How did a thin person like me become overweight? My mother had probable Alzheimer's disease and I was her caregiver for nine years. During this time she lost the ability to read, understand television, converse with others, and the ability to speak. Eating was the only thing that gave her pleasure.
To give her some quality of life I took her out to lunch every Wednesday and cooked a gourmet meal for her every Sunday. Slowly but surely, I put on extra pounds. Though I had to buy larger clothes, I wasn't aware of my weight gain, and continued to think of myself as thin.
Looking back, I realize I was so busy caring for my mother that I forgot to take care of myself. After she died I still didn't take care of myself because I was grieving. But the day came when I stepped out of the shower, looked in the mirror, and gasped.
Who was this person?
When I went for my annual physical exam my doctor told me that tests showed a slight increase in my blood sugar level. She cautioned me about becoming a late onset diabetic and said I could avoid this by shedding a few pounds. "The next time you see me I'll be thinner," I declared.
I bought some walking shoes, a pedometer, and jined a health club. In the evenings I walked in my neighborhood. A year and a half later I was back to my college weight and clothing size. My blood sugar was normal, I had renewed energy, and could out-walk people half my age. Now my goal is to maintain a healthy weight.
I walk 10,000 steps a day, which is about fve miles. On snowy or rainy days I walk around the center island in my kitchen, inside at a local mall, or every grocery store aisle. Instead of piling thngs on the bottom step to take upstairs, I look for excuses to climb stairs.
Sometimes I don't get in 10,000 steps a day and when this happens I don't punish myself. I just walk more the next day.
In addition to my daily walking. I cut my protein intake, ate more fruit, vegetables, and fiber, and cut portion sizes. I'm 5' 5 1/2" inches tall, flucuate between 115-117 pounds, and have a Body Mass Index (weight adjusted for sex, height, and age) of 19 - an excellent number.
Daily walks help me to prevent diabetes, maintain a normal blood pressure, reduce the risks of heart attack and colon cancer, and slow bone loss. Walking can do the same for you. If you haven't been physically active lately, get a medical checkup before you start walking. No matter how old you are, it's never too late to lose the weight!
Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to www.harriethodgson.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 26 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. A member of Mayo Clinic's Action on Obestity Task Force, she continues to write health recourses for chidlren and adults. Her latest book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, co-authored by Dr. Lois Krahn, is available on amazon.com by entering the title or her name. Hodgson is hard at work on her next book, Doctor in the House: An Inside Look at Medical Marriage.
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
There are many books and internet articles written about weight... Read More
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Blood pressure... Read More
I just finished working my quads on a weight machine.... Read More
Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More
Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More
It is important that the public not only understand the... Read More
More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More
How many calories you consume has a big impact on... Read More
Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important... Read More
Are you tired of getting the same old advice when... Read More
What is low carb?We've all heard about the Atkins diet... Read More
Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More
The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even... Read More
In recent years, carbohydrates have been labeled as the nutrition... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
Weight loss surgery is fast becoming a very popular way... Read More
Axiom Number Two: Hunger ControlTrying to lose weight without understanding... Read More
Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid... Read More
What do I mean by that?Well, carrots are good for... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
The Atkins Diet Seems To Never Go AwayFad diets come... Read More
Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably... Read More
For the person who wants to shed a few pounds... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored... Read More
We in the diet and exercise industry have our own... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
Healthy eating has become part of your life, but you're... Read More
For about 50 years now, Americans have been eating low... Read More
One way of recognizing a fad diet is... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant... Read More
Cellulite happens to us for many reasons. Some reasons-- like... Read More
Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More
With the growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity in our... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
The huge companies stealing your money by promising impossible results... Read More
Lean turkeyLean ground beefChicken breastFish, halibut, orange roughy,More fish, shark,... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And... Read More
A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of... Read More
Ever notice how your best friend can lose weight on... Read More
The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse... Read More
An eating disorder is a life threatening condition that often... Read More
Weight Loss |