My Journey With Health And Fitness – Finding More Than Strength

So yesterday I had to have blood work done. It is my 6 month A1C check in to see how my diabetes is doing. Please remember, I am in remission as I do not take any medications but that nasty disease still lurks around the corner. I always have anxiety when it it’s time for my A1C test as I worry I will be back in the diabetic range. But hell no, yesterday’s test was lower than the last 2 and I came in at exactly the middle of normal. Proves what I am doing works.

I told y’all about my strength training and I am really proud about how I did with that. Who knew that a nearly 60 year old woman could deadlift 140lbs. Seriously, it astounds me how much I can do given that 5 years ago I was considered so obese and suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. Some days I think this disease is going to get me but no, my A1C was once again completely normal which means I am still in diabetes remission.

But Monday something happened that really stunned me. I was doing our normal workout when the instructor calmly walked over and changed things. She took away the weights I was using and replaced them with heavier ones. Ok yes, the reps got harder but I still did them. At the end I went, ok, need to take it up a notch.

But then I realized, that strength challenge had done more than I thought it did. It wasn’t just about building strength, it was about building confidence. When those heavier weights were dropped I didn’t think that I couldn’t lift those, instead I thought, well ok. And yep, it was harder but I stood there proud at the end thinking holy shit, I just did that.

So I found more than strength, instead I found confidence and courage. To be honest that is what we all need going forward. I thank my trainers for making this happen and for making this old lady be the strongest and fittest that she has ever been.