How many Bullet-Dodgers we got in here?

thirteeninches

There are lots of reasons why people decide to get fit, but they typically boil down to only two: looks and health. Most people seem to have a little bit of both for their motivation, but I am always especially happy and motivated when I read about people who were on the brink of a health meltdown, and they pulled themselves out of it by changing their health lifestyle choice.

My first husband died of Diabetes Type One at the very young age of 35. Looking back, I know if he'd made better lifestyle choices, if I've encouraged him, pushed him more to do it, he might still be here today. But we can't go back... so let's go forward.

Tell me how you dodged your bullet. What challenge didyou/are you facing, what are you doing to save your own life, to improve your life's quality, to love yourself, to be there for the people who love you?

As for me not a day goes by that I don't remember how my husband suffered, how his kids miss him, and how badly I want to be there for my kids, healthy, active and involved, and set the best example I possibly can. I have a mood disorder that I can seem to best control when I follow a balanced mid to low carb diet, and exercise regularly. Medications are nowhere near as effective (for me personally-not making any recommendations to anyone to stop psychotropic meds) and there are so many extra health benefits to a good diet and exercise than just having a working brain. I love knowing that, barring accidents, I'll be around as my kids age and need me. Heck, I'm 45 and I still need my mother!

Pearsquared

My fasting blood sugar was one point short of pre-diabetic. My doctor didn't put me on anything because the other indicators of pre-diabetes weren't at worrying levels, but it was definitely a wake-up call. I remember him recommending I try to avoid sugary foods, even fruit.

I was also an emotional, hormonal wreck, and had horrible stomach cramps, back pain, and headaches from my period. It's kind of hard to determine if the birth control pills (which I started around the same time I started working on my health) had more of an effect on my pain or if it was losing weight (and it was probably a combination of both) but I get very little pain now during that time.

When I started walking for exercise, I would get the worst shin splints. I couldn't go for more than 25 minutes without hurting. Now I can go 4-5 miles without pain. Well, I do get a bit on the side of my knee, but that's from an old injury, not from being out of shape. (:

I did ignore my doctor when it came to the fruit. It helped me a lot in losing weight, and I had this feeling that the weight was far more important that how much sugar I was consuming. Turns out, that was a good call - my fasting blood sugar is well within the healthy limits now.

160x144

I had a physical in April. They found traces of blood in my urine which sent me on a week long journey of anxiety and re-tests...

tests came back normal ultimately.

It scared me though. Problem is, after a week I fell back into my old habits. I need to keep reminding myself that I dodged a bullet and use it as inspiration.

-E