Hello from Oregon! Diabetes & Lifestyle Changes!

Hello everyone my name is Andrea and I am a 39 year old mother of two. I am also a graduate student so school has been a big focus for the last 10 years. I was referred to this fitness website by my counselor who is helping me cope with my newly diagnosed diabetes. I am glad my counselor told me about it as it seems very helpful! I was overweight at 227lbs for the last 2 years but, I thought I was already starting to eat better. I guess I was wrong and I didn't have as much under control as I thought. After getting my blood drawn at a yearly check-up My A1C (sugar level) and blood pressure was a lot higher than normal. First, My blood pressure high? Me?! More than anything I was shocked about my blood pressure since most of my life it was low. Then hearing I got diabetes too was also complete shock to me! Either way hearing the bad news 12/13/17 I cried and it's the day my life changed.....rather needed to change if I wanted to live without any severe complications from diabetes. Besides I have told myself for the last 2 years I have been wanting to lose weight anyway so, with this news it just kicked me in the butt to start right away! I am still overweight and really disliking how I have felt for a long time anyway. Tired of being tired and unable to do much due to getting worn out so quickly. Tired of not fitting into good cloths. My new diagnosis was my final wake up call to change for the better! So, a lifestyle change is what I needed and fooled myself into thinking I was doing ok before that fateful day last month.

Now I am on 2 different medications (1 for the diabetes) that I must take daily. I will admit it bothers me a lot that I am dependent on medication but, I have to also think it's helping me get my health under control. I hate medication but, each day I tell myself I must take them if I want to be ok. I can't let this diabetes win so besides needing meds I will be the one to take my life back! So, I have changed my eating habits with more protein and less carbs. The portion sizes per meal have decreased too. I also began to go for occasional walks for about 20 mins. Just by doing that I have lost 19.5lbs in 4 weeks! Then I finally signed up to a gym and started a workout routine 3-4 times a week. I only began last week so still new to it lol. I really need to stick with all this as a permanent lifestyle change/routine. Yes, I want to loose weight and look good again but, more importantly this is for my health so I can live a long life. I want to be there for my kids and be there for the man I love as long as I can. My boyfriend and I actually want to have a child of our own together. We'll see! The diabetes and being overweight has been blocking that dream. So, the hope is to keep my A1C levels low and be one of those with their diabetes under control. Also, the hope is to also get fit, remain fit, loss weight, and maintain the weight loss.