Here it is, day 7 of the new
year. I am trying hard to get into a good routine for better health. I
won't lie,it isn't easy. When you have been lazy for so long and then
begin to make changes, the body and mind rebel. While I don't actually
hear quiet or not so quiet voices in my head telling me that we could
exercise later, or that a batch of hot brownies would be so good at that
moment, I recognize the urges within.
A
lot of days I wear a pedometer at work, but I know that I meet and
surpass the recommended ten to thirteen thousand steps so I don't wear
it every day. I need to start giving it more attention at home and get
back into my nature walks, weather permitting. For the days that it
doesn't, I do have a manual treadmill and an elliptical that I've had
for who knows how long. Both have not seen much activity until recently.
I'm starting slow and building up my time a little each day in the
hopes of preventing injury to muscles unaccustomed to this type
activity. It is becoming easier to work out when the television is on as
it does help in distracting me from the screaming coming from my
muscles.
The current plan
is, once the weather warms up enough, I will start using the hill behind
the house as a way to build up my stamina and wind. Its a steep enough
hill to cause exertion but not so steep as to need climbing gear. If I
go up and down this hill several times I know I will be using most if
not all the muscle groups and cleanse the lungs through some very deep
and heavy breathing. I feel this hill will be my best bet for the build
up I need, and being right in my own back yard helps.
I
am doing better than I thought I would as far as cutting back on the
sugar. I have read multiple reports on how cancer feeds on sugar in the
body. Recommendations are to cut out the sugar. That is what I am
attempting to do as best I can. I do not drink sodas at work, and very
rarely do I drink them at home. Usually the only time I drank any soda
was after I did my grocery shopping I would purchase one and drink maybe
a fourth of it. The rest would languish in the fridge until someone
else would come along and finish it off. I've decided to cut them out
totally. I've tried to quit purchasing bottled water to help keep
plastic out of the landfills (having purchased a reusable container) but
I'll buy water over soda. I've also cut my candy consumption back to
near nothing. That, if you knew me, you would know to be a major
accomplishment. The one thing that I had not done until now was to cut
out or cut back on the chocolate pudding that I would take to work with
me to eat with my strawberries. This past week I purchased the mix for
dark chocolate pudding and a pack of small containers. I can now put
just enough pudding in these to eat along with the strawberries and not
have half a container left over to either waste or consume. Being I
don't like waste and no one would want to eat pudding after me I've been
finishing it off. Now I won't have that to worry about. I'm also
getting every close to drinking black coffee. I'm actually close enough
that the other day when the small (less than an eighth of a teaspoon)
amount of sugar didn't fully dissolve it was not a pleasant taste. Even
though I am taking this slow, it isn't easy. Your body- my body- has
become so used to getting that sugar that when it isn't there you do
suffer withdrawals as if from narcotics because processed sugar is a
drug. A highly addictive drug.
As
far as diet goes, I haven't really cut anything fully out. I will say
that as I learn better methods and recipes I'm careful as to my
portions. If I prepare a store bought pizza I take a small slice but
prepare for myself a good size salad with plenty of fresh vegetables and
greens with a small amount of dressing. If I feel hunger pains later I
have fruit on hand. The way I see it, I allowed the sugar addiction
long ago, so now I have to own my mistake and retrain my body to like
and prefer fruit and vegetables over the processed.
I
don't need to lose weight even though I am losing some. I need to stop
the slow climb of my cholesterol levels. I need to live healthier in the
hope and desire to prevent my cancer from returning. When I was
undergoing to treatments I couldn't eat the processed sugars and could
only stomach one cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Once the
battle was over I slowly returned to old habits. its time to make some
new ones. For better health for me, for a hoped for longer life that I
may be here for my family, and that I may have the energy to reach out
to others and do what I am able to help them.
It isn't a diet, not really.... its a lifestyle change, just as the doctor ordered.
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