How I lost 10 lbs, dropped my A1C from 9 to 6, and look years younger
My weight crept up again, my blood sugars were all over the place, and I knew I was running out of options. Then I discovered a solution that changed everything. And I didn’t have to overhaul my diet or give up all the foods I love.
“Are you sure you can eat that?”
I looked up from my plate to see my cousin, Karen, looking at me with enough judgment to fill the whole room.
Blood rushed to my face, and I could feel my cheeks flush bright red. My throat and chest tightened.
It was only the tiniest sliver of cake…and it was Gran’s family recipe.
Every year at our family reunion, I’ve had a slice of her famous strawberry shortcake. It’s a little indulgence I always look forward to.
But ever since my diagnosis with type 2 diabetes about six months ago, what I’m allowed to eat has really changed.
And even though it was the kick in the pants I needed to start taking better care of myself, at first, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to eat or what I needed to change.
I know this is challenging for a lot of people with diabetes.
So I asked my doctor for help but he just told me to moderate my carb intake, cut out sugar, and exercise more.
But what does “moderate my carb intake” even mean?
And fruit has sugar, am I not supposed to eat fruit anymore? I thought fruit was good for you!
It was vague advice that didn’t help me at all.
The dietitian showed me how to count carbs and she gave me a 5-day sample meal plan. And even though the foods in the plan didn’t spike my blood sugar, I didn’t like half of them like quinoa, kale, and brussel sprouts. (Does anyone?)
So she told me I could substitute those foods but I didn’t know what to make instead.
It felt like I just got the same “one-size-fits-all” meal plan she gave everyone.
And after talking to other people with diabetes, it sounds like this is a common experience.
All I wanted was a list of foods I could and couldn’t eat, and to actually like the foods I ate!
And, an easier way to plan and prepare my meals so I didn’t have to spend hours finding recipes, creating grocery lists, and cooking.
So I did my own research.
I read tons of articles and blogs about what people with diabetes should eat. And from there, I picked the things I thought would work for me.
And the first few months went great.
I was eating low carb…
I cut out all the sweets and sugary drinks…
I ate more salads and drank a kale smoothie every morning…
And I was losing weight, my energy level was up, and my numbers were looking pretty good.
But after about 3 months, I was burned out.
Food was still my biggest headache. Because it was all I ever thought about.
Will this food spike my blood sugar?
What will I make for lunch today?
My meals tasted bland, I ate the same boring stuff again and again, and I had to eat at the same time every day which was tough, especially on the weekends.
And, I felt guilty for indulging in anything I loved, even just one bite of Gran’s cake.
I often turned down dinner invitations from friends because eating out was just too much, unless I ordered a side salad without croutons or dressing. But then what’s the point?
So even though I was getting good results, I hated how regimented and restrictive it all was. And I tried to research a better solution but there’s so much information and conflicting advice out there.
I was trying to do right by my diabetes, but what I was doing completely sucked the joy out of eating…It was almost easier to just not eat.
Is it really too much to ask to eat good food even if we have diabetes?
So I slipped back into my old habits, which meant the weight came back—and more than before, I felt tired all the time, and my blood sugars were all over the place.
I felt like a complete failure.
And to make matters worse, my family often offered their “sage advice” for how I should manage my diabetes:
“You shouldn’t eat that.”
“You should walk more.”
“What do you think about joining my Zumba class?”
Instead of feeling supported by them, I felt judged and criticized.
I even turned to online diabetes support groups and met a lot of other people with diabetes who were struggling too. And they shared stuff that worked for them but unfortunately, none of it worked for me.
I was so lost. I felt confused, overwhelmed, and afraid to eat. I didn’t know what to do. But then everything changed…
A woman in one of my support groups recommended Klinio.
I hadn’t heard of it before, but it’s an app made specifically for people like me with diabetes that tells us exactly what to eat, without having to give up all the foods we love or going on some stupid crash diet that isn’t sustainable long-term.
All I had to do to get started was complete a short 1-minute quiz. It was so simple.
Now I’ll admit, at first I was a bit skeptical because I’d already tried so many weight loss and diabetes apps, but they never worked. And the worst part was, I always felt like such a failure and I didn’t want to go through that again.
But this one was different.
So despite my initial reluctance, I knew I was running out of options. So I was willing to give it a try.
After I completed the quiz, I got a custom meal plan full of foods I like and no foods I didn’t like (meaning no kale!).
I was also so surprised—and pleased—to see that I didn’t have to completely overhaul my diet.
And it’s super easy to plan my meals. Every Sunday I select the recipes I want to make for that week and the app automatically creates my grocery list. Talk about a time-saver!
Plus, every meal uses simple, common ingredients—a lot of which are already in my pantry—and many can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.
But that’s not even the best part. In just the first two weeks of following my custom meal plan, I lost 4 lbs.
And over the next two weeks, I lost another 6 lbs. I’ll do the math for you: that’s 10 lbs in just one month!
Even my blood sugars were down about 147 points.
Now I know what works for some people with diabetes doesn’t work for everyone. But Klinio is different because it provides a special meal plan that is tailored to you, and only you.
It’s not like all of the “one-size-fits-all” stuff out there.
And I’ve been so impressed with Klinio that I want to tell as many people as I can about it. Because I know how challenging, frustrating, and life-sucking having diabetes can be. And it only takes a minute to get started with Klinio.
Now fast-forward to today, and I’ve been using Klinio for 6 months.
I’m down a full pant size, my A1C dropped from 9 to 6, and my husband says I look 10 years younger and I have so much energy I feel 10 years younger!
For the first time since my diagnosis, I don’t worry about what I can and can’t eat.
Instead, I eat the foods I enjoy and even treat myself to a little indulgence every now and then like Gran’s strawberry shortcake.
And I do it guilt-free.
Now I eat with confidence and the peace of mind that what I eat won’t spike my blood sugars which means I’m going out to dinner with my girlfriends, I’m eating foods I love, and I still look forward to my annual family reunion.
(And you know, the funny thing is, my blood sugars are so great they’re probably better than all those so-called “healthy” people like my cousin Karen.)
So if you’re tired of the “one-size-fits-all” plans that don’t work, the bland and boring meals, and the struggle of trying to figure out what you can and can’t eat, then give Klinio a try.
All you have to do is take a short, one-minute quiz and answer a few questions about yourself and your food preferences, and your custom meal plan will be delivered straight to your inbox.
So click the button below to take the quiz and who knows, maybe in 6 months all your friends will be asking what your secret is to look and feel so great.
Select Your Diabetes Type and Start the Klinio Quiz Now:
Editor’s note:
Lauren’s story inspired us to research the Klinio app further to see if other users have had a similar experience with this tool. Here’s what they had to say:
Results may vary due to personal features. Always consult a professional for medical advice.