On the healthy road again

[BeachbumAggie]

After working hard on my diet and exercise regime January-August of last year, I was healthier than I had been in years. My cholesterol was looking good, my bp was down and my dr was happy and I was happy. Then my job suddenly became 2 for the price of one (I do the job of 2 people for the price of one person) and they sent me on the road for the majority of the Fall. Living in a hotel in Austin, working my rear end off, eating out, and being homesick were a bad bad bad think for my diet and exercise regime. So in January I got back on the healthy eating and workout regime and I'm still on it today.

Does anyone else have this issue? I feel like a drinker falling off the wagon and it's so hard to get back on and stay on the healthy wagon!

Anyone have any tips for staying on the wagon?! I hope that my days of work travel will end soon. We hired a new guy in March and I started training him to take over some of the load. I hear we may get to hire one more soon and that would improve my work life considerably so please keep your fingers crossed on that one for me!

Heading to Destin with friends 7/3; they booked the house, I'm just along for the fun. Hoping to get to stay a 2nd week in SoWal but that's a bit in the air right now. I love having the beach to look forward to!

 

[Bobby J]

Does anyone else have this issue? I feel like a drinker falling off the wagon and it's so hard to get back on and stay on the healthy wagon!

Anyone have any tips for staying on the wagon?!

I had to quit really believing I was on any sort of wagon or diet. It had to become a life change for me. I made a serious commitment to myself years back that it was just time to change the way I was living. Is it perfect? No way but today when I venture off my chosen path I don't get too upset and just hop back on the path. In the past I use to think, oh well.... Then wake up months later and 15 pds heavier wondering what happen. A slip is a slip just try to not let it last. Also, I have had some success allowing myself a free day a week. This helped my cravings. With time, I have even moved away from that. I just like to feel healthy and was tired of feeling like s##t! I began to also notice in life there is always a reason to not live a better life. Vacations, birthdays, Parties, births, deaths,sporting events, bad news, good news, promotions, fired, too much work, too little work, etc. My point is there is always a reason to not live the life you want. You just gotta make a choice. Good health or bad health.

 

[puglet]

Here are some of the things that have helped me: Reading "You on a diet" by Dr. Oz; using their website, Realage.com and food journaling for free on Fit Day Diet journal. Mayo Clinic also has eating right info on their website that is encouraging. Visiting these sites when I feel like I might eat the wrong thing has really helped. I love to exercise so I just had to eat right. I have cut out most white flour and sugar, but eating out really can knock you off track. Best of luck!!

 

[Miss Critter]

I'm with Bobby on this one. We had extra motivation to change due to Jr. Critter's gluten issues, which we learned were genetic. And I had a separate health issue that I felt mandated a much-improved diet. So now we just don't eat certain things anymore. Most grains are a problem for most people, contrary to what the USDA's food pyramid would have you believe. What puglet said is true; eliminate most white flour and sugar, and you're ahead of the game. Of courese, that means most processed and fast food, but that stuff hardly qualifies as food anyway. Traveling is definitely a challenge. My advice is to buy some high-quality protein bars, individual packages of various nuts (not peanuts) and/or cheese (if you don't have nut or dairy issues) and you'll always have something to eat when your blood sugar dips. Otherwise, you'll get ravenous and eat anything around. You can look up the menus of most national/regional restaurant chains online, and decide what conforms to your diet before you get there. Forewarned and all that. Bottom line: I feel your pain. This change has NOT been easy, but it's definitely been worth it.

Best of luck with your job situation. I hope reinforcements arrive soon. And July 3rd will be here before you know it!

 

[bluemtnrunner]

I have been on, off, under and run over by the wagon. I feel your pain. In the past three years I have gone from running/biking/paddling adventure races to barely able to finish a 5k and gaining weight. The problem, we all know it when it is happening, we stop putting ourselves first. For me, three teenagers, getting married, taking on three more kids, organizing a nasty custody battle, helping my husband with the restaurant, moving, doing my job all took over my life. I let that happen and the day I decided that I can do all of those things and still put my health first was the beginning of getting my old self back.

It is definitely work to set aside time and follow through with exercise. It is more time consuming to plan and prepare healthy meals and eat snacks throughout the day than to just grab something when hungry. You have to make a conscious decision to do it and then even on the tough days, do something.
for me, it is logging everything I eat and every exercise I do on dailyburn.com. If I can't do my regular exercise, then I find a way to log a couple of shorter ones in there (three 10 minute walks, 20 minutes on my bike, some stretching and weights or bands). I spend a lot of time planning menus and meals and snacks, shopping to ensure it is in the house. Once I have an idea of what I'll eat during the week, I am better able to stick to healthy meals and snacks, even if I am not following the menus I planned out specifically.
When you leave the house, have snacks with you. When you travel, like Critter says, bring healthy foods with you. Carry water, drink water, plan on water. Curbs your appetite, keeps you from drinking things higher in calories and I believe the very act of committing to drinking 80 oz of water a day (or whatever) helps keep you focused on the exercise and good food choices. I have water in my hand, I'm doing something right, don't spoil it by eating that thin mint!
Don't be hard on yourself. If you got up and spent 20 minutes exercising today, that is more than you did yesterday. Be proud of that and shoot for 30 tomorrow.

 

[KISH7374]

KDW and I have spoken about this numerous times and I think that if you make up your mind to do something then you stick to it. I feel that if I miss a day or mess up my routine I just don't feel right. Like something is a little off. I have cut back a little on the weights and added more cardio since I am not getting any younger, and the results make me feel healthier. When you look good, it makes you feel good and improves your outlook on many things. I am not quite a fanatic about excersing but I try to make sure I get my time in.

 

[BeachbumAggie]

Bluemtnrunner, putting myself and health first is a challenge and does seem to be a key to success for me. It's hard to do and feels a bit selfish but I know I have to do it for a healthy life!

I've been trying to fix a healthy dinner 6 nights/week and do leftovers or protein shakes for bfast or lunch if no leftovers. I've reduced my sugar and white flour but haven't totally eliminated it. I have a walking partner which makes walking more fun and have been doing good with my cardio. It's time to lift some weights now!

 

[scooterbug44]

I find who you spend time with/eat with makes a big difference. Peer pressure works for both good and bad habits and I think it really does become a "habit".

 

[kathydwells]

KDW and I have spoken about this numerous times and I think that if you make up your mind to do something then you stick to it. I feel that if I miss a day or mess up my routine I just don't feel right. Like something is a little off. I have cut back a little on the weights and added more cardio since I am not getting any younger, and the results make me feel healthier. When you look good, it makes you feel good and improves your outlook on many things. I am not quite a fanatic about excersing but I try to make sure I get my time in.

That is correct, you just have to put yourself first, and make up your mind that you are going to stick to your plan. However, as I fully know life can sure throw a monkey wrench in there sometimes. My workout routine was interrupted last week and I felt terrible. I went back today and felt so much better when I got home.

Good luck to you and realize we are all human and sometimes we slip up, just get back on the track and you will do just fine!

 

[kathydwells]

I find who you spend time with/eat with makes a big difference. Peer pressure works for both good and bad habits and I think it really does become a "habit".

This is so true!