FIT U

Yeah that was the question I was asking the doctors about 7 months ago (Nov. 17, 2011) when they told me that my barely 5 year old son had Type 1 Diabetes.

About a month prior he had gone for his annual well-check. He had just turned 5 years old. He looked great! The doctor said he was doing well. He was growing fine and developing well. Part of the appointment process was for him to pee in a cup. He was so not ok with that so the nurse and I agreed that he could do it at home and I would just return the cup. Things went like “normal” for about 2 weeks after that then some weird/questionable things started happening. I noticed that my son was drinking a ton of water. He would act like he hadn’t had a drink of anything for days – like he was dying of thirst.  He was drinking so much water that he was constantly using the bathroom (pee)…even so much where he would have accidents in the bed at night even though he went right before bedtime. It wasn’t like him at all. He was 5 years old and never had an accident in the bed. This went on for about a week and half. I finally got him to “go” in the cup and took it to his pediatrician. On the way there I called the nurse and left her a message telling her I had some concerns (I knew enough about diabetes because I was wrapping up my degree in Nutrition. I recognized the signs and had some MAJOR concerns about it so I spent some time googling it, frequent urination and extreme thirst). I knew that he either has a urinary tract infection (my daughter had urinary problems as a young child so I thought it was possible) or I thought that the only other possibility was juvenile/ insulin dependent diabetes. Looking back now I knew very little about Type 1. I told the nurse to call me before she ran the urinalysis so we could discuss my concerns.

When we got the doctor’s office she told me that she received my message and to hang on and let her run it really fast. After a few minutes she called me back. She said that my 5 year old baby had 2000 ketones in his urine when there should be NONE! She said that you only see this with diabetics. I was FREAKING out! Was this really happening?! Things like this didn’t happen to us! Why was this happening? OMG! She asked me questions about my son and how he had been acting…. If he had been vomiting? Lethargic? No – he hadn’t. His only symptoms were frequent urination, extreme thirst and sleepiness. She told me that the pediatrician was out of the office until the morning so we needed to come back then to see him. The nurse said that since he was functioning, not lethargic and not vomiting that I could take him home – no hospitalization. Hospitalization?! WHAT? Well Thank You Jesus! All I remember her saying was to feed him protein…NO carbs tonight! Me – still FREAKING out! Called my husband after leaving there to tell him what the nurse had said…we just didn’t know how to deal with this.  The rest of the day and night are a slight blur. I remember feeling like I was in a dream but definitely didn’t sleep much…..

The next morning the nurse called to tell us that instead of coming to their office that we should head to Odessa to Dr. Ponders (LoneStar Diabetes and Endocrinology) office and that they were waiting for us. My mom ended up calling me about that time and I lost it…I told her what was going on (I wasn’t going to tell anyone until we knew for sure what was going on). We both cried it out over the phone and I then picked her up to go with me to the appointment. We arrived and they took us right in. Checking my son’s blood sugar and talking and teaching us about Type 1. I learned that my little baby’s blood sugar was out of control and had been running in the 500s and 600s…. I still felt like I was in a dream. Q (my son) was very confused. He didn’t understand what was going on (finger pokes, injection and doctors) and I was SO stressed! I learned that he would need daily injections and constant blood sugar checks…so I wondered how the HELL I (a total needle phobic person) was suppose to check my 5 year old baby’s blood sugar 8X per day and give him injections?? I knew this was for real! It was serious! Why did this happen to my baby? We stayed most of the day there learning from Dr. Ponder and Brant and planned to spend many hours and days there over the next week. We went home that day still stunned. Dr. Ponders office called needing blood work done so we had to head to the lab. So we loaded up and went. My mom held him while the tech took 6 viles of blood. He was a CHAMP! That evening I think was one of the hardest of my life. After his blood work all he wanted to do was go with my mom to her house. My daughter was at gymnastics so I had to go get her. On the way I called my husband and had a total breakdown. I cried. I bawled. Asking God why this happened? It wasn’t fair! He’s just a baby! I felt scared, devastated, worried and just plain defeated. Then my mom and him came back over to the house for dinner. Q needed his injections though and this first night was a HUGE task. He was scared, cried and didn’t want to take his shot. (My mom helped me by giving Q his shots for the first week because I was terrified to do them) Finally he caved and let us give the shots…..he cried, I cried, my mom cried, my daughter cried….

The next few days were spent with Brant learning how to manage diabetes. The next few weeks were a huge blur. We tried to figure out how to fit our lives into the diabetes. We basically were just trying to survive, tried to stay afloat. I think we all went through a stage of depression. Sad…we knew this was his life from now on. There’s no out growing it. He will live with this for the rest of his life! (I tell people now that I think the adjustment was harder on us than him). Thanksgiving went by, my daughter’s birthday, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day, our first out of town day trip, overnight trip and WE SURVIVED! And will continue to! We took it day by day. Every day does get easier as I learn how to manage this for him….Learning what foods affect his blood sugar and how. It’s a delicate balance between the proper amount of insulin, the proper amount of carbs at each meal and snack, the timing of these foods and injections and his activity level, plus he’s 5 years old. There really are a lot of factors to consider. And I want him to also get to just be a kid!

The key to managing diabetes is learning as much about it as you can from people who know about it, managing the food intake and taking the right amount of the right type of insulin. I am my son’s primary caregiver and I say this often – my son’s quality and quantity of life depends on my knowledge and ability. I am grateful every single day for Dr. Ponder and Brant! They continue to save my sons life all the time! Brant has been my saving grace – I text him often and in the beginning I texted him probably every hour!

My son is a super CHAMP! I know he is destined for greatness because he almost died at birth and then again around 3 months old and then now has Diabetes Type 1. God wants him here because he has a wonderful life planned for him. Q allows me to check his blood sugar 8-12X per day (depending on the day) He allows me to (with no fight or sacredness) give him 3 injections (sometimes more) daily and is ok when I tell him he can’t eat yet (because he has to wait for his insulin to “kick in) or that he can’t have snack yet or that he can’t eat or drink that…..

I don’t want pity for him as he knows no other life and I never want him to feel sorry for himself. He was given this because he is STRONG and because he CAN handle it (sure doesn’t mean he should have to though). I don’t want him to feel limited, unable or disabled because of his diabetes. He can do ANYTHING he wants in life! He is strong, caring, loving, smart, friendly, helpful, sweet, full of personality and so much more! I am in awe of him every day! He definitely doesn’t let his diabetes hold him back!

I know that I wish he would have never gotten diabetes. I pray and wish everyday for a cure – for my son and all the other children! I am participating in the FIGHT against Diabetes! If you want to help find a cure msg me ASAP!! www.diabetes.org/StepOut Team Cure It!!!

As a College student for so many years I learned some about diabetes (mostly Type 2) but we only focused on that for a couple if weeks then on to the next thing (I was a nutrition student so we just discussed diet pertaining to different conditions & diseases). My grandfather was a diabetic & grandma is a diabetic so I had some experience with it but not personal. I am a total blood & needle phobic so I didnt like to think much of that & I especially didn’t want to see it. For me or one my super close family members to get it (my husband or one of my kids) scared the CRAP out of me so we always ate really clean to stay healthy & prevent disease. In October 2011 my son turned 5. The beginning of November he was always drinking a ton of water (like he hadn’t had any for 4days) so then he was peeing constantly. Since I had studied for so many years I knew that was a sign of diabetes. I had a urine cup that I had my son pee in & I took it to his pediatricians office. I left the nurse a voicemail to call me before she ran it because I had some things to discuss with her about it. Well when I went to go drop it off she had me wait. A few minutes later she called us back (me, my son & my then 11year old daughter). She told me that he had 2000 keytones in his urine when there is suppose to be zero! WHAT??!! What does that mean? She went on to explain that when they see that it’s diabetes. She asked if he had been feeling ok & he had (no vomiting) so she didn’t send us to the hospital. Thank God! She told us no carbs for dinner & to come back in the AM to meet with the doctor because he was out that afternoon. I was in shock! I didn’t want to believe it but deep down I knew it. That night (November 17, 2011) I researched it more & found that when children get diabetes it’s ALWAYS Type 1 which means they make very little insulin & will require injections. My son was 5! I couldn’t believe this was happening! It’s not fair!
The next morning our pediatrician called & said we needed to go to Odessa to meet with Dr Ponder at his diabetes & endocrinology center. We got dressed & headed straight there. That was one if the worst days of my life!!! We met the doctor, the nurse, the office staff, the dietician- how was I know then that these people would save my sons life & become my “best friends”……..
stay tuned….more to come very soon….

The deets are here and ready to be emailed out to you IF you are serious about changing your life!

CHANGE YOUR LIFE Beachbody Challenge!!! ———-

I have hosted several challenges in the last couple of years but I think its time for a small intimate group of us to really dig deep and commit to eachother and ourselves to improve our life and the lives of the people around us. This challenge is like NO other I have conducted. There is a set plan for success! So……..

Have you ever wanted more energy?      

Have you tried everything to lose weight?

Do you want to feel better?

Do you want to look good in the mirror?

Do you want to feel more confident?

Do you want to live longer?

Do you want to set a good example for your kids?

Do you want to stress less?

Do you want to think clearer?

Do you want to have a better attitude?

Do you want to improve your health issues?

Do you have high blood pressure?

Do you have out of control diabetes?

And……………………….

If you answered YES to any of these questions then you need to take MY Beachbody Challenge!!

What is it? I am going to personally help 5 people each month with their nutrition, fitness and accountability.

Fitness + Nutrition + Support = Success

With this challenge you will get a challenge pack that includes a workout program, shakeology (for more info on shakeology and its benefits www.myshakeology.com/CoachJennU) and the Club Membership (FREE month trial! The Club Membership is awesome because it provides you with a custom meal planner! And as a club member you get 10% off all beachbody purchases!) Plus - I will provide TONS of support – FaceBook group exclusive to the 5 committed challengers, several emails, a couple of training calls, one-on-one help, meal planning help, accountability, and PRIZES!!

 All you have to do is:

1. Decide that you are in for the FULL 30 days.

2. Commit to yourself and me!

3. You need to decide which workout program you will do. (its required that you get on a program)

4. And choose between Greenberry or Chocolate Shakeology. (its required that drink shakeology everyday!)

Emails me ASAP (jjmack78@suddenlink.net) as I am only taking 5 per challenge. If there are more than 5 they will be put on a waitlist for the next month.

I am SO FLIPPIN’ EXCITED!!!! as these things have worked for me and I know they can work for you!! You ready to COMMIT?

In honor of my birthday this week I am doing an “End the Trend” promotion! What is it???? Well I am looking to expand my efforts in ending the trend of obesity. I can’t do it alone! I need other like minded folks who are ready to make a change in their own life by helping others change theirs! Is that u? I believe so much in this company, what it stands for, the products & my team that for the next people who join my team of AWESOME coaches on Shakeology Home Direct they will receive a special starter package from me! This package will include a “wear & share” shirt w/workout titles & Shakeology written on the back or a hat if preferred. Also included will be a pack (10-12) of the Doctors CD (about shakeology) to hand out to people. I believe it’s important to have the appropriate tools to jumpstart your business & these are them!
It’s time! It’s time to secure YOUR future! —> Get FIT -physically & financially! Help others! Change the world!
Ready to ROLL? www.GetFitWithJenn.com COACH
Have questions?? jjmack78@suddenlink.net
I am looking for people who are looking for me!!!

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator !!!
This is interesting.��After reading this, you’ll never look at a
banana in the same way again.� Bananas contain three
natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fiber.
A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy
for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.�It can also
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet..
Depression:�According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND
amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better
after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain
tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts
into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve
your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:�Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:�High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:�This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood
pressure. So much so, the�US�Food and Drug
Administration has just allowed the banana
industry to make official claims for the
fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of
blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:�200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school
(England) were helped through their exams this year by eating
bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost
their brain power. Research has shown that the
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning
by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:�High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem
without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:�One of the quickest�ways of curing a hangover is to
make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana
calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up
depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and
re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:�Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body,
so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana
for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:�Snacking on bananas between meals helps
to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness..
Mosquito bites:�Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try
rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many
people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling
and irritation.
Nerves:�Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the
nervous system.
Overweight�and at work? Studies at the�Institute�of�Psychology�in
Austria�found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients,
researchers found the most obese were more likely to
be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that,
to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to
control our blood sugar levels by snacking on
high carbohydrate foods every two hours
to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:�The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the
only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in
over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes
over-acidity and reduces irritation by
coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:�Many other cultures see bananas as a
‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional
temperature of expectant mothers. In�Thailand, for
example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):�Bananas can help
SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood
enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking & Tobacco Use:�Bananas can also help people trying
to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the
potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:�Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s
water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate
rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These
can be rebalanced with the help of a
high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:�According to research in The New England Journal of
Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the
risk of death by strokes by as much as 40�percent.
Warts:�Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want
to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the
wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place
with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare
it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate,
three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and
twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium
and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to
change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A banana a
day keeps the doctor away!’

 PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!
I will add one more�here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take
the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe …
polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit�!!!

I got this in an email & had to post this even though it’s not generally what I put on my blog…I found it SO FUNNY yet amazing really -technology & our world has really advanced so much in the last 30-40years!

Growing up without a cell phone

   If you are 36, or older, you might think this is hilarious! 

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning…. Uphill… Barefoot… BOTH ways…yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they’ve got it!

But now that I’m over the ripe old age of forty, I can’t help but look around and notice the youth of today. You’ve got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don’t know how good you’ve got it!

1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn’t have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

3) Child Protective Services didn’t care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!

4) There were no MP3’s or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We’d play our favorite tape and “eject” it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that’s how we rolled, Baby! Dig?

6) We didn’t have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that’s it!

7) There weren’t any freakin’ cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn’t make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your “friends”. OH MYGOSH !!! Think of the horror… Not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there’s TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.

8) And we didn’t have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent… You just didn’t know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

9) We didn’t have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like ‘Space Invaders’ and ‘Asteroids’. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen.. Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your $%# and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what’s the world coming to?!?!

11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I’m saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat!

12) And we didn’t have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play.. All day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside… You were doing chores!

  And car seats - oh, please!  Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on.  If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!  




  See!  That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten!  You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1970   or any time before!

Regards, The Over 30 Crowd