Full dislosure: You may read some things in these posts that trigger you. If so, well, stop reading and move on to a blog that will make you feel good about yourself. This is my journey and my thoughts and I am unapologetic.
I have tried for many years to lose weight and be healthy. The healthiest I have been as an adult is when I lived gluten free and vegetarian due to a digestive issue. For weeks I could not eat meat or break, or really much of anything. My meals consisted largely of avocadoes and salsa and chips, eggs, salad and baked potatoes. It wasn't intentional. It just was. I lost 30 pounds and felt great for about 2 years. We went to China to adopt our daughter and I fell into bad eating, sleeping and exercise patterns due to lack of sleep, dealing with a child with trauma and supporting her through several medical interventions. It was my fault for not caring better for myself during that time and it has caught up with me.
I've long been one of those people that have had people comment to me that I never stop, never sit down. I am sure they look at me and see an overweight woman and wonder how I can do....for 8 hours. During our last move I must have gone up and down my stairs moving boxes and other things for a full 8 hours, then went to the new house, helped my son get ready for prom, took him to meet his date, came home and had dinner with the in-laws......everyone commented that they didn't know how I was still moving. It's how I am. Or, how I was.
A couple of years ago I began slowing down and I don't mind saying, that doesn't work for me. My weight has increased, I had a bizarre illness last year that I am not convinced wasn't Covid, despite a negative test, had a reaction to the meds I was given and it exacerbated how I had been feeling. Now I am dealing with a torn rotator cuff and in the last few months have gained 9 more pounds. We'll call them Covid pounds as I've been fairly unmotivated to do anything in the last year. I know I am not alone.
This year has seen a lot of changes for me and unless I improve my health drastically, there is no way I can keep up with the goals I have set for myself, while caring for my family and my small business.
Truthfully, I began this journey about 3 weeks ago, but due to how I am structuring the changes I am making, I am calling THIS Week 1! I have had several sleepless nights lately, largely due to monthly hormonal issues. One of those nights when I woke up, my first thought was "1 Change Each Week, this is how you do it." Wow. I often receive messages from my higher self in my sleep or upon just awakening. In fact, my many years I journaled upon waking as often this is when solutions to life's dilemma's present themselves. Maybe my lack of doing so the last few years is reflective of a lot of greater challenges in my life. Well, this is one message I got!
So this week, week 1, I added one 15 minute exercise session to my daily routine. I have been using Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home videos via You Tube, primarily using the Beginner Mile and am thrilled to share this with you. Want to know a secret? I hate going for a walk. I hate hiking. Yes, a hippie'ish, Mother Earth loving, Goddess worshipping woman who has raised an Eagle Scout and married to a Boy Scout leader hates hiking. I don't hate the outdoors. I love gardening and swimming and talking to my trees, just hate going for a walk. But, I LOVE my Leslie Sansone videos!
Week 1: Add 15 minutes of DAILY exercise to your schedule. You can do 15 minutes!
Every Day: Drink Your Water!
If I can do this, you can do this.
"Doctors won’t make you healthy. Nutritionists won’t make you slim. Teachers won’t make you smart. Gurus won’t make you calm. Mentors won’t make you rich. Trainers won’t make you fit. Ultimately, you have to take responsibility. Save yourself." Naval Ravikant