Health - Overweight Effects

Every body handles excess weight differently. What are some problems you have had because of excess lbs? (Feel free to post in the comments section if you'd like...) I'll tell you a few of the problems I've had and the solutions I've found.

Knees

My knees started screaming at me. I acquired creaky sounds and excruciating pain that would wake me in the middle of the night and leave me near paralyzed. This flared up really badly during curling season because of the way one delivers the stone... and this was when I would curl 4-5 times a week. Then, two years later, I decided to try a Couch to 5K (C25K) program and went home each night with swollen knees and the inability to move much. I found that buying knee support braces and wearing them during runs would keep the blood/fluid flowing and would prevent swelling and pain after exercise. The last thing I needed was an excuse not to exercise!! I have a feeling that as I lose weight, this problem will become less. If not, at least I have my braces to help me through. 

Heartburn

Can you believe I've had heartburn since the end of my middle school years? I couldn't figure out why I got it so frequently (numerous times a day) or why Tums just weren't working. In high school, I had an upper GI done and found that I had GERD. I still didn't really put the whole puzzle together and didn't change my eating habits. In college, I switched to using ranitidine (generic Zantac), but I had to take twice the recommended dose to get it to work. Since moving down South for work a year and a half ago, I've had less frequent heartburn problems, but it still hadn't gone away and boy was I frustrated. I realized about 15 days ago that I had only gotten heartburn ONE TIME since the start of the new year. The change? Eating habits. Yes, it sounds obvious... but that is because it is! Eating more healthfully and reducing the amount of greasy, fried, and acidic foods makes such a difference. Heartburn is your body's way of saying, "NO THANK YOU" even though your taste buds may be greedily saying "MORE! MORE!" My grandma died when I was in college because she developed cancer of the esophagus. It was a terrible way to die. She had heartburn from a young age but didn't change her diet or take it very seriously. That will not happen to me.

Fatigue/Depression

No exercise and eating poorly is a dangerous combination. Not exercising leads my body to become tired on a daily basis and gives me more time sitting at home craving foods (whether stress-related or boredom-related). Lacking energy leads me to depression. Boosting happy hormones in my body happens through exercise. Also, knowing I did something positive for myself makes me feel happier, so positive food and exercise choices literally make me smile. I feel weak and defeated when cravings have control over me. So basically, I've been able to combat both fatigue and depression by making positive nutrition and exercise choices. I also have come to the realization that I am worth it. :-D Journaling and blogging are great outlets!

Thank you for reading!

"I once was lost, but now am found... was blind, but now I see..."