Wow... where to start? My name is Jessica Brevoort. I currently (as of October 10, 2009) weigh 226 pounds, and I feel pretty good about that. Here's why. Back in January of this year, after having just reached my 40th year, I weighed 251 pounds. I was always sick. I knew something was going very wrong with my digestion. I felt like my entire body was marinating in acid. I was hungry all the time, but that was nothing new. I have spent my life dieting it seems. Starting with Weight Watchers way back when I was in fifth grade. You name a diet and I tried it. Some of them worked and I'd still recommend. Others of course did not.
Then about eight years ago I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. My blood sugar would spike up and down, making me hungry all the time. And let me tell you, dieting when you're always hungry is a nightmare. But because of the diagnosis, I found low carb. It worked. The weight came off. I was feeling good. Then my husband Tom and I decided to have our second child. All the diet advice at the time said, "Don't do low carb while pregnant." So I didn't. And of course the weight came back on along with my addiction to sugar. I've tried in the years since to get back to low carb many times. I'd go ok for a month or so, but something would come up... travel for work, family get together, birthday. It was always something. I was slowly getting heavier and heavier, then sicker and sicker.
So now we're back to January of this year, and I knew something was wrong. I went to my doctor. We ran all sorts of tests. What came back was, according to my doctor, a marker indicating an immeninet heart attack. For which of course he proscribed cholesterol meds. This despite the fact my cholesterol was still in the normal range, though a bit on the high side. I asked for copies of the test results, went home and started taking my medication.
Ok, now this didn't seem right to me. I was in there for a digestive complaint, not a circulatory one. And yes I know heart disease is call a "silent killer" for a reason. It often gives no warnings. But I was getting plenty of warnings, they just weren't heart related. So I looked up that marker on-line. I found out that heart issues wasn't the only thing it was a marker for. It is also a marker for DIABETES. Yes, all those low-carb books warned that the big D would follow on the heels of hypoglycemia if I didn't take care of it. So yeah... I stopped taking my pills and I went back on to low carb. What do you know, all my digestive problems cleared right up. I no longer felt acidic. And of course, the weight started to come off.
I haven't been perfect. I was particularly bad at the beach with the family this summer. I tried to get off the sugar for months. Since that beach trip though it looks like I've finally gotten on top of it. I've been low carb for about two months now. Armed with a superior knowledge of where the pitfalls are, and the support of my amazing husband, I hope to stay there this time.
Am I diabetic? I don't know. I'd guess borderline at least. But I think I've been given all the warnings I'm going to get. So now I need to change low carb from a diet to what it should always have been... a life style.
My husband, Tom, is not a low-carber. Nor are our two sons, 18 and 7. In fact my husband's four food groups are Meat, Potatoes, Things on Buns and the all important Peanut Butter & Chocolate group. (We should own stock in Hershey's) How will I survive this culinary minefield? Well, we'll find out together.
We plan to use this site to share our experience with others. We hope it helps you or someone you know. Please remember, we're not doctors. If health issues are involved, consult your doctor. You are ultimately responsible for your own health and happiness. Take charge today. Before you run out of options.