Why Wait? Take Charge of Your Health Today

I write this blog today with fear and sadness as yet another person I know has been diagnosed as “pre-diabetic” due to their test results indicating high A1C levels. This is happening far too often! I could go on about our country’s health crisis, the lack of education and understanding, and quick-fix weight loss “cures” involving a little ol’ injection. But that’s a discussion for another time.

What’s really on my mind is this: Why are we waiting to do something about our own health? Have you ever wondered why we often wait for bad news from our doctors before deciding to make a lifestyle change? “Your cholesterol is high.” “You’re at risk for heart disease.” “Your A1C is high.” “You’re pre-diabetic.”

Is it fear? Denial? Or maybe it’s the idea that if we don’t acknowledge a problem, it doesn’t really exist.

Whatever the reason, it’s time to stop waiting and start taking charge of our health—no doctor’s lecture required.

Seriously, stop saying, “I’ll start on Monday.” You may have the best of intentions, but you and I both know that “Monday” quickly becomes “tomorrow,” and tomorrow becomes next week.

Mondays are tough enough as it is, with emails piling up, traffic slowing us down, and the realization that we have five whole workdays ahead. Trust me, I’ve been there. For years, Monday was my magical day to start everything—new diets, gym memberships, quitting sugar—you name it. But nothing changed until I embraced this idea: Change starts today.

Our decisions today drive change. I’ll say that again: Our decisions drive change. Own that decision.

When I say "own it," I mean stop beating yourself up when your decision isn’t perfect. It’s your decision. As much as we tell ourselves otherwise, there’s rarely someone twisting our arm. Imagine if there were a line outside the breakroom where coworkers held each other’s arms behind their backs, forcing them to grab that second donut. It’s laughable, right? Notice how I said second donut there. 😊 

Let’s make that day today! Here are some tips to kick things off:

1. Ease Into Working Out

Ah, the gym. The land of muscle-bound folks grunting over dumbbells and mysterious machines that look like medieval torture devices. Starting at a gym on a Monday? Not the best idea. Gyms on Mondays are packed with weekend warriors punishing themselves for their Saturday night pizza decisions. If you’re new to this scene, it can feel like walking into a crowded cafeteria without your lunch tray.

Instead, pick a less chaotic day, like Thursday or Friday. Gyms tend to be quieter as the week goes on, and you can ease in without feeling like everyone’s watching you figure out the treadmill.

Bonus tip: Bring a friend. Misery loves company, but so does awkwardness, and laughing together is way more fun.

2. Take Advantage of Freebies and Modifications

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Many gyms offer a first class free or complimentary personal trainer session. Even if you’re not planning to join or to hire a trainer long-term, take them up on it. At the very least, you’ll learn how to use the equipment without looking like you’re trying to assemble IKEA furniture.

And if you’re joining a fitness class, don’t hesitate to take breaks or use modifications. Trust me, no one’s judging you for doing the low-impact version of burpees. They’re probably just relieved you’re not making them look bad. As someone who takes fitness classes, I can assure you—I’m not watching you. I’m too busy trying to survive my own workout!

3. Change One Thing at a Time in Your Nutrition

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new habits don’t need to either. Don’t try to overhaul your entire eating routine at once; that’s a fast track to burnout (and probably a midnight snack raid).

Instead, focus on one small change for that first week. For example, if you’re attached to your morning coffee like it’s a lifeline, don’t mess with it. Nobody wants to see what happens when you’re forced to give up caffeine cold turkey. Instead, adjust something else. Maybe swap your daily sugary snack for a piece of fruit or add an extra glass of water to your day. Small changes build confidence and keep you from feeling like you’re signed up for a survival show.

Take Action Today

If you’ve got even a slight concern about your health or know you have a family history of certain conditions, talk to your doctor. You’re not being paranoid. Get a checkup. Ask for blood work. So much can be treated when caught early.

These tips aren’t rocket science, but they’re a solid starting point for taking control of your health. You get to decide. No doctor or nurse giving you their routine lecture.

Ready to start? Let’s make today the day you say goodbye to excuses and hello to a healthier, happier version of yourself. Your future self will thank you—and probably buy you a celebratory smoothie.