Sometimes I swing far far far from where I want to be. Sometimes I eat whatever is in front of me, blow off workouts, dream about french fries and pizza -- planning my Thursday night binges by Tuesday -- giving myself permission to eat comfort foods till they are gone. There is something about this swing that makes swinging back in the other direction that much sweeter. The other direction, the right direction is the one I am usually quite in touch with -- but like exercise and eating right builds on itself, so too does lethargy and indulgence -- so sometimes that "right" direction feels like a wrong turn I took a long time back. After a talk with myself and some research, I am back on the road in the right direction.
It is all very simple -- mantras I have known most of my adult life: drink plenty of water; don't eat before bed; watch your fat intake; exercise regularly; weight train; eat consciously; eat fruits and veggies... Not rocket science. For me, I have to make incredibly conscious decisions to make true changes. I have to plan it out, set goals and go after them. So this is what I have done. I do not believe in diets -- not any of them -- I do not think they work. But I do believe in eating healthily and exercising and treating my body as the special gift that it truly is -- respecting it and taking care of it with good healthy fuel and regular exercise. I do not believe in no carbs, no fat, no sugar, no no no. Instead I have made a couple important pledges to myself - pledges I will stick to for at least two weeks straight (which I know is the magic time table to support habitual behavior). These are my simple pledges (and damn! I am doing well so far).
1. Do not eat less than three hours before bed.
2. Drink 64 oz. of water a day.
3. Get 220 minutes of cardio in every week.
4. Lift weights twice a week.
5. Pay attention to the food pyramid and make food choices based on its suggestions.
6. Pay attention to, and limit, saturated fats.
It feels so good to be on the right track again -- started on Sunday -- it is Wednesday and I already feel the shift in my body and my mood. To make conscious, healthy decisions that are good for me, that will change me for the better -- that feels so right.
Just reading your healthy awarenesses makes me want to do better. After indulging in the delicious but super fattening foods at Sunday River (free, how can I not chow down)I have to get serious about healthy foods and exercise.
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