Getting Healthy at 40

Ain't that the truth? But I'm gonna try!

Well it happened. It finally happened. I turned 40 on Friday as I mentioned last week. I had a truly wonderful day thanks to my husband planning a treasure hunt to my gift, a fantastic dinner at a nice local restaurant that had terrific live jazz and then drinks (only 1 glass of wine for me due to my meds) at The Hyatt (fan-cy!).

Aside from that I received dozens of happy birthday wishes on Facebook and Twitter from friends and family which was really nice and just added to the lovely day. Things like that put a smile on my face and remind me that I have great friends and family, so thank you for that.

Since it was a milestone birthday, I allowed myself the weekend to sort of splurge. I had chocolate cake after dinner on Friday for example. I figured that 40 was a great time to really take charge of my life and start caring about myself more than I had been. I didn't realize that I disliked myself as much as I did until I did some soul searching this weekend. I mean, I have qualities that I like such as a good sense of humor, caring for others and a talent for writing and singing. But I also thought to myself too many times that I am wrinkled and ugly and fat. What a shitty way to perceive yourself right?

Not THAT bad for 40 am I? 

I can't do much about the wrinkles, but I'll apply as much cream as I can to help minimize those damn lines. Ugly? Probably not. I think I associate my being overweight with my being ugly. That's not fair is it? There are lots of people that are overweight that I don't think are unattractive, so why am I so hard on myself? It's ridiculous and I need to work on my perception of myself when I look in the mirror. Fat? Well, that's what I'm here for! Now that I'm 40, no more excuses! I've got to get serious about losing weight. Not because I want to fit in a size 6 or be more beautiful on the outside, but because I want to be healthy.

So I need your help, folks. Help me keep on track by reminding me of this post. Use my own words against me if need be! See, I have a terrible fear of dying ever since a health scare (one of many), so I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to be healthy. I can't fix my CRPS, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, migraines or blood disorder, but I can fix my blood pressure by losing weight can't I? Maybe one day I'll be able to stop taking blood pressure medications even.

One day that will be me smiling at the number on the scale!

The point of this rambling post is that I want and need to be the healthiest me I can be. I don't want to die before my time, so it's up to me to turn some things around. I'm fortunate to have the gift of writing for this blog and that means I'm held responsible by all of you. I don't want to disappoint you and more than that I don't want to disappoint myself.

Thanks a Lot, John Stamos! I'm Almost 40 and Look Like Hell.

Fuck you, 40!

My 40th (Oh. Em. Gee.) birthday is on Friday and I'm not dealing with it very well, folks. I wanted to be a thin, sexy 40 year old woman, not a chunky monkey 40 year old woman with self-esteem issues. Where did it all go wrong? I have some thoughts on the subject that I thought I would share.

1. I got injured and developed CRPS so exercise is almost completely out of the question. Fuck you, nerve disorder! I can blame CRPS for at least part of my fat ass can't I? I mean if I didn't have CRPS I would be able to do yoga like I used to and maybe I would be all svelt and stuff.

2. I <3 food way too much. Y'all if I could roll around in a pool filled with Key Lime Pie filling and eat my way out, I totally would. Then I'd jump into the pool filled with whipped cream. The real kind too, not that Cool Whip shit.

Mmmm...

3. I'm liking this vision of a pool filled with deliciousness. Let's roll with it. How about a pool filled with pancakes! I swear to Cheesus I'd butter myself up from head to toe because you can't have pancakes without gobs of REAL butter, then I'd dive in to my pancake pool. I'd have it set up so that some REAL maple syrup would flow down the slide. God I need this in my life.

Oh yeah. Source: Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

4.Okay let's focus people. I don't need this in my life at all! What are you people doing to me? Sheesh! This is a weight loss blog hello! I should be talking about a pool filled with Greek yogurt instead of pancakes for fuck's sake. Just so we're clear, if I do get that pool filled with Greek yogurt, I'm also gonna need John Stamos as my pool boy. Got it?

5. Wait. What were we talking about?

6. I love lists.

Gimme some of that yogurt or just John Stamos. Whatever.

7. Where is John Stamos? Like why doesn't he have a TV show anymore? I mean it's not that I watched Full House or anything, but occasionally I'd turn the sound off and stare at the Greek wonder that is Uncle Jesse. And you know what else? I think he looks 10 times better now than he did back then.

8. Why does John Stamos look better than me? He probably works out huh? I wonder how old he is.

9. Holy shit! I just looked it up and he is 48! Now I'm really depressed. He's 8 years older than me and looks 10 years younger than me. Thanks a lot Uncle Jesse! Way to make a girl feel good. I hope you're proud of yourself sir.

10. I think you see now why I'm dreading my 40th birthday. I don't look like John Stamos. Fuck.

Well clearly it's time to take my medication. I don't even understand this post. Wish me luck on my impending 40-ness, kids. I need it.