Tips for Today

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Being hump day, I decided to look back over the first half of this week, and honestly, I'm not satisfied. I've told myself that it's been such a hectic few days, constantly on the run, that it was impossible to stick with my healthy eating plan. Then I realized that the reason for my "falling off the wagon" was not due to all the frenzy, but due to the fact that I really haven't had a plan after all. I have followed the rule, "if you bite it, write it." I have followed the rule of taking my vitamins (which I noticed are outdated), getting plenty of water, and taking my fiber supplement, but I haven't done a single lick of exercise (unless flitting back and forth between school campuses counts). Looking back, I realized that I should have planned to stock up on some quick healthy snacks to take on the go this week.

So.....my tip to myself for the rest of this week is PLAN AHEAD!!!!! I need to go to the grocery store and restock the snack drawer. When I leave the house, I need to take a healthy snack and a bottle of water with me in case I'm out longer than I had planned. I would never leave home without my purse, and I should never leave home without a healthy snack.

Another shortfall so far this week has been my lack of exercise. My personal goal is a healthy heart and stronger bones; therefore, I must focus more on aerobic exercise, proper intake of calcium and vitamin D, and muscle strengthening. My plan for tomorrow is to get my hand weights out of the closet and put them to use for 30-45 minutes. Friday I will either take Puttle for a 2-mile walk through the neighborhood (if it's warm enough), or work out with one of Savannah's workout videos (they're a real killer). Saturday, hit the weights again. Aerobics on Sunday, and hopefully combined with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, I will have lost another pound or two come Monday.

I also plan to get my big blue exercise ball out of the closet and use it for watching TV. Yes, you heard me, watching TV. They say if you sit on an exercise ball to watch TV instead of vegetating on the couch/recliner, you can burn calories while watching your favorite shows. The theory is that you are expending energy and strengthing your core muscles just trying to keep your balance on the ball. It's worth a shot. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

I found a great Taste of Home recipe book at the checkout counter the other day. I got out the old point calculator, and to my delight, most of the recipes have 5 or fewer points. I'm making my grocery list now, and I'll be trying new recipes for the next 7 days. (Cooking is my passion.) I'll be sure to share the ones that are "keepers."

I will wake tomorrow with a clean slate. As Timon once told Pumbah, "You've got to put your behind in the past."