I’m 65.  At 50, my biological age was 63.  I was 60 pounds heavier, my skin constantly broke out, my joints hurt, and I had horrible heartburn.  My blood pressure was high, my liver was fatty – you get it.  Everything that we think “comes with age”.  When I would go see the doctor, I always came home with another pill, or at least a stronger version of the one I was already taking.

I am a successful career woman, working most recently in LA and New York, in the fashion industry.  I was a genius at faking great style through carefully layering.  I managed to keep the outside going, but the inside was falling apart, along with my self-confidence.  One turning point came for me when I was sitting next to a well-dressed colleague at the airport.  A woman walked by wearing a men’s tee shirt, sweatpants and sandals.  I heard him mutter under his breath “When did women give up?”  All I could think of is how easily he could be talking about me.  I was halfway through a bagel with “double cream cheese, please”, staring down at an outfit not purchased for its style, but for its camouflage.

That began my thinking of what I could and should do to never being accused of “giving up”.  I had been on a diet since I was 13 years old.  I remember the first one was from our neighbor who was selling protein drinks, they tasted awful, but I figured anything that would help me lose weight probably did taste bad.  Of course, it didn’t work.

Since that diet I have done every crazy thing you can imagine, from diet pills, to mysterious injections, to fat blocker pills (an episode away from a restroom when those kicked in is something I will never share!). I once fasted for 6 months, only drinking liquid nutrients from powdered packets.  I lost 75 pounds, most of my hair and all of my energy.  I’ve juiced, I’ve over exercised, I’ve fasted and eaten more Lean Cuisine than I care to admit.

Nothing worked.  If you lose weight by eating artificial foods, it pretty much is guaranteed to come back when you stop and bring a few of its friends along for the ride.  Deprivation is not a sustainable lifestyle.

Finally, sadly, I almost lost my husband, Mark.  He was suffering what he thought was back pain, and when we went to the hospital, they told us they were pretty sure he had pancreatic cancer.  Everything came crashing down on our lives.  Thankfully, Mark’s sister, Julie, is one of the most intelligent and skilled Nurse Practitioners that has ever lived.  She helped us through the ordeal and her monitoring of his treatment (along with the great doctors at MD Anderson) discovered that he didn’t have cancer, but rather an autoimmune disease that behaves nearly the same way.  One of the consequences is severe diabetes.

It was time to figure things out. I wish I could say that right away we did, but no.  When you are diagnosed with diabetes, most of the education is about insulin replacement.  “Eat what you want, just make sure you dose for it.”  That is what he did for nearly 5 years.  Blood sugar went up, just add more insulin.  Too much insulin, eat some Skittles.  Meanwhile, I kept gaining and gaining from the stress of living and working in a different city and trying to maintain a stable household.

In early 2018, Mark’s sister began a working with a renowned hospital evaluating the effects of sugar on the brain and the body.  She told us about it and although we were interested in what she said, we didn’t do much about it.  Several months later we met up with her for dinner.  I remember vividly how I felt the moment I saw her.  A strange mixture of pride for her mixed with a lot of anger towards myself.  She looked AMAZING.  So healthy, down 20+ pounds and with a glow that she carries today.

That night Mark and I committed that we were going to follow her lead and take added sugar out of our diets.  Fast forward 2 years and I’m down 60 pounds, and all my health issues have been reversed.  Mark is down 30 pounds and his insulin needs have been sharply reduced.  Our doctors are amazed at the results of our efforts.

Backes Wellness will focus on many aspects of living your best life.  You will decide which foods you want to include in your nutritional plan. Your journey will be your choice, and together we will get you to your goals.

As with anything, you must always consult your physician for guidance before starting any nutritional program.