From the Mountains Through the Valleys – five year update

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Introduction

Tomorrow, March 5, 2022, it is five years since I began my personal health and weight recovery journey that I’ve dubbed “A Dietitian’s Journey”. While it began in 2017, it continues today, and that is the point behind this post.

Five years ago, I was obese, had type 2 diabetes for the previous 8 years, and had developed dangerously high blood pressure. There is no mistaking that I was a very sick woman. You can hear it in my voice in the video below. I could barely walk and talk at the same time.

One Year Later: March 5, 2018

A year after I had adopted a low-carbohydrate lifestyle, I had lost:

  • 32 pounds
  • 8 inches off my waist
  • 8 inches off my chest, 3 inches off my neck, and 1 inch off my arms
  • No longer meet the criteria for type 2 diabetes (achieved without medication)
  • Blood pressure ranging between normal and pre-hypertension without medication
  • Ideal triglycerides and excellent cholesterol levels

Two Years Later: Progress and Challenges

Joy comparison photoTwo years after beginning my journey, I had lost a total of:

  • 55 pounds
  • 12-1/2 inches off my waist
  • Significant reductions in my neck, chest, arms, and thighs
  • Met the criteria for partial remission of type 2 diabetes
  • Maintained ideal lipid levels and improved blood pressure

Then I got Covid, which was followed by months of post-viral symptoms, including finding it very difficult to walk. In the weeks that followed, my middle son would encourage me to go for walks with him. We started by going around the block, then around the neighbourhood, and then gradually increased.

The Fourth Anniversary: March 6, 2021

Joy hikingThen we took up hiking! Four years earlier, I could barely walk and talk at the same time, and for six months, I was hiking every week or two. This photo was taken last year on March 6, 2021 — the 4th anniversary of beginning my journey.

Like most journeys, this one has had ups and downs with both “mountain top experiences” and “valleys”. Recently, there have been a few valleys, but from the mountains to the valleys, there is no looking backwards for me, only forward. I hope my story and persistence serve to encourage you.

To your good health!

Joy

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