o Lose weight
o Start exercising
o Be healthier
o Spend more time with family and friends
o Manage stress
o Stop smoking
o Get enough sleep
o Volunteer
o Learn something new
o Clean out the garage
Those are some typical resolutions people make for the New Year. Do they sound familiar? How about instead of making a New Year’s resolution, make your resolutions for always. My new plan is to read more. I had been so busy the past year plus, that I neglected one of my favorite pastimes, reading. Today I sat down and read several magazines, and I did not just flip through the pages like in the past. I read the articles. Next, I’ll be back on to reading books.
Every year we make resolutions and promise ourselves that THIS year it will be different! I will lose 20 pounds, I will work out, I will eat healthier, I will stop smoking, etc., etc., etc. Then by the time March comes around, you haven’t lost any weight, you still smoke a pack a day and your treadmill is being used as a coat rack. Sound familiar?
I know we use every excuse under the sun. I can’t quit smoking, it’s too hard; I’m just big boned; I don’t have time to eat healthy. But you have time to EAT right? So, did you make a New Year’s Resolution List? Well throw it away. I want to help motivate you to change for always. Not to just make a list of things you will probably never do.
I no longer need to come up with a new list of resolutions. After making resolutions for over twenty years and never keeping them, I finally did keep my resolutions! But I didn’t start them in January. I started them when I knew I wanted to change; in that moment. When you start to feel bad about doing something, that is when you have to try to change.
I resolved to start working out again, in March of 2008. I dusted off my exercycle, bought shoes for walking and pulled out some old video workouts. This time, I looked at new things to do that wouldn’t be so hard with all the extra weight. I discovered yoga and never looked back. Now I just cut back at times and mix it up a bit. But the important thing is I do some sort of exercise several days a week. I walk several days a week without fail, unless I am really sick, in all weather. I think I missed only three weeks in almost three years; when my father died and in the worst weather in winter. It takes little effort to get out there now because I am addicted. It doesn’t matter if I walk 20 minutes or 135 minutes. I am walking, get my point? I rarely get colds or sinus infections anymore.
I resolved to eat healthier and I still am. I have more episodes of too much eating, but I also eat better than I have in any 10 year period. I have made many changes that have become permanent. I resolved to drink less soft drinks. I drink less soft drinks than when I was a kid and my mother limited us. I stopped drinking all sugary drinks. I only drink water, tea and milk; both soy and 2%. I can’t stand skim milk, so I made the trade, soy and 2% for full fat. I drink less milk than I used to, so it balances out. I thought it would be really hard to stop, but it wasn’t. I didn’t have to take the Dr. Oz challenge to stop drinking soft drinks. I did it more than two years ago. Green or Oolong teas and lots of water are a better substitute for me. I used to drink only one or two glasses of water A DAY.
I said I wanted to clean out the closets in 3 of our rooms and one entire room, and I did. Thank goodness! I even cleaned out an extra room and a half! Those of you who read most of the posts know from “Cleaning Up and Simplifying”; that I wanted to be more organized. I wanted to get rid of a lot of stuff from the past that was helping to clutter my house and my life. What I didn’t post about; I recently redid my kitchen pantry and put things in containers and reorganized the books and magazines I couldn’t get to in the past year. I gave a lot away too. I periodically straighten out my linen closet, which I reorganized before my father’s accident. I used pretty baskets to organize things. Now I’m not embarrassed if someone opens it and looks in the closet. Things that I need to hide are hidden and the baskets give it a neat, coordinated and organized appearance. I think I channeled Martha Stewart!
I wanted to lose weight and this was the hardest one, but I have and hope to lose more. I gained about 10 pounds back, but not 70. That’s the good news. I was aware of the stress and menopause weight gain and letting myself eat more treats. I ate a lot more of the healthier foods too. I can happily report that I still have not been eating much at all in the way of processed foods though. I monitor my blood sugar every morning, so I know I am where I should be. I stopped checking the scale in November and didn’t notice the gain as much. My first indication was a little shortness of breath while walking and bending, before I saw it in my clothing. I am back on track and lost a pound this week. Its takes vigilance to stay on and get back on track. I am not talking about dieting. I am talking about eating MINDFULLY. Always be aware of how much, what and how often you are eating. I also know that if I don’t get to practice yoga most days I have more cravings. Yoga does something to your brain to reduce cravings. Thank goodness I meditate everyday. That is one of the reasons the gain was so small. Most people who loose a lot of weight gain it all back. That’s why diets don’t work. So what’s your resolution? Is it to lose weight? Start an exercise program? Stop smoking? Eat healthier? I wish you the best of luck and lots of motivation. I’ll post something more about loosing weight.
