From Generation X to Syndrome X

80s Girl at Heart

As a child I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I didn’t gorge out, but I didn’t hold back, either. I tried everything, especially since my parents subscribed to the “Clean Plate Club.” I don’t remember going hungry. Ever.

I can recall school lunches filled with the yummiest choices, and it always had a cute yellow tube cake (with frosting on the inside) wrapped in cellophane as my dessert. Calories weren’t counted. Carbs were not of interest. I even preferred beef stew with vegetables over the sweets.

Fast Forward to the Times

The next couple of decades started to reveal the damage my body had silently endured which began in childhood. A generally healthy child, even with a few extra pounds, will not be considered unhealthy on the outside. The hidden secret of free radicals, trans fats, and carb-laden goodies will surface when the inside has had enough. How were we to know the ripple effect of disease when our food was labeled acceptable by the powers at be?

Hail to the X

As a Gen X kid I never thought that a disease like diabetes could catch up so fast in just a number of years. I don’t have DM yet, but I do have the four pillars of the X, or what is also known as Metabolic Syndrome.

With central (trunk) obesity, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure showing their ugly faces, these four “markers” signal a potentially deadly wave to millions of people. Alas, I am one of them.

Changing the Tide

The good news is this: the tidal wave of bad symptoms can be reversed not only by medication, but through honest-to-goodness lifestyle change. I choose to not take medicine if it is possible. I can choose to eat clean, unprocessed foods. I can choose to exercise (walking is best) for 30 minutes a day. I can choose to stay away from bad temptations. But, yes, it IS hard to do!

The Choir is singing… loudly for all to hear!

I will always be a voice to promote good choices. Even though the odds are not in my favor, I have to wake up everyday and fight an unseen battle inside. I have to do this because I don’t have any other option. I have a husband and children who depend on me. I have friends and loved ones who need encouragement and hope.

I am asking that you will join me in this quest to reverse Syndrome X one symptom at a time. If you are healthy right now, that’s great! Don’t take it for granted. If you have one or more of these symptoms, let’s work together to fight for our health!

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