jayfurr: (Scuba in a shortie)
[personal profile] jayfurr
"Some people" take my blog entries about dietary discipline, avoiding coffee, avoiding sugar, trying to get more sleep, trying to run more, etcetera, etcetera, as a sign that I either like torturing myself or that I'm intentionally wearing a hair shirt.

I can see why one might think that, but that's not why I'm always gibbering and jabbering about self-control and self-restraint and personal health and exercise and stuff.

It's because I'm at the stage in my life where I look back and see YEARS of "mañana" attitudes: "I'll work on losing weight one day soon." "I'll get in better shape soon." Some day. Tomorrow. Maybe next year.

I'm not satisfied with where I am in life. I'm not satisfied with the state of my health. I don't like having to take drugs to control my cholesterol, heredity or not. I don't like needing to take Ambien now and then to get to sleep at night. I'd like to be healthy, well, in good shape, and not hostage to a witches' brew of prescription drugs (gemfibrozil, Niaspan, and Ambien are three too many). I'd like to be in good enough shape to run a road race and not embarrass myself.

It's not because I want to torture and humiliate myself. It's because I'm sick and tired of making excuses and saying "Well, sure, some people can do that, but not me. I'll never be able to do that." Whatever "that" is.

Everyone has a friend who talks a big act about "I'm gonna do it. This is the year!!!" And whatever it is, by the middle of January they've given up.

I don't want to be that person. If being involved in the various Komen breast cancer walks has taught me anything, it's that life is a precious gift and it's damn stupid to treat it like an inexhaustible resource. You don't know if there'll be a next year. You don't know if next year you're going to be looking back wishing you'd made the most of things while you had the chance.

I had a very minor stroke at age 33... I don't want to let myself go and have a major one at age 43. The time to get my act together is NOW.

Date: 2011-03-11 09:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keyne.livejournal.com
I think it's great that you're working on improving your health!

If you'd like to hear more about what worked for me (and some pointers to the science of why we gain weight — it's not "calories in = calories out"), let me know. (I'm highly reluctant to offer dietary advice unless asked.)

Date: 2011-03-31 04:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caroleotter.livejournal.com
Ellen, I'd be interested in hearing what you've learned about diet. You can send me a message privately if you want.

inspiration

Date: 2011-03-19 08:33 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
you inspired me. thanks!

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