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The Queen's Chair: A Better U: Week Two

Marsha Jones · Sunday, February 27th 2011 at 12:33AM · 443 views
OK, here's the deal. I'm suppose to ask myself and think about why I put my health needs last on my priority. Here's my problem: I never did. My doctors know I make and keep appointments like clock work. Eye appointments are made a year to the date. For both myself and my kids. I didn't want my kids to ever be afraid of our doctor. They never were.

The problem I have with this week's assignment was I thought I was doing a good thing. I go in for checkups. My doctor sees me regularly. I call and ask questions. I ate right. I exercised and participated in my company's version of the Biggest Lose. I stopped drinking ALL sodas. I was doing all the right things, but I still managed to get a stroke.

My major goal for this Better U Campaign: to get healthier again. I want to return to my former self. I changed my diet before: I'm tweaking my diet even more. I'm increasing (even more) my water and greens intake. I'm bowling this summer to work on fine-tuning my game. And I can't wait til the snow stops, I plan to be outside more and walking. My balance has gotten better, my leg is stronger, and I plan to walk at least twice a day for 30 minutes around my neighbor. I'm taking on my new goals: slowly.

I eliminated stress and some drama queens and kings in my life. Now I'm dealing with the joy of raising a teenager as a single parent and frankly, that has its own set of challenges. I have to watch my temper and anger for stress reasons. I now worry that one of blow ups could be a MAJOR setback for me: HEALTH WISE.

Nothing has ever stopped me from being healthy. I was an athlete for most of my life in high school and college. I kept up with sports in my adult life. As I still recover from this stroke, my hope is to get back to walking my marathon events like the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk. I even took my kids (in strollers or wagons) and girlfriends with me to stay in shape. I felt betrayed by my body a bit. All I know is that I don't want another birthday present like this EVER again.

My doctors told me that I might not walk again. That was three years ago. I'm excited about continually proving them wrong. My other goal? Finally getting rid of this leg brace.

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Marsha Jones Rochester, NY

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