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day. I also faced a painful truth: my beloved Southern sweet tea had to go — sometimes. Water became my new best friend, and sugar became the ex I occasionally missed but knew was bad for me.

For over two months, I religiously took B12 supplements, packed my meals with protein, hydrated like an Olympic triathlete, and treated sugar like the fairweather friend it was.

The results? When I retested this week, most numbers had returned to normal ranges. My cholesterol dropped to 202 — still slightly elevated but heading in the right direction. Victory dance!

Here’s the kicker: I felt fine before the February blood test, and I feel fine now. However, in retrospect, there were signs something wasn’t right. My fingernails had gotten paper thin and were splitting all the time. They are finally showing improvement. And in the fall and winter, I noticed scrapes and sores were taking forever to heal — something I wrote off as old age. I’ve noticed an improvement there, too. The biggest difference is in the numbers — and the peace of mind they bring.

This experience has reaffirmed to me that we must each be proactive health advocates for ourselves. We get one body for this lifetime journey, and maintenance matters. Annual checkups aren’t just calendar fillers; they’re vital pit stops where trained professionals can help us spot issues before they become major problems.

Listen to what your doctor has to say, but also take charge. Do your own research. Drink water like it’s going out of style. Prioritize deep, restful sleep. Move your body daily. Nurture social connections. Think positive thoughts.

Quality and quantity of life are not mutually exclusive, and I want both. I plan to live a long life, and I want those years to be vibrant, active, and full of happiness and fun. Taking care of ourselves isn’t just about adding years to our lives; it’s about adding life to our years.