Healthy Living – Page 23 – N A Waterman Talks About…

Who Am I???

Published on May 6, 2015May 25, 2015 by NAWatermanLeave a comment

As I look in the mirror…I wonder how could I explain “Who Am I”

I am an optimistic. I love life. I am a believer that there isn’t anything you cannot do in life as long as you put your mind to it. There may be some obstacles that you have to overcome… but if you truly want to do whatever it is… you can.

Who I am is a woman who strives to be successful in love, family, business and most importantly… my health. In previous blogs, I’ve talked briefly about my health issues. I have always been a relatively healthy person. I am all about eating healthy and working out. I mean don’t get me wrong, I do have my cheat days where I indulge in a delicious dessert. Heck I am only human, so I do give into temptations. Anyway…

If you met me in person, you would not know that I might be feeling like crap on the inside. I don’t like people feeling sorry for me and I absolutely don’t like people viewing me as a weak individual. I love to do things for myself and for others. I don’t like to count on the help of others. I have always been a go getter. I believe there is nothing better than doing something on your own and reaping the rewards. I get that from my parents. They are definitely great role models. I also give credit to my brother who’s a couple of years younger than me. He is also definitely someone I look up to and admire. I call him my “lil big bro”.

Ok, not to get off track, let me continue to speak a little bit about my health because it has definitely also influenced who I am as a person. I know a lot of the female readers will relate to my situation when I talk about having fibroids and endometriosis. Fibroids and endometriosis are fairly common conditions millions of women suffer from. However there are some of us who suffer tremendously and it pretty much takes over our lives. I could seriously write a novel about all I’ve been through and continue to go through because of these issues.

I was literally in the emergency room every month due to the extreme pain. And of course the girl who suffers with so much pain cannot swallow pills. Don’t laugh…I know that a grown woman should know how to swallow pills. I always say it’s a blessing that I can’t swallow pills, because I could see how a person could become addictive. As I just finished writing that statement, I know it’s a bad thing for me to think… but suffering in pain all day isn’t a good feeling. I am so lucky I have a high threshold for pain. The body is a natural pain reliever…conventional medication is only temporary and not so good for the liver over time.

I have been on every type of medication from birth control pills, IUD, Lupron, etc; Nothing …I mean absolutely nothing prevented those darn fibroids from growing and trying to suck the life out of me. I cannot count how many blood transfusions I’ve had. I am not proud of it, but it was very necessary to save my life. I have had countless amounts of iron infusions and 4 or 5 surgical procedures to remove the fibroids. I know it’s really sad, I lost count. The last time I practically begged my doctor. My doctor told me and my family absolutely no more surgeries. The only other time I will have surgery will be when I am ready to have a baby. I know many of you were thinking why I am putting my body through so much. Just have a hysterectomy you’re thinking. Well I refuse to do that until I have a child. I will not let this stop me from having the one thing I have always wanted to accomplish.

So Who Am I? I am a stubborn woman who refuses to let any obstacles in life hold me back from achieving my dreams. I am not going to pretend to be superhuman and act as if my medical issues has not caused temporary setbacks. When my issues pretty much took over my life, I had to put a hold on my jewelry business, which at that time was doing fairly well. Now I am back to business and working hard to make it 100% better than it was. I refuse to let this obstacle continue to put a hold on my life. I am a strong person and I always tell myself that you can deal with anything. When you are suffering, always remember that there are so many people out there suffering more than you are… with serious medical issues.

So Who Am I you ask again??? I am a woman determined to make all of my dreams come true. I am a woman who will never take the easy way out. And lastly, I am a woman that will always embrace all that is beautiful about life…

As always, thanks for reading… goodnight and I will talk to you all soon 💋

You are Beautiful…Part 10

Published on April 22, 2015April 22, 2015 by NAWaterman2 Comments

I definitely enjoyed writing this 10 part series blog on “You are Beautiful”. I hope that you were inspired just a little bit or at least took away “a little food for thought”. I have to say for myself, just writing these blogs truly inspired me to look at myself a little differently through the mirror. So for this last blog entry of “You are Beautiful”, I have chosen to write the message to myself. It is definitely true when they say writing is the best therapy, because each time I incorporated a little part of myself into the blogs, the more I realized that I needed to take some of my own advice. You ever had a friend that gives the best advice you’ve ever heard, yet they don’t take their own advice? Well… that’s me! I don’t always practice what I preach…

Why do I think I need to be a particular weight to be perfect? Every morning I am on that scale weighing myself. I am completely devoted to my Fitbit… although my new black band has now given me a bad rash around my wrist. Instead of waiting for my replacement blue band to arrive (sidebar: I’m not allergic to the blue band), I’m still wearing the Fitbit because I don’t want to distract my fitness regime. Ok enough of that… onto the next issue. Why do I think I need to have washboard abs? And lastly, why do I always feel guilty when I eat a meal that I consider to be not so healthy or indulge in a decadent dessert?

As I now look in the mirror, I realize that I am beautiful just the way I am. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. I have to tell myself, “it’s ok that you don’t have abs of steel. You have fibroids and endometriosis. It’s really ok to enjoy a meal or decadent dessert once in a blue moon. And for goodness sake, girl take that Fitbit band off of your wrist until your replacement arrives.”

I 100% believe that every one of us should definitely take pride in the way we look and the way we feel. The problem is that some of us go overboard. I am one… correction…I was one of those people. As I look in the mirror one last time for the night, I see a woman that is embracing all that is beautiful about her body… flaws and all!

Goodnight all! I will talk to you soon 💋

You are Beautiful…Part 8

Published on April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 by NAWatermanLeave a comment

Celebrate the things you like about your body. Why must we always knock ourselves down about the things we do not like about our body? We always talk about people making us feel insecure about our body image, when in reality, we do it to ourselves more than others do it to us.

I have been guilty of it. We all have at one point in our lives and you know what… it is exhausting to always complain about the things we don’t like. Isn’t it much more exciting and less stressful to talk about the things we love about our body? I have a petite body frame, but am very curvy. Within the last few years I have been suffering with major fibroid and endometriosis issues (which I will talk about in my “Who Am I” page coming soon). I mention my medical issues to say that ever since I was a teen I have always had a flat stomach and because of my issues, my stomach is no longer as flat as it once was. Oh man, when those fibroids and endometriosis gets aggravated and become inflamed, forget it…I look like I have a little bun in the oven. Now I am one of those girls who loves to wear clothes that shows off my curves. I believe “if you got it, flaunt it”… in a tasteful way of course.

I would exercise extra hard to get my stomach flat again, not realizing I was just making my issues on the inside of my body worst. People would tell me that my stomach does not look as bad as I am picturing it to be. That it is all in my head. So I have finally came to the realization that my health is more important. That it is all in my head. Don’t get me wrong, I do still have my moments when I am complaining about my so-called big stomach. I am a work in progress. Forgive me…I am only human. But I will say that when I complain, I have a quick come back. I’ll say “OMG look at my big ole stomach, but I’m still sexy”… haha. So I have learned to embrace all that is beautiful about my body and not make what I think to be a flaw the major focus.