Showing posts with label atkins diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atkins diet. Show all posts

Monday, June 4, 2012

Getting Healthy!

I know a lot of bloggers who have had great luck (and I am sure found great motivation) by blogging about their attempts at losing weight and/or getting healthy, but I have always been a bit hesitant to put it out there a whole lot.  It just wasn’t something I wanted to blog about because quite frankly I was (AM) more afraid of failing in this very public forum than anything else!  But in recent months an old friend has taken control of his health in a very inspiring way and with the great success I have seen in his life and the life of my youngest son with the diet he is on for his seizure disorder it has started to tug at me and the way I am taking care of myself. 

Actually, I am in reasonably good health and I am not feeling motivated by a desire to lose weight (…though, that would be a big, old plus if I lost a few pounds!) but I am motivated by wanting to get healthier and stronger.  The only issue health wise that I struggle with is PCOS/insulin resistance and it can only be helped by taking control of my diet and exercise.

I am finding motivation in the upward creep of that number I get assigned on each birthday and by watching family members who are not taking care of themselves and how it has affected their quality of life at what I consider too early an age.   I want to be strong and full of energy to enjoy this great place in life that I find myself!
So….I am doing away with this….
Source: dietcoke.com via Mary on Pinterest

It probably sounds silly but it will be my biggest challenge.  Fortunately, I am not addicted to caffeine as I gave that up a few months ago but I am pretty addicted to my beloved Diet Coke…

I am also jumping on the low carb bandwagon with my youngest son (who is on the Modified Atkins version of the Ketogenic Diet for Epilepsy.)  I have had good luck losing weight in the past with the Atkins Diet and after seeing so much evidence of how carbohydrates (SUGAR) damage our mind and bodies I feel it is right for me.  Not to mention, low carb diets are the best diets for combating the issues related to PCOS and insulin resistance!

So there you have it…I am putting my health out there…publically (gulp) and hope to find the motivation and commitment I need to carry it though!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

17 Weeks Seizure Free and a Ketogenic Diet!

Last week we had a check up with DS2's neurologist at MUSC.  It has been 17 weeks since he has had a seizure and he is doing great.  We have been treating his seizure disorder with the Modified Atkins version of the Ketogenic Diet.  Yes, there is a diet that has worked wonders for many children with Epilepsy! 

With the guidance of his Neurologist, we chose not to medicate but to try the Ketogenic Diet and so far we are seeing wonderful results.  I haven't mentioned our treatment plan in detail before as I wanted us to have a few months to get into the groove with it and see what the results were.   He has been seizure free for 17 weeks and his headaches have practically gone away (he does occasionally headaches still but they have been treatable with over the counter Ibuprofen and he hasn't had to leave school because of them.)

The Atkins version of the Ketogenic Diet isn't as rigorous or as difficult to manage as the pure Keto. Diet but it is still a challenge as we have him at around 15 carbs per day (YES...per day.)  The biggest changes for us are that we no longer eat fast food out for the most part and have to plan for all his meals and snacks ahead of time.  I sometimes feel like my entire day is spent planning what/when he will eat.  He is tolerating the diet well (with only a few complaints of "I just want a piece of bread!") and we haven't had any negative side effects thus far.  I realize if his seizure control changes we will have to revisit the treatment plan but for now I am so happy that it seems to be working.  His Neurologist was practically giddy at the appointment and how well DS2 is doing.  All blood work looks good and things are progressing better than I could have imagined. 

I know things can change unexpectedly and we will deal with them if they do.  I am so thankful for this treatment plan and how it has helped my little guy.

DS2 is doing great in school, playing baseball and life is as it should be for a 10 year old boy!