How my journey with nutrition began
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were forced to make different lifestyle choices? If you didn’t, the consequences could be detrimental.
My journey with nutrition started when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy. Prior to being pregnant, I didn’t have the best eating habits. I loved carbs, candy, and frappuccinos - sugar, sugar, and more sugar! On the day of my standard pregnancy blood sugar test, I had a normal lunch that I had at least once or twice a week. A Davanni's cheese hoagie with a side of cheese bread and a soda. I went into the doctor for the blood sugar test, drank that awful liquid, and started to feel worse and worse as I sat there. It was clear that my body did not like all this sugar and was not processing it properly. I met with the doctor and it was determined that I had gestational diabetes. I was pretty surprised and overwhelmed. I met with someone who showed me how to take my blood and measure my blood sugars, including monitoring and counting my carbohydrates for each meal. I left the doctor’s office crying, unsure of how I was going to manage this.
What a normal meal looked like for me before having gestational diabetes.
It was hard to accept my new reality. I had always enjoyed eating and drinking whatever I wanted, and now I had to eat differently to help my baby grow properly. The first adjustment was reading labels and counting carbs. I had 4 carb “choices” at each meal, and each carb “choice” was equal to 15 carbohydrates. My snacks also had to be 2-3 carb choices as well. It was a challenge to find enough food to make me feel full, and stay within my carb choice limits. It did get easier with time, and through trial and error, I found foods that worked within my limits.
It was also very clear that not all carbs or foods are created equal. For example, cereal was within my carb choice allowance and, even when I actually measured it out, I found that I didn’t feel well after. I would take my blood sugar with a finger prick and it would be extremely high. This showed me that some foods would spike my blood sugar, even if I stayed within my suggested carb choice allocation. Soda was another example of this. I learned to see and feel, in real time, how foods affect my body and how I feel. I also came to know the feeling of high blood sugar, which for me meant being nauseous and tired. I would take all of these realizations with me after my pregnancy and for the rest of my life.
This is me, days before I gave birth to my first son.
My labor and delivery went well. My son came three weeks early but he was healthy and happy. He had one extra day in the hospital because his body wasn’t able to regulate his blood sugar right away, but thankfully his body was able to adjust quickly. I’m grateful that, 11 years later, he hasn’t had any issues since those first days in the hospital.
I got pregnant with my second son a year or so after delivering my first son. This time, I was prepared that I may have gestational diabetes and was ready with my supplies. I had already been paying attention to what I was eating prior to my gestational diabetes check with the doctor. I had the test in the doctor’s office and, once again, felt very sick. I almost passed out because my blood sugar was so elevated from the drink. I left the office, however, feeling a little bit better about being able to manage the situation this time. I went back to counting my carbs and taking my blood to measure my sugar levels. I noticed toward the end of my pregnancy, my blood sugar kept creeping up and up, even when I was diligent with my nutrition and diet. I wasn’t able to control it as much with my food choices, and I was being very strict. This was concerning because I felt if I had another baby, I would need to be on medicine to control the levels and felt like my body just wasn’t able to handle another pregnancy. My son was born on time and was happy and healthy. Fortunately, he didn’t have any issues with his blood sugar.
After my pregnancy, I thought to myself “I like this healthier way of eating, I’m going to keep counting my carbs and paying attention to what I eat!” That lasted about a week. I stopped counting carbs once I no longer “had” to.
I do have a different relationship to food now though, and thanks to my journey with gestational diabetes, my mindset has been forever changed. I know that food directly affects how I feel, and what I eat matters. I have stopped eating cereal because I know that it spikes my blood sugar, makes me feel sick, and isn't adding anything good to my body. I know now that my body likes more whole foods and less processed items. I have made small changes that I was comfortable with making, and those changes have added up over time.
Learning to read food labels.
Joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to incorporate more vegetables into my diet.
This is very much how coaching works. Everyone knows themselves best and what will or won’t work for them. Small steps and changes are easier to implement and add up over time. They also accumulate and impact your willingness to try other things, which in turn have a positive impact on your health and wellness. I am very grateful for all that I learned by having gestational diabetes and I am hoping that I can help others, through coaching, find the support and confidence they need to get through the many different situations that life throws at them.
