As I sit here, staring down at my four fingers with four Band-Aids on them, I realize my failed glucose test was a not so rude awakening.
Let's rewind a week to that first glucose test.
I have been healthy my whole pregnancy, way more healthy than I was with my last pregnancy, 10 years ago. I have been choosing to nourish my body by eating more vegetables and exercising a couple times a week. So when I failed that glucose test, I got a bit teary behind the eyes. My healthy pregnancy suddenly felt all turn around and upside down (a little like the picture above). The thing that made my eyes gush open was when the doctor said, "eight pounds gained in one month, that's a little much for this stage of your pregnancy." I cried all the way home from that appointment.
Let's rewind a week before THAT doctor’s visit.
I was in Colorado Springs with my husband and two beautiful children, enjoying hiking, reading, relaxing, and dessert. Every day. My kind hubby reminded me that we even had dessert sometimes twice a day. This must have been a crazy shock to my blood sugar as I normally don't eat sugar. Looking back, I did go a bit crazy on the sweets on vacation, but I think I listened as everyone said, “you're pregnant, and on vacation, you should eat whatever you want!” While yes, kicking back and enjoying some special treats can make for a refreshing vacation, what I did was over-indulging not nourishing. This is the kind of stuff I teach people exactly NOT to do.
There were real consequences to my eating whatever I wanted to on vacation. I failed my glucose test, and put myself and my baby at risk for gestational diabetes.
As much as the weight gain and the disheartening results were to me, it was also a blessing. I was reminded that my actions, too, have consequences.
As soon as I left the doctor’s office last week, I called some friends and colleagues and cried. Then with their help, I made a plan. I got back on track with my sweets consumption and I exercised every day, no exceptions. I didn't do these things out of punishment or fear, rather, out of celebration that I can impact my own health AND the health of this sweet baby that God has blessed our family with.
Today I was stuck four times with a needle, asked to drink 100 grams of pure sugar (imagine shot-gunning two-16 ounce cokes in less than five minutes, only the flavor was much worse), and suffered through headaches, stomach aches, and one of my greatest phobias, needles. But it was worth it.
I passed my three hour glucose test today with flying colors. Setting and sticking to a plan to nourish by body showed immediate and tangible results in my health. But even if I hadn’t passed this second test, I would still choose to live every day so I have a choice with my health, because I do. Every choice I make can be one to nourish my body or not.
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What can you do today to celebrate that you can impact your health by nourishing your body, mind, and spirit? Is there something that you’ve been over-indulging in lately? Let this be your wake-up call to make a plan and stick to it.
After all, you are worth more than mediocre. You are worth exceptional health!
Ashley Darkenwald
With contribution from Caitlyn J. Hanson
© 2017 Living Wellness, LLC Revolutionizing health, one community at a time.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses or disease. Please always check with your doctor before beginning any new nutritional or fitness program or before making any nutritional/fitness changes.