The past two weeks I have discovered something about myself... I crave routine! In the months that I have been unemployed I have missed having that routine in my life. I am a creature of habit. I watch the same TV shows, shop at the same stores, do laundry on the same weekday, eat at the same restaurants and on and on and on... If you throw a monkey wrench into the mix it totally throws me off my game. I need to learn how to make this work for me in my search for health. I have read many times that you need to have variety in your diet, but I no think that FOR ME the opposite is true. If I know what foods I am going to have (that I enjoy and that satisfy me) I find it much easier to stick to my diet. Maybe if I were a good cook this would be different, but if you have ever had to eat a meal that I prepared than you would know I am NOT! Hahahaha! I just stick to what I know and it works for me. It also applies to my exercise. Exercising at the same time each day helps me be faithful to get it done. Anytime I try to change that, I don't do as well. So for now I will do what I now works for me and works with my "borderline OCD" personality.
I am back to working out twice a week with my trainer. I did not realize just how hard it would be to jump back in after so much time out, but Melissa is a patient teacher and a true encourager. I feel so lucky to have found her and I know I will succeed in part due to her help. As I start my new job in a week and a half, I think my time with her will become even more important. She will be my "true north" while things are somewhat chaotic in those first few weeks. Since I am going to have to start getting up earlier (YUCK!!) I am going to try to add eight minutes of "wake up exercises" into my morning routine. I picked up a book at GoodWill called 8 Minutes Every Morning that has a simple routine of two moves a day, 12 reps of each, to get your blood pumping in the morning and to kick start your metabolism. I'll let you know how that goes. It'll be tough for me because I am NOT a morning person. I'll give it a good try anyway!
I am cleaning out my pantry this weekend to get rid of some of the junk that "somebody" snuck into my kitchen while I wasn't looking .(How did that happen??) I am restocking with healthier snacks and fruit and veggies. Starting this next week I will be tracking my food intake again. Writing down what I eat keeps me mindful of what I am fueling my body with. I am being the most mindful of calories and fat content. I also need to keep an eye on the sodium. And of course water, water water!!
I am excited about the new phase of my life I am about to start!
It is never to late, in fiction or in life, to revise. - Nancy Thayer
