Really trying to just be healthy is tougher than it looks. I have come to realize I need to work on everything. My eating habits aren't too bad since I started caring for a diabetic I eat way better but I have recently reduced (diet) soda intake to a minimum. Pretty much only while at the movies which means about once or twice a month. I was drinking one a day. After a recent fall I started to do physical therapy again. Man am I out of shape for someone that moves a lot every day. I need a gym membership...
Recently I asked myself that question. What bothered me most was coming up with an answer. After thinking it though I was doing some but the truth is not nearly enough. How about you?
I think the best gift we can give ourselves this Christmas season is to take better care of ourselves. I am not talking about waiting for the new year's resolution.
My suggestion is making a list with headings. The heading can be your own but mine is the same list that if headed in the opposite direction would be considered abuse. So I went with physical, emotional and spiritual. I chose three things for each heading and make it a point to do those things as often as I can.
Make your own list and give it a try. It will amaze you when you see how a little effort can make a big difference. For me my spiritual is the most fulfilling.
Why is it the hotter it gets the less likely I am to drink anything but water?
All year long I drink a lot of water but from mid fall till it starts to heat up sometime in the spring I drink a variety of beverages. My favorites are milk and juice. Although I am not much of a soda drinker, I do drink diet soda as well. I also enjoy an occasional smoothie. But once the heat goes up my consumption of water goes up as well. I hardly drink milk in the hotter months. Most of the time juices seem too sweet and never settles as well in the hotter months. Puzzling.
Is it better to drink the variety or is it better to drink more water than other beverages?
When someone says don't do something or say something or go there or do that even when it seems like something easy to avoid it isn't easy.
The doctor told me the best way to avoid getting sick is to not touch my face. Specifically my eyes nose and mouth. I never realized how many times my eyes and nose itch. I find myself rubbing them then remember what the doctor said. After being sick for more than two full months I am a little paranoid about getting sick again
I wonder how I don't get sick more often based on how many times I find myself doing what the doctor said not to do. Then I started thinking about the many other times in my life I have been told I should or should not to do something or say something or go there or do that yet I often find myself compelled to do the opposite. My point in all this that we all know how to be healthy. We have been told for years that we should move more, eat right, reduce stress and and enjoy life. How many of us do? I just wonder if in some ways we aren't sabotaging our own health in our defiance of what we know or at least have been told is good for us?
I like the title of our blog - because it really is a choice. I think today it hit me that I decide what I eat every single time. No one is forcing me to eat junk food and fattening stuff. I am in complete control.
Today I ate 2 hot dogs - yes count that again. TWO!! Using the excuse that I'm almost 6 months pregnant isn't even a good excuse. I need to be eating healthier! Not just because of the weight I'll gain eating like that, but I need to be healthy for my little baby girl and so I'll feel better.
So here is to making better choices BEFORE the food goes in my mouth. Why is it so hard when we really have complete control over the situation? Hmm...makes me think. I'm not really that weak am I? I can be stronger.
So tomorrow I'm going to the store, buying tons of fruits, veggies, and chicken, and making healthy, tasty snacks.
And no more hot dogs -- even though I just found the most amazing place in Ladera Ranch called Jerry's that makes the best dogs around. And unfortunately that has been my pregnancy craving...bummer. :(
About 4 1/2 weeks ago I got a sore throat and a cough. Then an ear ache and a slight fever. The throat and ear got better but the cough got worse. It made me cough to talk. I had no energy and just felt bad all the time. Honestly I would have a better day and think I had it kicked but go right back where I was then have a better day again. About two weeks in the ear ache and sore throat went away so it was just this killer cough. With no insurance and little money right now it took a while but I finally caved and went to the doctor.
It took eight hours in two four hour stretches but I eventually saw a doctor. She wanted to know why I waited so long. I told her I would feel better but then it would hit hard again. I told her it wore me out. She said, "A virus will run no more than two weeks. If it goes longer than two weeks it is likely and bacterial infection and will need antibiotics." I just thought I had a cold. I didn't know it wouldn't go away.
It will take nearly a week to kick this thing with the antibiotics. That will make it more than 5 weeks. Nobody should be sick this long.
So I decided to post. I figure if I didn't know maybe you didn't either. Apparently the magic number is 15. If you have a cold more than 15 days it is probably not just a cold and you should seek medical care.
Ok...not really. I ran around the block. But it was like a friggin' marathon to me, ok?
I feel really good that I actually DID something, instead of just wishing I would. I felt really lame yesterday that I had a second cheeseburger and some more fries at dinner, all while lamenting how chubby I am! I'm so silly.
So here's to getting off my butt! Hopefully I'll do it again tomorrow!
Resolutions by definition is a resolve or determination or firmness of purpose. Being that no part of my body has any firmness I have decided that like last year and the year before I will make no resolutions. Instead I will just pay attention. By paying attention it is near impossible have as many accidents.
A friend once told me that he woke up one day and realized he had put on 100 pounds 5 to 10 at a time every holiday season for several years. I think if we go overboard then we just have to pay attention to do better, eat better and move more. I'll let you know how it works out!
Oh I am so glad you did that Heather. It looks so nice.
I feel like I am mostly talking to myself on here. Not that I mind talking to myself but it would be nice if our contributors came up with some really cool recipes, healthy tips, or any face time whatsoever!
I hope everyone gets motivated for the new year.
So on to the business at hand.
For the past year I have been taking care of my mom. She has a few health issues and needed the help. When I first came I gave into her desires for munchies and junk foods that she should never really be eating anyway. It was hard to change her old habits and routines cold turkey so I eased her into them. By June I had been able to make major changes. She is now eating, less fat, balancing carbs with protein, adding more veggies, having smaller portions, more often with no constant available munchies and healthier snacks. Because of her health and stubbornness she has added no exercises. The result is a 23 pound weight loss since June.
Her doctor had never seen her dropping weight without a medical issues as a cause before so this was exciting for him and for us.
I hope we continue to drop pounds in a healthy way. Life is good!
Hey guys...the old template I was using became troublesome, so I made a new layout and blog button (yep...for a blog no one really writes on or reads :). Hopefully with the new year and resolutions we can get this jump-started again? That might be hard with at least 2 of our contributors pregnant...or, we can have "healthy pregnancy" posts! Oh, and yes, I know that I NEVER blog on here anymore, so I'm talking mainly to myself. :)
Anyhoo, please add the new blog buttons to your blog, if you are so inclined.
