I joined a research study. Yes, I’m a lab rat and I love it.

This study is funded by the Cancer Institute and it’s to show a correlation to mental wellness and exercise, which therefore, prevents cancer. It is the most interesting thing I have ever been a part of. I’ve been seen three times now and today was the most interesting. They took my blood, four times, from the IV/catheter they had placed in my arm, they also took my blood pressure several times and monitored my heart rate and oxygen levels numerous times all while briskly walking on the treadmill for forty minutes. All the while, they were asking me questions on how I felt at that moment and how I felt about exercise in general. Over the course of the year long study, I will be reimbursed $300. However, though I appreciate the compensation, I’m more excited to help out the Cancer Institute while increasing my health and well-being.

This study really comes at an amazing time because I’m the most unhappy about my current physical shape than I’ve ever been in my life. Heart disease runs rampant on the maternal side of my family and my cholesterol and BP have slowly been increasing over the last few years. Also, having given birth to my third child, five and a half months ago, my body isn’t necessarily putting itself back together anymore. I’ve promised the researchers in this study that I will exercise, a minimum, of thirty minutes a day/five days a week/for one year. What is completely insane is that, as an adult, I have only taken part in exercising a few times, with a couple month program being the longest I’ve stuck with it. Although I’m not obese, I’m very out of shape. My cholesterol and BP are out of whack, I’m easily irritated and down. I’m frequently fatigued and I always find myself staring at runners/joggers because I long to be like them. Since I was a teenager, I have always ended up needing to keel over after running only a couple of blocks. My breathing is always wrong so I feel like I’m hyperventilating, I feel like I look like an idiot and then I end up cramping somewhere.

With the results of this study relying on me keeping up my end of the contract, I’ve got accountability. Since I had my first interview, it’s been very difficult to have been so pumped up to start exercising over the last few weeks when I was suppose to live life as normal until I did the last session today.

I’ll be starting my regime tomorrow as I venture into my (new) daily jog. I’m excited to witness the changes that are made. Stay tuned…