Weight Loss Wednesday

Weight loss. Ugh. Those are words that I don't want to think about, yet they scream out to me each and every day. I am going to be 39 years old this year. You might think that 39 is not old, but it feels very old to me. Why? My dad had his first stroke in his young 20's and died when he was 37, my mom had cancer in her 30's and had her first heart attack at 39, and several of my family members have died in their 40's or young 50's. With the family health history that I have, 39 is old age.

When I turned the big 38 and had officially outlived my dad, I started noticing this knot in my stomach. Actually, it was more like a huge boulder. I knew that I was so blessed to have lived as long as I had without having to face any major physical health issues. On the other hand, I knew the odds were not on my side and I needed to step it up and start taking better care of myself. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not in a couple more hours. NOW.

In January I set a goal for myself to lose weight, stop drinking pop, and change my entire lifestyle. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to wear the clothes I like, not just whatever fits. I want to be able to walk up the stairs without losing my breath. I want to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin again. I want to do everything in my power to not have to suffer at the hands of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and all of the other diseases and health issues that have haunted my parents. I might not be able to change genetics, but I can sure take control of my eating and exercise habits so that maybe I will have a better chance at a longer and healthier life.

It is now March 7, and I have done sort of okay at working toward my goals. Sort of okay is NOT good enough. I have to give 110% to this. I need to do better. I am very proud of myself for giving up my 64-100 ounce/day Dr. Pepper habit. I have been drinking that much pop since I was a teenager, so it was not easy, but I DID IT! I am going on five weeks with NO Dr. Pepper!

So how about the exercising? I haven't even really started. Eating habits? I have done better, but still need to make a lot more changes. Drinking more water? YES! I find it so much easier to drink water now that I'm not drinking pop! Weight Loss? I've lost only 6 pounds so far and need to lose 100. Going forward, but slowly. I have a loooong way to go.

Why am I sharing all of this? Well, I've decided that I need to blog my journey to a healthier me. So, one Wednesday each month I am going to log how I'm doing, what I've done the month before, and what I need to do better the next month. I think it will help me feel accountable, it will keep me honest, and it might inspire someone else who is also struggling. If that someone is you, I invite you to join me on this journey!

Credits: Kit is my Follow Your Art - Balance, and the Stitches were created by Cilenia Curtis

Journaling reads:

My goals: Lose 100 pounds,
eat healthier, get more
exercise, drink more water.
I want to be able to run,
to dance, to breathe...
I want to be healthy and
not be sick, suffer, and die
young like so many people
in my family. I want to live
to have grandchildren
and I want to watch my girls
as they live out their
dreams. I have to do this
for them. For me.