I didn’t tell a whole lot of people in the beginning of my journey. I had been such a failure at everything else I tried, that I only confided in my children, my best friend, and my doctor who gave me the go ahead. I was nervous that I would fail at this, too, and I just didn’t want to see the “looks” I always got. I couldn’t do that again.
When I started with Dr. Jack, and things got going, I was experiencing some success. And like anyone, all of it sudden it was starting to show. My clothes were getting baggy, my face shrinking, the puffiness gone. I had to start altering my clothes and fortunately for me, my daughter had some hand me ups, as I like to call them.
It was about that time, I got a few people asking me what I was doing. I mentioned that I was trying to cure my Hashimoto’s disease with the help of functional nutrition doctor. “Is that covered by insurance? You really gave up all that stuff? WHY?? How do you plan on living like that in the real world? Eating healthy is expensive!” I didn’t understand most of the questions. 1. What business was it of anyone’s how I spend what I earn? The way I saw it, it was an investment in the one thing I need for the rest of my life. My health and well being. 2. Who went on a diet and didn’t give up something? So what was the difference? I wasn’t complaining and since I don’t eat some things I feel so much better, 3. How did I plan on living? On what?? Fresh food and lean protein? 4. Eating this way is not expensive at all. I spend no more on food than I did before. I stock up on sales, freeze things and make great dishes I love! Know what is expensive? Medication! Both financially and physically!
It has always been amazing to me, what people think is their business, but that is a whole other blog topic.
My favorite though were the people who told me that the way they were losing weight was the only solution, the only real one. I wanted to SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMMM…… I had tried ALL of that. And I mean all of it. They might be great diets and I am happy for those that made big lifestyle changes losing with them…. they just didn’t work for me. Weight watchers, paleo, Atkins, none of it worked for me. Diets are not one size fits all. Some people need a whole other approach. I checked out other plans, and I would be gaining, not losing.
I have lost a few friends. I had one friend who wanted me to go to weight watchers with her AFTER I started this program. I explained everything, and she called me unsupportive, deleted me from Facebook. All I kept thinking was how life is a whole lot like middle school. The first time it happened I was upset. It happened again just yesterday, over this blog. I had a friend who said that I should not be talking as though I found the answer for everyone. I reminded her that the title of this is MY road back… Not everyone’s road back…. She deleted me too.
I am okay with it. If you cannot find a way to support your friends, move on. I would never remove anyone from my life, but if they choose that, I am fine with it.
- The fact is that I have grown as a person, in all ways through this process. As one of my friend’s tells me all the time, I got my fire back. I don’t care anymore who thinks what. I have found that I am at peace inside myself. I found the answer that I needed. I didn’t just change my diet, I healed. I found out there is a lot more to me than I ever gave myself credit for and so I just need to keep on swimming! You really do find out who your friends are, but most important you find out who you are.