Hi everyone! First off, let’s get the introductions out of the way. I’m Tara Ann, a 40-year-old mom to two absolutely beautiful teenage daughters, Evelynn (16) and Alexis (14). I love them more than they understand at this point in their lives. Like any mom of teens, I’m excited to see where they go and what they do. But, let me be clear: this blog is not about them. They might pop up here and there, but this space is about ME. That’s right—me. And I’m not apologizing for being selfish about that!
Is it possible this blog ends up being boring and gets zero views or shares? Sure. But you know what? That’s okay. This blog isn’t about you; it’s about me. I’m not a writer. I’ve never been one to journal (I usually last about two days before giving up). But I’m giving this blogging thing a shot, and there’s one big reason for it—I’ll get to that later.
A Little About My Life
I’ve spent most of my life in the medical field. I started as a CNA during my senior year of high school and, despite taking a few detours into some not-so-great activities (who hasn’t, right?), I’ve always found my way back to healthcare. I’m now a certified medical assistant, although I’m not doing that anymore! These days, I’m wearing multiple hats: receptionist, claims processor, and a “stand-in nurse” when the real RN is out of the clinic. You could say I’m keeping the wheels turning around here, even if I’m not exactly doing what I trained for.
Outside of work, my life is a juggling act: making dinner, keeping the house somewhat clean (as dog hair-free as possible, which is a major challenge with my two crazy dogs), and trying to maintain some level of sanity. I’ve got a few close friends, but one lives across the country (she had the audacity to move away, can you believe it?) and the others and I mostly text. None of us get out much.
Then there’s my boyfriend. He’s a pirate. Yes, a real pirate. He has a boat and everything. In fact, I even bought him a fake parrot (it lives on his boat rent-free, no less). I can’t express enough how much he deserves a gold star for inviting me—and my two girls, dog, house bunny, and guinea piggies—into his home when we needed a place to stay. I’m still impressed by his ability to accept us into his home, especially Odin since his own dog (Hazel) wasn’t thrilled to have a new housemate. But they’ve adjusted.
The Health Journey
Now, let’s get down to something that’s been weighing on me for a long time: I’m fat, I’m type 2 diabetic, and I’m tired of being those things. Four days ago, I decided to take control and start a new path, and I’m committed to sticking with it. Sure, I’ve struggled to find a “fitness buddy,” but I’m trying to be my own buddy for now. And you know what? I think a blog might be a good way to hold myself accountable. If nothing else, it’ll serve as a reminder to KEEP GOING.
I’ve been eating healthier—mostly keto—but I’ll be honest, I had a slice of bread the other day. Sometimes you just want that damn slice of bread (or a potato!). So, maybe my new diet is more like keto-carnivore-carb-cycling with the occasional cookie thrown in. Either way, my blood sugar has been great, and I’ve even reduced my insulin dose since making these changes. I’m hopeful that over time, I’ll be able to stop using insulin altogether.
The Struggle With Exercise
Now, let’s talk exercise. (Insert eye-roll emoji here). I won’t lie: I don’t like exercise. I’ve been fat my whole life, and let me tell you, there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to jump or run when your boobs feel like they’re going to knock you out. No sports bra is magical enough to solve that problem. But hey, I’ve been walking.
I even paid for a walking app (which sounds silly when you could walk for free, right?). But the truth is, I chose lazy 99% of the time before, and the app has been a way to motivate myself. So far, Odin and I have walked every day for the past four days. I know, I know—four days isn’t much, but for me, it’s a big deal. I’ve already completed one challenge the app gave me and will be halfway through another by tomorrow’s walk. They say it takes a week to build a habit, and I’m almost there!
We’ll see if I can keep this blog up for a week and turn it into a habit, too.
Let’s Do This Together
For now, that’s enough about me. I’m excited to continue this journey toward better health, and I really hope you (anyone? someone?) might want to join me on this path. Let’s keep each other motivated and hold each other accountable.
Goodnight for now, and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Cheers,
Tara Ann