Out of Your Control

Some things are out of your control. That may sound like an excuse but stick with me and you will see what I mean (at least I hope you will).

Last year, late July to be exact, I started having these weird symptoms. It was constant pressure in my abdominal area, nausea, weight gain, etc. I was in excruciating pain for almost two weeks. I was constantly bloated. I had to sleep propped up or on pillows and have ice packs nearby. My primary care physician ended up running several tests. When every test came back negative she had me come back in and she decided to feel around my abdominal area for anything.

The first thing she thought (based on where the pain and discomfort was coming from) was that my appendix was getting ready to rupture. She gave me strict advice that if it should happen, drop what I am doing and get to the emergency room and have them call her. The only problem with this was that I was leaving the state the next week and didn't have time to postpone my plans.

Soon after my visit, my doctor lets me know that I was being diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or better known as acid reflux. GERD is a slight step up from acid reflux, in that they symptoms are more intense (and trust me they are).

Now, on to the part that relates to this weight loss blog.

I was placed on Nexium, which I slowly weaned myself off of because my symptoms became less and less noticeable. When you have GERD there are trigger foods that you are advised to stay away from. Chocolate is one and anything that is heavily greasy (burgers, fried foods, etc.). The only thing about that is those are the foods that consumed all weekend. On top of that, unfortunately for me, my symptoms came back in full swing last night.

One of the few things that truly help me out when my symptoms pop back up is a soda that isn't diet or ice cold water (so cold condensation forms on the cup). The ice cold water soothes and the soda relieves pressure (although you would think it would contribute to more pressure).

Again, on to the part that relates to this weight loss blog.

Knowing what my trigger foods are have helped me on this journey. I know what I should stay from and I know what I can eat in moderation. Yesterday, it was that cheeseburger and fries I had at lunch plus the brownie sundae with chocolate sauce I had as dessert after dinner. These are foods that I have told myself I shouldn't be eating, but when that craving hits, I eat them. When that craving hit yesterday, I paid for it.

What I am trying to say is that there are some health conditions that are out of your control because they may be based on hereditary conditions (i.e., diabetes, GERD, high blood pressure, etc.) but there are ways that you can control them (healthy eating, exercise, etc.).

It may seem tough but you can get through it if you remember that slow progress is better than no progress. Although some things may be out of your control, don't let them ruin what you want to achieve.