Improving My Health

For the last few years, I have not felt great. When I was pregnant with Halle, I was put on bedrest for 2 1/2 months for pre-term labor. On top of that, we discovered I had gestational diabetes--which increases my chances of getting type 2 diabetes :(

Two Christmases ago, I went to the hospital with diverticulitis- small pouches that form in the colon. One of the pouches had ruptured just a little, but luckily I didn't have to have surgery. The doctor put me on a high fiber diet (30 g. a day) and told me to drink lots of water.

Also over the last couple of years, I have been getting migraines almost monthly- hormones! I have also had other issues along those monthly regards that I will spare you of.

Needless to say, it's time to improve my health-all of it! Last year, I lost 25 lbs. on Weight Watchers. For the life of me, I don't know why I dwindled off of it, but gradually I did. I not only looked better, but I felt SO much better.

This Health Improvement Plan of mine is going to involve a couple of procedures with the doctor (I'll spare you those details, too), going back on Weight Watchers and tracking more carefully my fiber intake.

With Weight Watchers, they have 8 "Tools for Living." The first tool is to have winning outcomes. It's kind of like a goal or mission statement. I'm going to divide this goal into small achievable chunks that are in short periods of time.

MY WINNING OUTCOME:
I will achieve a wieghtloss goal of 20 lbs. by Mar. 14. I will do this by making healthy food choices (that include high fiber), keeping track of the food I eat, and I will include 2 hrs. of physical activity each week.

I will:
-Lose 2 lbs. each week
-I will weigh myself daily--not to make myself crazy--but to make myself aware of the fluctuations that occur during this process.
-Make healthy choices when purchasing groceries
-Do strength training for 1/2 hour, 2 times each week
-Do yoga for 1/2 hour, 2 times each week
-Keep healthy munchies at school
-Be cautious in my food choices if we eat out
-Keep myself focused and busy after school until dinner time. I will find something productive to do and will make healthy snack choices during those times.

I am doing this:
For myself. I deserve to feel good. I want to be up and going and doing instead of feeling tired and yucky.
For my children. They deserve a mom who is able to take care of them and keep up with them. They deserve a chance to learn how to make healthy food choices for themselves.

So, here's to Improving My Health!!! There are a couple more things I'm going to try to improve in 2009- stay tuned.

What are you trying to improve on in 2009?