Physical results

Well, well, well….

As promised, I am about to divulge the results from my physical from last Thursday. And I am happy to report that I am……………

N-O-R-M-A-L!!!!!   YEE HAAH!!!!!

My doctor informed me that my blood pressure is 110/80, my cholesterol is 127 and my blood sugar is normal. I am not in danger of diabetes (because I think I’m way too cute to be an amputee  ) and my heart beats just fine so heart disease is out the question and I get enough sleep. So this 36 year old is hanging in there.

We chatted about my health and discussed that although I’m still a big girl he complimented me on taking steps to ensure that as I get older I will not have the health issues that those who don’t take care of themselves have. So today I won’t focus on weight as much as I’ll point out overall health.

Many people are under the impression that just because they don’t have a weight problem that they are just fine.  Let me enlighten all of you who (women especially) who  are under a size 12. You all can still be in danger of high cholesterol, high  blood  pressure, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure. Yikes! I can not stress enough how men and women need to have physical activity. I could lace this blog full of stats on  how heart disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the African American community, but my guess is that you already know this.

I don’t want  to come off as if I have “arrived” because I’m healthy nor am I bragging (well okay maybe just a little ) but if you find yourself feeling sluggish in the mid day, out of breath,  dizzy for no apparent reason, and just unhealthy, take a trip to the doctor and get a physical. Hell, get one anyway! You’ll be surprised at what you may find out. The sooner you find out your health status the sooner you can fix it. Exercise is key. Hell, clean your house,  wash your car, dance around the house, walk up some stairs, but get that  blood flowing. What you don’t want  is to be 40 looking 60, 50 looking 70 and more than that THIRTY looking and feeling NINETY!!! Feel me? Get checked out and I must admit, I kind of like doctor visits now! Until next time. Smooches

What does “one pound” look like?

Hi folks,

I went to the doctor last Thursday to have a physical done. You know – check out body fat, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and etc. Tomorrow I receive my results (check out this coming Wednesday’s blog on my results). However, I did have the ultimate joy of getting on the scale (sarcasm at it’s best). I lost one pound. So………what does one pound look like?

I have been on this weight loss journey since November 2006 and there are plenty of times that I’ve lost one pound. And I’d be PISSED. Why? well because I am the quintessential queen of living my life inside a microwave (things must be quick flash and in a hurry) I want to lose 2 to 5 pounds a week. Can it be done? Probably. But that would be water weight or the hand of God moving quickly .

Most people who are trying to lose weight usually lose one pound a week. So if you would like to see what one pound looks like, click this link below. Apparantly, I’ve lost 33 of these. Until Wednesday, here’s to your health! Cheers!

 http://friedwiki.com/blog/2008/03/07/ive-lost-68-sticks-of-butter/    

Soups and Salads

Hi all,

Today’s entry is not really a blog but more of a question? Can anyone suggest a good recipe for a non-creamy soup and a healthy hearty salad? And what kind of dressings? Also non creamy. Once you give them to me I will post them in a few days for everyone to try? Remember eating healthy is not a chore but a challenge. (wow I sound like a marketing slogan)!!   Cheers!

This is a TRIP!!

Hi folks,

I usually only write one blog a week but this article right here is why we all gotta work on our fitness goals. I can’t have this cat beat ME up running. Have  a good weekend.

 http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=britmarathon030508&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Epiphany

This morning  (while playing hookey from church) I had a conversation with a good friend of mine who asked me about my Weight Watchers process. Somehow we got on the topic of working out and she mentioned she has a friend that goes with her to the gym but the girl that goes with her stays downstairs in spa area , gets massages and drinks smoothies. My friend said to me, “Tiff I wish you lived in North Carolina so you could go to the gym with me.” I told my friend that you have to get a point where your fitness goals are about  you and no one else. And if you have to do this by yourself then so be it. You have to be presented with your OWN epiphany and that will push you forward.

Wikipedia defines epiphany as the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. I told my friend that over the years I gained weight (which has been over 100 pounds since 1989), that although it was no secret there were plenty of times that I was in denial and didn’t want to think about the gaining. But I had what I’d like to refer to as junior epiphanies. In the summer of 2003 I was still living in DC and I took some kids to Six Flags with my church. I like rollercoasters as if I’m 6 versus 36. And I stood in line to get on  the rollercoaster called Batman. I got up to the front and what happened? I couldn’t fit the ride. I won’t even begin to discuss how I felt. I worked through being embarrased in front of hundreds of kids who were merciless in their chatter about how Ms. Tiffany was too damn big to get on the Batman ride. However, I still didn’t change my eating, how much I worked out(or didn’t for that matter) and still I lived in denial especially everytime one of my friends or family would say, “hey Tiff, let’s go shopping”. I must admit that for a long time I didn’t like to shop because I always felt to  big to shop. Still do. But I’m slowly changing my mind in regards to that.

My second and final epiphany was Halloween 2006 when I went to that Weight Watchers meeting and the scale said THREE HUNDRED AND TWELVE  POUNDS! Lawd have mussy! That was IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had never been three nuthin!! So according to Weight Watchers, your first goal is to lose 10% of your body weight. Hell, mine was to get out of the 300 club. I managed to do that in 6 weeks. Never returned. And as I continued to speak to my friend this morning, I shared with her the testimonies written in this blog but I kept reiterating that excuses are just that. You can’t allow children, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, events, work or whatever to keep you from reaching your fitness goals because in the end it’s about you. Will you always put a cheeseburger before a salad all the time especially if you don’t work out? If you want to reach certain fitness goals, you don’t have to join a gym. I joined a gym because it works for me. Take a walk. Whatever you want to do whether it’s to lose 10 pounds  or 100 more like me, reach your epiphany. Ask yourself what will it take for me to reach my fitness goal? Will I walk up some stairs? Will I park my car as far away from  the entrance to the store or will  I continue to drive inside of Target UP IN else 5 next to the toilet paper so I won’t have to exert myself? Will I continue to have “gym-timidation?” I say that jokingly but diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure and  high cholesterol is REAL and it’s here to stay if you invite it in. Reach your epiphany  folks. I  promise you  the journey may be long and sometimes discouraging but by the time you reach your destination, the journey would have been worth it. My pastor has recently been speaking on the journey and destination. Sometimes it’s not even the destination that’s important but the journey it took to get there. That is worth considering. Reach your epiphany and let the journey begin. Till next time. Smooches