Last May, I woke up from a deep sleep, frightened. I have sleep apnea, and even though I was using a CPAP machine—which supplies my lungs with constant airflow—I woke up with heart palpitations and a crushing pressure in my chest. "I'm killing myself," I said aloud. At that moment, I knew I needed to make a change. I was dealing with high blood pressure and prediabetes, and I weighed nearly 300 pounds.
I remember that awful night so vividly because the day before had been such a sweet one, literally. My older daughter, Isabelle, had a softball game, and my younger girl, Anastasia, and I picked up snacks to enjoy from the sidelines. I had a small worry that I was eating too much sugar, but not enough to stop me from indulging.
I'll be fine; it's just a few sweets, I thought. But I'd been telling myself the same lie for years, and as I lay in bed that night, I contemplated what would happen if I continued down that destructive path. You won't be here, I told myself, and who will take care of Isabelle and Anastasia? I had adopted them as a single mom, and I needed to stay alive for my girls. It was time to take control.
The next week, I started a strict low-carb diet. I was losing weight, but my cravings were out of control. Then I saw a friend's Facebook post that said Prevention was looking for women to test a new healthy eating plan called the Sugar Smart Express. I joined, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made. The entire program is geared toward helping you kick cravings for good. I was surprised that I could still eat carbs, but instead of junk, I was mixing unprocessed kinds, like bulgur and quinoa, with good fats and lean protein. My appetite leveled off, and my weakness for snacks disappeared. Within 9 months, I lost an amazing amount of weight—a total of 92 pounds and 16 inches! My energy soared, my blood sugar levels normalized, and I no longer needed a machine to help me breathe at night.
How far I've truly come crystallized a few months ago when I was having dinner with my family. My mother said that she feels like her daughter is back; the energy, vibrancy, and joy I used to have before struggling with my health and weight have returned. "For the first time in years, you seem happy," she said. And I am.
