To celebrate, instead of sharing a DIY project with you all I thought I’d take a look back at this past year and share a bit about my journey. Four years and an important lesson learned the hard way!
The first one I shared was the girls’ bedroom. We had a blast painting it and decorating too! But most importantly the girls had final say in what went into the room.
Sine the blog is primarily about DIY projects I always try to show them in the context of my home and how you too can come up with creative solutions to use what you already have.
A year later, it still looks pretty much the same but the bookcases are full of stuff, as to be expected. And there are a lot more candles in the room since one of my girls has taken up candle making.
To this day, I still sit on the couch facing it and marvel at its beauty. And also what a waste it had been sitting in the foyer collecting dust all those years.
And we so needed it because things were difficult. It was hard adjusting to life here after living in Greece. In New York, people are so busy with their work and my girls had to get used to the fast paced rhythm of the city and so many cultural changes. Tatou really helped to ease the transition.
I can lie and say that this came as a shock but in all honesty, I had been abusing my body for years. Overdosing on sweets and lack of exercise was not the way to stay healthy. One of my girls loves to bake and well, as you can guess, I’m not one to resist a chocolate chip cookie, or five! And her cheesecakes are irresistible!
I ignored the signs. I was constantly tired and sluggish. I was always hungry which made no sense at all because I was eating all day long. And sitting in front of the computer certainly didn’t help matters at all.
I went into the doctor’s office for a referral and instead came out with a huge headache and enough prescriptions to make it a full-time job. Saying I was depressed about this was an understatement. But I knew I, and no one else, was to blame. I should have known better. But I just kept on sweeping my bad health habits under the rug. Not even a trip to the Botanical Gardens helped me to feel better!
Imagine walking around with a grenade inside you and not knowing about it, or even worse, keeping your head in the sand out of stupidity. That was me!! That trip to the doctor’s office was a wake-up call of the upmost urgency!
And I started walking everywhere, with my pupster and without. Like I said, this had become my full time job. That’s why I wasn’t working on new projects over the summer but instead sharing some oldies but goodies.
I kept on dragging on the color selections. But I figured once the room is done I will be better able to organize my life.
And that’s exactly what happened. I found a spot for all my medicine and put myself on a schedule. Discipline was the key here!
Ha! I say “that’s it” like it was a small thing, but in fact it was life changing!
I now had tons of energy because I didn’t have to worry about that sugar high and low. So much so, that instead of finishing the bedroom, I tackled another project!
In a two day period I painted the kitchen (ok it is the size of your closet, but still), the dining room, the entryway and the living room. For the living room I went all out and did a cloudy effect accent wall that has me swooning to this day!
No way would I have tried anything like this in my previous state! But now, I had so much energy I didn’t know what to do with it. And mind you, I’m no spring chicken.
And the dining room needs a bit more work too. Maybe I’ll get my girl to help me with some artwork.
But no matter what projects I am working on I never, ever slack off on my health. I was given this gift of good health and I am not about to throw it away or take it for granted like I had before.
As mothers, most of us are stuck in a sandwich situation. We have children to look out for and on the other end, we also have elderly parents to take care of. Too often we get so caught up in taking care of everyone else we neglect ourselves to the point where we can no longer function. That is exactly what happened to me. I was no good to anyone at that point.
I am so grateful to my family for rallying around me and helping me to get on board with my new lifestyle. They are all so good about this, they have all started eating healthier along with me. And once the weather warms up a bit there will be plenty of walks with Tatou!
I hope that you can all learn from my hard-earned mistake and go to the doctor and get your checkups every year. Moms are truly the backbone of the family and if we are not well then nothing works properly. Am I right?
I honestly have no idea how long I had the diabetes, maybe since my time in Greece where there is a pastry shop on every corner? Maybe it hit me later. I fooled myself into thinking it was the Greek heat that made me feel sluggish all the time but then I never questioned why I felt this way in winter too.
All I know is that I feel half my age or at least half of what I felt like before. Maybe before I felt like an 80 year old and now I feel my age? Either way I have loads of energy and then some.
And I am not special or Hercules. Like I mentioned before all I did was to cut out my sugar intake, watch my carbs and try to eat lots of fruits and veggies. And for exercise I would walk where ever possible. Even the shopping mall counts here!
I have been given a second chance at life. This is a miracle for me! My doctor jokes that I should be the poster child for diabetes! At my age I should be winding down and yet I am going in the opposite direction! I have lots of plans and a new road to follow for the future.
I’ll say it again! We all need to take care of ourselves. If you are feeling tired or sluggish go for a checkup, have your blood glucose levels checked. Take care of yourself because no one will do it for you!!
It has been such a roller coaster year for me but I needed to hit rock bottom! It was a wake-up call that really got me on the right path to wellness. I hope my hard-earned lesson will also help to motivate you in your wellness journey! I am celebrating my four years on the blog with a clean bill of health, how about you?
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I love it when I get your comments and I will try to reply to every one of them.
Thanks for being so transparent, Mary. It’s one of the things I like most about you! 😉 Very encouraging to me, as well, as I have started on the healthy diet again! 😉
Julie this was something that I really wanted to share with all of you. I know as bloggers we toil away for hours in front of the computer and it really does not help us at all. I hope everyone takes away that we all need to look out for ourselves because no one will do it for us. Good luck on your health journey!
Happy Blogiversary and I’m glad your health journey has brought you such positive insights. Hi to Tatou also!
(Visiting from the Hearth & Soul link party).
Tatou says hi back. He really has been such a great influence on all of us!!
You are so right, Mary. Our health is sooo important! I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes (maybe the same thing?) and I have been trying to manage it myself but I see that I am still tired most of the time. I guess it is time to revisit the doctor and take some better steps… Thanks for the heads up and I pinned this to several of my boards for you, including Ethereal Beautiful You and Animal Friends, because Tatou is adorable!!! <3
Glad you are feeling better,
Barb 🙂
Barbara I skipped pre-diabetes and went straight to diabetes my situation was so bad. Once I got my numbers down with insulin, I was switched over to pills and that is what makes all the difference for me, along with watching what I eat. Good luck with your health journey my friend!
Congratulations on all you have accomplished this year! I hope Tatou helps you stay healthy by demanding walks. You have done a great things for yourself by changing your diet. Best wishes.
Thank you so much Terri. I just wish I hadn’t let it get to this low point before I did something about it. Lesson learned.
Congratulations for taking great care of your health to turn it around, Maria, and for 4 years of blogging! I found your blog from Senior Salon link. Moving to New York City from Greece must be a huge adjustment. #seniorsalon
Natalie, I grew up here so it was not that big of an adjustment but it was much more so for my girls who are not used to the big city. Like any change there is an adjustment period and eventually they will come to love it here as much as I do.
I had no idea! I glad you are on the road to a healthier life. I also had to step back from blogging and just post old projects. I suffer from anxiety pretty bad where I can’t sleep at night and its affected my well being. So your health should be #1.
Absolutely there is nothing more important and we can be so much more effective in our roles when we are feeling our best. I hope you also are able to find relief for your anxiety Maria!
Congratulations on 4 years, Mary! That is quite an accomplishment. You have done so many amazing projects over the course of that time. But even higher congratulations should be awarded for your health journey. Good for you for taking the bull by the horns and turning things around! I’m so glad that you are feeling so much better. And you are so right – as moms, it is often difficult to take care of ourselves, but it is so important. Thanks for the wonderful update and reminder. 🙂
Amy you have little ones that keep you busy all day but that is even more a reason to pay attention to your health. Life is so crazy that we are always running ragged!
Amazingly, I am on this same journey right now. You have done a wonderful job taking control and taking care of yourself. Please share more encouragement. Happy Weekend, Kippi
Kippi you stay on that journey. And you will be rewarded as I have been with a new lease on life. Good luck to you!
Thank you. I am reading a book 7 Steps to Health as I am drinking my lemon water. Any tips you could share for those late night hunger for something cravings?
Happy blogoversary Mary. I can’t imagine what you went through with your blood sugar. This is a very important lesson to all of us. Thank you.
Thank you Katerina. I had to learn it the hard way I hope with my hard earned wisdom I can inspire everyone to take better care of themselves.
Mary, so many people who get a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes go on insulin and continue eating as much sugar as they can get away with, playing some sort of “balance” game with their insulin. So I was just gearing up to tell you about some MDs I know about online who are helping patients reverse (cure) their diabetes with lifestyle changes, when you told us how you quit sugar and are now off the insulin! Congratulations! And keep up the good work. And Happy 4th Blogiversary (I just had my 9th the other day). #HappinessIsHomemade
Jean that sounds like a very dangerous game to be playing with ones health. I was determined to get off insulin right from the start. I think if you set that as your goal then you will not be tempted as much with the sweets. If something makes you feel energized then it is an added bonus. as was the case with me eliminating the sugar. I confess that I do have birthday cake every once in a while but certainly nothing like I was consuming before. Thank you for your well wishes and congrats on your 9th blogoversary. That is quite an achievement!
Oh dear, that must have been a shock! Glad you were able to handle it. You’re absolutely right: We mums should take better care. I’m good in sending everyone off to the doctor’s and in taking care of them (these last two months with the hubby have been challenging), but when it comes to me… errr… so many check-ups postponed year after year… This post has been a wakeup call! I’ll at least try to be a good (better) girl this year!
Take care!
It was as if the floor fell out from under me Marjan. I knew I wan’t being careful with my health but did not think it would be that bad! I really wanted to share my story with all of you so that you might learn from my mistake and take care of yourselves because like you said we as mums tend to neglect ourselves.
Hi Mary, lovely DIY, amazing work.. we live in the UK and have a large print of the Brooklyn bridge in our lounge. Have never seen it in real life. I’m so pleased for you that you have managed to come off insulin, that is a fantastic achievement, well done!
Thank you so much Marian, I feel like a new me!
I am so excited for you! I know how hard it is to keep at it. I’m glad you found out and went after it! Congrats! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
It actually has proven easier then I originally expected. Mainly because cutting out all the sweets has given me so much more energy now. That is a huge benefit!!
Congratulations Mary! A big milestone for you and a triumph in winning your health back! Thank you for your honest post – hope it will be an eye-opener for most of us who neglect the signs our bodies is sending to us!
As for the future – I wish you many, many fruitful years blogging!
Thank you so much Maya. I hope my message of hope reaches everyone and helps them along on their health journey too.
We are so busy with our lives that we tend to forget important things like health. I am so happy to hear you are on the good track again and filled with energy! Congratulations for that and of course on the blogoversary.
Thank you Pili, I feel like a new person and have also found a new purpose in my life.
Congrats on the blogging milestone! And congrats on making the decision to take better care of yourself. Most of these things creep up on us and some don’t take them seriously. Good on you for making it a learning/healing experience.
That it exactly what had happened to me Betty it had creeped up on me and I kidded myself into thinking I was immune. I now feel like a new person and the transformation has been painless.
Hi, Mary! New person here. I do know that an 11 is serious BUT! I am so happy with how you stayed right on and are taking care of it in so many ways, including customizing part of your bedroom for your pills ;> and using the platform you have here, also! i am presently watching a friend slowly die of this disease by refusing to manage it beyond taking pills, and if he would just get a good grip on it, he might even live to see 55. Bless you, dear Mary!
Jeannee I am heartbroken to hear this. It was such an easy fix, much easier than I had expected. And it does not feel like a sacrifice at all since I have loads of energy now. I hope our friend might read my post and reconsider. It was the best thing that ever happened to me and really kicked my butt in the right direction. I Thank you for your sweet comment from the bottom of my heart Jeannee!
Happy 4th Blogaversary, Mary! Wow, how time flies, feels like we just met here in blogland. High fives to you my friend. Wow, that’s impressive totally reversing Type II diabetes and so quickly! You are going to be my inspiration because I’m heading (or may already be) where you started. Sitting at a computer for over five years and neglecting my health has caught up to me. Hearing your story is the motivation I need to put myself back on the list. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!!!
Thank you so much Marie. I have found the best think I can do for myself is move. Anything but sitting is good. And of course I had to cut out my beloved sweets but it was worth the sacrifice. I hope my story motivates you and anyone else out there to take better care of yourselves. It is very achievable with just a little work.
Congratulations Mary on your 4 year anniversary!!! And most importantly on regaining your health!! You are so lucky to be off the insulin. Diabetes is such a silent disease that you don’t even know things are happening to your body until it’s to late if not managed properly! I know this too well with my dad being a diabetic for the last 30 years and sadly lost his leg in March of last year. But it makes me so very happy to hear that you have been able to fight this awful disease and gain back your health! You go girl!!!
Thank you so much Sam. If you would have told me a year ago I would have been on this roller coaster ride, I would not have believed it. I am thankful for having gone through it though, because it taught me to never take anything for granted. I hope your dad is able to monitor his diabetes and stays as healthy as he can.
I’m very glad you were able to turn things around with your health. It’s so important! My husband is pre-diabetic and totally changing his diet. He’s always exercised, and has a slim build, but it wasn’t enough. As an Asian, he grew up on a heavy diet of white rice, and now he’s pretty much cut it out of his life, without regret. Happy blogoversary!
Debra you never know when it will strike. Apparently we have it in our family history and so I was predisposed to it without knowing it. Good luck on your husbands wellness journey!
Hello Mary,
I did not realize that you had moved back to NY from Greece. I just want to say that it must of been a very stressful time for you with the move.
I am glad I found your blog again at April J. Harris link party!
I am so glad that you were able to get the diabetes in check and that you are healthier now. Having a dog helps because you get some exercise from walking a dog and walking all around the city. Good luck with your health and feeling better.
If you ever want to meet up, just email me and I would love to meet you for coffee.
I really want to congratulate you for blogging for four years. It is such an accomplishment. Take care and wishing you many more years of happiness blogging.
Julie xo
Hi Julie, Thank you so much for the well wishes. It was a stressful time with lots of adjusting especially for my girls.
I would love to meet up for coffee, let the weather get settled a bit and I will send you an e-mail and we can arrange it.
Hello Mary, I’m back again to say thank you for sharing at Share Your Style #197 this week! I pinned the lovely tulips photo from Central Park… I’d love to see spring there!! <3
Happy weekend to you and I'll be backt to linking up myself more once I create a new master list ~ after the move.
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Have a good and safe move Barbara!! And thank you for all your support!
I am so glad you are now feeling much healthier, Mary, and that your family have settled in well in New York. It’s wonderful of you to share so openly and honestly. Your projects are really inspiring! Congratulations on your 4 year blogging anniversary too. Thank you so much for being a part of The Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Thank you for your well wishes April. It is good to have been involved in this wonderful community for four years.
Congratulations, Mary, on not only the wonderful 4 year anniversary, but your health journey. It does take much work and I’m proud of you. You go, girl!
Thanks so much Larissa, looking back on those past six months now, I cannot believe how far I’ve come.
Great post and super important reminder to look after ourselves. While the Mediterranean Diet aspect of living in Greece is a good one, I too, have fallen into a bad habit of enjoying that fresh-made bread, those roasted potatoes and those sweets just a bit too much. You’ve inspired me to cut them out and focus on fewer carbs and sugars. Hopefully, I’ll have the same success story to report next year!
Jackie between the bread and the pastry shops on every corner it was a disaster in Greece. I remember my parents telling me that back when they lived in Greece they would eat greens, veggies and beans all week and only have meat on Sundays. Now it seems that the opposite is happening. Good luck on your wellness journey!
Thank goodness you went to the doctor when you did Mary. I for one am incredibly grateful you’re still here and feeling so much more active and positive. Moving across half the world takes a lot out of a person and it’s sometimes difficult to be a little selfish and look after yourself when you have so many other things to worry about. Keep walking my beautiful friend and a very happy blogoversary to you. I wish you many more happy, healthy, love filled years doing and enjoying all the things you love. Except sugar 😉
Thank you so much dear Michelle. It was a big move and it was something that did not impact me until about a year later. I am so grateful to have been given this new lease on life and am taking full advantage of it and moving forward!
Congratulations on the blogiversary and for getting to that dr! Glad you are happier as well as healthier. Loved this post – You are an inspiration.
Thank you Cindy. We can never take our health for granted!
Thank you for sharing your health scare, Mary. I’m sure your story will make an impact on many who may not be feeling well and will now check into it. I am trying my best these days to limit my sweet tooth and carbs too. As we get older more health issues pop up and we have to keep on track with doctor exams and diet and exercise.
I recently had foot surgery and could not walk well now for 5 weeks! Oh my, I have missed my walks, but I hope now that my foot is healing I’ll be able to walk much more now without pain.
NYC is a wonderful place to walk so keep up all your scenic posts as well as your DIY projects.
Congratulations on your 4th year blog anniversary!!
Pat I would be miserable to if I was not able to walk. I wish you a very speedy recovery so you can get back to doing what you love. If there was anyplace that was great for hiking it is Colorado! Thank you and stay healthy!!
Wow congratulations on turning your health around. That’s incredible and an example to us all. I need a less stressful life and need to take that more seriously xx
Too often we take our health for granted and things can get stressful without us realizing it. Pay attention to your body and don’t be like me Maria!! Thank goodness I changed my ways in the nick of time!
Congratulations Mary on your blogging journey, but more importantly, on your new found (or should I say earned!!) good health!! I’m so glad you’re feeling great and your diabetes is under control. Enjoy the weekend and celebrate!! Xxoo
I have been celebrating all week Kim. But it’s time to get back on track, cause you know all that candy from Valentine’s Day doesn’t help.
Mary, I did not realize your move from Greece was this recent. I thought it had been about 4 years ago. Moves are truly traumatic. I’m sure one across the world certainly would be. I also had a health situation that threw me for a loop this past year, tho the doctors didn’t find the cause. I am pursuing health and wellness also. I’ve not bounced back as quickly as I would have liked. But I am determined. I really enjoy your blog and the creative use of your upcycled items. Happy 4 year blogaversary!
Thank you so much Rachel. Stress can really wreck havoc on our health and too often we do not pay attention to our bodies when they are crying out for help. I wish you good health and just stick with it. Anything we can do is always an improvement from just doing nothing.
Mary this is a lovely post! I to have been working on less sugar and better health since I met you. On the my hubby got me doing is sodium ascorbate, up to a couple of teaspoons a half hour before I eat. I haven’t been sick with my chronic ear aches since. Remember last yearyear’s wedding all the traveling and work I couldn’t have done that when I wasn’t taking it. So investigate that, because I’m more “not a spring chick” that you.😉
I’ll look into it Lorin. I remember all of your running around last year with the wedding and commenting how you were like a superwoman with all the work you did. Us non-spring chickens have to look out for ourselves!
Congratulations on your blogversay and but more importantly in taking control of your health. That is a real accomplishment! I always enjoy visiting you and seeing your creativity, I’m hoping we both are writing posts in another 4 years. Happy Friday my friend!
Thank you so much Carol. It was a real wake-up call for me to realize I had gotten into such a bad state.
What a wonderful post for your blogoversary, Mary! Congratulations on four years of blogging and of course, developing a healthy lifestyle! It’s a lesson we all need to learn and to take heed! I am so proud of you!
Thank you Gail. It was long overdue, and it was time I looked under the rug and cleaned out my “house” or in this case body!
I’m sure life was a huge adjustment but you have done very well. Our two doxies are everything to us. We knew we would love them but didn’t realize how much.
Always enjoy your posts and projects. Congratulations!
Ci
Thank you Cindy. That dog is an official member of the family and we spoil him so much. I also cannot imagine our lives without him.
Wow, Mary, you’ve really turned things around, that is fantastic.
What a year it’s been!
Congrats on your 4th blogiversary, I can’t wait to see what the new energised Mary will have for us in 2019!
Thank you Julie, I may be energized but I also learned that I need to stay relaxed so this year I am only doing things that make me happy and not stressing. That is so important to our well-being and too often we forget this!
Hi Mary,
I came across your link on FB and followed it to your blog. I am so proud of you. I, too, am off all sugar (and white flour) and it has made a huge difference in my life. I feel younger, too!
I am your newest follower and will put you on my sidebar so I don’t miss any of your posts- I read from there. Blessings to you and I am glad to have found you. Diana
Thank you so much Diana. You know better than everyone just what an energy killer sugar is. Let’s celebrate together to our health!!
Hi- I am not able to add you to my sidebar because it says you do not have a traceable URL-so I will subscribe instead.
Thank you so much Diana!
You are such an inspiration Mary. I love how you took responsibility for the change in your health and turned it around. Kudos to you!!!
You should be the poster child, because we all have more control than we think. It’s not always easy, but so worth it!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Jodie that is exactly what my doctor said to me the other day. I should be the poster child. I have to admit I was really surprised that I was able to get it in check in such a short amount of time. But that is exactly what needed to be done.
Hi Mary, I am so sorry to hear about your health scare, but so happy to read that you are now fit and healthy again and it sounds like you are determined to stay that way! Sometimes it takes a scare like that to make us rethink our lives… I stopped running last summer, mainly because I felt my joints weren’t overly happy with the pounding anymore, but now I am happy hiking more often and am loving the way being in nature more often is making me feel. I’m no gym bunny and did worry what I would do to maintain my fitness… I hope your blog and your good health continue for many years to come… I couldn’t imagine life without a pooch or two to take care of. A house isn’t a home without one!
xx
Thank you Debbie. I needed that scare to scare me back into a healthy lifestyle. I am happy to hear that you have found an alternative to running. Greece is made for hiking isn’t it. I miss taking long walks in the countryside. As for our dog, may he ever be by our side. I too cannot imagine life without him!
It is, isn’t it? We have our annual trip to Tyros soon and I can’t wait. Do you ever get back this way?
Thank you for sharing at #keepingitreal
xx
Wow, Mary! That was a wake up call. I am so glad you took the initiative to take charge and do something about it. It was so fortunate you were able to demonstrate it can be done to help others.
That is exactly my message Debra, if I can do this so can anyone else. It’s too bad I had to hit rock bottom to get there!
Happy Blogoversary!!!
Lisa
Thank you so much Lisa, it sure has been a roller coaster year!
Mary, congratulations on your blogiversary but even more on your healthy achievements. Diabetes is not a small thing and you have conquered it. You should be very proud of yourself! That is a marvelous achievement and especially in one year- many people need several years to figure it all out and get themselves regulated. You hoo for you!
Michele I had no time to waste. I walked into the doctors office and came out with a bunch of pills and insulin. If that wasn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what would have been. I needed to get healthy fast. Once I stopped eating sweets and putting a ton of sugar in my coffee it became a habit and the numbers started dropping rapidly. Thanks for your encouragement!
OH Mary I’m so happy for you and how you got your health back on track, good for you!!! It can get stressful and as you say, us moms oftentimes forget about ourselves. I am glad you are doing better!
Katrin we are so busy doing everything for our family and we forget that we need to be well in order to function. That was a lesson hard learned but I am thankful all is well now.
Congratulations on your blog anniversary, well done! Also that’s amazing that you have managed to reverse your diabetes, double congratulations!
Thank you so much Claire, it became a top priority once I had hit rock bottom out of stupidity no less!!
Congratulations on your blogging milestone. Reaching 4 years is no small thing.
I’m so happy you shared your health journey because it’s important for others to know they can take charge of their situation.
No doubt you will be an inspiration to all who read your journey.♥️♥️♥️
I certainly hope so Lisa. I wanted to share this with you all in the hopes that it will be a wake up call to some of us who are always putting off our well being because we are too busy taking care of everyone else.
So glad you kicked your diabetes to the curb. I’m totally the sandwich generation too. My time is split between my elderly parents, elderly dogs, grandkids, household, and job – there’s so little time for me but you know what they say: you can’t serve from an empty cup. We need to pause and take care of our selves first so we can continue to serve those around us.
Happy new you and happy blogging anniversary, my friend!
Stay healthy! XX
That is a perfect way of saying it Jas. You cannot serve from an empty cup! Yes! You know exactly what I’m talking about, being pulled from both sides as the same time. And sometimes the old folks can be so unreasonable it is exhausting. Now I have a lot more patience and try to see the situation with humor instead of indignation!