To My "Healths"

As we begin the "new year" it is a tradition where you set resolutions. Of course, those resolutions are usually not met or forgotten by February. So I changed that thinking. In January, I set 3 goals that I wanted to work on in 2007. These goals are areas where accomplishments are continued onto another year. I choose my 3 healths - my mental health, financial health and my physical health. The first goal that I tackled was my mental health - I joined a support group through my church to work on personal issues - Kathryn's death, co-dependence, self esteem issues as well as my weight. Unfortunately, our regular meetings have been disbanded but that support system I gained from the ladies I met at the group has not. I see them on Sundays, some are at the quilting group I joined this year, the phone and of course, by emails. I also gained some special friendships too through that process. I was able to deal with some of the emotions connected with the above mentioned issues. I do feel stronger that I can deal with a problem promptly instead of letting it stew or not mention it. In the Spring, I began working on my Financial health - I knew that I wanted to renovate my basement so that I would have the two levels to live in instead of having a basement for storage basically. So working with my mortage specialist, I was able to take equity from my home. It was enough to pay off some bills that had gathered, but I also had enough to do the renovations this year - my deck and basement. It also helped having a roommate for the first 6 months of the year, so bills were getting paid in full on time, I was actually able to double up in my mortage payments (I will see that benefit years from now) and I have been able to save money for my future (RRSPs) and for the near future (my travel plans). I receive a quarterly report through my bank which also notifies me of my credit rating and I have seen that increased. From what I read online - having a good credit line benefits me esp when it comes to renewing my mortage which is 2009. (Another goal, right?). So I do feel confident that I am on the right path financially.

In August, I began working on my last health - my weight. I can't tell you a time where I was "thin". Have always been the "big girl" in the class and after school activities. Yes, genenics play some part in my build (both sides of my family have obese problems). But the other part to this issue is by my own hand. Doing physical exercise was not something that interest me or excite me by any stretch of the imagination. When I was 13, my parents decided to put me in a swim club called the Thunderbolts. I stayed swimming competatively for 7 years. I was not fast but being able to swim 8 lengths of butterfly (the toughest stroke) or 16/32/or 64 lengths of freestyle is an accomplishment knowing my size. It seems I was good in endurance. So I found on our hospital's classfieds that a nurse was selling her membership at a gym about 10 mins from the Foothills hospital. If I wanted to do it correctly, I knew I needed help - I hired a personal trainer - Jude. She has been great and encouraging. Knowing I weigh more than a "normal scale", I found online a scale that weighs up to 440lbs. The scale arriving in Sept and the truth of where my square one began on Sept 9, 2007. I stepped onto the talking scale - says "Hello" and then "I'm ready" when it is time to step on it and "Goodbye" when it shuts off. Then she said "367.0". I wasn't surprised as I had thought I was 360. Having that information, I now know what goals that I would like to reach. I will share those later. So that is where I am today.

Wishing you all the best to the goals you have set for yourself whatever they are. The best thing you can have is a support system - I could not have accomplish what I have thus far without my support system here in Calgary, Three Hills and Thunder Bay. So thanks gals!!