JUST DO IT!

I have talked, or rather written, before about weight, average waist sizes, getting healthy, and so on. Well, I decided I needed to do it, not just write about it and “dabble” in it. For the past several months, I have been dedicating myself to getting it right. Let me tell you - it ain’t been easy!

My whole life I have been tall and thin. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it was. Note, however, that I said was. Due to a number of extenuating circumstances in my life, this lovely reign of genetics came to a quick end around the age of 39 or 40. Yes, part of this was the 39 or 40 part, but honestly, not much. My beautiful Mother is going to turn 74 in this month and her BMI is barely 18. She has the endurance of people 1/3 her age. During this time, my father died, my first husband left me, I then sold my home, moved, remarried, gained 3 more kids instantly, and got an “ex-wife“, ex-husband, and “new wife” in the bargain. I was, to put it simply, a nut case. So my doctor did what any doctor seems to do nowadays - he medicated me. Have any of you ever noticed that weight gain seems to be a common side effect of almost any medication? I have, and it is. It also seems to mess your metabolism and thyroid up. Well, around 10 months or so ago I decided I had had enough. I had been fooling around for about a year and a half. I needed to figure this out and get healthy. I mean healthy. This meant mind, body, and soul. As I stated in a previous, long ago article, I want to not only see my grandkids, I want to enjoy them!

The first thing I had to do was turn this over to God. I kept trying to do things on my own, figure things out on my own. Well, that wasn’t working -surprise, surprise! Then it hit me. I wasn’t alone. He would support me! Like it says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” EVERYTHING! That includes getting healthy. One of the next things I discovered is that movement equals happy, and couch potato equals unhappy. I am an active person and always have been, but active does not equal exercise, which in turn does not equal health. I had to dedicate a set aside amount of time to true exercise, just as I would a doctor’s appointment, work, or a date with my husband. This IS NOT selfish, mom’s out there! Hear me - IT IS NECESSARY! Mother’s spend so much time taking care of everyone around them that they often have nothing left for themselves. I’ve got news for you moms. You not only short change yourself, you short change those you love. What kind of an example are you setting? Yes, it is good to show caring, selflessness, etc., but soon you may find that you are also demonstrating resentment, abad attitude, bad eating habits, bad exercise habits, fatigue, and so on. I was paid one of the biggest compliments I ever remember receiving by my 13 year old son a couple of weeks ago. We were out for a 2 1/2 mile run (sometimes walk!) and during one the walking breaks (hey, gimme a break! I never ran before in my life) he told me that he hoped to grow up with my good health and exercise habits. Wow! I wasn’t intentionally trying to influence him, it just happened because I decided, with God’s strength, to just do it! One of my other son’s, who has always been a video game and Lego addict, is now riding bikes, climbing trees, and swimming more than anything else. Again, he was not forced to do these things, he saw these things being done. Lead by example! I cannot stress this enough!! If you need an impetus to get up off your bum and commit to a regular exercise routine, there is none better.

To help wind this up, I would like to give you an example of some of what I do, and the results of this. I try to make sure I exercise approximately 30 minutes 4-6 days a week. I used to think this was a lot to expect until I realized how much time I spent online in the mornings (my best time to exercise), watching talk shows, or talking on the phone. Speaking of mornings, I quickly realized that my best exercise time is in the morning and that if I did not get it done then, chances are it wouldn’t get done at all. Find your ideal time to workout and stick to that. Don’t let anyone or anything take you away from that. Schedule it in if you must! I also came to the conclusion that 15 - 30 minutes is okay. You don’t have to work out for an hour or more in order for it to “count”. I also realized that gym memberships are a waste of money where I am concerned (this is just my personal preference and may not apply to everyone out there!) and decided that my best bet was to stock up on a stack of DVDs, some hand weights, a floor mat, etc. I never have to purchase these things again and there are no monthly membership payments to my living room. Some of my favorites are Denise Austen’s “Bootcamp”, Tami Lee Webb’s “Tight on Time”, and, if you really want a kick in the butt, Jillian Michaels’ “30 Day Shred”. She is from the TV. show, “The Biggest Loser.” When I am done with her I feel like a complete winner! When the weather is bad and I can’t get out, I also enjoy Leslie Sansone’s walking dvds. I also started watching my portions, asking for a to go box before my meals arrive in restaurants, watching my fat intake and especially my sweet tooth! But make no mistake, I did not deprive myself. That was the surest road to overeating! It has taken a slow, not always so steady change of habits, but man has it been worth it! The results - 4 inches off my hips, almost 5 inches off of my waist, a drop from a size 14 in pants and XL in tops to a 9 in pants and a M in tops, an average of 25 lbs. lost, and I am off of all but one of the many medications I was put on over 5 years ago. I am most proud of my change in stamina and strength, my muscles (my 10 year old says I’m buff!) the change in my family, and the fact that it was not done with fad diets or quick fixes. When it seems like it’s not worth it and it’s not working, that might be the day you look in the mirror and say to yourself, “Holy cow! What happened? Is that really me?” Be patient, be persistent, get off the couch, say a heartfelt prayer, and JUST DO IT!

Time to Refocus

I have been thinking a lot about the new year and resolutions. I have never been one for making resolutions, ever. I am very self aware and know myself well enough to know that I simply don't keep resolutions or any long term goals well. The "I'm going to lose 20 pounds," or "I'm going to quit smoking," (okay, I've never been a smoker) thing has never worked for me. I have to set small, attainable goals. That is why all of my workout DVD's are of the 10 to 20 minute variety. But since I have hit middle age (ouch!) I have had to refocus my goals. I have to think in the long term, if I want to have a long term, and I have to stop looking back. I have to think of my grandchildren!
One of the things I have had to come to grips with recently is the fact that I will never have my 25 or even 35 year old body back again. This is my 40's body and I'm stuck with it, perimenopause and all. I am no longer 5'9" and 126 pounds. I am now 5'9" and, well, not 126 pounds. I guess I will never model for Victoria's Secret, huh? You know what though? I like me so much better now than I did then. I am learning that curves are awesome (just ask my husband) and as I work out I am becoming stronger than I ever have been. I can no longer rely on being young and naturally thin. I think I kind of like that. I have earned every muscle, every ache, every extra bout of energy that I have to play with my kids. I have most definitely earned the two inches I lost off of my waist and the 3 pants sizes I've dropped! I earn these things every morning that I get up and put on my workout stuff, go into our "exercise room", pop in a DVD, and sweat. Especially when I don't want to do it. I have found though, that for every 10 minutes I get in, I want to put in 10, 20 or 30 more. It feels good.
Lately I have learned to look past the looks. This is for my health. The average woman in America today is a size 14 and the average sized waist is quickly creeping up to 37 inches. 37 inches! The "warning, you are heading for obesity and heart disease" waist size is 35. What are we thinking? I don't want heart disease, cancer, or even to huff and puff while climbing the stairs at work. I want to play touch football outside with my family, ride bikes in the summer and be able to stay up past 8 p.m. I want to see all of my children grow up, from the 13 year old down to the 6 year old. Women on either side of my family are not very long lived (my aunt died at the age of 60), but my mother is the one that is proving them all wrong. She is an excellent example to follow. Maybe I will be like her and not only see my children grow up, but grandchildren and some great-grandchildren as well.
Now, I've mentioned grandchildren a couple of times. I've also said that my children range in age from 13 to 6. So, no I don't have any grandkids. All the more reason to get healthy and stay healthy now! I cannot wait to be the doting grandma. I want all the fun without the fuss and responsibility. I want to play touch football with my grandkids too! I want to play in the park with them like my mom does with my kids. If I don't start now, then when? When do we start? As the saying goes, there is no time like the present. Even 10 minutes of moderate exercise 3 to 5 times a week to start is awesome. Before you know you might be like me, doing a squat before you know it! Just get up and walk - around the mall (a personal favorite), around the block, around your house. Or better yet, when no one is looking, dance! It feels great!
I realize that we will all go when God says it is time, but we don't need to give him a hand do we? Our bodies are God's temple and we are to take care of them, not abuse them. Even though we are jars of clay and should not value our earthly bodies above our heavenly souls, we cannot do God's business if we are not taking the best care of ourselves that we can. That means right from where you are! Isn't that where God always meets us? Don't worry about your weight, your age, or your physical condition. Just remember, we are on loan. Paul says in I Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." As I refocus for 2009, there is a resolution I will definitely try to live by! Are you with me?