Fighting Type 2 Diabetes in My Family

This is a guest post by Carolyn of Full-On Fit.
I've been interested in fitness and health for years and it's become something I am truly devoted to. I workout several times a week and I watch what I eat at (mostly – sometimes you have to splurge a little!) every meal. What I didn't expect was that other people in my family were not taking as good care of themselves as I was. I recently had one of my closest cousins diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes this past year and it has completely devastated me.
What I didn't realize too, is how many families are affected by this. According to St. Joseph's Cardiac Center, there are 215,000 children under the age of 20 that are currently diagnosed (yes, that is only the number diagnosed) with diabetes. With November being American Diabetes Month, I decided to get all of my cousins back on the right track when it comes to their health. What's more, the current holiday season is always hard enough as it is to try and eat semi-healthily without the added pressure of diabetes management on top of it all!
Eating HealthyOne of the positive things about Type 2 Diabetes is that it can be managed and prevented. Because of this, I've been working with all of my cousins on a weekly basis to help them live healthier lives. One of the main things we focus on is our diets and the way we eat. I told my family that I'd like to start eating healthier with them at every meal and for every snack. Instead of eating candy, cookies and chips in the afternoon after school, we’ve all switched to fresh fruits and veggies we really like. For dinner, we're doing out best at trying to avoid too many boxed meals and go for healthier foods that include lots of veggies.
Here’s a sample day of meals the kids like:- Breakfast – granola cereal with a banana cut up in it; small yogurt with fresh berries; glass of low fat milk
- Lunch – leftover stir-fry of brown rice, veggies, and lean chicken or turkey
- Dinner – grilled chicken tenders with seasoning; baked sweet potato fries; side of grilled veggies
- Dessert: low-fat frozen yogurt with fruit & nut topping – OR – fresh fruit and/or veggie smoothies
Being HealthyOne of the most fun things I've done with my cousins so far is establish an exercise routine that we do every single week. I love bicycle riding and so do my cousins, so we tend to bike ride up and down our long bike a few times a day. When the weather outside is cold or rainy, we go inside and do exercises by watching free videos on the Internet, particularly yoga, Pilates or Zumba. I have to admit that working out with all of my cousins has allowed me to bond with them a little more closely, which is just an extra bonus!
Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer, and has been known to bust some serious moves onthe dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com/!