Chanting My Way to a New Me!

If you look at the wall beside my bed, the wall in my bathroom and on my fridge you will see a simple piece of paper with very simple words. These words have become my mantra, my motto, my daily pep talk and my self motivating chant. They simply say
"Are you going to be 40 AND FAT
or are you going to be
40 and FIT?"
When I feel the desire to not get up and walk or go do the Wii Fit or to go to the pool for water aerobics I ask myself this question. It usually does the trick.
This Sunday I will be 38. I have given myself two years to be fit. Not 2 years to lose the weight. I plan to be there well before then but 2 years for this to be my new way of life. Hitting the BIG 4-0 will be tough enough, I don't want to be there and still be like I am today. I also realize that after that 40 mark it gets even harder. So I have to make decisions today that will make that milestone happen.
Losing weight isn't just about being in a smaller dress it is about health.
I can feel my blood sugar is out of whack. I knew I was borderline diabetic and that I was in the extreme high risk group of getting diabetes (family history, gestational diabetes twice and a history of blood sugar problems) yet I put the thought on the back burner and had the attitude that if I pretended it wasn't there it wouldn't be. I remember watching my Granny and my Aunt Estee give themselves insulin shots daily. I saw my Granny's leg that had a sore that never healed. I don't ever remember her not having that bandage on her leg. Yet, somehow, I felt that it was still not something I needed to worry about. I am actually afraid to get screened right now because I am almost positive what the outcome would be.
Then there is the high blood pressure aspect. I have a strong family history of high blood pressure and strokes. I have been fortunate that I have escaped the high blood pressure in my life but really, how long will that hold out? There is only so long I can stand in the middle of a freeway and not get plowed by a bus!
Every day I have to be aware of my choices and how it will affect my tomorrow. It is a lot of pressure. Some days, I come out on top and some days I just fail but I keep on going. With the help of my friends and family, I will get there!