I completed a health screening at the beginning of my district’s school year and discovered I was overweight. I felt uncomfortable in my body, was exhausted, and it was hard for me to be active. I have always been an active person, so the fact I had lost track of my physical health was a huge eye-opener for me.
I went to the CEBT Health & Wellness Center at Loveland to see Joy Callendar, PA. We began by focusing on my caloric intake and physical abilities and then discussed my mental health. We addressed my stress levels, coping strategies, relationships, sleep quality, and more. Joy also helped me develop a plan to achieve my health goals, which included losing 20 pounds, running a half marathon, and abstaining from alcohol for a year.
I began by tracking my calories. I realized I was snacking a lot to cope with stress, so I was putting more into my body than I was working off. I weaned myself off from snacking and began paying attention to how my body felt when I ate certain foods. I prioritized choosing what made me feel healthy!
To date, I have lost 40 pounds and am running nine miles three times a week. My blood pressure is down, I’m sleeping six to eight hours a night, and I’m less stressed. I realized that self-shame will never work when it comes to your health. If you’re punishing yourself, your progress won’t stick long term. You need to work with your body instead of against it!
