Do you focus on your health even if it takes extra money or time? Remember, you are worth the investment.
After I drove to the doctor's office for blood test results four times in a row, I began to become discontent with my health—unregulated thyroid levels, high blood sugar, cholesterol, and other ailments wreaked havoc in my life. Although I was changing my diet, exercising more, and changing my lifestyle, nothing seemed to help. Every month, when I got my blood test results back, I would become disappointed because nothing had changed. Despite all my best efforts, I tried to take back control of my health, but nothing was working.
For the first time in my life, my health concerns were not being solved with one visit. My health required different medications, treatment plans, and other options to help me optimize my weight, start feeling better, and use my body so I could make the most of the time I had. After the third doctor's visit, I received news about another health concern.
Although it was nothing major, it was enough to make me take a sobering look at how I was living. I thought I would be around until my 70s and 80s. Although everyone believes that is the case for them, nothing is promised. We are not promised tomorrow. So, we must make the most of the time we have today.
Just as with many things in life, my health is a journey. Here are some things I discovered about the process:
It Takes Work
For many years, I simply increased my exercise or stopped eating sugar, and my health would rebound to normal levels. However, as I've gotten older, I've realized that my health takes much more work than I realized. Having a doctor who supports me in my journey, helps me make tweaks each month, and has persevered with me in this test of faith is invaluable.
I constantly must adjust my diet to cut out certain foods and reduce inflammation. These are the underlying causes of why my health is not as good as it could be and now takes work to manage. I must track the calories in my sodium and sugar intake. I also must increase my protein consumption so my body will burn fat, optimize, and reach optimal weight.
Sometimes, managing my body and making it as healthy as possible feels like a full-time job. Although there's no way I can prevent every health problem from coming my way, I can do what I can with the knowledge that I have to help heal myself from any ailments, take supplements, and feed my body good sustenance rather than junk.
It Produces Perseverance
One thing I've learned as I've gone through this health journey is that the more I work, the more perseverance it produces in me. Romans has something to say about this when it says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 3:3-4).
God wants us to establish perseverance because it molds and shapes our character. I have learned that adjusting my health each week is not only helping me physically, but it's also helping my character. Many times, I've wanted to quit and just give up. Many days, I simply want to stop exercising, sit on my couch, and eat sugary and salty snacks. That might be a short-term emotional fix, but it will wreak more havoc on my health in the long run.
If I want to be around to see my children get married, meet my grandchildren, and continue serving the Lord, I must make the proper adjustments to my health. Although it is difficult to understand the science of why my body does what it does, I know that every time I make a tweak or when I put forth the effort, God is pleased.
Support Is Essential
A year ago, I had a well-meaning yet unsupportive doctor. He was hesitant to listen to any of my concerns or want to prescribe any medicine that would be helpful to me in the long run. I found my health remained the same under that doctor's care. However, I switched doctors to a woman who has been through some of the things I've been through.
Because she can relate to what's going on, she understands that for some months, I have been working and doing everything that's being asked of me, yet my body is not cooperating. She understands this because it's happened to her too. Because of this, she can give me helpful suggestions on changing my diet, increasing my exercise, and regulating my hormones.
Sometimes, it is difficult to continue a health journey because of the unsupportive nature of medical professionals. If necessary, switch doctors to someone who understands you and your situation. You also need a doctor willing to look at every portion of an ailment rather than simply look at blood tests. For example, because my thyroid is not regulated, my doctor has wanted to test several times to check each portion of the thyroid.
Because there are three parts to a proper thyroid level, she tests all three. When one is off, she retests until all three are in proper working order. However, for many years, I've had doctors who merely tested the main TSH level and, when that was okay, simply went on to something else. An unregulated hormone thyroid level can pave the way for diabetes and other hormone-related conditions. A supportive doctor willing to ensure the whole body is well and treat the underlying causes of symptoms is an incredible asset on a journey toward good health.
Do What It Takes
Although maintaining my health has become very expensive and time-consuming, I know that, in the end, it is worth the sacrifice. It is easy for me to justify that it's not worth the time or money, but as I get older, I will only be paying these costs in hospital bills and other major surgeries because more minor ailments that went untreated will have wreaked havoc on other major organs and parts of the body.
I have learned I should listen to my doctor's suggestions and take them. It's easy for me to think I know it all or that I've learned all I can about what's going on with me. But doctors have studied and have worked with other patients. They have a wealth of knowledge that I don't have. I must trust that they are doing what's in my best interest. When you have the trust and support of medical professionals, it is easier to go through a journey toward health than with someone perceived as uncaring or uneducated in the field.
Do you focus on your health even if it takes extra money or time? Remember, you are worth the investment. A healthy body in its 40s will reap dividends for you in the 70s and 80s. Taking care of your health now may prolong your life in the long term. We may not only be able to see grandkids grow up, but we may also be able to see great-grandkids grow up.
Although no time is promised, I must do all I can to ensure I am as healthy as possible to serve the Lord, be with my loved ones, and live my life to the best of my ability here on earth.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/udra
