Baby Steps

So...how many of my blog readers made a New Year's resolution that has something to do with fitness and/or health? I know one friend is training for a 1/2 marathon, a couple of gal pals of mine are doing the "Couch to 5K" program, several friends have stated that they are trying to eat healthier. In fact, most of my friends are choosing to get fit and healthy in 2012. 

Being healthy is a real battle in this country, at least in my opinion. We have fast food restaurants on every corner, electronic entertainment and communication that means we never have to leave the house, lives that are busier than ever. Speaking as a homeschooling momma of 5, as a mother of two medically fragile children who require extra care, as a woman who loves to cook and bake and eat it all...let me tell you, I know all about excuses. I know how much easier it is to make something less than healthy for dinner because I'm tired, I know how much fun it is to sit and play on the computer when I really should be exercising, I know I'd rather be eating that bag of cookies or chips after a super stressful day at the hospital with my girls. I know. 

Yet, I am changing. It takes baby steps. In November of 2011, I wore a size 14 and was fast moving into a size 16. Today, I am a small size 12, large size 10 and not nearly so jiggly. I have muscles for the first time in my life. I am stronger than I have ever been.  In 1 1/2 months I have gone down nearly two sizes. I still need to be healthier but I am so thrilled to see results and it encourages me to keep going. Like I said, it takes baby steps. Everyone will need to decide on their own journey to a healthy lifestyle but I wanted to share my baby steps in the hope that it would encourage others. 

1. You absolutely must get motivated to exercise. Join a gym with a friend. Have a spouse or someone else hold you accountable. Talk with your accountability partner at least once a week. I joined a gym the week after Thanksgiving with a friend. Since then, several other friends have joined up and I've made new friends who were already members. I am assured of seeing a friendly face every time I go and this encourages me to get up and out the door. I am in the gym anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a week. After one month of this schedule it became a habit. 

I dance, I kickbox, I take boot camp and step classes. I lift weights, I walk on the elliptical, I spin. I try to do 2 hours every time I go. It's money well spent. I'm open to trying new classes and new equipment. If you aren't willing to try anything new or you are too scared of looking foolish, then joining a gym won't be much fun for you. I'm sure I look like a fool but I'm a happy fool and people like me for it:)

2. My second change, once the gym became habit, was to change my drinking habits. No more diet sodas except on the rare occasion when I want something sweet but don't want the calories. No more than one a week. No more 6-8 cups of coffee a day are allowed. I'm down to one caffeinated coffee a day and one decaf in the evening. I drink water ALL the time. Funny but sad story: When I first joined the gym, I didn't sweat at all but would still get dizzy when working out. It wasn't unusual for me, I've never been one to really sweat even when working really hard at something. Now that I am drinking tons of water, I sweat A LOT in the gym. Guess why? I WAS DEHYDRATED BEFORE!!! Friends, please make sure you are drinking your water, you do not want to be dehydrated. I have never been a fan of water but now I have acquired a taste for it. And it has so many benefits!

3. Now that I've formed the habits of exercising and drinking right, time to start on correcting my eating. This is going to be a long battle. I cook and I eat clean most of them time, BUT my portion control is out of control. I also have never been a morning eater. I usually eat from 10am to about 11pm. Terrible! So, my first baby step in the eating arena was to start my day off with a healthy breakfast. Everything I have read says that multiple small meals a day is best, starting right when I wake up. When I get up, I make a green smoothie (recipe and photos to come later) OR I have a piece of toasted Ezekiel bread with pink grapefruit on the side. I will occasionally have a cup of green tea with it also. I feel so much more energized when I do this! It is *almost* a habit, in another week I will start working on healthy snacks and portion control- although I'm doing that some already. Some other eating related baby step I have taken is to eat a lot more fruit and to cook differently for the family. More on that to come at a later date. Rich is down nearly 30 pounds from August and the kids seem to be more energetic...

 

 I know I have a few friends who are trying to do everything possible to be healthy and aren't seeing results. Don't get discouraged! I read somewhere that it takes 4 weeks for you to see changes in yourself, 8 weeks for your closest friends and family to see it, and 12 weeks for everyone else to notice. If you get to 12 weeks and nothing has changed, then you obviously need to rethink your plan because you aren't doing something right. When you make healthy changes, you will see results, but you have to be willing to change...usually in multiple areas of your life. 

2012. Forever to be known to me as the year I got healthy.

Bring it.