Improving My Health in 2009 by Personalizing the South Beach Diet

Small Changes, Big Rewards

Eight months ago I felt miserable. I was at least 35 pounds overweight and suffered from constant pain in my hips and legs from Fibromyalgia. These were health problems I was surprised to be sidelined by at my age of 34. So many things were going right for me—I was engaged to be married to the love of my life the coming summer, I loved being my girls' mom and I was excited about my future. But my health just kept holding me back. I was winded after chasing my toddlers around the back yard and avoided taking them to the park or museum because I knew I'd come home exhausted and in pain. As spring began to arrive in our little Northwest town I refused to let another year pass me by while I withdrew from one adventure after another because I was too tired or in too much pain to participate.

Over the 2008-2009 TV Season I'd watched Dr. Oz on the Oprah show every chance I had and one thing he said stuck with me. When he speaks about making life improving lifestyle changes he reminds his listeners that small changes maintained long term add up to dramatic health improvements. I knew that my usual habit was to jump into one program or another (I had tried South Beach, Weight Watcher's, and strict veganism among others) only to be overwhelmed and discouraged a few short weeks later. I soon gave up all my well intentioned attempts at improving my diet or sleep or exercise. So quickly, in fact, that I often did not feel any improvement in my physical condition. This time I was ready to make a true lifestyle change and I was also determined to do so in small increments that I could maintain over time. I might not be a perfectly reformed 'health nut' when I was done but at least I had a better chance of improving my health permanently.