Team
2Real was born out of three people’s passion to make a difference. One was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, and found that the information out there about it was lacking. Another’s father died of Type 2, and hates the misinformation available to people who have the disease. The third member of our team is passionate about the well-being of others, and believes that Type 2 is as much an issue of the mind as the body.
Tracy was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and was one point away from being put on Metformin. Her doctor said she had three months to turn it around, or else. She advised diet and exercise, but provided no specifics. So Tracy turned to the Internet and found scads of information, terrible recipes and exercise regimens that seemed perfect for seriously skinny and healthy people (which she was not). That’s when she knew she had to do create her own plan to deal with pre-diabetes.
An avid cook, she began by tearing apart so-called diabetes recipes that included fake “Frankenfoods” — because she hadn’t eaten them before, and wasn’t about to start now. She realized that many of the recipes for things like “diabetic Alfredo sauce” were simply attempts by food manufacturers to have life go on as before for diabetics, while forgetting about flavor and nutrition. Recipes for whole foods were few and far between in the diabetic recipe magazines. And exercise, while encouraged, seemed kind of like an afterthought. Where were the step-by-step instructions?
Tracy cut carbs — not completely, but dramatically — and began walking on the treadmill at least 30 minutes a day. She scoured her cookbooks for recipes that made the most of whole ingredients. She revised her breakfast plan to include protein and started bringing her lunch to work every day. Dinners became a mix of protein and vegetables. Sugar, in all of its various forms and hiding places, was banned.
When she went back to the doctor three months after her diagnosis for a re-check, the oral fasting test came back normal at 89. And Tracy thought, “if I can do this, so can everyone else.” So 2Real was born.
Sally Weir
Sally is the one who believes that Type 2 is as much an issue of mind as the body. The past few years have brought her an empty nest, divorce, depression, and menopause. She realized she needed to re-think how she lived her life and make major changes. Outwardly, she moved three times, jettisoned excess possessions, got fitter, and lost weight. But the enabling factor was changing her mindset and that’s what she hopes to help enable 2Real readers do.
When she brought this up to Tracy and Catherine, they responded with one fingered salutes to “spirituality” and “New Age.” After some lively discussion, they agreed that without self-understanding and acceptance, lasting improvements in eating and exercise habits don’t happen. And without practical knowledge of how thoughts and emotions really work, we’re way vulnerable to down spirals of negativity and pain which seem to be able to crush our “willpower” to eat and exercise healthily.
The web bursts with sites and articles on self help, motivation, psychology, neuroscience and, well, religious-type stuff purporting to help all potential customers….er…believers. Not much is geared for pre-diabetics, not much is particularly useful, some is even harmful.
That’s why 2Real is here: To present realistic information about what you can do about pre-diabetes and diabetes to feel better, get fit and stay that way.
