Oops!

Well, blogging hasn't quite gone as planned.  I guess I was reaching for a bit too much thinking I'd post a few times a day, or even once a day!  Vacation ran into heading back to work, and now poof!...it's the holidays!  I have been continuing my work on myself though...that's the good news!  In particular, lately I have making a big effort to spend more time outside.  I live in the currently cold northeast, but for me, getting outside into the air and natural sunlight is almost a necessity.  It sort of clams my mind and helps relax me.  So, being that life is super busy, as most everyone's is, often it's throwing the frisbee around to my pups or going on a short walk with them.  It absolutely helps keep me sane!

Pool!

This coming week in the "try something new" department and the "be more healthy" department, I'll be experimenting with pool exercise.  We don't have a large pool. so I'll have to be creative.  I don't think I'll be giving up any dry land exercise for it, but I'll give it a shot!  Here's hoping for some nice, sunny weather!

I Tried Something New/Old

I decided to kill two birds with one stone today....get in my workout and try something new.  I had to get my daily exercise in either way, so I decided to pull out an ooollldddd exercise VCR tape I've had since like the early 90's.  The kind where the instructors are in neon blue leggings and leotards.  I thought to myself, "this will be fun!"  Fun at first, yes...but she meant business!  I shouldn't underestimate those old exercise tapes.  My legs and abs were burning!  I bet I'm sore tomorrow!

I'm Too Vague

So I think I'm not being clear enough in my quest to make less trash.  I need a plan.  Here are some thoughts:

* Less packaged foods and more home cooking
* More recycling and less tossing away
* More farmer's markets and less grocery stores
* More re-purposing and less tossing away
* More donating and less tossing away

Less Trash Month

I'm really challenging myself.  I'm trying to see how aware I am of the amount of trash I produce, and then make a true effort to reduce it.  I will tell you it's not easy.  Not easy at all.  I'm finding I am really very mindless when it comes to waste.  I've been doing a lot of research and regular reminders to help.  It has been very eye opening learning about the reasons for the excess trash and the sheer amount of trash in our environment daily.  So far I know I'm making an effort in my corner of the world, but sadly I have not noticed a big impact in the weight of my garbage bags being hauled to the curb each week.  :(  Stay tuned!

The Exercise Ball

I have only used an exercise ball for exercise, but have been considering it at work for sitting at my desk too.  I teach, and don't sit all that much, but when I do, I'm thinking it might be good for me!  I've been reading about how it causes "active sitting", activating back and stomach muscles, and not allowing you to slouch as much as normal desk chairs do.


Some important points:


*to make sure you inflate it to almost maximum capacity so it's actually supportive
*research a high quality ball so it holds up without leaking
*start using your ball in short increments to get used to it safely

5 Tips To Cut Back On Sugar

1. Cut yourself some slack if you slip now and again.  We're human.
2. Eat 3 meals a day opposed to snacking in between.
3. Incorporate coconut oil into your diet daily.  Can cut cravings and give your energy.
4. Choose side dishes carefully.  Looking for simple, sauce-less options.
5. Don't food stress.

Hide And Seek With Sugar

Sugar is hiding in places I didn't even think about before.  It's not just lurking is your desserts anymore, and it's not always easy to find out just by reading labels (although that's important too).  By now we all know a typical soda contains as much as 9 teaspoons of sugar, but hold the phones...

Fat Free Yogurt- up to 6 teaspoons of sugar
Frappuccino- up to 11 teaspoons of sugar
Boxed sweet and sour chicken- up to 6 teaspoons of sugar
Tomato soup- up to 4 teaspoons of sugar
Pasta sauce- up to 3 teaspoons of sugar

Even many low fat foods are flavor enhanced with sugar!

My Current Diet And Exercise

In the diet department I am not too overly strict.  I like to eat.  I like eggs, chicken, salads, butter and red meat (to name a few).  I have been exercising regularly now for 4 months.  I try to exercise everyday, but I definitely have to mix it up.  I have tons of exercise dvd's and I choose one or two of them to use in a week.  Then I also incorporate either the bike, elliptical or some walking every other day.  I have been trying to cut back on my sugar intake, but it hasn't been easy.  I drink a cup of green tea almost everyday and have most recently been aiming to drink at least two full sports water bottles of water each day.  I take a multi-vitamin but honestly feel that the tea helps keep my immunity up more than anything.  Some days, like today, I need a little extra motivational boost, and that's when I turn to my online community of encouraging friends.  It's hard sometimes and I'm not always feeling into it, but if I push myself through, I'm happy I did when I'm done.  I also, of course, have body insecurities...not sure they ever go away, but I'm working on focusing on the positives.

Are Social Gatherings Without Drinks Fun?

They can be!  Of course beer and wine are often part of my social gatherings with friends, but last month I limited that.  It wasn't so bad.  Typically, that's about the only time I have drinks to begin with.  When you first gather together and maybe some friends pour themselves a drink and you can't, it's disappointing, but it all works itself out.  There are other indulgences to be had.  Unfortunately my indulgences are usually crappy food...ugh...but I didn't feel like I missed out on anything in the end (except maybe a headache haha).  I was happy I found it to be fairly easy and I was proud of myself at the end of the month.

It Was My June Slogan

Trial Run And No Alcohol!

One post and I ran for the hills!  Sorry.  I think I jumped into the idea of this blog quickly, without really thinking out what I'd actually be sharing and posting about.  My desire to write this blog hasn't left, nor has my continual work on my self improvement, but now I think I have ideas to share.  I'm calling this a "trial run" because like anything, I'll give it a go and see what happens.  OK onto the "no alcohol" part...last month I decided I was going to challenge myself to seriously limit my alcohol intake.  Not that I am a big drinker in any way, but I wanted to just see how I'd feel experiencing certain things without the social, celebratory drink or two.  It wasn't bad at all...but wait, hold the phones...now I'm reading alcohol, even just a little bit, is bad for your heart?!?!  It's now being reported that even light drinking can narrow arteries and increase heart attack risk.  Jeepers...everything fun and enjoyable is bad for you!  If one thing doesn't get ya, something else will.  Ugh!  

Welcome (Back) To My Personal Blog!

Hi again!  I'm back with a new direction I'm headed in!  This is my blog for the life changes I am attempting to make (see the "about me" section).  I'm working on trying to change my general mindset and my health/fitness.  Honestly and truly, I've just been plain lazy.  Then age 39 rolled around and I felt a spark!  Yay, finally!  So I started 3 months ago making small changes.  I hesitated restarting this blog because I wanted to be sure and prove to myself I was committed this time.  So many times before I wasn't, and that would prove true only a couple weeks in, but this time seems to be different.  So far I have been doing most of my "sharing" on my personal Facebook page up until this point, but now the time seems appropriate to move to my blog format.  Hopefully that will do 2 things...open myself up to even more support and encouragement from others I wasn't reaching before, and I'll hopefully stop overfilling my friends news feeds with posts they may have little to no interest in.  Now they can choose to click my blog links or not.
So, my mind/attitude and health/fitness...woah, big stuff. 
My diet has always been the trickiest thing for me.  My approach for that area has been to make slow, small changes over time.  I am following Weight Watchers and really prefer their method over others I have tried.  I try to exercise 5 times a week, and surprisingly enough, I am starting to enjoy it!  It just took a while for me to gain the strength I needed to not feel dead after each workout.
My mindset is something entirely new I am working on.  Mostly my approach to others and how I let things affect me.  I have noticed over 3 months that I am very overwhelmed and distracted much of the time. That's been most of my focus so far.  I try to shift into slightly different areas with each new month. So please, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE!  I need that! 
There will be hard times and easier times, but I just want to keep moving forward.  Currently I am working on decluttering  my house and tossing/donating any and all things that are literally garbage to me, limiting distractions like Facebook and the internet in general (ironic I'm saying this in a blog), and likely the hardest one...cutting back on my sugar intake. 

Thanks for following!