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I have never battled any weight issues in my life. While some may think I have the perfect life I am constantly reminded of the ramifications of an unhealthy lifestyle. At the tender age of ten (or earlier) my Mom was diagnosed with diabetes. It rocked my world because it wasn’t the normal doctor visit check up that revealed it-she was hospitalized. In Jamaica diabetes is referred to as ‘sugar’. Many families are affected by this lifestyle driven condition. In Jamaica diabetes is the second leading cause of death. Since her diagnosis there has been a food revolution in my family. I cannot recall counting calories but we ate healthy foods; all the vegetables, fibers etc They formed part of our daily routine and nothing was weird about it. We knew we had to. My mother today is in the best shape of her life – managing diabetes. Today currently she serves her church as the Health Director.
The Beginning
I grew up in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica otherwise called the ‘food basket’. St. Elizabeth is known for providing the best crops in Jamaica, even for export. If you happen to travel to one of our many hotels here you might be eating fresh products from my parish. All the possible fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in abundance. Many people who take road trips into rural parishes like St. Elizabeth can stop in any community and expect to receive free fruits from any tree. People like climbing the trees and shaking it to hear the ripe or even turned (not ripe) dropping to the ground. Most families grow their own provisions. A typical home in Jamaica outside of the city will have any of the following in the back yard: bananas, mangoes (all types), breadfruits, potatoes, peppers, mint etc. How ironic? We have access to healthy foods but yet diabetes could be one of the leading cause of deaths.
Keeping fit is your responsibility
We have a responsibility to take care of our bodies. My work out routine does not involve attending a gym. Some people may think they need a gym to be fit but you actually don’t. Our homes make the best gyms and fitness centres. I work out roughly four times a week with simple exercises which include push ups, ab work, squats and oblique exercises. A work out that lasts 20 minutes. Do I always feel the energy to work out? No, I don’t. Most times I have to watch YouTube videos of people working out to be inspired – that works for me.
A huge part of a healthy lifestyle is eating right. There is no excuse for eating unhealthy foods. Just like you create a habit of eating the junk food create good habits in eating healthy foods. I have acne problems; although not severe I think I can scrub, mask and exfoliate to solve the problems but that doesn’t really help. I find that when I drink more water my skin issues are gone. Do I drink 8 glasses of water a day? No, my fault again. I understand skin products do help but the right food intake can be our weapon against skin issues, aging, and many of today’s health issues attacking our generation. We are in societies that wants everything must be fast and quick and this will lead us to our own detriment. Instead of frying the chicken – bake it, sodas – try water. There are so many things we can do now to change our eating habits before we get diabetes, high blood pressures etc.
Diabetes like many other health issues is hereditary. Based on discussions with my mother, a lot of family members on her side have diabetes and high blood pressure. That predisposes me automatically in getting diagnosed if I don’t manage my health properly. You may not have those issues but you still can be diagnosed. I want to live a life free of weight problems and all the other diseases. And the fact is you are in the position right now to ensure you lead a healthy lifestyle.
I will make the right decisions to remain healthy and strong. You don’t have to look like you can bench press 300lbs but you can stay in shape. Won’t you make the right decisions moving on?
Additional reading:
Fleeing fat…forever! Click here
Information on Breadfruit:
Jamaican breadfruit is one of the oldest and most versatile Jamaican food used in a wide range of Jamaican food recipes. Jamaican breadfruit can be boiled, roasted and even fried and can be served as a great side dish as well as a main course.
Roasted Breadfruit
Breadfruits on the tree
Breadfruit
11 comments
June 9, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Corve, your body is PERFECT. No … I mean TRULY PERFECT! This post has motivated me to improve my lifestyle. I know it is never too late but in my case it is probably too late to attain PERFECTION but well done to you. Keep up the healthy lifestyle and keep that PERFECT body of yours.
Some other words that come to mind are AMAZING, INCREDIBLY, GORGEOUS, SUPERB and a whole lot more.
Hugs
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June 9, 2010 at 5:12 PM
I can sympathize about having to change one’s eating habits, as I’m currently a diabetic going on twenty-five years.
Keep up the good work.
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June 9, 2010 at 6:36 PM
What is breadfruit? Is that like a date?
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June 9, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Yeah, it’s good, very useful, thanks
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June 9, 2010 at 9:57 PM
Sorry, what were you saying Corve? I was too busy looking at your bod!!!!!
I exercise three times a week going up and down this friggin track 9 times….. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/2283813814_fd24ac2a0f.jpg?v=0
One must always avoid bloggers ass
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June 9, 2010 at 10:18 PM
@Friggin Loon
Way to go…..Keep working out.
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June 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM
You have my dream body, it’s perfect!
and thanks for the birthday wish, really appreciate it.
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June 14, 2010 at 8:31 AM
You Have A Nice body!
I go to the gym 3 times a week, and 4 years ago completely stopped eating meat, in months I saw my body transform. The body is truly a temple, taking care of it will make sure it remains strong.
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June 23, 2010 at 9:22 PM
you make it all seem so easy!!
WHAT!! there are various types of mangoes? How have i never heard of this!! I need to get on that!
nice blog!
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September 4, 2010 at 2:56 PM
I’ve ALWAYS been terribly concerned with my weight and image issues. I’m too fat, my legs are too skinny, my head is too big, I’m too tall, my face is too fat, my feet are too big…tht kinda stuff!
So it was nice reading this post and seeing that one can be concerned with body and not neurotic as I am! lol! I too have been trying the exercise thing, watching Youtube vids and reading magazines but it’s soooo difficult to stay motivated!
The food is another issue. I’ve always loved junk food and though I’ve cut out a lot of it, it’s still difficult to break the Caribbean habit of eating more food than is needed. We have this way of ‘mek belly buss’ where we must consume everything put in front of us, even if we’re full, when we can be satisfied with waaaaaaay smaller portions.
I’ve actually lost weight not by scarfing down salads, but by cutting my portions in half… it’s surprising how much that contributes to our health issues.
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November 1, 2011 at 3:29 AM
Wow! After reading this, i don’t care what it takes! I’m getting back my pre-pregnancy body! I used to be a fitness freak but, shelved all that when i became pregnant. Now i have my baby boy, i’ll resume my workouts. Thanks for sharing. Jane from Nigeria.
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