Nash letter: Get healthy

I’m a native Idahoan who is entering my “third trimester” of life. My joints ache from every youthful fall, scrape and ding; my waistline mocks my belt line; and I have to eat a whole lot less. Despite exercise and a seemingly “average” mature woman body, my clothes keep trying to shrink, my blood sugar wants to inch up and my physical warranty is edging toward expired. Curses.

I’m also a family nurse practitioner. My patients look at me and think, “You don’t know my struggles with weight; I only eat a little bit every day; my knees and back hurt when I walk.” I do hear you, but I know that you can succeed in meeting your life goals.

Did you know that research evidence shows that nurse practitioners’ patient outcomes in lipid, blood pressure, weight and blood sugar management are some of the highest in the nation?

Come on, Idaho; get healthy. Only you can make this choice. Lose weight, shape up, move more and eat less. I’m there with you.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Nash letter: Get healthy."