Become a BetterU

I suck at exercising. And I love food. Not just chocolate or cookies - in fact, I could totally live without those - it's savory foods like cheese, bread, Doritos and pastas that I crave. Oh and ice cream. I can't survive without ice cream.  It's for this reason that it pains me, but also excites me, to announce that I've been chosen by the American Heart Association to be one of it's national spokesbloggers (yes, I made that word up) for its Go Red for Women: BetterU campaign that starts today.  Ironically, today is also the day that I am regretting the fact that I left my arm sling at home. Why do I need an arm sling you ask? Because I have a mild case of gout. Yes, go ahead - you can say "ewwwww!!!" I won't be offended.

As gross as it sounds, gout isn't some nasty infection that will make my arm fall off. It's a type of arthritis - an inflammation in my elbow that is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in my bloodstream.  Here's the kicker: gout can be caused by a person's diet. There are some foods like, seafood, meats and alcohol that trigger the condition. If fact, when I went to the clinic on Thursday night because I just couldn't take the pain anymore, the doctor said: "Have you been eating lots of steak and drinking red wine?" to which I replied, "No, but that sounds fabulous!" Clearly I have my work cut out for me.

So I'm on an anti-inflammatory prescription to relieve the swelling and I'm watching what I eat.  I suppose this is my wake-up call that I'm not getting any younger and that I have to pay attention to what I put into my body. Well, that along with the fact that the weather is warming up and none of my summer clothes fit me. In my defense, last summer I was pregnant so right now I'm facing wardrobe choices from 2007, before the 3rd baby and when I was considerably smaller.

I have high hopes of getting back down to a happy size though, and I know the BetterU program will help. It's a free, 12-week, online nutrition and fitness program that can makeover your heart. Each week focuses on a different area and provides step-by-step guidance. You’ll receive everything from daily expert tips and the ability to record your progress in an online journal to a downloadable coaching tool that will give you tips and serve you with reminders.  What I like about this particular program is that it is meant to be fun and manageable and the main goal is to make you a healthier person; not just lose weight.

So here's to a healthy heart and a better me. And hopefully that includes healthy elbows too.

An original DC Metro Moms post. You can follow Justice Fergie's BetterU progress on her personal blog, MamaLaw, where she will be writing weekly "Better Tuesdays" posts.