I’m fat. I don’t say this to elicit responses of “aw don’t say that!” or “you’re thick, not fat!”. No. I say this because it is what it is. I am about 50 pounds overweight. Forget the BMI. I will always be borderline obese unless I get down to a weight that I am not comfortable with. I have hit a weight in which it has become uncomfortable. I have hit a weight that affects my work. I can’t walk up a flight of stairs. My knees hurt. My scrubs are all tight in the thighs and they are all a large at least. Don’t get me started on trying to do CPR. Two minutes of chest compressions and I am about to die. I’m telling the patient to participate in physical therapy while looking like I need it too. I’m 34. That’s not ok.
I know when all of this started. My back got really bad last year stemming from an old work-related injury. Being the hard-headed nurse that I am, I ignored it until I couldn’t ignore it anymore. My coworkers, who have been awesome at helping me not stress my back anymore, convinced me to go see an orthopedic doc. I finally did in October of 2017. Several appointments and a bilateral L4,5 and S1 denervation later, I finally feel like myself again. The back pain has decreased dramatically. So now I have no excuse. I used to go to the gym regularly to destress. I am going back. I still have my gym membership and dammit it’s time I use it!
I want to be the nurse that can grab the code cart and not need a breathing treatment by the time I get it to the room. Not cute…
I am giving myself six months to drop these 50 pounds. I’m realistic. I know if I try to give myself too short of a timeline I will get discouraged. I want to be a healthy nurse again. My patients deserve me at my best.
The glow up begins with the work out. You got this ma’am. Nothing but progress and positivity by far.
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Sounds as if you’re committed, Fred. And have good support from your coworkers. Good thoughts going forward. 🎉 Christine
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You can do it! I feel like being a nurse is sometimes a huge challenge for health because of all of the work stressors. There are always doughnuts or some kind of crap in our nurses station! Stay strong willed! You will be so glad you did it.
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You can absolutely do it! I am in the same boat and I’m on a “Thriving for thirty” challenge. I gave myself 16 months to drop 60 (4-5 pounds/month) and despite it being more than obtainable I am still choking up. Trying to get myself back on the right path because I’m down to 11 months.
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