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As told to Nicole Audrey Spector<\/em><\/p>\n I knew I\u2019d been letting stress get the best of me, particularly when it came to poor eating habits, but I didn\u2019t realize how bad I\u2019d let things get until my work hosted a wellness event and a nurse visited our offices to check our body mass index (BMI),* blood pressure and cholesterol. <\/p>\n My levels were not great, to put it mildly. My blood pressure was high, and my cholesterol was through the roof and my BMI indicated my weight was in an unhealthy range. <\/p>\n After the wellness event was over, I made an appointment with my primary care physician (PCP), who promptly confirmed all the less-than-desirable findings and urgently recommended major life changes. <\/p>\n \u201cYou could have a heart attack or a stroke if you don\u2019t change,\u201d the doctor said, stressing that I had to get my weight down and my blood pressure and cholesterol under control. For the latter two, she offered me medication to help. <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cI got myself into this mess, I\u2019ll get myself out. And if I can\u2019t do it on my own, then I\u2019ll take the medication.\u201d <\/p>\n I was deeply disappointed in myself and left the doctor\u2019s office in tears. I know these types of medical issues aren\u2019t always in a person\u2019s control, but I was determined to try to fix mine.<\/p>\n As a former aerobics instructor I knew just how important a balanced diet and exercise are in creating a healthy life. And yet there I was: stress-eating cookies at my desk while the numbers on the scale just kept going up, along with my risk for a heart attack and a stroke. Somewhere along the way I had given up on myself. When had I done this? How? Why? <\/p>\n I didn\u2019t have all the answers, but it didn\u2019t matter. I made up my mind to change and I wasted no time. I immediately overhauled my diet \u2014 ditching soda, salty snacks and sweets (I still indulge in my favorite treats, but with more restraint), and sticking to three small meals a day. I also upped my daily exercise routine. I exercise a lot, biking 10 miles on the exercise bike every day and walking 45 minutes with weights, but even just a little bit of physical exercise can be hugely beneficial to your longevity and \u2014 more importantly, I believe \u2014 your quality of life. <\/p>\n But my changes weren\u2019t all physical. There was a mental component to my health transformation as well. <\/p>\n I\u2019m a painter and I set about creating this new and improved version of me much as I would a fresh masterpiece. I visualized what I wanted to look like and how I wanted to feel. I asked myself, \u201cWhat would I wear? Where would I go? Who would I be with?\u201d<\/p>\n To help center myself and fully realize my vision of my future self, I brought mindfulness into my daily routine. It\u2019s as easy as it gets: All I do is lie on the bed and observe my thoughts with gratitude and a goal of gaining connection with the present moment. I often fall asleep while doing this, but I find that even if I nod off for a bit, this practice still does the trick in helping me unplug and de-stress, which is crucial, as stress was what was driving me to overeat as well as to eat poorly. <\/p>\n With the combination of workouts, healthy eating, and meditation the weight steadily fell off over time and I\u2019m now at a healthy weight for my body. My blood pressure has also stabilized, as has my cholesterol. My doctor is beyond pleased with me. I promised her I would turn it all around and I did. <\/p>\n I\u2019m pleased, too \u2014 but I\u2019m careful not to get smug. Being in amazing shape takes much more work than it did when I was younger. Additionally, I\u2019m enormously lucky to have the ability to be so active and to feel so youthful. <\/p>\n Lately, I\u2019ve been spending time in an assisted living facility with my 95-year-old mother-in-law. She\u2019s there because she has memory issues, but most of the people who live there need to be there because they\u2019ve lost their mobility and can no longer be independent. This is a recurring reminder to me to take nothing I have for granted and to keep moving. <\/p>\n Upending life as I knew it in order to get into shape after 50 was difficult. At first, it was possibly the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever done. But once I brought in mindfulness, which helped me release the anger for having landed myself in an unhealthy situation, it got a lot easier. <\/p>\n Now, working out, eating right and meditating are as much a part of my everyday life as snacking and sitting around used to be. The difference is, I\u2019m so much happier and feel so much more alive and present. I\u2019m invested in every day, in every moment, and I can say with absolute certainty: I will never again give up on me. <\/p>\n *Editor\u2019s Note: BMI is just one measure and should not be used to evaluate health without the input of a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n Have a Real Women, Real Stories of your own you want to share? <\/em>Let us know<\/em>. <\/em><\/p>\n Our Real Women, Real Stories are the authentic experiences of real-life women. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these stories are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthyWomen.<\/em><\/p>\n