A different perspective

[skb]

I found this article on not giving up after a difficulty or crisis, especially when chasing health goals.

https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2018/06/21/actioncrisis

[Tamagno]

I've not discussed it, SKB, but my cancer last year had truly profound effects not just physically but also spiritually and emotionally that deeply altered my personality and general outlook in ways I'd never imagined.

For example, the key element and focus of my life was always music, both as a flutist and singer. I now find the continued pursuit of both no longer at all compelling nor do I identify myself by that pursuit.

The ongoing co-morbities, particularly diabetes, that began the necessity of lifestyle changes and once seemed so terribly daunting in terms of diet discipline have become simple routine.

As evidenced by this article and so many others, the problems of diabetics in establishing and maintaining healthier habits remains a persistent problem and mystery for so very many people. As a whole, we humans appear hopelessly addicted to all manner of dysfunctional behaviors and rooting them out a complete impossibility.

A good example is a browse through a bookstore in which one finds a plethora of books and advice on all manner of self improvement of every imaginable kind. We find absolutely no such books on how to fail.

While the most obvious source of my own personality change is simply the difficulties of chemo, radiation and surgeries, those in no way evidence the truth which lies closer to spiritual revelation than any other.

Without attempting an impossible-to describe explanation, my entire understanding of the nature of the reality in which we live has shifted. The four great questions we all ask and answer whether intentionally or not (origin, destiny, meaning and morality) now mean something quite different to me.

As those questions are centrally pertinent to us all, I wish there were some effective mechanism by which I could communicate but beyond whatever small things possible here as well as locally I've so far found no useful vehicle.

[skb]

The four great questions we all ask and answer whether intentionally or not (origin, destiny, meaning and morality) now mean something quite different to me.

Excellent post John. I presume that the health issues you faced would have made drastic changes in your physical, emotional & mental outlook.

I would love to hear more from you on the 4 questions that you have cited, though I agree that, that discussion might be very voluminous and out of the scope of this forum.

Wish you and the Mrs the best of health.

[Shanny]

Thank you so much for this amazing post, John. I particularly like the line "we humans appear hopelessly addicted to all manner of dysfunctional behaviors and rooting them out a complete impossibility."

We've come to expect instant gratification and refuse to allow anything to interfere with that. We're like two-year-old toddlers stamping our feet when we don't get all the cookies.

[skb]

John,

If you permit, we'd like to put a link to this post on our FB page.

[rocky]

Surely a very moving post tamagno. Wish you the very best too.

[Tamagno]

SKB, feel free to pass along; there's really nothing there that hasn't been recognized by many others, just my own experience and reflections...

The four questions (which, by the way, we all also answer in some way) matter would require volumes, I'm afraid!

[Carbcrazydog]

Great post Tamagno

This comes at the right time when i have made well needed changes in my life.

I am religious but not in the conventional way. In India, we have these well known temples which are considered a pious place. There is a celebrated positivity about that place but i never really plan a trip to such places because they are super crowded and i find no great peace there. My mom and my grandmom wanted to go there this time as it is considered one of the four places to visit in life before you die (google char dham yatra). So post my US trip i took them there.

In hindsight, the biggest of coincidences happened there. I was at my worst of health and eating habits there and standing in that queue seeing 80 year olds with more stamina than me, made me question myself. i saw my pictures at the beach and realised that physically and emotionally i am not in control of what is happening. I had been saving to buy myself a ruby ring at the end of the year because we will be married for 10 years. I called one of my friends who transformed herself through keto like diet, does online programs for nutrition and exercise and basically is a personal guide and coach. She is expensive but with some discount i invested the money for the ring in that program. Its for 90 days LCHF and absolutely no rice, wheat, sugar and any grains. Pulses to a certain extent by counting carbs. Weight training with it. Its been 13 days and i am perfect on food part. Missed some workouts. See my transformation pic attached which was 10 days apart.

I have tried this many times and failed in a few days. This is the first time i am so positive and in control over the food. I dont have crazy cravings. I smell rice and do get tempted but not enough to fall into it. Someone gifted me doughnuts yesterday and i gave the box away (without smelling them). I have let my friends and family know that i am giving my body a well needed break and slowly will reintroduce a bit of carbs after 90 days to see if my body takes i well. Everyone is supportive.

I sometimes wonder if there was something really about that place that is so positive. I will never know. But i would like to believe that my father (who passed away from uncontrolled diabetes) somehow gave me the push so that i dont go his way. My husband also looks so much more positive and our relationship is getting better.

I will never know if it was a higher power above, the positivism of that place, or it was just the right time. But i look forward to making it to 90 days now. *Writing this while munching on flax seed 90 second bread.

[walkerwally1]

Great post CCD.  I am so glad that you have been able to make the changes that will do so much for you.  I have been on a LCHF way of eating for 5 years now and I don't ever expect to change.  If you decide to add carbs back to your diet you can as long as you test and find out how much your body can tolerate. 
The picture looks good. 

[Shanny]

(((Paulomi)))  I think you will value this so much more than a ruby ring! Congratulations on your success!

[bigskygal]

John, great post! I had similar feelings after my cancer diagnosis. Lots of things shifted for me too. Your post brought a lot of things up again and I haven't quite known how to reply. So I'll just say great post, and I get it.

Paulomi, so glad you found your motivation. Congrats on your success! 

[skb]

Hi Paulomi,

Good to see you posting and I do see some transformation in your approach. For starters, you were too shy IMO, to ever post pictures of yourself.

Taking your mother & grandmother to char dham is indeed commendable and I salute you for that.

I started my LC (HF came later) journey in August 2010 after learning the tricks from my first forum. Shanny & Grammabear were there, they'd know what I'm talking about. Ketosis, Ketogenic and Low Carb were foreign terms then. I once had an argument with Salim (sammorgan) that LCHF would catch on by 2020. I'm glad to have been somewhat on the right track. Today, even in a country like India, I find ketogenic to be the hot topic and the in-thing, though sadly most of the proponents don't know the what and the why about it. This is all thanks to some movie celebrities embracing the WoE.

When I started advising people, no one would take me seriously, so I went ahead and got a Certificate in Nutrition from UCLA. Since then, I've personally consulted 100s of people if not 1000s and conducted a few talks on the subject to small and large audiences. On a number of occasions I've been offered money for my time & service, but I've politely refused. I'd decided in the early days that this would not be a gainful occupation.

I'm saying all this as my take on the issue and not for bragging rights. The point is, that with Diabetic Pub at your beck and call, why did you need to pay for this advice. I can tell you with some certainty that all these "experts" who have sprung up, to make a fast buck, know nothing about the science behind the subject. Having said that, and since you've already committed to pay, I wish you all success on the road ahead. I know it works, and it will.

[Tamagno]

Sounds great, CCD!

As for coincidence, I'm not at all a subscriber. This has happened for you with purpose to it and it sounds like a wonderful plan.

I'm so glad to see your photo; it's wondeful to be able to put a picture with what I know of you and would say there's no need for either shyness or rubies...

[Carbcrazydog]

. I can tell you with some certainty that all these "experts" who have sprung up, to make a fast buck, know nothing about the science behind the subject. Having said that, and since you've already committed to pay, I wish you all success on the road ahead. I know it works, and it will.

That was my plan for so many years and i could not make it work. I thought i knew all that i needed to but i was not able to make it. I told my husband the same thing that i am paying someone to streamline my life and telling me what i already know. So i dont know why i did it. But i have known this girl for 10 years now and what i like about her is that she propagates fitness rather than being thin. And she is so so fit! I envy her willpower and committment.

It was out of frustration that i reached out to her and because i have known her for so long, i cant really ignore her Let's hope i make it worth the money i invested.

[Grammabear]

. I can tell you with some certainty that all these "experts" who have sprung up, to make a fast buck, know nothing about the science behind the subject. Having said that, and since you've already committed to pay, I wish you all success on the road ahead. I know it works, and it will.

That was my plan for so many years and i could not make it work. I thought i knew all that i needed to but i was not able to make it. I told my husband the same thing that i am paying someone to streamline my life and telling me what i already know. So i dont know why i did it. But i have known this girl for 10 years now and what i like about her is that she propagates fitness rather than being thin. And she is so so fit! I envy her willpower and committment.

It was out of frustration that i reached out to her and because i have known her for so long, i cant really ignore her Let's hope i make it worth the money i invested.

Some of us need a little extra support, encouragement or whatever term you want to use to accomplish our goals.  You have made an investment in yourself and what better gift to give yourself than better health?  I have faith you will make it to your goal.