My Health Journey | Feb 2020

I always go on these fitness/health kicks and things tend to go well until I end up pregnant.
This time it's different. This time, things are more serious because it's not just about being fit and losing weight. It's about truly improving my health and addressing the issues that have emerged from years of weight gain, birth, stress, and not so good eating habits. And because we don't intend to have any more kids, it just feels like it will be more sustainable.

Side note--- It still hasn't fully sunk in that Salani is our last baby. Like I'm not going to get pregnant again!! (unless by some craaaaazzzzyy miracle, but by then it's like...oh ok the Lord aint playin) But it's exciting, but weird, but awesome, but sad, but just a new thing for me to adjust to.

Anyways...it feels like our family is in a new chapter and for me personally that includes a new approach to how I tend and care for the body I have been given. So here goes!

6 Weeks Post Patrum
At my 6 week post partum check up my blood pressure was still high. I had stopped taking my meds a few days before to see how my body would do and yeah, it was still high. At this point it's chronic hypertension. My doc decided to lower my dosage and have me come back to see if I needed to make adjustments. I also had my blood drawn to check my A1C levels to see if I'm diabetic or pre-diabetic. We've been playing phone tag so I haven't heard the results yet from the lab, but I am nervous. These are not things that I take lightly.

 So what can I do?
Naturally I've turned to the internet to research causes and treatments. My general goals are pretty simple: get healthy and off medication.

Here are a few lifestyle changes that the google has suggested for chronic hypertension:

  • 💛Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt
    - I'm not a terrible eater, but I could definitely up my veggie and fruit intake
  • 🆇Getting regular physical activity
    - Definitely a major focus for me now that I'm starting to feel stronger 
  • 🆇Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you're overweight or obese
    - for sure a major focus! going along with increasing physical activity
  • ✅Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink 
    - all good here!
These aren't mind blowing new suggestions. Like literally, this is what everyone should be doing already...but it's a good starting place for me. If I get a green check next to these four suggestions and don't see any changes in my blood pressure and sugar levels....then we'll take it a step further. 

 I'm going to try journal everything I do (here) and then post results every month or so. It has taken 10 years, 6 babies, and a whole lot of neglect to get my body into the state that it is in. And I'm ready to be more intentional and careful in how I nourish and strengthen this temple.

 I'm excited to see where this journey takes me.

 Wish me luck.

Comments

Sui-Jean Fuimaono said…
Sending you all the healthiest vibes of all healthy vibes!! I'm excited for you and this new chapter :) You got this!!
February 16, 2020 at 1:18 AM
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