan, I’d recommend reading the Trim Healthy Mama plan book first. And feel free to ask your questions! I’m happy to help others achieve the same gains I have however I can. If you want to try one of their cookbooks, I recommend starting with Trim Healthy Table, as it has a nice plan synopsis at the beginning and lots of recipes my whole family enjoys.
Faith, Hope and Food 