In Pursuit of Wellness

I am now 56 years of age. I have a few giants to fight at my age: diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Severe Sleep Apnea, and recently, Congestive Heart Failure. Things are not looking good. My doctor told me over a year ago: “Angel, you look good; you look younger than your age on the outside, but inside, not so good. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will die suddenly.” 

Throughout my life, I have valued physical activity. Until a few years ago, I was convinced that nothing can significantly impact our health more than physical activities. If I work out, everything else will fall into place… I thought! 

Eating unhealthy things became the reward I gave myself for exercising. I have learned the hard way that the positive impact of workout routines can’t ever overcome the adverse effects of a bad diet.  

In the last few years, I have been more careful with my eating, but I need to be more thorough. While paying attention to my diet and exercise, I neglected my severe sleep apnea. 

I am wearing my CPAP machine today, and my sleep is improving. I exercise almost daily, walking 4 to 6 miles early in the morning. However, I lost my control over food again, eating all the wrong things, stuff that I knew I had no business eating. The result of my unhealthy eating has been an A1C of 11, averaging my glucose in the 300s. A good A1C must be around 5; our glucose should be at most 140 after eating. My diabetes, once again, is out of control. 

How did I get here again? Can I blame the devil? No, I am here because of my choices! Only by making better choices can I enjoy wellness again. I must embrace a Keto/Carnivore approach to eating; this means a high-protein/High-Fat diet, no fruit, potatoes, rice, pasta, added sugar, processed food, etc. The journey to wellness is not easy, but it is worth it. I got knocked out; I am getting back up again and in pursuit of wellness.