12 the rice diet renewal
looking good. But Lesley was one of those who clearly came on a
medical mission. Although she wanted to weigh about a hundred
pounds less than her 265 pounds, it was her serious diabetes com-
plications that propelled her to the Rice Diet Program. Lesley
had been a diabetic for nearly six years. Like many diabetics, she
was more prone to getting infections, and an unattended cold led
to her contracting bronchitis, which resulted in a high fever and
her developing diabetic ketoacidosis. She landed in the hospital,
where she was treated for pneumonia and was instructed to take
large amounts of insulin, as well as medications to lower her blood
pressure and cholesterol. She knew she had to do something that
would stop this potential train wreck, and fast, so she came to the
Rice Diet Program.
This is how Lesley describes her experience:
One of the best things I ’ ve learned by being on the Rice
Diet is that I can have control over my diabetes. Getting off
insulin and oral meds has been a huge boost, both physically
and emotionally, and it ’ s been encouraging me onward, to
continue to exercise and eat better. I realize this dieta is my
choice, and I can continue my improved health. Taking the
time for myself to have a better quality of life, whether it ’ s
exercising, going to meals at the Rice House and eventually
taking the time to fi x healthy meals at home, having a mas-
sage, taking a yoga class, or getting together with the impor-
tant people in my life, I ’ ve learned that it ’ s key to take the time
for myself, both physically and mentally. Not using food as
a source of comfort has been a challenge for me. I ’ m more
aware of the rawness of my stressors, emotions, and feel-
ings sometimes, and I ’ m searching for different ways of deal-
ing with this. Writing things down has been a help, one way
of coping and creating better solutions (instead of creating
more problems or accepting the status quo by eating). I ’ ve
resurrected my journal and frequently write on one of three
different blogs. I ’ ve also started keeping in better contact with
friends and will often pick up the phone or drop someone an