The Fit Files: Major Update

Oh my, where do I begin? Some of you may know that I had a heart-health scare in the fall of 2013. (Here's a link to the archived column I wrote about it in the Australian Catholic newspaper The Record --paper verison, R.I.P.; it's entirely online now.) Recap: my family has a history of heart disease, so I was ordered to undergo a stress test before some routine surgery. I flunked it.

I was sent for more cardiac tests and passed the first round with flying colours. I felt vindicated: deep down, I had not believed my heart was bad (well, in the physical sense anyway; I am well aware of various levels of spiritual and metaphorical hardening and blockages). After all, I'd done the 30 Day Shred (complete saga in the Health files), and could run 5K on my treadmill in under 35 minutes!

Anyhoo, the cardiologist told me I was "low risk" and said I just needed to embrace a healthier lifestyle/diet, and exercise more regularly (I'm a fits and starts kind of gal). She said I ought to lose about 25 lb (11 kg) but more importantly to achieve a healthier waist to hip ratio (I'm an apple).

Being the all-or-nothing procrastinator that I am, I obeyed her for about three or four days, then fell off the wagon. Way off.

Here we are, more than a year later, but at least now I have something happy to report. (Well, many happy things, but we'll have to take them one at a time, because there are only 24 hours in a day, and --regrettably--I can't spend them all blogging.)

I AM NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT!!! Wow, that felt good. Last September, I reached the end of my "tired of feeling lousy" rope. Two of my sisters agreed to begin an email-buddy system thing on a daily basis. We mutually reported every crumb of food and drink that we consumed, as well as details about our prayer and exercise lives (the two are equally important). So far, I have lost 12 pounds, which puts me (theoretically) into the "normal" range for my age and height. I have two more pounds to lose before hitting a certain milestone (this will, hopefully, be my Christmas present to myself).

I still have plenty of flab to deal with, so would like to tone up, build some muscle, and lose a bit more fat. Today (after being sick with a nasty cough/cold for more than a month) I got back on the treadmill, and ran 3K in under 30 minutes. Feels great.

I still chuckle at a friend who (years ago) told me it was "vanity" to want to get into shape. Well, one woman's vanity is another woman's sanity. If Mama ain't healthy, ain't nobody healthy.
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