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What made you decide to come to the Rice Diet?
In 2006, I found myself in the hospital being treated for pneumonia and high blood sugar. I had gone to my doctor for a check-up, but he sent me straight to the hospital via ambulance to start treatment immediately. A few days after getting out of the hospital, my dad ran into one of the nurses at the Center for Living. He told her about my hospital stay, and she told him about working part-time at the Rice Diet Program, offering to talk with me about it if I were interested. I did, and went by the Clinic as well for more information. I remembered a friend from college having great success on the Rice Diet. Between those things and the shock over the state of my health and being on insulin, (4 shots of insulin a day, for a total of 245 units!), I decided the Rice Diet was a must-do.
Was the Program what you expected?
The day I visited Rice House, I already had the week off from work and was planning to go to the beach. On the spot, I changed my mind and spent my vacation week there instead. I remember taking the cooking class and thinking, "I could do this at home."
I’ve been in the program continuously since August 2006. Since I live near Rice House, I live at home while participating in the Program. I wake up at 5:30 a.m. every morning and do an hour of cardio exercises. I then go to Rice House for breakfast and a medical check-in. Rice House packs a lunch, which I take to work. My co-workers say, "Wow, that smells great, what is it?" At the end of the day, I return to Rice House for dinner, to learn what’s going on at the House, and for friendship. I feel so fortunate to be able to live so close to the Rice House and to be able to prioritize this -- before, I’d stay late at work until I was hungry and on the way home grab some fast food. Now I want to get to Rice House for dinner.
The Program has been different than I expected; there are lots more food choices than I thought there would be. I’ve even invented my own rice dish with condiments that Ricers and kitchen staff have dubbed the Lesley Concoction!
What changes happened while you were at the Rice House?
I’ve come off of blood pressure and all diabetes medications! Remember the 245 units of daily insulin I took when I was discharged from the hospital? All gone! And my weight? I’ve lost 100 pounds so far! I’ve come down several clothes sizes and am fitting into clothes in the teen sizes for the first time in many years. Even my boyfriend, just by watching me on the Rice Diet and changing his diet, has lost 50 pounds!
One of my co-workers told me she could see my eyes better, and that’s one of the best compliments I’ve received.
How has the experience of the Rice Diet Program impacted your life overall?
I’d gotten to the point where I never thought I’d be "skinny" again, so the Rice Diet has helped me have a different perspective on my body, as well as my health. I have more energy for things like taking the stairs, or keeping up with others while shopping or most other physical activities. I sleep better. I used to get up 2-3 times in the night to go to the bathroom, probably from all the caffeinated soft drinks I used to drink every day. I can fit into booths and seats (at the theater, for example) better. Also, I feel like I have more control of my health. Sure, things I can’t control may come up health-wise, but seeing how diet and exercise have controlled my diabetes and blood pressure has given me a lot of confidence that I’m in better control of my health overall.
Is there anything else you want to share?
I recently ran into a colleague I hadn’t seen in a long time. "You look 20 years younger!" she said. That kind of summed it up for me. I feel as if I’ve added years to my life, and certainly quality. I feel better, more energetic, more alert, more alive. It kind of made me speechless; I almost looked over my shoulder to see who she was talking to. It was me!
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