Healthy habits, intro

I have decided that each week for the next three weeks (until Thanksgiving then all bets are off) I am going to adopt a healthy habit and stick with it.  If I stick with it after Thanksgiving, that will be a bonus. 

The healthy habit I am adopting for this week is going to be tracking what I eat.  I have been WAY too lax on this, and I need to get back in that habit.  I am more accountable to myself, and to my health when I track my food intake. 

What will next week's healthy habit be? Check in next thursday for a recap of how I did, and for what my next healthy habit will be. 

Keeping up

As my baby boy starts to become more and more mobile and independent, I realize that its harder to keep up with things. You may ask "What things?". And I will respond heartily: "EVERYTHING!!!" My housework, laundry, etc. Yardwork, phone calls, emails. Exercise, eating healthy, and my blog. Yup-especially forget about keeping up with the Kardashians, or even just the three television shows I like to watch that are longer than 30 minutes.

Yet, I realize that these things are all important to me, and I need to keep up with them. How can I make sure I am able to accomplish what I need to during the day, yet provide a loving and safe environment that fosters the growth and creativity of my wonderful child?

If you know the answer, please tell me! And the answer can't include cloning myself, or hiring people to do the work for me!

A few minutes for myself

I got the baby down for a nap and stole a few minutes for myself.

What did I choose to do?

Play on the internet? NOOOO....
Watch any of my DVR'd shows? NOOOO....

So, what did I do?
Got on my exercise shoes (the ones I forgot at Zumba the other night, but picked up on Wednesday) and did 40 minutes of exercise. Then I got on the computer. Hahaha!

I feel fantastic. I need 40 minutes of this type of time for myself every day. :)

Now to change and pick up and figure out what we're having for dinner, besides some leftovers from last night.

If Today Was Your Last Day

Okay, so I am going to indulge in some cheesiness right now. I have a confession-I like the band Nickelback. I really like their music. Last night on the way to Zumba, I drove Jack's truck (which is HOTTTT and makes me miss my little truck), and he had Nickelback's "Dark Horse" CD in. The song "If Today Was Your Last Day" came on, and I really listened to the lyrics and I wanted to share them, and my thoughts on them with you.

"My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride"

Yes, the first step is the hardest. You don't know what is going to come your way, especially when you take the path that is less traveled and start REALLY living your life. You never know when your maker is going to want to meet you, so don't live your life in fear of what could be.

"If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day"

Can you let the past go?

"Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life"

Life is not always easy, and sometimes you have to fight for what you need or want in life. You don't get to repeat a single moment, and you can apologize for actions and words, but you don't get a chance to relive those moments and take back hurtful things. You also don't get second chances to live, so soak in all the experiences you can.

"If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day"

Or would you sit on your butt on the computer, in front of the television? Sheltered in your own life, not making a difference in someone's life? How are you positively impacting your world?

"If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side"

Again, you can't go back, and time's fleeting, and it goes faster and faster as you get older. No matter what you have done with your life up till now, there's always time to make changes, and there's no better time than now.

"If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day"

Can you let things go, and really start living in the present? Or will you look back on your life and say "gee, I really wish I had done XYZ (called this friend, volunteered at a shelter, went on a cruise)" ?

You never know when your going to die. It could happen at any time for any of us. Life is unpredictable, and it is precious. My hopes are that when I am old (hopefully) I can look back on my life and hold my husband's hand and think about all the wonderful years we had together, and how we have made good use of our short time on this earth.

Reinforcement and choices

I was thinking about what to write about today, and my thoughts went down the path of how I feel when I exercise and eat healthy. I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but when you are on a roll, good or bad, whatever it is seems to reinforce itself. Think about it....if you make poor food choices for breakfast, many of us think "well, whatever, the day's shot anyhow" and what do we have for lunch-McDonald's! And dinner? Pizza! Then the next day we wake up and feel poorly because we put unhealthy stuff in our bodies to nourish it, and we often feel guilty because we made poor choices for the whole day. But when you make healthy choices, they often beget healthier choices later in the day, and the next day and so on. Same thing with exercise-it may take some momentum to get the ball rolling (heck, sometimes it feels like you're trying to push a boulder up a hill), but once you get over the crest, its hard to stop!

I have found that I need to focus on making healthy choices, and really make a conscious effort to exercise. My goal is approximately 40 minutes of exercise a day, PLUS at least two healthy meals, striving for three. And healthy snacks.

Hopefully I will continue to see and feel results from the effort that I am putting forth, and that will be reinforcement enough to keep me going!