Reality Bites: The Scale Doesn’t Lie

Two weeks ago, I went to my doctor to have my annual physical and well-woman visit. Everything checked out well—my blood pressure was perfect, my pap smear was normal, and my doctor didn’t have any concerns about most of my vitals. But something that did raise a flag was my cholesterol level. After going in to have a fasting blood sugar and cholesterol level check, my cholesterol was higher than it has ever been. Not high enough for medication, but she was concerned that if I didn’t get it in check, it would become an issue. And my blood sugar was higher than it used to be too, something that I really have to watch because of my father’s history with diabetes. I recently quit drinking soda and lost a few pounds, but my doctor said that if I lost about 10-15 more pounds, both my cholesterol and blood sugar numbers would go down. Weight loss would be the best thing for my overall health.

So, it’s official guys. Mama needs to lose some weight.

I’ve known this for some time, actually. Three years ago, I was in tip-top shape and I felt the best I’d ever felt physically. I was working out, eating healthy, and staying active. But since I have begun working at home and traveling more, my eating habits haven’t been the best. Working out hasn’t been a top priority, and even though I stopped drinking soda, I haven’t changed my diet. I do a lot of eating out and a lot of snacking, which are no-no’s, and the 15-20 pounds I’ve gained is not a good look.

I want to be healthy. Not just for me look wise and aesthetically, but health wise. It would be selfish of me to eat myself into diabetes and massive overweightness, because it could mean that I wouldn’t be here for my family. We can pretend all we want that weight isn’t an issue, but it is. The heavier we are and the less healthy we are, the more likely that we will have issues that can affect our lifespan.

So I am going to take this negative and make it a positive.

I am on a quest to lose at least 25 lbs. No excuses. I will be working out 3 to 4 days a week and following a new lifestyle eating plan that counts calorie intake. I know the older you are, the harder it is to lose weight, so I know I am going to have to work hard at this to take the weight off and keep it off.

Yesterday, I visited Fit Chix Fitness Studio here in St. Louis and signed up for classes. They offer everything from Boot Camp style workouts, to pole dancing classes, to Zumba, to hip-hop dance, hula hoop exercise and more. If I am going to work out, I want it to be both fun and challenging, and they really seem to be able to put fab and fun in working out.

Anyone who knows me knows that when I do things, I really go all out, so I am looking forward to the instructors challenging me and pushing me to get to my weight loss goal.

The scale doesn’t lie. I am about to tell these 25 lbs to take that!

My Chicklet checking out the hula hoops at Fit Chix