Health Reset - The Details…
As usual, I’ve been writing this blog in my head basically since I published the last one. I figured out everything I wanted to include and planned to get it published before my son arrived for a visit. That didn’t quite happen, and I decided to relax and enjoy every second of his visit.
I received a hit last week and it is impacting what I had planned to write and how I want to proceed this year. So now I’m sitting with a bruised ego, doubts crowding my mind about my path forward career-wise and trying to type out my planned blog. Sometimes I think it makes sense to change direction and “get out” the thoughts that are crowding my mind. Today, however, I don’t think that is the right thing for me. I usually take a couple of days to let disappointment have its time in my thoughts and feelings before I fight to leave it behind and move on. So, I’ll take that time, write what I’ve prepared, and then figure out next moves.
When I wrote about my year of resetting, I didn’t provide a lot of details. To be honest, I’m still working out my approach to certain areas so I can’t share them anyway. However, I can share the steps I’m going to take to improve certain aspects of my health. I’m quite sure there will be adjustments, maybe even additional steps as the year goes on.
First, because it’s the biggest issue I’m facing, my weight. I’m not going to tell you what I weigh – honestly, that won’t mean anything. I am going to weigh in. I haven’t yet because I’ve been avoiding my scale AND because my scale says different numbers depending on where it sits in the bathroom. That is due to the incredibly uneven floors! So, I’m going to bring my scale down to the kitchen where the floors are now even and solid and I’ll do a private weigh in. I already know approximately what I want to lose in pounds. I’m aware that I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been. I acknowledge that the majority of the issue is due to my own stress eating and that some of it (I think mostly the “where” the weight resides part) is owing to menopause. This stage of life can really give you a kick! So, my plan (and this is mine and I’m not the expert so please plan your own journey with your doctor, nutritionist, etc.) involves two initiatives: food and movement.
Step one, my sugar intake. I am truly a stress eater and I crave only the “bad for you” foods. I don’t just eat one (of whatever), I overeat. I don’t really enjoy the flavour – how can I? I’m just filling a void. Or at least that’s what I think I’m doing. Filling up a cavity caused by anxiety or unhappiness or something. Anyway, writing out and acknowledging the issue is primary to addressing it. So, I want to stop the stress eating. Instead of eating, I’ll do something else. I can take a walk, read a book, listen to music, etc. Whatever I chose, it’s going to be better than filling my mouth with junk food.
Second, I’m going to read my “Christmas under the tree book”, Joy: life lessons from a Tuscan villa, written by Debbie Travis and her friend, nutritional therapist, Jacky Brown for the tips and suggestions it provides. I’ve made a slow start on the book and that’s another conversation. As excited as I was to get into the pages, I think I’m going to have to deal with some mental issues before I’m ready to throw myself into it.
Movement makes up the core of the third part of my weight loss plan. I need to move more. I have some injury issues that are years old (from a car accident) and I have been trying to deal with them. Until the last year, I took a “I’ll have to live with them” attitude and I thought I was doing okay with that approach. When COVID hit and I was suddenly working from home, my injuries became more prominent. Working at the office meant I was power walking to and from my parking spot each day for at least 40 minutes. On top of that, I was walking the dog, going to yoga once a week, and joining an exercise class (we even took on a spin class) each season. I swam in my pool all summer long and felt, while not “slim”, good. I fought my weight fairly regularly but didn’t find myself stress snacking on a daily basis and didn’t worry about too much sugar in my diet. I was “pretty good”. It’s frightening how I’ve allowed my life to swing to a bad lifestyle. So, this is step two that I will consciously and actively tackle.
At the start of the pandemic, I was walking a “faux commute” each day and that was good for head and body. That’s been lost with the winter weather and an aging dog. How ridiculous is that excuse?! Just because it’s too cold for the dog and he isn’t a power walking companion anymore does not mean I can’t head out the door. So, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going back to my morning “commute” and my evening walk. While my son was here, we also went skating. There’s a lovely outdoor rink less than a minute’s walk from my house and it was wonderful. I will continue to enjoy it. We also took a drive to the city and skated the Rideau Canal Skateway. We enjoyed it on one of his previous visits, and I’ve enjoyed it throughout the winter when working from the office. It’s an incredible resource and so much fun! I can do it again, even on my own!
I join my yoga instructor online at least once a week and will continue to do so. I find her approach so honest and healthy. Look her up at Ananda Glo Yoga, if you’re interested. I was curling three times a week until our latest restrictions. When curling returns, I’ll probably go back to twice a week. [The third game was with my uncle and due to some current health struggles, I don’t believe he’ll continue curling this year and I have no interest in that game without him.] I have found my return to curling after so many years away, due to the accident, rather painful. I’m unwilling to sit back any longer, though, so I keep showing up and hoping for the best. I have a great physiotherapist and massage therapist who are helping me through it. I don’t think I could do it without them!
I will not be doing weight lifting or circuit training or anything like that. I’m not joining a gym anytime soon. I’m not ready for a “serious” workout and I don’t think it’s smart or healthy for me to engage beyond my abilities right now. I may find myself interested in the spring or summer but it’s not part of my planned approach.
My goal is to feel better and I think this is so important. You need to have a goal that is achievable and reasonable. “Feel better” probably doesn’t sound specific enough. I know what it means and I’ll share that with you now. I want to eat healthy and not feel bad about having an ice cream in the heat of summer, for instance. I want to golf and bike without feeling like I need a day to recover. I want to step on the ice to curl or skate without feeling like all that extra weight is hampering my freedom. That’s my definition at this stage in my life, of health. I’m not competing in some top event and have no interest anyway. I want to feel good about being active without feeling like I can’t be due to my weight or abilities. I want to move past the injury status and know that my body will support me.
[Post Script: I was blessed to have my son for a visit. It was his Christmas gift to me, and I honestly cannot think of any gift I’ve enjoyed more. We hadn’t, due to COVID, been together for over two years and it was the best gift ever. During his time here I noticed that we enjoyed our meals together without overeating and I could have a biscuit or cookie without wanting to consume the whole package. We would walk to the coffee shop occasionally and I appreciated, not just the hot chocolate, but the fresh air and the company. What was the difference? I was happy. I read something recently about “fleeting happiness”. I think happiness comes in small moments and those moments may pass by quickly. My experience in the last week is that they are so precious they are to be remembered and drawn upon when the troubles of your day weigh you down. That is what I am trying to do. I hope carrying those memories with me make it easier to improve my health.]
New pictures on a kitchen wall! These are from a trip many years ago to Ireland where we kissed the Blarney stone. I found picture frames at IKEA, sanded and repainted them to work in the kitchen and with my son’s help got them hung. You’ll notice Christmas cards in a stand below. The cards were too pretty to put away with all the lovely snow outside so I’ve left them out for awhile longer.
Candlelight always seem so warm and welcoming, especially in wintertime. I’ve had this candle holder for a number of years and love its snowflake design!
A pretty dessert for dinner with my son. It’s low fat, sugar free mousse with blackberries (more hidden within). It was a lovely, light sweet to end a meal. (photo credit to my son who is a photographer extraordinaire, not like me with my barely passable point and shoot abilities! LOL)