{"id":35355,"date":"2014-02-18T08:01:42","date_gmt":"2014-02-18T13:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?post_type=feature&p=35355"},"modified":"2016-01-10T05:42:23","modified_gmt":"2016-01-10T10:42:23","slug":"type-2-diabetes-diagnosis-leads-a-woman-to-lose-100-pounds-and-make-lasting-changes-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355","title":{"rendered":"Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Leads A Woman to Lose 100 Pounds and Make Lasting Changes – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A few years ago, I reconnected with college friend Maura Flanagan, and I learned how a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in 2005 motivated her to enroll in a clinic-based program that led to a weight loss of almost 100 pounds in less than a year. Maura\u2019s success is in part due to on-going support from the staff at the National Center for Weight and Wellness<\/a> and in equal part, it seems to me, to her willingness to experiment. Giving up the old ways \u2013 of thinking, eating, and socializing \u2013 take creativity and persistence.\u00a0 Maura has kept the weight off for more than eight years.<\/p>\n

In a long phone interview about the changes to her health and her life, Maura reflected on her approach and shared insights for others who are contemplating health challenges.<\/p>\n

New activities for momentum and reward<\/h2>\n

As Maura began to lose weight, she realized she needed to add new activities into her life to help her maintain momentum for the health changes she was making. Her practice of meditation was the first new experience she tried (see part one<\/a>). Meditation has helped her relax, lessen the effects of neuropathy, and mitigate the \u201cnegative self talk,\u201d as she called it, associated with coping with health problems.<\/p>\n

Maura tries many new activities as rewards, and she attempts to do a new one each month. Although many of them seem fun or simply enjoyable on the surface, they can also be intimidating. For example, Maura had her first manicure after weight loss. She explains that it wasn\u2019t easy for her, even though it may be \u201ca simple thing\u201d for many adults. Her awareness of neuropathy<\/a> and her hands heightened her concerns about hygiene and infection. She wondered: would it be painful? Maura told me that she enjoyed it and, \u201cI now do it every once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some new experiences yield funny stories. She mentioned \u201can origami class that went terribly and a dancing class that didn’t go well,\u201d and yet recalled them with equanimity. Another time, she signed up for a silent retreat, despite her worry that a weekend where \u201cpeople didn\u2019t talk\u201d could end up being intolerable. Maura promised herself that, if it were terrible, she\u2019d go home early, but she wound up enjoying it. Other first attempts have included taking a solo trip to Philadelphia, soaking in a sensory deprivation tank<\/a>, getting an aromatherapy<\/a> wrap, going on a daytrip to The Cloisters<\/a> organized by the Smithsonian Institution<\/a>, joining a meet-up group of classical music fans, and becoming a Toastmaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About her commitment to new experiences, Maura asserted that this is how a person can \u201cbuild a more expansive life for yourself. Because if you do something new and you enjoy it, then you can continue to do it, adding it to your regular activities. So it kind of builds on itself.\u201d Maura\u2019s regular activities include going for long walks (and occasionally taking pictures of what she sees for her Pinterest board<\/a>), listening to live music, especially jazz and classical music, meditating, and attending Toastmasters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Shifts in social relationships<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s one thing to modify one\u2019s own behavior; it\u2019s another, more complex challenge to change it in the context of social relationships and pressures to join in the eating, drinking, and merry-making habits of one\u2019s friends and family. Maura explained, \u201cTo go on a liquid weight loss plan and closely monitor the amount of food that you eat really requires a lot of focus on yourself, a very conscious effort\u2026 It can feel like a very selfish act if you’re not used to doing that.\u201d In the health changes she has made, Maura has had to carefully think about \u201cwho is supportive of that type of change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Friendships and acquaintanceships have been affected since Maura embarked on a weight loss and maintenance program. \u201cSome people would make negative remarks about my eating habits and my shrinking body; the changes seemed to make them anxious, at least that was my perception. Others were a little hurt.\u201d As she steered away from occasions for going out to meals or happy hour with friends or co-workers, \u201cI felt as though I was creating distance between us. However, most people were accepting, but it did require some re-adjusting.\u201d Some relationships may fade into the background while others become more important. New friendships also bloom. Maura said:<\/p>\n

\u00a0“People may surprise you who come into your life, or take a bigger role in your life. If you become more interested in fitness, maybe you’ll meet people who are also interested in that. As your focus changes in terms of your health, that can change even your relationships with the people that you have in your life, and it may bring some new people into it.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Socializing at work has its own set of challenges. As a person with diabetes, I myself have noticed the prevalence of free food in the work place. Co-workers bake cakes and bring it in to share; candy dishes sit on reception desks; and attendance at meetings is in part provoked by the promise of lunch or an afternoon snack. Maura mentioned the personal events celebrated in her office and its effect on her interactions with her co-workers:<\/p>\n

“They’re having a birthday, or a shower, or that sort of thing. There’s frequently a cake in the office and a party. It’s hard because I don’t feel like I can stay there for a long time at these parties because all the temptation is there, all these things that I shouldn’t have. I make an appearance with my Diet Coke. They bring in this wonderful cake that they\u2019ve made, and it\u2019s like \u201cyou don\u2019t want a piece of that?\u201d I usually I nibble on something and leave. You have to say no. People can take that very personally.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Maura added that, when the culture equates food with love, people can feel rejected when we reject the food they\u2019ve brought. To the person on the diet, it feels \u201cvery clear cut,\u201d said Maura, but it causes some unhappiness for the food giver. She worries about \u201ccoming across as a curmudgeon.\u201d Because she feels some social anxiety about this, her usual strategy is to make an appearance for a few minutes, put on her coat, and take a walk, which gets her some exercise and alleviates the anxiety about not attending the full party.<\/p>\n

The discomfort that came with setting new boundaries for relationships arose as Maura recognized that, in her family and at work, she often played the role of reliable support person. She believes she is not unique. \u201cThe biggest misconception out there is that overweight people are lazy and self-indulgent. And the one thing I know about the overweight people that I’ve met over the years is that usually they are the rock, the go-to person.\u201d Putting others\u2019 needs first \u2013 \u201cand putting one\u2019s self last,\u201d as Maura told me \u2013 may even contribute to weight or health problems.<\/p>\n

Maura reminds herself that, because of her health issues, it\u2019s really necessary to re-focus energy on herself. This ultimately has benefits for the people in her life: \u201cIf I’m not around anymore because I let my health go again, I won\u2019t be there to help the people on my to-do list.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relapses, and a recommitment to health<\/h2>\n

Losing a significant amount of weight and keeping it off for years has not always been a straightforward path of continual improvement. Maura admitted to lapses. For her, this involves eating \u201coff plan.\u201d She goes out to eat with friends and has more than she plans to eat. As a one-time event, this does not interfere with staying on her plan. However, when it happens over time, she starts to feel it:<\/p>\n

“I can get caught up in what is called emotional eating. Perhaps I’m going through a lot of stress, some kind of difficulty, and I use food as a way to distract myself from my problems. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really help a person. It just distracts you so that you really just end up kicking the can down the road instead of dealing with your problems.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Not feeling well or like herself \u2013 sluggish, even having trouble walking up stairs \u2013 alerts Maura that she\u2019s off track. When she gains weight, she realizes she has taken her eye off the issue. The palpable memory of feeling good is, Maura said, \u201csomething that I want to feel again.\u201d The desire to regain her strength and well-being is a powerful motivator that prods her to recommit to her plan, be aware of food choices and portions, and exercise daily.<\/p>\n

She also gets energy from talking to others about challenges to maintain her weight and fitness levels. At the National Center for Weight and Wellness<\/a>, she participates in a support group and sincerely enjoys talking about these issues:<\/p>\n

“When I talk to other people who are struggling, people may think, “Well, that’s great. She’s helping me,” but I always feel like I help myself when I get into those conversations with people. Really, it does re-energize me. I get a lot of great ideas. People are just so thoughtful about how they think about their weight and their health. I’m always getting a different perspective.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Maura expressed an interest in talking about health \u201cbeyond the clinic.\u201d While a specific plan has not yet crystallized, she has sensed that \u201ca lot of people who have weight problems don’t or can’t really envision what it can be like for them.\u201d She acknowledged that her weight and health once felt \u201chopeless\u201d to her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Even though she can recognize her achievement, Maura believes she will never be home free. \u201cI feel physically different, but the weight will always be an issue for me \u2013 a concern for the rest of my life.\u201d \u00a0Maura would like to share that message with others who are trying to summon up the bravery and resources to face a big health challenge: \u201cYou can have these health issues yet still have a different outcome than the one you have presently, and a different lifestyle.\u201d She insisted, \u201cThere are possibilities in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photographs by Maura on some of her long walks.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Click here to read part one<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“To go on a liquid weight loss plan and closely monitor the amount of food that you eat really requires a lot of focus on yourself, a very conscious effort\u2026 It can feel like a very selfish act if you’re not used to doing that.\u201d In the health changes she has made, Maura has had to carefully think about \u201cwho is supportive of that type of change.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":35357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1453],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nDiabetes Diagnosis Leads A Woman to Lose 100 Pounds and Make Lasting Changes - Part 2<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To go on a liquid weight loss plan and closely monitor the amount of food that you eat really requires a lot of focus on yourself, a very conscious effort\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jane Kokernak\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355\",\"name\":\"Diabetes Diagnosis Leads A Woman to Lose 100 Pounds and Make Lasting Changes - Part 2\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/photo-8.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-02-18T13:01:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-01-10T10:42:23+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9d40892bd58d8398b649f913860636f8\"},\"description\":\"To go on a liquid weight loss plan and closely monitor the amount of food that you eat really requires a lot of focus on yourself, a very conscious effort\u2026\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/photo-8.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/photo-8.jpg\",\"width\":640,\"height\":480,\"caption\":\"photo (12)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=35355#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Leads A Woman to Lose 100 Pounds and Make Lasting Changes – Part 2\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\",\"name\":\"ASweetLife\",\"description\":\"The Diabetes Magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9d40892bd58d8398b649f913860636f8\",\"name\":\"Jane Kokernak\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca9a61cbd1e6ab69df622082d9aae997?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca9a61cbd1e6ab69df622082d9aae997?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jane Kokernak\"},\"description\":\"Jane Kokernak teaches in Northeastern University\u2019s College of Computer and Information Science as communications specialist, working with graduate students and faculty on writing and speaking to different audiences. 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