Remember those ten pounds I talked about three months ago that transformed into my wake-up call? The pounds that caused my A1C (a 3-6 month average of blood sugar levels) to elevate high enough that my doctor put me on diabetic medication. I was horrified, since I’d been controlling my Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise for the past twenty years.
That day I decreased my portions and increased my walking to roughly 10,000 steps a day, about 4 miles for me. My beagle-wippet, Beau, loved all our walks together! Me, too.
Three months later, I requested another A1C test, after losing fifteen pounds. My doctor called the day after to tell me my A1C was the lowest she’s ever seen for me. Discontinue the glucophage, she said, and keep working on lifestyle. I was, of course, thrilled.
Am I bragging? Not at all.
So, then, why do I write this post? Simply, once again, I’m stunningly reminded that we are sometimes graced with the ability to improve our health simply with our choices. How awesome is that?
The final glucophage tablet is on the placemat. I no longer need the medication.
About Mary Jo Doig
Mary Jo Doig was the first in her family to attend college and graduated from the State University at Oneonta in New York’s Catskill Mountains with a degree in Secondary English Education/Educational Psychology. There she fell in love with rural life, remained, and eventually transitioned from city girl to country woman when she married a dairy farmer and raised their three children on their small family farm.
A life-long lover of reading and writing, Mary Jo has for nearly twenty years been a member of the Story Circle Network. There she has been an editor, a women’s writing circle facilitator, a book reviewer, and life-writing enthusiast, working extensively with women writing their life-stories while writing her own memoir. Presently, she is a three-time Program Chair for SCNs national Stories from the Heart conference and a board member. She also facilitates Older Women’s Legacy workshops and a women’s life-writing circle in her area communities. Her stories have appeared in Kitchen Table Stories anthology, Story Circle Annual Anthologies, and most recently her story “I Can’t Breathe” was published in the Anthology, Inside and Out: Women’s Truths, Women’s Stories. Her work also appears in varied blogs and periodicals, on her blog Musings from a Patchwork Quilt Life (https://maryjod.wordpress.com), Facebook, and Twitter.
Her son and two daughters grown, Mary Jo presently treasures her country life in Virginia’s Central Shenandoah Valley. She loves cooking (and eating!) healthy food, reading, writing, quilting, hiking, and spending quality time with her rescue cats, Button and Xena, and beagle, Addie, who each dream of being only children.
Her first book, Patchwork: A Memoir of Love and Loss, will be published in October, 2018 by She Writes Press.
Musings From a Patchwork Quilt Life 
Congratulations, Mary Jo,
I have put on 11 pounds since my daughter moved in with me. You have inspired me to take them off. I don’t have diabetes, but I feel better when my weight is lower. I’m going to start using a smaller plate to measure my portions and start walking and swimming again. Thanks you for your inspiration. And I’m so glad you are taking care of you.
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Linda, you’ve made my day! I shared this hoping it would touch others who might want to consider small changes that can make such a big difference! So, together, we care for us!
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Now you’ve done it… you have provided the incentive to take off that extra 10. Congratulations on your success and keep up the good work. I’ll be taking another look at the Fitbit count.
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How wonderful, Margie! I’ll be your biggest cheerleader for taking good care of you!
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Hoorah!!
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Thanks, Jazz! Hope you’re having a lovely autumn….
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Congratulations!! 15 pounds in 3 months!!. Walking is so good for both us humans and our canine walking partners. Our Shelty will be 16 next week . He has walked at least 2 miles aday for most of his life with a human partner .
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Thank you, Susan! What a healthy Shelty you have and lucky to have you and yours as his humans! Hope you’re having a beautiful autumn!
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