Am I obsessing? Probably. Over the past few years, I’ve found that being obese has lead to much more than simple weight gain. Having a high ratio of body fat to muscle has put strain on my bones. I know that it puts pressure on internal organs and also increases inflammation in the body. This is thought by some to be a cause of cancer. That’s not good news. And, of course, obesity is also a major contributor to type 2 diabetes.
The past couple of days I’ve read an ever-increasing number of life-threatening concerns related to obesity:
- type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- certain cancers (breast, colon)
- stroke
- gallbladder disease
- fatty liver disease
- high cholesterol
- sleep apnea and other breathing problems
- arthritis
- infertility
Sheesh, so many worries. I’m fortunate in some areas and not so much in others. type 2-check
- heart disease-not so far
- high blood pressure-not since I retired
- cancer-no, thank God
- stroke-no, but that scares me
- gallbladder disease-no
- fatty liver-check
- high cholestoral-check
- sleep apnea-check
- arthritis-check
- infertility-doesn’t matter
Five out of 11, darn it.
The AMA says if you are obese and have not been able to lose weight on your own, medical help is available – they suggest you start with your family physician, who may be able to refer you to a weight specialist in your area. I think if I had the money, I’d want a “team” approach … my doctor, a dietitian, a physical therapist, an exercise coach, and a counselor. They’d be my lifestyle changes team. Sound good? Since I’m on my own. The lifestyle and behavior changes fall to me. I’ve tried to educate myself on better food choices while using a healthy eating plan that works for me. And I am definitely working hard to stay on a structured exercise program and increased daily activity— hoping to help build up my strength, endurance, and metabolism. As for counseling … purging everything here in my blog certainly keeps me honest. I’m publically identifying unhealthy triggers and coping (through long missives to myself and you) with the anxiety, depression, or emotional issues surrounding eating and dieting. What am I not willing to do? Prescription weight loss medications or bariatric surgery – just in case anyone thought I might.
So what is the long-term outlook for an obese person trying to be a non-obese person? I must:
Make good lifestyle choices.
Aim for moderate daily activity (walking) for 3000 steps every day, with an increase to 5000 steps by the end of July.
Aim for structured exercise 5 times each week for up to 360 minutes, total.
Eat well on a specified meal plan, by choosing nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
… reaffirming … I’m on it!