Health

My main decision to get healthy was due to my being pre-diabetic and pre-hypertensive; I was looking at possibly being on medication for both. It was at this point that I also realized how much I had neglected myself – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Self-care became a priority.

It was time to take action!

l scheduled myself to see a doctor at a weight management clinic (our insurance covers this minus the co-pay) and in doing so, I have a better understanding on why it was/is important for me to get the weight off. Up until going there, I didn’t know much about visceral fat. I was on a roll last year and managed to get out of the pre-diabetic and pre-hypertensive range. But then Covid hit and the weight crept back up and I found myself back in the pre-diabetic range.

However, once things started to return somewhat back to normal, I visited my doctor at the weight management clinic again. I’m on a very low dose of phentermine; the very first time I was on it, I was losing the weight too fast. This time around I’m learning all I can about eating as healthy as possible but still enjoying foods that I love. Ice-cream is my weakness! I want to have a healthy relationship with food.

I do log what I eat using MyFitnessPal which has been very helpful for me. I do HIIT (I wake up at 5:30 a.m. on days I go to the gym to give myself time to get dress and be on time to class) and I walk on days I don’t go to the gym; if the weather is nice outside. My goal is to maintain my weight once I’ve reached my goal, which again is why I’m doing a very low dose of the phentermine.

I also try my best to drink 64 ounces of water a day and I try to be asleep around 10:00 p.m. or no later than 11. Going to bed early has allowed me to wake up early. I limit my alcohol consumption as well as soda’s. I try to keep my stress level at a minimum. As someone that has hypothyroid, I’m more aware now on the importance of taking my medication.

One thing that’s for sure is that I don’t beat myself up if I happen to slip up sometimes.

I started at 248.2.

As of June 21, 2021, I’m at 194.2 for a total of 54 pounds lost.

My goal is to get down to 180 and then see my plastic surgeon on whether I’ll proceed with having a panniculectomy or not. I’m 99.9% sure I’ll have it done. I love me some me but I do not like that bottom half of my tummy. 180 still puts me in the “overweight” range for my height, I’m 5’3. However, I know what looks good on me and 180 is it. Not 130-140 pounds.

So here’s to taking better care of myself on issues that are within my control.