6 down, 184 to go

So I was given this fantastic opportunity by my employer to get healthy this year. It started with a "biometric screening". You go to your doctor and have weight and height taken along with some blood tests done. I've done it before, and learned that I was overweight (duh) and had high blood pressure (it runs in my family) and that I was at risk for a myriad of delightful diseases (meh, you have to die of something).

This year was different. This was the year that my BMI moved into Obesity Class III. That's the highest class there is. It was so high it's not even on the stupid chart in the Dr's office. Instead of getting to get dressed and head back to work my Dr. ushered me over to the lab for a barrage of extra tests. EKG, thyroid, kidney functions, liver functions.

After everything was said & done my Dr. called me back to talk about bariatric surgery or inevidable death. It was pretty much the most humiliating day of my life and it scared me into finally facing the truth about myself. I've been overweight for so long I don't even remember what it feels like to be thin. Frankly, I haven't been thin since I was about 12 years old and I'm about to turn 36. People talk about those "turning points" in their lives that made them change, alcoholics call it hitting bottom, this was me hitting bottom.

The good news is that my employer provides staff that can help their employees get to a healthy place. A few years ago they started this incentive program called "Lean You", you get cash prizes at the end of the year if you maintain a healthy BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar and log in at least 3 workouts 50 weeks per year. If you achieve all of your goals you get $400 cold hard cash. Now they've made it part of our health care benefits, in which we receive discounts on our weekly premiums.

So I have all of the tools necessary to succeed: a fitness instructor, a wellness coach, and a dietician all available for practically nothing. I started fresh in the new year and I've lost 6lbs so far. I've stuck with logging food and exercising daily. I joined a local gym with a pool because I love to swim and I even got my super supportive boyfriend to join me. I feel very blessed to have this support and I'd love to have more from people in the MFP community, too.

Please add me as your friend if you'd like an accountability buddy.

Thanks for listening,
Nicole
Milwaukee, WI