Evolution Of My Boondi Raita
As I went into my lunch break today, I saw that I had an extra box in my tiffin. A curry and three chapatis is my routine and I am disciplined enough to never change that. So out of curiosity I opened that extra box first. There I found my favourite boondi raita. My mom had placed a specific label of ‘Sugar free’ on it!
It has been a full year now. Exactly a year ago, I had gone for a pre-insurance check up. As always, it was a casual visit to the hospital for getting my tests done, where I was almost certain that everything was going to be normal. I quickly completed the checkup and was told that my reports would be directly sent to the insurance company.
After 4-5 days I received a call from the insurance company informing me that I would have to pay extra premium as my blood sugar levels were in the pre-diabetes range. That was a shock and a surprise! When we see someone with a disease, we assume that it won’t happen to us ever, until it actually happens. I felt restless. Being a foodie, I was saddened to know that I would have to restrict my eating.
As an ordinary reaction to such instances I rechecked the parameters from another lab. The results came out to be the same. I was left with no option other than to accept this reality. I started thinking about the changes I would have to make in my eating habits without spoiling the happiness of being a foodie. I talked to my family, close friends, and a professional dietician to form a diet plan. I cut down on carbohydrates and fats, increased proteins and fibres, and so on. With everyone’s advice I made it a point that my new diet was equally tasty and healthy. And soon I started seeing the results.
After a few months, my blood sugar parameters improved, I lost some weight, and started feeling fitter. But then some complacency started setting in. I became casual and so did the others around me. ‘Its ok to have sweets once in a while.’ ‘What’s the problem with just one scoop?'... These sentences started ringing in. My family had been feeling sad for the compromises I had to make and were now more than happy to indulge me with my favourite dishes, once my blood sugars had improved. It was their love for me. In reality my casual attitude towards my own plan was responsible for things beginning to slip. In a few weeks, I started putting on weight. I took the increasing readings on the weighing machine as an alarm bell. I was sure my sugars would go up next. I pulled myself together and determined that I was going to be stricter with my plans of diet and exercise. I politely refused the forbidden foods and explained to everyone how getting emotional and breaking rules would adversely affect me. They realised it too. They appreciated my point of view and slowly things went back on the track.
I had this realisation that whatever plans or resolutions you make in your life, no matter how big or small, you yourself have to be serious and sincere about it first. If you do so, the whole world around you is there to help. But if you are not serious yourself, then no one else is!