At 68, Karen was already doing more exercise than most people half her age, dancing, walking and tai chi every week. But even with all that movement, she knew something wasn’t quite right.
A routine blood test flagged high sugar levels and an enlarged liver. “That was the wake-up call,” Karen says. “I wanted to do something before it got worse.”
She found out about My health for life at Brisbane’s Mind, Body and Spirit Festival and decided to sign up.
“From the beginning, I took it seriously,” Karen says. “I started reviewing my diet and adding more walking. The sugar was the hardest. I used to drink cordial and fizzy drinks daily.”
With sweet temptations constantly in the house, courtesy of her son and his girlfriend, resisting cravings was no small feat. “They eventually started hiding the sweets in their car so I wouldn’t see them” she admits.
A big part of her success came from increasing her protein intake and finding smart substitutions. “I had help from a dietitian. We talked about managing cravings and making better choices. I also switched to diet versions of drinks.”
My health for life health coaching gave Karen the structure she needed. “I liked how the phone calls weren’t too close together. It gave me time to set a goal, work on it, and then check back in. It was never overwhelming.”
She found the health coaching workbooks especially helpful. “The charts showing that progress isn’t always linear were great. It reminded me that if I veered off track, I could still come back and keep going.”
Karen says one of the biggest surprises was how much health coaching focused on mindset. “It helped me think differently. Instead of being disappointed for not hitting a goal, I started focusing on what I did achieve. That was a big shift.”
As the weeks went by, she started noticing small but significant improvements. “I’m using a CPAP machine and I slept better. I had more energy. My blood pressure went down.” Then came the best news of all: Her blood sugar and liver enzyme levels returned to normal.
The combination of better rest, better nutrition and more mindful habits has made a huge difference to Karen. Her biggest challenge remains sugar cravings, but her determination hasn’t wavered. “I didn’t want to be diabetic. That was my motivation, and I stuck with it.”
Karen says she’d recommend My health for life to anyone, especially those who think it’s too late to make a change. “I thought I was too old, but it’s never too late. You don’t have to do it alone. Having someone check in makes a big difference.”
Her advice for others? “Don’t stress if you go off track. Just pick yourself up and keep going. Focus on what you can eat instead of what you can’t. And don’t forget to celebrate the wins, no matter how small.”
These days, Karen is still losing weight, still walking, and still dancing, just with a little less sugar and a lot more energy.
If you would like support from a My health for life Health Coach, complete the free online Health Check today to see if My health for life is right for you.
