Tag: healthy

The Journey Isn’t Over… But Boy, Has It Taken a Detour!

Because apparently, getting healthy wasn’t challenging enough without insurance companies, financial stress, and life throwing a few extra curveballs.

It’s been a while since I’ve shared an update on my health journey, and I wish I could tell you that everything has been sunshine, rainbows, smaller pants, and fabulous new habits.

But this is real life. And real life doesn’t always cooperate with our plans.

So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s catch up.

The Good (down 30 pounds), the Bad (the economy), and the Insurance Company (EVIL)

When I started this journey, I wasn’t looking for a quick fix or a miracle. I wanted to feel better, move better, and take back some control over my health.

After years of dealing with the physical effects of a serious car accident, spinal surgery, weight gain, and all the lovely surprises that come with getting older, I finally felt like I was moving in the right direction.

With the help of my doctor, a wellness coach, some changes to my eating habits, exercise, and a GLP-1 medication, I began making real progress.

I lost weight. My A1C improved from the prediabetic range into the normal range. I started feeling hopeful about what the future could look like.

And then…

The insurance rug got pulled out from under me.

My insurance coverage for GLP-1 medication for weight loss abruptly came to an end.

Just like that.

No gradual transition. Just the realization that a medication that had been helping me improve my health was suddenly going to become a significant financial burden if I wanted to continue.

Now, I understand that insurance companies have policies, coverage restrictions, and financial considerations. I understand that GLP-1 medications are expensive and that coverage for weight management is often treated differently from coverage for other medical conditions.

But understanding the business side of something doesn’t make it any less frustrating when you’re the person whose health is affected.

What bothers me most is that obesity is a chronic medical condition. Improving your weight can improve your blood sugar, mobility, cardiovascular health, and overall quality of life.

So why does it sometimes feel like we’re being encouraged to get healthier, only to have the tools that are helping us taken away?

It’s a question I haven’t found a satisfying answer to.

When Getting Healthy Becomes a Financial Decision

Here’s something this experience has taught me that I don’t think I fully appreciated before.

Sometimes people aren’t choosing to neglect their health. They’re choosing to survive financially.

With the current cost of groceries, housing, insurance, utilities, and just about everything else, even families with steady incomes are having to rethink their priorities.

And when a medication costs hundreds of dollars a month without insurance coverage, that decision becomes painfully real.

Do you continue paying for something that’s helping improve your health?

Or do you make sure the mortgage gets paid, the lights stay on, and there’s food in the refrigerator?

I used to think that if someone truly wanted to improve their health, they’d find a way.

Now I understand that sometimes the desire is there, the effort is there, and the commitment is there.

The money simply isn’t.

And that’s heartbreaking.

Nobody should have to feel like improving their health is a luxury reserved for people who can afford it.

I’m fortunate in many ways, and I recognize that. But this experience has given me a much deeper appreciation for the impossible financial decisions people make every single day.

The Search for an Affordable Backup Plan

So, where does that leave me?

Researching. Asking questions. Looking into options. Trying to figure out how to continue something that has become incredibly important to me without putting an unreasonable strain on our household finances.

I’m exploring affordable, medically appropriate ways to continue treatment, while also reminding myself that medication is only one piece of the puzzle.

There’s still nutrition. Movement. Strength training. Hydration. Sleep. Managing stress.

All those things we know we’re supposed to do but sometimes struggle to fit into our lives.

And while I’m working on those things, I also refuse to pretend that losing access to a helpful medication is no big deal.

It is a big deal.

Especially when you’ve finally started seeing improvements after years of struggling.

Have I Been Successful? Well…

Here’s where I’m going to be completely transparent.

I have NOT been successful… yet.

Not in finding an affordable FDA-approved solution that allows me to continue this journey the way I had hoped.

And not in reaching all the health and weight-loss goals I’ve set for myself.

There. I said it.

No pretty little bow. No inspirational story about how I overcame every obstacle and emerged victorious in a smaller pair of jeans.

Not yet, anyway.

But here’s what I have done.

I’ve learned more about my body. I’ve made healthier food choices. I’ve become more aware of how important movement is, even when my knees or back have other opinions.

I’ve celebrated improvements that don’t show up on a bathroom scale.

I’ve learned that progress isn’t always measured in pounds.

And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that a setback doesn’t erase the work I’ve already done.

At 60, I’m also learning that patience is apparently a virtue I was supposed to develop somewhere along the way.

Still working on that one.

Some days I’m motivated and ready to conquer the world.

Other days, I’d prefer to sit on the couch with my crochet project and contemplate why vegetables can’t taste like chocolate cake.

Balance, right?

Meanwhile, Life Hasn’t Exactly Been Quiet

As if navigating health insurance and weight-loss challenges weren’t enough, I’ve also been dealing with something that has consumed a tremendous amount of my emotional energy over the past year and a half.

My dad’s estate.

After losing my father in May 2025, I took on the responsibility of serving as executrix of his estate in New Jersey.

What I thought would be a difficult but relatively straightforward process turned into a crash course in real estate, legal paperwork, creditors, family complications, and the wonderful world of probate.

Let’s just say I’ve learned more about estate administration than I ever wanted to know.

There have been moments of frustration, exhaustion, and sadness. There have been difficult decisions and situations that tested my patience in ways I didn’t know were possible.

But the good news?

We’re finally getting close to the finish line.

There are still some loose ends to tie up, but I can finally see a point when this chapter of my life may be behind me.

And honestly, I think closing the estate will be about more than finishing paperwork.

It will be about finally having the emotional space to grieve my dad without constantly having another legal or financial issue to resolve.

It will be about letting go of a responsibility I’ve carried for a long time.

And maybe, just maybe, having a little more energy to focus on myself again.

Because grief, stress, and emotional exhaustion don’t exactly make healthy living easier.

I’m Not Starting Over. I’m Continuing.

One thing I’ve decided is that I’m not going to call this a failure.

I’ve had setbacks. I’ve been frustrated. I’ve been disappointed.

I’ve had moments when I wondered whether all the effort was worth it.

But I’m still here.

Still trying.

Still learning.

Still figuring out what works for me.

And that matters.

I don’t want to spend the rest of my life chasing a number on the scale or feeling guilty about every imperfect choice.

I want to be healthier.

I want to be stronger.

I want to have the energy to enjoy retirement when (and if) that day finally comes, travel with my husband, explore new places, and spend time doing the things I love.

I want to walk farther without discomfort, feel more confident, and enjoy the everyday freedoms that come with better health.

And yes, I’d still like to buy some cute clothes in a smaller size.

I’m human, after all.

The Next Chapter: Hope, Humor, and a Little Stubbornness

As I look toward the end of 2026 and the beginning of another year, I’m trying to approach this journey with a different mindset.

Less pressure. More consistency.

Less guilt. More grace.

Less worrying about how quickly things are happening. More appreciation for the fact that I’m still moving forward.

I’m going to keep looking for affordable options to support my health. I’m going to continue working with my healthcare providers. I’m going to keep making changes that I can realistically maintain.

And I’m going to remind myself that I don’t have to do everything perfectly to make progress.

Maybe this journey is taking longer than I expected.

Maybe the road has more potholes than I planned for.

And maybe the GPS keeps announcing, “Recalculating route.”

But that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my way.

It just means I’m taking the scenic route.

And knowing me, I’ll probably stop along the way to buy yarn.

One Last Thought…

If you’re struggling with your own health journey, especially because of financial barriers, please know that I understand a little more now than I did before.

It’s easy for people to say, “Just eat better,” “Just exercise more,” or “If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way.”

But life is rarely that simple.

Health is complicated. Money is complicated. Aging is complicated.

And sometimes, just getting through the week while trying to make one or two better choices is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

So no, I haven’t figured it all out.

I have NOT been successful… yet.

But that little three-letter word is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

YET.

Because I’m not finished.

And neither is my story.

Until next time, keep moving, keep laughing, and remember that progress doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

— Kathy

This Healthy Life with Kathy

Still a work in progress. Still hopeful. Still slightly sarcastic.