Do it for your future!

Some days this whole thing just doesn't seem to matter.  There are just bigger problems in the world.  I mean really, does it truly matter??

In some ways it doesn't ... it's just petty and maybe vain.  If I were honest with myself I'd realize that I already am of a healthy weight.  At this point it's probably more about my looks than anything else.

Over and over and over you read that weight, diet & fitness levels are keys to good health.  I've got that going on, so am I just being petty now?  Possibly.  But, I can't help but see that I'm still relatively young and this body hopefully has a long way to go.  There are health issues that I'm bound to face as I age.  I am seeing it now in family and friends and it's terrifying.  I have to do NOW what I can to help prevent these issues as much as I can.

A few years ago my Mom was diagnosed Diabetes.  That sure scared the crap out of me I tell ya!  I mean yeah, it's a pretty common thing, especially as you get older.  And it was scary to realize that I could already see the pattern continuing with me.  I could see myself doing all the things that could potentially lead towards me getting it too.  My eating habits were barely healthy, my exercise was on the very slim side and I was putting on weight - especially around my middle.

First thing I did was get checked myself, and I was OK.  But I had my doctor run a bunch of tests and he did find that my triglyceride level was a wee bit high.  He said it was no big deal and just to make a few changes, but to me it was huge.  To me it screamed "you're fine ... for now, but what about the future!".  It took a while to get in gear, but the thought that I was damaging my body stayed forefront in my mind the entire time and eventually got me to the place where I realized that I had to get healthy.  I could NEVER give up! 

I don't want to be in my 60s and suddenly have to re-vamp my entire eating & exercise habits.  Sure there may be some things that I will have to change, but I want those basic habits to be in place by the time I get there.  As we age things such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer .... they are all a high, high possiblity.  We can not prevent everything, but we can try to be as preventative as possible.

So anyone reading this that is either not yet on the healthier living train, or who is, but purely from the angle of looking good ... please, PLEASE keep your current and future health in mind.  Those who love you want you to be around for as long as you can. 

I'm far from the poster child of perfectly clean eating ... but I strive to do the best I can.  Before the only guideline I had when it came to what I ate was "will this help me lose weight?".  Now, I try to make my decisions based more upon "What does this do to my body?".  I've cut out artificial sweeteners and have very, very little alcohol for starters.  There are other changes I'm working on making too.  Less sodium, less processed foods, less fatty meats....

I used to view exercise in the same way.  Now my thoughts run along ... making my muscles stronger, my heart & lungs fitter, my bones denser.

On another note ... I'm feeling pretty proud of a tough workout I did yesterday.  Most Sundays I run with a group of ladies.  The one lady I'm most equivalent to for running is off with an injury right now and I've been feeling a bit bummed about running by myself.  I tossed around the idea of not joining in anymore, but I still love the group feel.  Anyhow, my husband agreed to join me this week AND we also rode our bikes to/from the trail.  We did a 13Km ride to the trail, ran about 13Km, then rode home 13Km (with alot of uphill).  I was pretty darn exhausted yesterday, but also pretty darn proud.  It felt really good actually!

I was a bit upset this morning to see the scale up 3 lbs from yesterday.  I know it's not really possible, but it's stilla bit disheartening.  But you know what?  It doesn't matter.  I am healthy!  I am fit!  I am strong!