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Listening to Your Body

Let's talk about listening to your body. I've been tested a few times throughout my 20's for diabetes because I had Gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy plus it runs in our family. Each time the numbers came back great. There was no reason to think I was struggling with my blood sugar. 8 months ago, I walked into my doctors office with complaints of dry skin and being itchy. At first she was going to treat me for psoriasis. As we were getting ready to finish up I jumped up and said, "OH YEAH! Before I forget the skin on the back of my neck seems to be darker than the rest." She looks at it and said, "You're not leaving without a blood test, this is a sign of diabetes." So as it turns out my sure sign of eating something that spiked my blood sugar is my skin itching. 

The last week I have been watching what I eat and limiting my carb/sugar intake. I even passed up a bunch of candy that was being handed out. I've felt great with little to no issues with my skin itching. That was until last night. I've been told by multiple people how great sweet potatoes are for diabetics, and I'm sure for some they have no issues with eating them. But I'm reconsidering them for my own diet because within 30 minutes to an hour I started itching like crazy. It turns out sweet potatoes actually land in the middle of the glycemic index. They do have a lot of health benefits, but I think I am going to air on the side of caution. 

It's important to listen to your own body and its needs. If eating that hamburger from a fast food joint makes you feel like a slug within an hour of eating it that's a pretty good sign. A calorie is a unit of energy. We don't need to consume too much or too little it has to be just right. A Google search of "Average calorie intake a person needs" will tell you it's about 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men to maintain their current weight. If we are getting good calories and the right amount you should feel energetic and ready to take on the world. This means you also need to watch your nutrients in the foods you eat as well. You can look up recommended daily doses of nutrients, but I recommend consulting your physician for what works best for you. 

If you're interested in tracking your nutrients and calories I highly recommend using an app on your phone. The two I am familiar with is My Fitness Pal and Lose it(Feel free to comment below on what apps you use). Both apps allow you to scan the barcodes on each of your foods and select the amount in which you ate. This can be tricky as you make homemade meals but once you get in the habit it works out well. It also allows you to track exercise and calories burned. Allowing you to adjust your calorie intake as necessary. When I used to work out 4-5 times a week, I required additional calories to keep my energy up. And yes I still lost weight with the additional calories because I was burning anywhere between 400-500 calories a workout. So I needed the extra calories for energy.

*Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or a medical doctor. The information provided here is just ideas and thoughts to think about as you embark on your own journey. Always consult a physician before starting a lifestyle change or a new diet.*

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