https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 07:43:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210342 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:16:38 +0000 brownie 210342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is Milk Soy Protein intollerant. I haven't had dairy or soy in over a year at this point. It is easy to do just by watching a video of my little man screaming in pain. I never thought that the scariest thing I would do as a parent was eat a piece of cheese. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210336 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:09:11 +0000 loveisstrange 210336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were prepared to. DH's dad had a genetic disease called Alpha 1 which caused his liver to fail. He was on the list for a liver and lung transplant. DH is in the military and we were a month from leaving on orders to go overseas. DH applied for something called a humanitarian assignment so we could stay at home in St. Louis and move in with his dad and completely care for him after the transplant.</p> <p>In the end, his father passed away before the assignment went through and we still moved overseas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210320 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:40:33 +0000 Mrs. Blue 210320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: I'm all for just eating the same! It would be healthy for me, too, so I'm okay with the thought of permanently adjusting. Just a big change!</p> <p>@mrbee: Now, I'm thinking you already mentioned that on another thread. Sorry! There are just so many, but I want to avoid Atkins and those that are okay with higher-fat foods. I'll look at that website. I think having a cheat day might really help Mr. Blue, because he is all about a cheeseburger now and then! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210303 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:31:15 +0000 jedeve 210303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to cut out acid for a bladder problem. So no tomatoes, coffee, alcohol, most fruits, vinegars, spices (herbs are OK), certain nuts, chocolate, etc. It's hard because almost any condiment is out. Because I cook and don't feel like making separate meals, husband eats this way too. It works out because he got diagnosed with GERD a year later. He can get away with more foods than I can, so if he wants some mild hot sauce or ketchup or what have you, he can add it on later. And he'll get something I can't eat when we go out to eat.</p> <p>I say cook based on your husband's diet. After he adjusts, ask if he minds if you have some bread with dinner, etc. or if is too much of a temptation. When you eat out, treat yourself to something you wouldn't normally eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210292 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:24:51 +0000 mrbee 210292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: I've tried pretty much all the low carb diets out there over the years: Zone, Atkins, etc. In the end, I settled on the Slow Carb diet which just feels right to me. It's basically low carb (i.e. protein) + legumes (beans) and veggies. No sugar, bread or processed foods.</p> <p>Here's some info on it:<br /> <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2012/06/24/how-to-lose-100-pounds/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2012/06/24/how-to-lose-100-pounds/</a></p> <p>My brother (I have an identical twin) just lost 22 pounds on it. The big difference between this and other programs is that it 1) encourages you to eat the same few meals over and over and 2) it encourages you to have one cheat day a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210287 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:19:37 +0000 Mrs. Blue 210287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: How did you learn the ins and outs of it? Did you follow something like the South Beach Diet or did you just cut back what you knew was higher fat &amp; carbs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210237 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:44:35 +0000 MamaMoose 210237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dad recently started having his heart go into afib sometimes. Dad noticed a correlation between drinking alcohol and having an episode. So he voluntarily stopped drinking altogether. Because of this I choose not to drink around him. I'm pregnant now so it's easy but I did it before that as well. He wouldn't ask it or expect it but I like to show that I support his smart decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210205 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:24:21 +0000 mrbee 210205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also went low carb, low fat! But I'm the only one in my family that does it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210161 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:54:49 +0000 lovehoneybee 210161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sort of, in a roundabout way. Diabetes runs really really heavily in my family (from both sides), so although it's not specifically for them, DH and I do eat really healthy and stay active because of them. Most of them didn't develop it until they had been eating a poor diet, not exercising, and were overweight (and sadly, this goes for pretty much all of them), so I figure my best chance of avoiding it is to take care of me, and my family as a result. </p> <p>There are other things we do that aren't really big lifestyle changes, but are preventative measures because of family histories--I had a baseline mammogram two years ago and go in for a breast exam twice a year because nearly all of the women in my mother's family have had breast cancer. DH and I both slather on a high SPF sunscreen and try to limit our time in the sun because his mother had melanoma, and his chances of developing it are escalated. (I also take a picture of all his moles about once a month, just so we can see if there's any change). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210150 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:47:42 +0000 heffalump 210150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to stay away from certain foods for migraines, and dh has to for crohns and he's lactose intolerant. It was hard at first .... especially because I can't have chocolate. For awhile I would eat it anyway and say it's worth it. But then I was always so wrong, and thinking of the consequences keeps me away. It also helps to have something to eat to substitute what we can't eat. Usually I can make our favorite foods in a healthier way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210118 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:29:47 +0000 Maysprout 210118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing major but we cut salt out of our cooking for my husband's bp . I'm LOVE salt, I just add it to my food now after I cook. But I started playing with other spices to add flavor a lot more after we cut out the salt. It helped make us better cooks for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210105 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:21:13 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 210105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to go dairy, soy and more free for my daughter when I was breastfeeding. It was hard, but I knew it was for her health. It was made a little easier by the fact that I could see the result (bloody stool) every time I strayed.</p> <p>Sorry about your husband's issues! Heart health is so important! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210101 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:19:13 +0000 Shimmer 210101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had to change my diet for severe acid reflux, but the motivation for the change everyday was very straightforward - if I don't follow my diet, I am in excruciating pain. Not fun, but it made it very easy to change my diet with that sort of motivation!</p> <p>Recently, we've been trying to follow a more heart-healthy path as DH had high cholesterol at 33 years old. Our motivation there lies in the fact that I was a cardiac surgery nurse for a few years and I've seen the results of people who made the poor diet and exercise choices that we were making. The youngest heart surgery (quadruple bypass) patient I ever cared for was 32. What a wake up call! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-had-to-make-a-big-lifestyle-change-because-of-you-or-a-family-members-health#post-210069 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:56:36 +0000 Mrs. Blue 210069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just found out we need to permanently go low carb, low fat due to a health issue that recently came up with DH. I know this is incredibly important to actually implement., but I'm kind of nervous about implementing a big change when it's not just to loose a few pounds, but to help ensure DH (and our future kids since they will likely inherit the same genes) has a long and healthy life. I guess i'm partly worries about how to keep the fear of health problems forefront in my mind even when we can't see or feel the problem everyday. </p> <p>If you've been though a situation where you had to make changes for a family member's health, how did you stay motivated on a day-to-day basis to implement the changes permanently? </p>