Weighty Matters

I have seen a lot of posts on social media recently about loving yourself no matter what your weight and how being overweight doesn't equal being unhealthy.  These have brought up a lot of thoughts and feelings for me.  

First - I one hundred percent agree that you should love yourself no matter what your weight is.  Your value is not equal to how much you do, or do not, weigh at any given time.  You are SO much more than that.  No doubt about it.  

Where I start to struggle is the insistence that weight doesn't affect health.  Maybe, for you, that is true.  If so - that's awesome and I am truly happy for you.  You carry on being your amazing, beautiful self!

But for many of us (me - for example), our weight most definitely has an effect on our health.  As I have seen the numbers on the scale go up, there has also been an increase in numbers that are hurting my health- such as cholesterol and A1C.  There is a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and kidney problems in my family, which can be aggravated by being overweight and those numbers are a warning sign that my risks are increasing.  

So - Yes, for me, being overweight does equal unhealthy.

I also notice other, less concerning, problems with my feet, legs, and back aching, my energy levels decreasing, and even my asthma seems to flare up more when my weight goes way up.  

This is why I am trying to lose weight.  

No, it doesn't mean that I don't love myself.  I'm not doing it to meet some ideal of the perfect size or to have a hot bod.  And if I only managed to get the other numbers where they need to be and didn't lose all the weight - I would be ok with that.  

I choose to write and post about my journey to share my experience and keep myself accountable.  It also helps me to feel that by sharing my story,  perhaps I can give support to others going through the same experience.

If you are on a similar journey to lose weight and get healthy, I would love to hear from you in the comments!  Share what is working for you, or tell me a little about what you have been struggling with.

How Sweet It Isn't

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was talking about needing to improve my health to get the numbers for my blood work under control and I said I needed to get my blood sugar managed before it becomes a "real problem"? 

Well, after hearing from my doctor - it turns out that it already IS a real problem.  Apparently, my A1C levels put me in the official range of "pre-diabetes".  

Ugh... This makes all those life changes mentioned before even that much more important.  

So, what's a gal to do when she hears the dreaded word "pre-diabetes"?  

If you're like me, you start with educating yourself and that's when you realize that with some simple changes, you can improve your numbers and avoid moving on to Type 2 Diabetes.  

Here are some tips to help improve your A1C number:

Increase Your Activity Level:  Regular exercise including both cardio/aerobic exercise and strength or resistance training significantly improve your insulin resistance and manage your blood sugar levels by triggering the muscles to pull sugar from the bloodstream.  (Confession: this is still something I need to work on)

Adjust Your Diet: Some things such as sugary drinks and treats are going to need to be avoided.  You should focus on eating lean proteins and fresh produce.  Carbohydrates should be rich in fiber and nutrients (think brown rice, whole grains, and quinoa) and should be paired with protein and some healthy fat.  This causes the energy from the food to be released more slowly and decreases spikes in blood sugar.

Invest in some good measuring cups and spoons, and a kitchen scale if you don't have these.  Portion sizes matter. When you eat more food than your body needs - blood sugar levels increase.

Meal Planning:  Planning meals in advance make you less likely to skip meals, go too long without eating, or grab the most convenient option - which all too often turns out to be something calorie-dense, nutrient-poor, and high carbohydrate.

Obviously - if your doctor recommends medication or regular glucose monitoring - do it! Fortunately, I am not yet at a point where my doctor has suggested these. And by sticking to the plan that's now in place - I hope to avoid them altogether.

Have you ever been told that your blood sugar or A1C levels were too high?  What steps did you take to get your numbers under control?  Share in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

Challenge: Health

 It was inevitable under the circumstances.  For the past year, I have drowned all of the stress and anxiety over the pandemic under waves of sweets, junk food, and take-out.  

Feeling worried about the health of yourself and all your family members?  Have some donuts!

Lonely after months and months of self-isolation?  Ice cream!

Another day of helping the grand-kid with remote learning?  Order Chik-fil-a delivery for lunch!

Worried about the effect the pandemic is having on your online small business?  Tacos, pizza, candy, cookies!  

Sure... the 'rona didn't get me.  But the bad eating habits certainly have.  Not only did I regain every pound I lost in 2019 (and then some) - but after seeing the lab results from my yearly physical last week, I realized that it has also taken a toll on my cholesterol and blood sugar.  I'm not going to share numbers.  Let's just say - it wasn't good.  Overall, I'm not very healthy right now. 

If that isn't motivation for making some major lifestyle changes - I don't know what it!  It's a good thing that my One Word for the year is "Challenge"!

I have to get my weight down.  I have to get my cholesterol under control.  And I have to get a handle on the sugar before it becomes an actual problem. 

So - here's how I plan to meet that challenge:

I am recommitting myself to the WW program.  It helped me lost quite a bit of weight before, and I know if I buckle down and accept the challenge to really follow the plan, it will again.  I will be focusing on lots of good cholesterol-lowering foods that really nourish and fuel my body. 

I will start incorporating some movement back into my life - whether it's taking the dogs for more walks, doing some at-home workouts, or finally trying out that fancy exercise bike the Man of the House got for Christmas. 

This is one challenge I can't afford to give up on.  I have big dreams for the future and I plan to be around to see them come true!

So, this is me.  Stepping forward and being honest and transparent.  Asking all of you to help to keep me accountable. In return I promise to post regular updates on my progress and be honest when I'm struggling.