Those Fearful Words

Posted Mar 31, 2006 by jriley

Updated Mar 31, 2006 at 09:06 PM

The day was February 23rd. It started like so many of my other birthdays…loved ones calling me to sing the traditional ‘Happy Birthday’ song. In my book, it’s not official until you hear that familiar tune. So there I was…‘officially’ 45 years old.

With birds chirping and the sun shining I quickly darted off to my scheduled doctor’s appointment. That’s when my world began to turn upside down. The doctor’s office is where I heard those fearful words…‘Let’s add one more pill to your medications’.

Let me just say it…I’m diabetic. I have been for five years. Yep, that’s right. I’m one of those people who get up every morning and shoot themselves in the finger with a pointy little pin just to get a drop of blood. We test that drop of blood and hope that the sugar levels read ‘normal’. Well lately, the numbers have not been reading normal. Perhaps it was the extra slice of pizza…or that extra glass of wine with dinner…or the fact that I’ve been hibernating on the living room couch since November!

Those fearful words meant that it was time to do something about my health. I knew the situation was out of control and I needed to take action. Something had to change…and that something was me. I needed to get in shape. Not for vanity’s sake but more importantly for health’s sake.

So, in a nick of time, came the request from the Tampa Tribune for volunteers to participate in a Weight Loss Challenge. I submitted my information and as luck had it , they picked me! My sister says it was divine intervention. I’ll take that.

I was pretty nervous on the day of the photo shoot. This was the day to meet the other ladies on my team for the first time. I liked them both, right off the bat. We were three lucky gals who would eventually become known as ‘Marty’s Angels’..or simply ‘Angels’. We may have diverse backgrounds but we all share some common goals, like wanting to be healthier.

So here’s my goal for this contest: Lose 10% of my body weight…hopefully through a combined exercise and balanced nutrition program. Portion control has been a BIG problem for me(think Super Size). Luckily, we have a great trainer (Erin) to rely on. I’ll be picking her brain every chance I get.

Join us in this adventure and see how the challenge unravels. My money is on the Angels!