Do you know people who won't open their mail because they do not want to read what the content of the letter is? How about people who avoid the scale because they don't want to see what they really weigh?
You may know this as a symptom of the Scarlett O'Hara Syndrome which is basically putting off something for later that could be done today. You might remember Scarlett's famous quote from Gone with the Wind, "I'll think about it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day." The problem is that is a dangerous thing to do when talking about our health.
I know I have often done that in several areas in my life. There are days I waited to open up a credit card bill as if not opening it made it acceptable to not pay the due amount. I have gone periods of time fearful to get on the scales because I did not want to really know what I would see.
My diabetes diagnosis changed all of that for me. The consequences of living in my own reality were far too serious and I had to choose to live in the here and now. The other difference is that I developed a plan of action to get better and I was excited to see if my efforts were paying off.
If you are ready to make some changes in your life, the first step is to assess where you are currently. I would start with a visit to your doctor and have him/her check you blood and review the results together. You want to examine your blood sugar, A1C, cholesterol (both good and bad), and several other areas. I was into my 50's before I understood the importance of knowing and understanding what our blood tells us.
It is important to do this because in 2012, 86 million Americans age 20 and older had pre diabetes, which is when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. It is so important to catch this early. According to the American Diabetes Association you can lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes 58% by losing 7% of your body weight or exercising moderately (such as brisk walking) 30 minutes a day, five days a week. That is such a preferred method of treating versus medications and the potential complication of diabetes.
I also had to assess the contents of my pantry and refrigerator. For the first time, when I shopped for groceries, I looked at the percentage of carbs and sugar content in the food. I took an inventory of the food in my kitchen and I quickly understood why I had Type 2 Diabetes. Look at the carb content of pasta, cookies, chips, crackers, and even the fruit juices you have been told are healthy. My current goal is to have less than 200 carbs per day. There were days prior to my diagnosis that I would have a meal worth of carbs in drinks alone.
Tonight, look at your pantry and fridge. Look at the carbs and sugar you take in each day. When you grocery shop, look at the nutritional information on the panels of the items you buy. Ignoring that information does not lessen the impact it has on your body.
It is important to also track how much water you are drinking. By water, I do not mean sodas. According to the Mayo Clinic, lack of water can cause dehydration and even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. The standard is of course eight 8 ounce glasses per day but other factors such as exercising can impact that number.
Next, assess how much exercise you are getting. It is a crucial part of staying healthy. If the answer is none, it is time to make a change. Even when I was not eating as well as I should have, had I been on an regular pattern of exercise, I might have avoided diabetes longer. To get started, look at exercise options - walking, running, yoga, weight lifting are just a few options. Finances do not have to be an obstacle to this.
In the spirit of true confessions, I must tell you that as I have gotten older, I give a lot more attention to poop. Don't judge! I have learned from Dr. Oz who taught me that looking at things like shape, size, smell and shade of our stool can indicate how healthy we are or are not. Clearly, if you have regular constipation or diarrhea, it is time to examine your habits.
If you know you are not where you need to be with your health, the time is now to do an inventory of all of these areas and then develop your plan of action. Ignoring these factors will not lessen the impact of the negative consequences.
Commit today to starting your examination of where you are in your life. If it will help to in a public forum state you are doing this, tell me in the comments that you are committed to making your health a priority. You can also email me privately with questions or concerns. Start your journey today.
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