LovebirdsFlying
My husband drew this cartoon of me.
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Time of year is only a coincidence. This is not a New Year's resolution. It's a medical necessity, because I've had such trouble recently with getting a handle on my blood sugar readings. If I don't want to be dead or on dialysis with in ten years, things have to change. And for those of you who also wouldn't want that to happen, please listen up. I am not speaking to anyone individually. This is for everyone who knows and cares about me.
In the past, just as with food addiction, I have also dealt with alcohol and tobacco. And, just as there are food pushers with their coaxing of, "Oh, just a little bit won't hurt you," yes, I have actually had people argue with me about the other substances too. "What? Don't be silly. You're not an alcoholic. You just need to know when to say when. Have a drink or two, and don't get carried away." Or, fully aware that I was trying to quit smoking, repeatedly asking me, "Are you sure you don't want a cigarette?" Please understand, these things HAVE happened. Not that I was afraid they would, but they did. I have since quit both alcohol and tobacco, but I had to start a new life, and get away from the people I knew who were pushing those substances. I don't want it to be the same way with the food addiction. Here is the best way to help, if you'd like to.
GREEN ZONE: What it's OK to do.
1.) Ask me questions about regularly scheduled meals. Unlike other addictions, food cannot be cut out entirely. It's a biological fact. We have to eat.
2.) Ask me once if I've eaten already.
3.) When cooking a regularly scheduled meal, if for some reason I'm not available, it's OK to put some aside for me. In fact, thank you.
YELLOW ZONE: What I wish you wouldn't do.
1.) Ask me if I want something every single time you're about to eat. I recognize that you're trying to be polite, but people have different nutritional needs, and I may not need as much as you do.
2.) Directly offer me something not diabetic-friendly.
3.) Ask me if I want something, very soon after I've just eaten. Granted, you're not always going to know I've just eaten, AND it is my responsibility to say no. The trouble is, being repeatedly asked makes it harder to do that, and I appreciate your cooperation in not leading me into temptation. Which brings me to:
RED ZONE: What it is absolutely not OK to do.
1.) Ask me again if I'm sure I don't want any X, after I've already said "No, thank you." Maybe you are under the impression I was only refusing it for good manners' sake, and I secretly would like to have some, but I assure you, that's not the case.
2.) Ask me, a few minutes after I've said I don't want any X, thank you, if I'd like some Y instead. Not hungry means not hungry, even if the Y does smell and taste appetizing.
3.) Try to coax me by telling me a little bit won't hurt me. Addictions don't work that way.
4.) Argue with me that I'm fine the way I am, and I don't need to be thin to be beautiful, etc. While I very much appreciate the sentiment, this isn't about my looks. It's about my health. My life is at stake.
5.) Caution me not to get carried away, or if I do start losing some weight, act concerned that I'm not eating enough. Anorexia and overdieting have NEVER been a problem for me. I am under a doctor's supervision, so please, leave the advice to the experts.
I feel I should note again that to overcome the other addictions, I had to get away from the pushers. Continued violations of those things in the red zone will cause me to suspect that there is some deliberate sabotage going on, and I'm not going to like it. That's all I need to say. Thank you for hearing me.
In the past, just as with food addiction, I have also dealt with alcohol and tobacco. And, just as there are food pushers with their coaxing of, "Oh, just a little bit won't hurt you," yes, I have actually had people argue with me about the other substances too. "What? Don't be silly. You're not an alcoholic. You just need to know when to say when. Have a drink or two, and don't get carried away." Or, fully aware that I was trying to quit smoking, repeatedly asking me, "Are you sure you don't want a cigarette?" Please understand, these things HAVE happened. Not that I was afraid they would, but they did. I have since quit both alcohol and tobacco, but I had to start a new life, and get away from the people I knew who were pushing those substances. I don't want it to be the same way with the food addiction. Here is the best way to help, if you'd like to.
GREEN ZONE: What it's OK to do.
1.) Ask me questions about regularly scheduled meals. Unlike other addictions, food cannot be cut out entirely. It's a biological fact. We have to eat.
2.) Ask me once if I've eaten already.
3.) When cooking a regularly scheduled meal, if for some reason I'm not available, it's OK to put some aside for me. In fact, thank you.
YELLOW ZONE: What I wish you wouldn't do.
1.) Ask me if I want something every single time you're about to eat. I recognize that you're trying to be polite, but people have different nutritional needs, and I may not need as much as you do.
2.) Directly offer me something not diabetic-friendly.
3.) Ask me if I want something, very soon after I've just eaten. Granted, you're not always going to know I've just eaten, AND it is my responsibility to say no. The trouble is, being repeatedly asked makes it harder to do that, and I appreciate your cooperation in not leading me into temptation. Which brings me to:
RED ZONE: What it is absolutely not OK to do.
1.) Ask me again if I'm sure I don't want any X, after I've already said "No, thank you." Maybe you are under the impression I was only refusing it for good manners' sake, and I secretly would like to have some, but I assure you, that's not the case.
2.) Ask me, a few minutes after I've said I don't want any X, thank you, if I'd like some Y instead. Not hungry means not hungry, even if the Y does smell and taste appetizing.
3.) Try to coax me by telling me a little bit won't hurt me. Addictions don't work that way.
4.) Argue with me that I'm fine the way I am, and I don't need to be thin to be beautiful, etc. While I very much appreciate the sentiment, this isn't about my looks. It's about my health. My life is at stake.
5.) Caution me not to get carried away, or if I do start losing some weight, act concerned that I'm not eating enough. Anorexia and overdieting have NEVER been a problem for me. I am under a doctor's supervision, so please, leave the advice to the experts.
I feel I should note again that to overcome the other addictions, I had to get away from the pushers. Continued violations of those things in the red zone will cause me to suspect that there is some deliberate sabotage going on, and I'm not going to like it. That's all I need to say. Thank you for hearing me.