After my daily schedule drastically changed due to the birth of my first child, I realized my weight had ballooned to 220 pounds. Carrying around the additional weight caused joint and knee pain, and even back pain severe enough to warrant working with a chiropractor.
In the spring of 2017, Roanoke County Public Schools implemented a Marathon Health wellness program to incentivize employees to complete an annual physical, a wellness questionnaire, and a one-on-one meeting with a health coach.
Through the wellness program, I could access the Marathon Health & Wellness Center, where I scheduled my wellness check with Rachel Meadows, NP-C. During the appointment, I learned about my A1c. While I knew about my weight and its impact on my health, I knew nothing about A1c and its connection to diabetes.
Recognizing the importance of lowering my A1c, I began an intermittent fasting routine. Over the next couple of years, I delayed eating in a controlled way based on my weight trends to help me get into ketosis each day. This method effectively allows my cells to begin autophagy and controls my blood sugar and insulin levels.
Now that I am close to my ideal body weight, I have begun regularly working out 3-5 days per week. My waist circumference, once at 36″, is now 32”, and I have lost a total of 30 pounds.
My bloodwork and A1c have returned to healthy ranges. I feel great and can physically do things I should’ve always been able to do.
