Lipitor girl

Cheerios or oatmeal, anyone???

For most of my teen and adult life, I have been oh, so fascinated, with exercise and good nutrition. I have chosen to eat wheat infused Chips Ahoy cookies, sneak wheat flour into the banana bread, eat brown rice with a happy expression on my face - gotta love that nutty texture, family - and make my sandwiches from 100% whole wheat Classic Harvest bread with no high fructose corn syrup in it. I have frequently passed on soda at restaurants instead going for the water option, and I hardly ever buy pop at the store unless there is a big BSU game, Super Bowl game, or another special televised event on. I opt for dark chocolate - preferrably 70% or more cacao...hehehe that's a funny word, cacao. To be careful with calories and portion sizes I've counted out many wheat thins and Triscuits to carry to school for part of my lunch. I've mentally kept track of the various fruits and vegetables I've consumed during the day so as to make sure that I get my 5-a day the colorful way! I've eaten tomatoes from the garden ad-naseum, and have stunk up the whole house in the cooking of broccoli and cauliflower.

I work out at least 6 days of the week - as well as Sunday if you count Bill and me going for a nice, long walk after dinner is over. I strength train at 2 to 3 times a week as well, and I'm not saying any of this to toot my own horn, because right now my horn is not in the tooting mood.

My horn is not in the tooting mood because I received my "health profile" on Friday in the mail. I participated in this at school and had my blood drawn, bloop pressure taken, hips and waist measured, received a free pedometer, AND a Starbuck's $5 gift card. In return I got the rating of 44 out of 100 as my score... Yes, folks, my health is "in need of improvement".

For.Pete's.Sake.

My cholesterol is borderline high with a total score of 221. My blood pressure is "high" with a reading of 122/64. I don't handle stress well - WHAT'S NEW? I get too little sleep - uh, that's because I have to get up early to go exercise, duh... And I haven't had a mammogram yet. Truth be told I'm afraid to have my little assets squeezed between some huge robotic frigid plates...I don't want pancakes on my front. But I know I need to get it done...

So, as a result of this unwelcome news:

I've tried not to be too depressed. I've tried to picture myself as an actress on those Lipitor commercials. I've checked each label of food I've eaten to make sure there isn't too much cholesterol, fat, sodium, or high fructose corn syrup in it. I've tried to figure out how I can get more exercise into my day. I've written down the telephone number for the mammogram sadists. I've sworn to drink only skim milk from now on. I've tried to think about going to a happy place when my class of 5th graders goes a bit nuts this week. And the list will continue to go on and I will continue to worry and wonder about what I can or, quite possibly, cannot do to thwart any unforeseen health conditions that may arise as a result of this "health report". Deep breaths, happy thoughts, prayer, and run. A lot.

At least I got something right, however, I always wear my seatbelt!