Bad Day

I had a hard time with my eating today. I watched my three grandchildren, ages 7, 3 and 9 months all day and late into the evening. It seemed all I could do was keep up with them and I didn't have the time or energy to prepare myself healthy food. But it's just one day. The real question here is: do I let this one day turn into the beginning of a down hill slide? Or do I simply pick myself up, dust myself off, and start fresh in the morning?

Easy?

A friend asked me today, "What are you passionate about in your life right now?" And the truthful answer is health. That hasn't always been the case. I've spent so many years ignoring or outright damaging my health. But now I see it's value. Maybe it comes down to realizing what is easy is not always best. What is important is worth the work it takes to get there. Would I rather be able to just eat whatever sweet or fatty fried thing tickles my taste buds? Yes. It's easy. But do I want to live my life with the consequences that will render? No. That is not easy. Being tired and sick and weak is not easy. Not being able to do the things I want to do or not having the kind of energy I would like is not easy. So while eating healthy and exercising may not always seem easy, they are a whole lot easier than living with the results of the lifestyle choices I've made in the past.

Day Three

 Felt good today, although pretty hungry between meals. Energy good.

Breakfast: smoothie

Lunch: veggie fajitas

Dinner: large veg salad, fruit salad for dessert

Walked 3 miles

(weight 161)

Day Two

Down 3 pounds the first day?! That's pretty darn awesome. Although I'm not in it for the weight this time. The number I really want to see come down is my cholesterol. It will take a bit more time for that...not going to happen overnight.

A startling research study showed that those with a cholesterol level between 200-239 increased risk of developing dementia by 52% and at 240 or higher it was a staggering 66%! Alzheimer's has been one of my biggest fears as I age, and with my cholesterol registering at a whopping 307 last time I had it checked, this statistic really lit a fire under me to make some serious changes!!

Breakfast: smoothie

Lunch: veggie "fajita" with no tortilla, rice and beans

Dinner: smoothie

Snack: banana w/peanut butter

Feeling pretty good today...wasn't really hungry until after the movie this evening. Had banana for snack but still hungry. Maybe need more water. Feeling a little headachy too. Detox?

(161 lbs)

Day One - Whole Foods Plant-Based Strategy

 Made a trip to the farmer's market to stock up on fruits and veggies. Feeling good about starting this today. For the past several weeks I've eaten pretty poorly with lots of fast food.  Each time I've eaten it I realize and become more aware of just how little I enjoy the taste and how sick it makes me feel. Watching these documentaries has been great motivation. I can't get the images out of my head about the way these so called foods are produced. And I am encouraged by the fact that changing what I eat can truly affect my health. I guess in the past, I've hoped that it would, but didn't have full confidence in that fact. Seeing all these people and their results has made it undeniable.

Breakfast: Smoothie

Lunch: Cabbage Wraps filled with zucchini, red bell peppers, avacado, hummus, kalmata olives and a fresh peach for dessert

Dinner: Steamed veggies-red potatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, broccoli

(164 lbs/cholesterol 307)

Forks Over Knives

Just finished two great documentaries. One is called Forks Over Knives and the other was Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. The first is a scientific look at the ability we have by making the right food choices to avoid and/or reverse some very serious diseases. These are the big, scary ones that most believe are dealt to us by fate in our genes, namely cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. How empowering to know that we are not at the mercy of some cosmic roulette wheel, but we hold the key to our own health-and wouldn't you know...it's shaped like a fork!

The second chronicles the journey of two men as they basically put the research above to the test in the real world. The two movies are done completely independently of each other, one several years before the other, but follow the same type of food regime. They are both based on a whole-food plant based diet. The results these to men see in their lives and share with us are nothing short of miraculous.

I am inspired!!!

A walk at last

It's been so long since I've been able to walk outside, so tonight was quite a treat. A storm blew through about six this evening dropping the temperature from "oh my god!" to something a little more bearable. So I laced up my Nike's and headed out to the greenway. I had an acupuncture session earlier in the afternoon and I was anxious to move the blood and Qi through and continue what the work had started. About three weeks ago, my IPod was stolen, so I had no music. That ended up being a really good thing. I noticed all the sounds and sights around me so much more without the distraction of the music. It felt good to walk along the path feeling so connected to nature as I listened to the birds, crickets and tree frogs make their music. The cadence of my feet connecting with the earth sounded strong and sure, not heavy or clumsy. Everything was that deep green of mid-summer with the occasional splash of purple or yellow supplied by a wildflower hardy enough to survive the heat. Without the music, I heard the creek tumbling over the rocks and the rhythm of my breath. About half way through, the stillness revealed a tawny doe standing 10 feet off the path in a field. She raised her head with a leaf sticking out of her mouth as I rounded the corner and stood like a statue, watching me, watching her. Finally she must have decided I was not a threat, twitched her little white tail and went on with her snack. I only had time to do three and a half miles. As I was finishing the loop, I could see the sunset painting pink streaks between the tree branches and the fireflies began their twinkling dance  like terrestrial stars. Perfect timing! It felt so good to be outside soaking up all that nature was lavishing on me. And it felt really good to be moving and working my muscles.

A week later...

One week later...didn't quite reach the goal, but I have improved. I did eat fast food a couple of times, but made much healthier choices at home. Feel like I'm turning it in the right direction at least. I think the big part of this is the planning. I can't plan for everything. Sometimes I am expecting to be home by lunchtime, but then I get a call to go do a massage. So how do I deal with the unexpected? Maybe instead of saying no more fast food, I should say that if I have to get a bite on the run-I'll chose the healthiest option available.

On the exercise front, I went biking one evening. I did six miles. It felt good to be out and moving. The heat is putting a really big cramp in the exercise schedule. I purchased a voucher for one month's worth of Kettlebell Classes. I haven't tried it yet, but I hear it is an incredible workout. Maybe this is the solution until outside activity is more workable with some cooler temps.

I'll keep you posted....

Half Way

Can you believe the year is officially half way over-six months down and six to go. So it is time for a little check-in and a reality check.

The first 4 months of the year I was fairly pleased with my progress. I was improving my eating bit by bit and I was training for the half-marathon, so I was exercising about 5 days a week. Then 2 days before the race, I came down with the flu which kept me sidelined from the event. It was really disappointing. I'd put in a lot of work to get ready for it, and then I wasn't able to actually do it! Mentally, it was a pretty big blow.

Since then, I've made only feeble attempts to work out and my eating has gone back to S.A.D. :-( I have really been beating myself up over this. Lots of negative self-talk going on...and it is partially deserved. But I have decided to reframe my thinking. I had 4 good months so far this year and 2 not-so-good months. I can dwell on the bad and slip deeper down into it. Or I can focus on the good and figure out what helped me to do so well January through April-then try to repeat those behaviors.

This week I have set a goal. I do not want to eat ANY fast food this week and I want to do some type of exercise 4 times. I may have to use the treadmill inside, because it is so hot out now. But that's ok. These seem like attainable goals and there is no reason I can't get this train back on the right track starting the second half of the year with a bang!! Happy Independence Day.

completely off the subject

symphony, tango and meditation

At the symphony hall-the music begins. I am torn between closing my eyes as I usually do and the visual feast of the lights reflected off the instruments. As I watch, I am mesmerized by the movements of these expert musicians. Yet it is more than just their movement. It is the connection between player and instrument and the organic way the music is coaxed from one by the other. I see nothing of the technique I know this requires. His fingers must be placed just so on the frets and the bow drawn across the strings with an exact pressure at a precise speed. What I see is more like a lover's caress that draws from the body of the beloved a sigh, or a cry, or a shiver. And I am suddenly overwhelmed with the realization of how like the tango I love this interaction is. The leader is the virtuoso, playing the instrument-his partner, but it is she from whom the music is born and grows to life. Each touch of the leader's hand, each small pressure of his body and movement of his core, plays in her a note in perfect pitch bringing forth a crusada, an ocho or an adorno. This is what draws me to the tango. This connection, this relationship between two people that makes it impossible to see the technique. How does she know he desires a boleo now and gancho then? The answer is she does not know, she feels and she flows. As if the two were one body, one mind and one heart.

And then I do sit back and close my eyes, allowing the music to fill in the in between. To fill the space between the air and my breath, the space between the heartbeat and my blood, to feel it's vibration echoing in the space between the synapse and my thoughts until I am full with it. I am completely immersed in this moment and this space-needing nothing, giving nothing, asking nothing. I experience for those few moments a deeply sweet meditation. When the music finishes, I walk the 10 blocks back to my car very slowly, exquisitely aware of the warm breeze on my skin and the texture of the suede of my sandals cradling my feet. For once I am not in a hurry and walk quietly drinking in the strange mixture of sights and sounds pouring out of the city's pores. And then I am driving home in the silence. I leave the radio off for a change, content not to fill up the space between my thoughts with sound., content to exist for just a few more moments in that barely discernible expanse.

a year of "living dangerously"

Yes I know it is the title of a novel and a movie. But the title was taken from the famous Italian phrase vivere pericolosamente, meaning "living dangerously". So I think I will adopt it as my motto as well. As this year unfolds, it seems to be all about doing and experiencing things that I never have in the past. I am overcoming fears and obstacles in so many areas, not just health. Losing weight and becoming more healthy has uncovered a strength I didn't know I had. It has uncovered a confidence I didn't know I posessed.

So far this year, the woman who was afraid to swim with the dolphins has gone sailing in the San Francisco Bay, the woman who is terrified of heights has done a zip-line obstacle course, and the woman who only ran if she was being chased will be participating in a half marathon. Who knows what other battles I will fight and win as the year rolls on! Viva for vivere pericolosamente!

Exercise Evolution

After walking 3.4 miles in the Walk For MS, I decide that is not enough if I'm going to be in condition for the half marathon at the end of April. So I head back home to the greenway to put in a few more miles. After the first half mile, I decide I'm feeling pretty good and should add in some jogging to bump up the heart rate. Using the 1/4 mile markers on the trail as cues to jog, I try to jog for a quarter mile, then walk for a quarter mile. 

The sky is incredibly clear and blue, and I feel great as I jog through the sunlit trees. On one side, a clear little steam cuts through grassy banks twinkling and sparkling in the sunlight. And on the other side, a glossy ebony calf runs along the fence line kicking up its heels, the picture of merriment. To top it all off the breeze blows pink redbud blossoms across the path, as if I'm running through a parade with confetti to celebrate my small victories.

I'm not sure exactly when or how exercise evolved from a chore into something I look forward to and enjoy. But somehow miraculously it has. Now when I have a hard time fitting a workout into the schedule, I am actually disappointed. I miss it. I WANT to do it.

MS Walk

Today is the day of the Walk for MS. It is a beautiful sunny day with blue skies, even if it is a bit windy. I arrive early because I have no idea what one of these is like-an organized walk. Turns out I'm the first one there. No worries. I hang around watching others arrive and sign-in and soon a friend shows up to walk with me. I thought I was walking alone, so it's a pleasant surprise. The walk itself turns out to be a little anti-climactic. I thought it was five miles, but it turns out to be 5K, which is much less than I am accustomed to walking now. So I head on home after completing the course and decide to put in another few miles on the White House Greenway. I complete 4 more miles, which puts me at 7.5 for the day!

diet front

I write this installment feeling a bit ashamed for not having kept you updated on my progress as faithfully as I would have liked. Hopefully, you will forgive me and I will try to do better as the year moves on.

On the eating/diet front: I tried out the Nutri-System plan, but after a month have decided not to continue with it. I did fairly well on the plan but found there were certain obstacles for me with the system. The primary one is that all the lunches require you to use either a microwave or have access to boiling water, and my life just isn't like that. I never know where I'm going to be at lunch time, and ditto for dinner. I may be in my car, at my office, or out at a business location. So I need the option of meals that are basically carry and eat with no heating required. Secondly, I prefer to use the microwave as little as possible. Once you microwave food, you have essentially destroyed the nutrients in the food, even if it was very natural and healthy to start with. That brings me to the third obstacle. I didn't like eating all that packaged food. It just didn't feel healthy to me! Even though the food is low in fat and calories, it is far, far from it's natural state. And the fourth obstacle was the taste. The food was decent, but it was definitely not tasty enough that I wanted to eat it three times a day.

So I'm using up what I have intermittently, and trying to prepare meals to take with me for lunch made from whole, healthy foods. The best part of the plan was that it gave me a much more realistic view of portions and also brought into focus what was really important for me. Which is not just about losing weight, but about getting healthy. I don't want to compromise the big-picture goal for some short term success!

Next installment: what's happening on the exercise/activity front?

progress report

Today I have officially lost 10 lbs since the beginning of the year. I've also lost 4.5 inches off my waist, 3 inches off my hips, 1 1/2 off each thigh and 2 off each upper arm. I feel really good about the progress so far.

4th day on the plan

I'm putting to bed my fourth day on the plan. So far, so good! I've lost 2 pounds and the food has been surprisingly good. This morning I had a veggie omelet for breakfast. Lunch I didn't care for as much, but I think I prepared it wrong. It was a Parmesan and broccoli noodle dish and I believe I added too much water. So we will see if it is better next time. For dinner, I went off the plan. The family cooked tacos with ground turkey which turned out to be pretty decent calorie-wise, so I went with that instead. And for dessert tonight I had a chocolate chip cookie. Yummy! I haven't felt hungry and still have not really worked in the afternoon snack which I am allowed.

Exercise is going well. It was storming out this morning so I did my walk/jog on the treadmill...6 miles! Can't seem to do any better than an average of 10 minutes per mile, but I did add some distance. Then tonight I danced Argentine tango for several hours. Fun and a good calorie burn! Took a hot bath, legs are sore and tired but I feel good. :-)

Feels Good!

Today was my first day on the nutri-system plan. For breakfast I had a banana nut muffin, hard boiled egg, and a banana. For lunch I had chicken and pasta in cacciatore sauce. For dinner I had penne pasta with chicken in Alfredo sauce and a spinach salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. And for dessert an ice dream bar.

So far, all the food has been pretty tasty. The portions are small, but that was expected. I'm sure my sense of a normal portion is way out of whack from years of indulging in the typical American super-sized meal. I really haven't felt hungry and I didn't have one of the snacks for the day, or all the vegetables that were allotted either. I had to go grocery shopping for all the fresh stuff, which I didn't have the chance to do until just before dinner. All in all, I'm liking the plan so far.

When I got home from my last massage, I still had to get my exercise in. It was so nice outside, so I decided to ditch the treadmill and run in the fresh air.  It started to rain a bit, but it actually felt really good. It made me feel alive and powerful somehow. I am finding that running in general has that affect on me. Maybe it is because running is something I always felt I wasn't able to do, and now I am doing it! That feels good!

new stategy

So this week has not gone well. I can't seem to get back on track. I made a decision to try something new, something I never really thought I'd do. But I decided to try NutriSystems. I checked into several options and considered cost, ease of use, the "look" of the food (hard to judge taste until I actually taste it, but some looked better than others) track record, etc...Surprisingly, the plan actually cost less than what I normally spend on food. Especially if I eliminate the eating out. The thing that is most appealing, is that I think it will address my biggest problem-which is lack of preparation. I can never seem to get meals ready ahead of time. I let myself get too hungry and then end up eating junk food out or whatever is quick and easy when I get home. The meals are all prepared and ready ahead of time. I will not have any excuses now.

My other challenge is exercising regularly. My goal for the first week is just to walk every morning for 30 minutes to get my metabolism going. Unfortunately, NutriSystems can't make me get out of bed and walk. I'll have to do that for myself!
 

New Habits

I read somewhere it takes 21 days to create a new habit. But this week I found out it takes just one short vacation on the coast to disassemble the new habit. I went to California for 4 days, during which time I wasn't too worried about eating perfectly or exercising. I did fairly well on my eating and did a lot of walking. When I got back I was relieved to find I hadn't gained any weight when I stepped on the dreaded scale. The problem really started after that, when I couldn't seem to get back into my workout routine and healthy eating habits. So now it has been two weeks out of the saddle. But tomorrow is a new day, with a renewed commitment to pick up the reins and get back on the horse. And in reality that is what a healthy lifestyle is about. There will be times when I slip back into old patterns. As long as I don't get stuck there, I think I'll be just fine!

Movies

I just finished watching Super Size Me. What happened to this man's body was plain frightening! And what's worse is that I used to eat fast food probably once a day (on average). I am ecstatic that I am off that treadmill. What an influence on my health that is going to make! Now I am watching The Future of Food. All this information is to help me make better choices and to give me mental fuel to stick with the choices I make.

This week has been a fairly good one. I've consistently made good choices with my food although I have not exercised as much as I did in the two weeks previous. I only lost one pound this week. At first I was disappointed. But even if I only lose a pound a week, in a few months I will have reached my goal. So I can't be too disappointed with that. I can tell that my clothes are fitting differently.  And I can tell the difference in the way I am feeling. And weight-wise, I am 1/3 of the way there. That's is pretty exciting to me!

Keep the Goal in Site

Every day I try to read something to give me ideas and keep my motivation up. Today I read about keeping your goal always in front of you, out in plain site so you can't forget where you are headed or sweep it under the rug. They also advised finding some pictures that embody where you would like to be and place those around the house. So I bought a fitness magazine and found some really fit, healthy women. I taped those up to my bathroom mirror along with some words of encouragement and a photo of me now (looking less than fit) and one from several years ago when I was pretty happy with myself. I'm not sure if all this will inspire me, or depress me! But I do know it will keep the goal right there before my eyes. If I choose to ignore it, it will be a conscious choice and not an unconscious slip-up. I'm learning health is a choice I make every day at the table and at the gym (or on the couch).  Today I chose wisely. And with the right motivation in place, I plan to make that a trend.

Strength Training

The new book I'm reading deals mainly with clean eating and strength training. So to prime the pump, here are some facts about strength training taken from an article I found called:

Learn to Love Strength Training : Improve Your Health and Your Appearance-- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer

1. Strength training preserves muscle mass during weight loss.
According to a University of Michigan research study, at least 25% to 30% of weight lost by dieting alone is not fat but lean tissue, muscle, bone and water. However, strength training helps dieters preserve muscle mass while still losing weight.

2. Strength training elevates your metabolism.
Starting in their twenties, most people (especially women) lose half a pound of muscle every year if they aren't strength training to preserve it. After age 60, this rate of loss doubles. But regular strength training can preserve muscle throughout the lifespan, and rebuild the muscle lost.

3. Strength training helps you lose weight more easily (or eat more without gaining weight).
Since muscle is active tissue (unlike fat, which is inert), it requires energy to maintain. The more muscle you have, the more you can eat without gaining weight. Strength training can provide up to a 15% increase in metabolic rate, which is helpful for weight loss and long-term weight control.


For every additional pound of muscle you gain, your body will burn about 50 more calories each day. A study by Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., from the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts, showed that a woman who strength trains two or three times a week for eight weeks gains 1.75 lbs of muscle and loses 3.5 lbs of fat.

And John Hopkins researchers found that while aerobic exercise burns more calories at the time you are exercising, your metabolism returns to normal about 30 minutes after you finish your workout. Individuals who perform strength training, however, elevate their metabolisms (burn more calories) for two hours after their workouts end.

4. Strength training increases bone density.
A study conducted by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D. of Tufts University found that strength training increases both muscle mass and bone density. Dr. Nelson’s research showed that women who lifted weights did not lose any bone density throughout the study, and actually gained an average of 1% more bone mass in the hip and spine. Non-exercising women lost 2% to 2.5% of bone mass during the same period of time.

Another University of Arizona study showed a 3% increase in spine and hip bone mineral density after an 18-month strength training program among women, ages 28 to 39.


5. Strength training counteracts depression.
In a study of 32 men and women who suffered from chronic depression, Nalin Singh, M.D. and Tufts University associates divided the individuals into two groups. They directed half to perform strength training while the other half received health information. After three months, 14 of the 16 members who lifted weights felt better and no longer met the criteria for depression. A Harvard study also showed that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling alone.

6. Strength training reduces sleep difficulties.
Ten people in Dr. Singh’s strength training group (see reason 5, above) also reported sleep difficulties at the start of the study. After 12 weeks, six of the 10 reported they no longer had trouble sleeping—they fell asleep more quickly, slept more deeply, awakened less often and slept longer.

7. Strength training reduces your risk of diabetes.
Adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes is a growing problem, with over 14 million Americans suffering from the condition. Research shows that strength training can increase glucose utilization in the body by 23% in just four months. As muscles contract and relax during exercise, they use sugar for energy. To meet this energy need, your body uses sugar supplies in your blood, reducing your blood sugar levels.


8. Strength training lowers your blood pressure.
The University of Arizona study (see reason 4, above) also showed resting blood pressure (RBP) levels were impacted by strength training. Strength training participants shifted from the high-normal RBP category to normal RBP levels. Regular exercise, including strength training, strengthens the heart, allowing it to pump more blood with less effort. The less your heart has to work, the less force (or pressure) is exerted on your arteries.

9. Strength training helps you age more gracefully.
As you age, muscle mass decreases (if you're not working to preserve it), which can cause skin to sag in not-so-pretty ways. By strength training, you can fight age-related muscle loss and maintain a more youthful physique.

10. Strength training improves your quality of life.
Building muscle allows you to get more out of life. Everyday activities, such as lifting children (or grandchildren), carrying groceries, and working in the yard are much easier when you’re not struggling with the effort. Being in shape also makes you more confident, helps you stand taller and makes you feel great about yourself. And what’s better than that?

Bad Eating Day

The day started out fine. I had a whole wheat english muffin and yogurt for breakfast. But then for lunch I made the mistake of going to the cafeteria at the company where I do chair massage on Wednesdays. I got the grilled chicken gyro. It might have been a decent lunch if I hadn't given in to the french fry temptation! Then for dinner I had a PBJ and chips. Yikes! I'm not sure what happened. I was certainly stressed out today and worried about Nate being sick. I guess I'm more of an emotional eater than I recognized. But I will try not to make the mistake I've made in the past and let a couple of less-than-perfect meals derail me from getting back on track tomorrow! I still need to work-out tonight. I suppose I should do double-duty to help burn off those extra calories!

I picked up a book called The Clean-Eating Plan which is very interesting....more on that tomorrow.

Beginning of Week 3

Here I am at the beginning of week 3. I've had good results so far. I have lost six pounds and am feeling really good. I've done the Biggest Loser Workout 5 times each week, plus walked in the morning some days as well. I've been using the app on my phone to count calories, which is something I've never done before. I've always just tried to cut all the "bad stuff" out of my diet. It's been eye-opening to say the least.

Revelation #1 came on the first day when I ate breakfast and lunch before I did my recording. Big mistake! I thought I was eating pretty well and found that I'd used almost a whole day's allotment by noon. So from then on, I started checking the calories before I ate. After that, I did much better.  I found it was fairly easy to cut out the "bad stuff" because if I didn't I'd run out of calories VERY quickly.Revelation #2 was that the amount of food I used to eat in a day was so much more than what my body required. But I really had no idea. I didn't think of myself as a big eater. I guess I'd gotten used to eating a certain amount and it just seemed normal. All the super-size portions they serve at restaurants don't help any. But ultimately, what I thought was normal was not, so I've had to change my thinking.

Other results that I've noticed so far are that my back is feeling better than it has in a very long time, I am finding I have more energy and my mental outlook seems more upbeat. I guess I'm feeling proud of myself for sticking with the plan so far. It has just been two weeks, but it's a good, solid start!

Week One

So for the first week, I chose to purchase "The Biggest Loser Workout" game to see if it could help me put this plan in motion. The purpose of "Wellness by the Week" is not necessarily to lose weight, but that will be a part of it. The larger purpose is to become more healthy and fit. That requires eating better and exercising and a natural byproduct of that will be losing weight-I hope.

In the past when I've tried changing my behaviors, I have had some limited success; but never has it become a permanent lifestyle change. So I tried to figure out why. One reason, I believe, was accountability. I really don't have anyone to "answer to" in my life. So if I eat cheeseburgers or broccoli, no one really knows or encourages me towards the good choices. What better way to be accountable than to put it out here for everyone to see. I'm hoping if I start to slack off, someone in cyberspace will step up and nudge me back in the right direction. The BL game does that as well. If you don't complete your assigned workouts or go over your daily calories, you lose points. In real life, you lose a lot more than points. But somehow losing points can motivate me in a different way. I guess I hate to lose at games, so perhaps that competitive streak will help me to stick with it!

So far, it's working. And so am I. I worked out five times last week-quite possibly a record for me. And I have been making really good food choices and mostly managing to stick to the 1300 calories recommended by Bob. I'm using an app on my phone to track food calories (which is quite eye opening-more on that next time) and calories burned through exercise.

So what it the focus this week? Water and veggies. I have yet to get to the 8-10 glasses recommended each day or the 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended daily.  This week I will focus on meeting those goals day by day. Today I am close on the water. I've had 6 glasses. Not so close on the veggies. I've had 2 servings. :-( But tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to focus on my goal! Wish me luck!! Oh, and I won't be giving up on the exercise. Did a great workout with Ashley yesterday and today walked a mile at lunch. Only frozen ears prevented me from going farther!

New Year

Last year I did a little experiment. I decided to give up TV to see how it might change my life. (I won't go into that here, because I wrote about it for a whole year.) This year, I decided my focus should be on wellness. I turned 47 a couple weeks ago and am not at the level of health I would like. It's frustrating because I come across so much information daily about health and how to improve it, and yet I don't seem to utilize it. Knowledge does us no good if we don't use it! So each week I am going to focus on taking one or two of the healthy tidbits I come across and see if I can put them into practice. They say making small changes a little at a time is the best way to have the changes become permanent. Also, by not tackling everything at once, we don't feel so overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. I actually began last week, and in my next post I will tell you how I started and the results so far.