Plan to Succeed!

They say those who fail to plan plan to fail. 

I think this is especially true in your day to day quest to live a healthier life. 

As I move through life, I conquer one challenge, only to find new challenges to conquer. 

Take for example eating at work - this is a continuum on my challenge list. 

Working as a nurse, we don't have opportunities to leave and go eat. Some days we are hard pressed to get get a break to eat! So my first challenge as a diabetic was to find healthy snacks and foods to have handy. I bought a insulated lunch bag, and brought healthy snacks and lunch options. Ideally I should eat something every couple of hours, so I bring handy things to eat that are low carb and not processed. 

Great. I put my lunch bag in the back fridge, and it worked. 

Then that fridge broke, coinciding with the holiday season. 

Now my bag went into the front fridge, in the room with all the crap - candy and cookies for sale, baked goods and candy from patients and staff. 

I'm great unless I see the tempting foods. I don't have them at home, for example, so my eating at home is healthy. 

Boy did I fall off the wagon yesterday in Christmas leftover land. And I had horrific blood sugars to show for it. 

Time for a new fix. 

Obviously I can't be in the front break room. At all. My discipline around Godiva is nil. 

Today I started my new plan. I put ice packs in my lunch bag, and an assortment of things I enjoy eating that are low carb. My bag is sitting by my feet, and I'm not stepping toe in that tempting break room. 

Lesson learned. Find a fix that works for you. Don't make excuses - own up to your areas of weakness, and find a solution! 

e b e r

Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful for my health! Even as I am awaiting word on a back condition, I'm healthier now than I have ever been. It's a daily journey that I am on - one that values the temple God put my spirit in on this planet. To take care of it the best I can!

So here comes the first of the holiday season traps - the thanksgiving meal! Everyone seems to throw all restraint out of the window.  Where a healthy human only needs 1500 or so healthy calories a day, most folks will eat 5-6,000 calories during their thanksgiving meal. How is that loving yourself?

So here are some tips to eating what you love, while loving yourself. 

* Portions!  If you have to have that dessert or fattening mashed potatoes and gravy, let a spoonful do. Even a full plate with lots of sample spoonfuls will have way more fat and calories than expected! And even too much of a good thing is bad - 4oz of meat is a portion size (a deck of cards)

* Fill up on healthier choices - white meat turkey, veggies, fresh veggie appetizers

* Make recipes as healthy as possible - low or no fat instead of full fat ingredients. 

*Avoid pie crust! That's where a lot of the fat is! 

*Don't drink your calories! Sip water with lemon or unsweet tea with the meal. 

*No seconds!

Yeah some of you are thinking I'm I kill joy, but eating mindfully is a daily choice. Every day. 

You're worth it!

e b e r

And Now...A Mental Health Moment

I hate November. 

I don't want to. I am trying to be mindful of my thoughts and actions as I head into November, but how I dread it. 

It has been one of my worst months, dealing with depression. I can be moving forward and doing well, but as November looms, the terrain changes. Solid ground turns to mire and suddenly I am struggling to walk, to breath, and I can feel the downward slide. 

I hate it. 

In November, a pivotal life changer happened. Then four years later my first love was killed in a car accident, two days after thanksgiving. In November, his mother died - a woman who was like a mother to me. Recently in November, my favorite Aunt died. And just to add a kicker, my dad just had a major medical situation...unfolding as I write. 

My therapists have told me to be aware of triggers. Well, November is ripe with them. I set my face and set goals. I have a plan on how to eat, how to make sure to exercise. I make sure my accountability folks are aware. 

I pray. A lot. 

My jaw is clenched, though.  I'm terrified. I HATE the slide, I hate depression. I don't want to feel that way. 

Pray for my dad. 

e b e r

The Health/Happiness Connection

I've been working on becoming more mindful about my mental health - what to accept, what to let go, etc. 

This is another part of my holistically driven health goal - better mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. 

This week I was in the inter mountain west for a whole week. 

Physically, I was outside in my favorite part of the country, breathing clean air, hiking, walking, climbing, fishing. And sleeping like I haven't slept in years. 

Emotionally, I was reconnecting with family - and making my peace. I was journaling, and I was laughing and spontaneous. 

Spiritually I connected to the "old me". I came out of my doldrums and entered peace. Joy. Happiness!

From a health standpoint, my blood sugars were better than they have been in months. I effortlessly lost 5 pounds.  My sleep was better. 

I felt - and feel - great!

I'm a mountain girl, and I was home. That week change my outlook. 

I was healthier by the numbers - and could it be because I was so much happier?

Everyone knows that stress is correlated negatively to health - increased stress leads to a myriad of health complications. 

So my aha moment - purpose to be happy. Choose joy! I have done so before off and on in the past, but never with my health specifically in mind. 

After a week of joy and fun and laughs and excitement, I feel better than I have in a long time.

And I have the numbers to prove it. 

Mindfulness is a trendy term, but I am choosing to be happy. To unabashedly take care of myself, to cheer myself and others on, to let the haters hate. 

I choose joy.

How about you? 

Your quality of life depends upon it.

e b e r 

Skinny/Fat

I decided this morning I don't like either word. 

Skinny and fat are both loaded words. Derogatory. Or, in the case of skinny, it is a description people mistakenly aspire to. 

The word that I want people to aspire to is healthy. Because being healthy is the goal. Wouldn't it be great to see yourself as healthy? Aspiring to health instead of a body type? 

Healthy is going to look different on each person - and that's appropriate because it is a one person at a time journey.  

It means getting real. Ever day. Looking at the choices you are making. Understanding your health risks - and paying attention to what you are doing to mitigate those risks. 

When I was younger, I was skinny. I had a physique that was enviable to many - but I was the furthest thing from healthy. While I looked culturally acceptable, I was guzzling soda. I was eating tons of highly processed foods. I existed on carbs. I was sedentary. The 14 years of ballet, tap, and jazz I was raised on had turn into couch potato. With a healthy serving of French fries on the side. 

Five years ago the diabetes on both sides of my family caught up to me. The carb diet had to change, or I was going to to have long term health complications. 

It's a journey. 

Every day.

 What are you eating? What are you drinking? Are you exercising? 

Of course the first thing you need to do is get real - and that means going to the doctor. Stepping on a scale. Telling them what you eat, what you do.  Getting a physical. Finding out your risk factors. 

Then you start the journey. 

It will last the rest of your life. 

Make the goal health.  If you are overweight, eventually health will bring you to a BMI that is healthy. 

If you are slender but sedentary, it will benefit you from head to toe. 

The focus needs to come off loving yourself "just as you are" to loving yourself enough to daily strive to be as healthy as you can. 

It's mindfully eating. It's choosing to get up and move around. It's deciding to drink water throughout the day. It's fueling yourself, not feeding your emotions. 

It's reality. 

Get on board. You won't regret it. 

e b e r

Vay Kay Eating

We are going to Disney World soon. 

How do you maintain your healthy lifestyle at an amusement park?

It can be done...but it takes intention, and planning!

First of all, don't get caught in the "it's a free weekend...I'll make up for it next week" trap. The damage you do to your health is not worth it. You could have a huge setback, causing you to fall off the wagon. 

That being said, plan for treats. There is a WIDE spectrum of treats, so evaluate your choices. Don't go off the deep end. Look at nutritional info about your favorite treats. I've had one Cronut in my life - and it will be my first and last. That was amazing - but I shudder to think of the carb and calories!

Start with breakfast. There are healthy high protein options. Look away from the waffles and pancakes. 

Bring a water bottle in to the park - keep refilling, and drink water all day. 

There are a lot of great healthy choices at the myriad of restaurants. Keep your head on. 

Be accountable - my glucose meter will be with me at all times. 

I plan to continue my run training around the lake while I am there. Again, don't fall off the wagon with your workout!

Do the things you know to do and you won't come home with regrets. And pounds! 

e b e r

Moving In The Right Direction

I'm moving again in the right direction. 

I've been mindfully eating and exercising as much as my back would let me, so my weight stayed the same, and so did my sugars. 

A couple of weeks ago my hubby and I started The New Atkins Diet. *This is not a paid endorsement and discuss any diet or exercise changes with your MD before you start.*

I'm down 9 pounds. After two years of the same weight. I'm healthy and my BMI is satisfactory but my goal is to be leaner and stronger. 

The Atkins diet improved my blood sugars so much - and I'm eating lots of veggies! I also have started half marathon training again. 

It's slow and steady - my back is still getting stronger. I'm working on my core.  Also, I walk daily and work on posture and breathing. 

It's little changes that add up to great changes for the better!

What change for,the better can you make?

e b e r

Listen to Your Body

One of the earliest messages I received during Jeff Galloway half marathon training has become a mantra. 

Listen to your body. 

What does that mean? 

Well I'm week one back into training. I'm enthusiastic, I have a plan, I know what I was capable of last round. So I want to go go go!

The other fact is I've not been running regularly for months due to my lower back issues. 

This morning for some reason my back was starting to ache.

I listened, and completed the program walking.

I still walked 5 miles, but it wasn't the run/walk endurance builder I wanted. 

My goal when I started exercising for my health were these: have fun, and don't get hurt. 

Notice personal record, fastest 40-something, etc are not there. 

My body has limitations. If I ignore them I could injure myself - temporarily. Or permanently. 

Exercise is too important to me. It has changed my life for the better.  Having goals of half marathons has gotten me up and moving my and I am a different person. 

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, but I focused on staying healthy today. 

I focused on my posture - incorrect posture can really mess with your run, no matter who you are. 

I also concentrated on my breathing. So important, and often overlooked. I want my lungs working to the max. 

Because I didn't have to work as hard, I looked at the flowers, the birds, enjoyed the slightly cooler weather. 

I counted my blessings - literally. 

So while my time wasn't what I hoped for, today still moved me forward to a healthier me.

And my back isn't hurting! 

e b e r

Get It While It's Fresh!

I have a change you can make that will benefit you - and it tastes great! 

When produce is fresh and local, buy it!

This can be a tricky endeavor - you have to read labels if you are in a grocery store. Those apples on sale fresh may be from a country far away. Local produce - if you can get it, go for it!

There are farmers markets and roadside stands in a lot of areas - but you have to look for them.  It's worth the effort, though. 

My kids don't like tomatoes - I'm convinced it's because it's a rare thing to eat a "real" tomato. I got this beauty at the local farmers market. After my tomato plants stopped producing. 

These beautiful peaches came from the same farmers market - trucked here from Chilton County, GA which is not far from here. We have been enjoying them, and they are easy to freeze as well. Last year I bought a bushel of fresh sweet corn and froze a lot of it - instructions on the Internet. A little labor intensive with the shucking, but soo worth it. 

The best scenario besides growing it yourself is finding a U-pick farm. If you look up U-Pick on the Internet, you will find what's in season, and where to pick it. Monday at 0700 before the heat of the day I was at the U-Pick blueberry farm and picked 16lbs in just over an hour!

Yum! So I have fresh blueberries to eat, and they are the easiest to freeze. 

My goal is to have land and harvest my own fruits and veggies, and can or freeze the surplus. 

Investigate the fresh local produce options in your area. 

To your health! 

e b e r

Breathe

A very important aspect of your physical well being is breathing. 

Some may say what's the big deal? You just do it.  You don't even have to think about it. 

I'm asking you to start thinking about it. 

I'm a registered nurse. When patients are in labor, one of the main ways they manage natural labor is through breathing. Conscious, deep, rhythmic, purposeful breathing. 

When a patient has surgery, they will breathe shallow due to the pain they are in. We have to remind them to deep breathe, and give them an incentive spirometer to help them visually see the depth of their breaths. Shallow breathing can lead to pneumonia. 

When we are stressed, again we tend to breathe shallow. We tense up. We may not know we are breathing shallow.

I've taken to abdominal breathing when I am stressing. - you breathe in deep, pushing your belly out as you slowly fill your lungs as full as you can, then slowly releasing the air. Ten good belly breaths and you will feel yourself relax. 

Throughout the day, think about breathing. Take a few full, lung filling breaths. 

When I am doing cardio, I also become more mindful of my breathing. Every few breaths I will empty my lungs. It really helps me stayore relaxed. 

So think about breathing today. It will make a positive mental and physical change!

e b e r 

Excuses, Excuses

I've fallen off. I've derailed. I went off the grid. 

It happens to most people - probably everyone if they were honest. 

It started when my blood sugars went wonkie after having to take steroids - and they are still high. After all my hard work and vigilance, I found myself having terrible blood sugars. It threw me. 

A big pile of stress was next - and since I already was not using my healthy coping, I went to unhealthy eating. 

Next, accountability fell off. I stopped tracking food. I half heartedly ate right - as soon as I ate something unhealthy, I said this day is toast - and I ate bad the rest of the day. 

Excuses:

*I can't beat this diabetes so why comply?

*I already got off track for the week. I'll start back next week

*I need my rest

*I can't catch up on my challenge, so I'll start next week 

I stepped on the scale this morning, and I haven't gained an ounce. I was down. But I know it's not about the numbers. 

I was talking to my friend, coworker, and FitBit buddy this morning - she was talking about how she, too, had gotten derailed. 

What's the point? We are all human. I've been on this healthy living path for four years. Overall I am much healthier than I was. 

So today I focus on the good again, instead of kicking myself. I'm tracking my food. I have my goals for today. I've come too far. 

Acknowledging excuses for what they are is the first step to getting back on track!

Onward!

e b e r

Turning The Corner

It doesn't happen overnight, but it happens...

Often as I am reading posts on my FitBit support groups on Facebook, the newbies will ask "when are things going to change?" It's the crystal ball question. At work, where I am a labor and delivery nurse, it is like when the patient asks when will the baby be born. I would be rich if I could figure that out. I don't know when - I just know it will happen. 

When you take a middle aged adult like myself and go from couch potato to deciding to become healthy, it is a process. A long process. 

I used to HATE exercising. I liked doing the machines at the gym, but I HATED cardio. Yawn. Dreadmill. Running was torture. Much whining ensued. 

As far as my diet, I was a comfort eater with a fast metabolism. I never got over 200lbs at 5'10", even with my high carb, soda guzzling ways. I did love veggies and did not eat a lot of junk - I've never been a binger. I certainly have eaten my share of bad foods.

Then four years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  Suddenly all the excuses I had lived off of vaporized in the reality of a future that was in my hands. I needed to make some changes, or bad health outcomes loomed down the road. 

I started walking 5k a day.  I got a dog to help motivate me out the door. I stopped drinking soda, and quit bringing junk food into the house.

Four years later, 11 half marathons, a 15k, 5 10k's, and a bunch of 5ks later...here I am. Resting heart rate down to 70 from 107. Down 30 pounds. Down to a size 8 from a 14. Down to small scrub bottoms. 

So do I love exercise? I need it. Something has changed over the last four years. I've gone from whining to longing. No kidding! I have been on reduced activity due to a very jacked up back, and it's been hard to stay down! I have been slowly increasing my activity - safely. I'm heading back to the gym to work on my core. I have started doing stairs again. My steps are increasing again. 

I used to dread it - now I feel like something is missing. I wouldn't go a day without brushing my teeth or showering - and I don't like going a day without doing something active, and without eating healthy. 

When did I turn the corner? I'm not sure exactly. But I DID turn the corner. 

The reason for this is because being healthy is a lifestyle. I have never considered myself on a diet. Instead, I want to take the best care of me that I can - no one else is responsible for me. Diets are doomed because they are unrealistic and punishing.  A healthy lifestyle comes with rewards.  It doesn't happen overnight, but it DOES happen. 

So get up tomorrow and start again. Set short term goals - daily at first. Every day is a chance to start again. Set your sights on being the healthiest you. 

I went to the doctor yesterday and stepped in the scale for the first time in a while - I was down 3 pounds from last weigh in. I just smiled and shrugged. 

I know I feel better when I am eating healthy whole foods and when I'm exercising. Some days are better than others. I know that. I still eat foods I probably shouldn't...but it's becoming less and less often. I don't belittle or hate on myself. I just start the next day with healthy living goals. 

I've got a 10k in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to it. 

One day at a time. 

Be patient with yourself!

e b e r

Focus

An important aspect in health is focus. 

When you decide to get healthy, you need to fine tune your focus. Instead of looking at the broad canvas of your life, you have to turn the light on and put the microscope on. 

When I decided to take charge of my health,I started with walking. I was totally sedentary. I looked at my life and where and how I could make a change. So after focusing on what I needed and what I was capable of, I decided to walk daily. For me, it was 5k a day. It was a start. 

Then I decided to set a goal - my focus opened up to a slightly larger goal. I set a short term goal, and I met it. 

Slowly I began setting more long term goals. I didn't need to focus on the day to day exercise because the long term goals kept me going. 

Now I'm down with a back injury. I'm unsure of the future. 

It's hard to be immobilized. I am in pain and frustrated. 

So I'm changing my focus again. 

I'm fine tuning what I have control over - my eating. I'm charting what I eat scrupulously. I'm drinking lots of water. 

I have long range goals still. I just had to remove short term goals. The half marathon I so looked forward to Sunday will be passed. 

I've come a long way. I'm glad for that, because I know what I'm capable of. 

For now, that's my focus. 

e b e r

Race and Road Etiquette

Today I want to talk about race etiquette, and road safety. These are basics that I've learned along the way - whether you are doing a 5k or a marathon, these are the safe and polite things to do. 

Here they are, in no particular order!

*Starting line: stand where you run, not at your wannabe pace. Races will either put you in a corral by race time, or just ask the slower runners to be further back. Don't get offended - if you have an 11 min mile pace and dream of a 9 min mile goal, dream on. Just do it from the 11 min corral. Otherwise you will get in the way. As my FitBit running bro George said so charmingly "if you aren't very fast don't start at the front and stop 100m down the road knackered".  Be realistic. 

*Dogs: if race rules say no dogs, it means NO DOGS! I love my dogs, but other people's dogs have caused me injury just having to take evasive movements. I love running with my dog, but I don't take her to races. Unless it's a doggie race, leave them home! 

*Strollers: most races stated clearly "strollers in the back".  Yeah. Then here comes super racer dad, cutting in and out between runners. It's unsafe. It's rude. Face it - sometimes you can't get a PR with a stroller. Dial it back, speed racer. 

*Walkers: I am a run/walker!! So I get that some people are going to walk, either part or all of the race!  That's great - glad you're here! But if you are walking, walk on the extreme right - single file. If you are running and need to take a walk break, raise your hand to alert those around you that you are slowing down, and move to the extreme right. Just like on the road, left lane is for passing only!

*Groups: I'm glad you and your four besties are running or walking this race - but you need to be single file. Blocking the entire race path is rude and a danger to others. If you want to walk and talk in a line, hit the treadmills at the gym. 

Bottom line, HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE!!

Road safety!!

Sooo important. Especially these days when distracted drivers are texting everywhere. A few tips to keep you safe!

*Run toward traffic. Always. You need to see what is coming, they need to see you!  

*Wear ID. I love www.roadid.com, which has waterproof cute running ID. I wear a bracelet. If heaven forbid something should happen to you while you are exercising, it has all the contact and medical info on it. Smart phones are nice but not always reliable. 

*Running in the dark: not ideal, I know, but when you work, or if there are temperature extremes in the daylight, a necessity. Tips to be safe: wear light colored clothing, lots of reflection gear, a headlamp or lights. Make yourself as visible as possible! 

My last safety tip applies to all exercising outside: situational awareness! Listen to music of you want to, but don't have it so loud you can't hear your surroundings. Watch the vehicles coming at you- if you need to get out of their way, be prepared!  

These tips will help keep you safe, and help everyone enjoy race day! 

e b e r

The Right Way

Unless you are part of the .1% who springs forth from the womb full of health and self control, every single one of us has had to come to terms with our health in this body we inhabit. 

For some, it doesn't happen until we hit middle age, and the reality of the effects of our sedentary habits and poor eating finally catch up with us. Guilty. 

For others, it's a lifetime of struggle against a body that wants to blossom into a larger than life entity, responding to every fattening food with vigor. 

Whatever the story, the bottom line is this: we only get one life, and we are responsible only for the temple we inhabit. 

I'll admit I regret the gallons of soda and mountains of sugar I consumed. I got away with it, staying slender, for most of my life. That was to my detriment. 

Middle age hit and I was lazy and eating pretty healthy, with cheating freely applied - emotional eating was welcome. Embraced. And I paid the price. Diabetes. High cholesterol. 

How do you change a life time of bad habits? One day at a time. 

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. 

It's time to be mindful - of what goes in my mouth. So accountability is key. I log all my food. All. Every single bite. Believe me I cheat less when I am accountable. 

It's time to get active...every day. Goals are key. I have daily goals on me FitBit - and daily challenges put another layer in my motivation. I also am a member of positive, healthy minded facebook fitbit groups - these gals and guys keep me motivated, stay positive, are my fellow friends on the journey. I live an isolated life, so this is priceless. 

I also have stacked goals- currently, I have a goal of getting strong, my best me. My personal trainer is working with me to help me get real, face what I need to, get through the wall, and get strong - and healthier!

I have weekly and monthly goals when I sign up for runs. I have an 8k this weekend, a 10k next weekend, and a half marathon in April and May. 

I have long term goals - I have started marathon training, with a qualifying race in September, and I am working and praying I will qualify for Boston Marathon 2017. Big goal, long term work 

Remember, it was four years ago in August I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Before that, I was not exercising. I was not eating well. I didn't get here overnight. 

One day at a time. I started out with daily goals, and they are still the foundation of my success. 

You'll never finish if you never start. 

Make a choice for better health. The right way!

e b e r

The Double Standard - The Taboo

I've got a case scenario for you to consider. 

Say you had a friend or family member that you knew was doing something physically harmful to themselves. We will say that every day, they jumped off the roof. They did it because they were used to doing it, and it's all that they knew. 

Sometimes they would hurt themselves physically - get cut, scrapes, or even break a bone. Sometimes they would just roll with it and have no problems. 

What would you do? A caring friend or family member would give them an alternative. They would say that is really not good for you - let's find something better to do. Maybe if they could not get through to the person, they could suggest that they go to a doctor to find out why they do that, so they could do something better. 

Or say that said person also drank a shot of something bad for them daily. A poison that could be tolerated once or twice, but cumulatively would kill them. A caring friend or family member would say something. Would give them alternatives. Would try to help them live and not die. Would try to be an example by not drinking the poison, not jumping off the roof, but showing ways to live. 

Makes sense, right?

Now say it's being sedentary in the first scenario, and using food in an unhealthy way in the second. You'd still want to help. 

When I started this blog, I had to pause and think about it. Because the healthy living business is bigger than ever - but so is the backlash. This post was prompted by one of the countless pictures posted by overweight usually female social media users in their underwear, proclaiming they love themselves just as they are, except them as they are, etc. 

it's two distinctly different issues. 

Yes, you should not hate yourself. People should not hate anyone based on their outer appearance. No one should be treated bad because of what they look like. 

Welcome to the planet. There are morons who like to say mean things. We ALL have our stories of being made fun of in school at some point. It's part of growing up, though it's not nice. But it is. 

Now back to the scenarios and sedentary lifestyle and overeating. It's not okay. I had my wake up call in August of 2011 when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and with substantial degenerative back disease. Both of these were exacerbated by my being overweight and by a sedentary lifestyle. 

I had a choice to make at that moment - continue to walk the same path, maybe shortening  my lifespan and mobility, or I could decide to change. 

I chose to change. I chose to eat healthier and more mindfully, and I chose to start exercising - something I really detested. And over time, I lost weight, I got stronger, I became healthier. 

The response to my enthusiasm for my journey? It fell into two camps. One camp was encouraged by my story, and they used it to bring positive change to their own life. I found a way to feel better and live longer, and I wanted to share it. Help others, who, like me, were fooling theirselves.  

The other response? Vitriol. Anger. Rejection. Why? Because obesity is still a taboo subject. There are actually radical obese people (😳) who think it's a hate crime to even talk frankly about the known medical risks and dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and overeating. It's easier to reject the message or the messenger  than it is to accept where you are with your body and your health. While I have a pointed message, I never pointed fingers. There were many who felt I was singling them out and they took offense. I can't help anyone who is determined to jump off the roof daily and drink the poison daily. 

Obesity is killing people - it's not being ugly, it's the ugly truth. Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes all shorten lives, and obesity exacerbates it. Obesity limits mobility.  It causes muscular skeletal issues. These are facts. 

So I weighed out the rejection factor and I press on with my message of hope and health. I refuse to drink the Koolaid that loving myself means staying where I am. 

Loving myself means  being the best steward of this body of flesh and bones that I inhabit every day. Loving myself means taking care of myself. 

Now THAT'S something to celebrate! 

e b e r

Where Are You?

Tomorrow is my birthday. My birthday, much more than New Years Eve, makes me reflect on my life. Now that I have diabetes, exercise induced asthma, and now I'm taking INH for LTB with a clear chest x-ray, I have a lot of things to think about when it comes to my health. Where do I want to be, from a health standpoint? Positives - since my Aria scale, I am more accountable, and slowly losing weight. My goal weight is 150. No more than 160. This would be ideal for my BMI based on height. I have gotten a Bellicon rebounder, which has really helped my core strength, and helps me do things I couldn't do before on hard ground. - jumping jacks, for example. And it's a lot of fun, so I use it almost daily. My stamina is better. My daily steps and stairs and overall fitness is better. Now areas to work on - the INH is making life difficult. The first huge hurdle is it messes with my carbohydrate metabolism. When I started the medicine last month, my blood sugars went through the roof. Which made me so hungry. But I was trying to eat no carbs. But my sugars were still terrible. So, unhappily, I started back on metformin. I didn't want to, after successfully getting off all meds, but my blood sugars were high, and I knew that the long term effects were bad. So I sucked it up and got back on the meds. My sugars are within normal range. I'm still working on lowering my daily carbs to 40 a day. Exhaustion continues to plague me. It's frustrating. I feel like I should feel better because I am doing better. Exhaustion is something I deal with daily. It greatly affects my motivation. That's why my support groups online help me so much - the Fitbit groups keep me moving, encourage me. The Fitbit challenges help as well. Overall, I am healthier today than I have ever been. My goal is that by next year's birthday post, I will have run my Boston qualifier and made the race list, and I will be at goal weight. And since I will be off the dreaded INH, I hope to be off metformin, too. One day at a time. Controlling that which I can control, and releasing that which I cannot. I'm grateful to be here, learning how to be a better steward of this body every day. e b e r