"I’ve known I needed to change for many years, but I didn’t know how," says 51-year-old Linda Grindell. Years of slow but steady weight gain eventually added up to more than 300 pounds. It wasn’t until Linda was diagnosed with diabetes in September 1999 that she chose to make some healthy changes. As a Providence Health Plan member, Linda found she had the tools to make those changes. "Medication is just something you use to aid you with the disease. Diet and exercise are what you use to control your disease," says Linda. Proper nutrition plays a big role in weight control and diabetes management. Linda found the nutrition information she needed through the Providence Health & Fitness catalogues. The catalogues, mailed regularly to Providence Health Plan members, outline the numerous health and fitness classes offered by Providence Health & Services. Linda chose to combine two classes: SMART CHOICES: Weight Management Program and a class through the Diabetes Education Program. So far, Linda has lost 35 pounds. She attributes that loss to "practical small steps, plus a daily plan that I could follow to help me make changes." She continues, "I am not only changing my diet but also incorporating exercise and making it a part of my life. My energy levels are a lot greater now. I’m even looking into taking a water aerobics class." Through both classes, Linda has learned about food and nutrition. "I got clinical information about how food was affecting my body. It helped me understand my relationship with food. I learned how to read about carbos, protein and fats on labels. I’ve found out amazing things that I didn’t know before by reading labels," says Linda. "I’ve come to believe and accept that one of the big changes I have to make in my life—and a real barometer of how I’m doing—is what goes in the grocery cart. My family and I are eating a lot more fresh vegetables, whole fruits, grains, and less meat. I eat three meals a day of regular foods." "Yes, we still eat some fast food. The change is that nobody is saying to me, ‘You cannot eat that’. I’ve stopped making food good or bad. I say to myself, ‘Is this a food that I want to put in my body? Is it worth it? How am I going to feel?’ I’m much more in touch with my body than I have been for many years." "For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable about what I eat and when I eat it. I’m feeling really positive!"
|
