I had joined the gym and was going three days a week, but I was seeing no results. I was still eating pretty much the same way I had always done, but now that I was exercising my appetite increased, so I was really eating more than ever. I felt justified; I was burning it off right?

This pattern went on for at least three months: I was working out regularly three to four days a week and feeling stronger. Then I would come home and eat, and eat, and eat. I would look at my body in the mirror and try to see the difference. I would suck in my gut and pose—still so far to go, why wasn't I getting thin?

I was still convinced that my hormones were out of balance from giving birth and breastfeeding. I started to research hormone imbalance; I read as much as I could. That's when I learned about insulin and blood sugar levels. I wanted more information and I bought a book that changed my life: Beat Diabetes Naturally. I read it cover-to-cover and followed the advice.

I matched the description of Type 2 Diabetes perfectly. For example, I was sleepy after eating, I had low energy and severe mood swings, I was obese, and I carried my fat in my belly area. Those were the indicators that really stood out for me.

If I was going to make the new me, it wasn't going to be a diet; it wasn't going to be a part-time effort. This was going to be an entirely new episode in my life, a new way of living. I could be the healthy person I wanted to be, but I had to embrace the process fully.

OK, here are some down-and-dirty eating tips:

First, always eat protein with each meal, even snacks! Easy protein: skim milk, broiled chicken breast cut into strips (always have a bag in your fridge), whole unsalted almonds, or other nuts, hard boiled eggs—stay away from, too much lunch meat, it's high in sodium and preservatives. Cheese is a friend, but it can also trigger a binge, use with caution.

Second, the carb rule according to Krista: Carbs include fruit and veggies as well as grains. You need carbs! Eat whole grain only, fiber is your friend! Think rolled oats, barley, brown rice, quinoa, whole grain pasta, raw fruit with skin, and of course all vegetables are good, duh!

Third important tip: good fat is your friend. Think olive oil, nut oil, fish oil, coconut oil, and real organic butter if you have to (eat the real deal, and make it the best quality possible!). You need fat for healthy body function; humans were designed to eat it. Stay away form "no fat" diets, they will set you up to fail.

Krista's advice on sugar: This is huge, stop using all white sugar or any artificial sweeteners! That's right, no fake sugar. The only sweetness you will get will be from whole fruit, eaten with a protein. As you become used to less sugar, you can use honey or pure maple syrup—the body reacts differently to those sweets.

No alcohol! The body reads it as pure sugar, so you will have to stop drinking for the first year. After that drink only once in a while, keep it light, and eat protein with it.