Bringing my mind back to the task when it wanders.

I  have worked quite hard at the outset of the year to focus on my overall health and not just my weight.

I have made a huge commitment in terms of finances, time and energy in focusing on my back.  I have also done a full detox at start of the year, a healthy eating programme and more recently a parsley detox for my kidneys!!!

I stopped buying treats and unhealthy snacks for the house. l focused on tasty nutritious meals.

Then sometime around the start of this month, l lost my way a bit.
It should be a great time for focusing efforts, what with it being the start of the Lenten season. But in fact it coincides with my birthday which follows on the back of my wedding anniversary and Valentines Day.  Wow. Its all good.

So Im taking an audit of sorts and looking at the slips, trips and falls off the Healthy Lifestyle Bandwagon. Im glad to say l havent gained any weight, but l have felt more sluggish and less lively than l had been feeling.
Just goes to show that all the small changes build up over time to create a healthier lifestyle were working.

So, as l sit here with my cup of Sage Tea, which l actually like, l pledge to  move forward again in a healthier manner.

A Step In The Right Direction

Today l felt amazing.  I felt like l was emerging from a deep and dark hibernation.

let me take you back:    About a year and a half ago l was sick and had to take sick leave.  I havent worked in 18months or so. Not all of it is sick leave.  After some time l was lucky enough to get a career break. It has given me time to get myself back on track, but it has been a slow process.

Here l am one and a half years later. Finally finding my way back.

  I had been sick.  A lot. Lots of minor illnesses over time but then they all ganged up on me and took over the running of my body.

I was under siege to be honest. Ongoing viral illness, infections and ongoing issues with my neck and back and hips etc.  I had no energy and my body was not cooperating with me at all.

The illness stayed and sapped me of any remains of vibrancy or vitality.  I literally was reduced to a shadow of my former self.  I was tired, worn out from all the medication, l was drained physically and mentally.

My life was completely altered. I went from being a busy mum, and full time professional to a patient at home.  I literally was at home full time, sitting in an armchair in my dining room, trying to keep upright as it helped with back pain. not doing much as l wasnt up to much.

after many months l finally nailed the viral illnesses. i did lots of things like healthy eating, taking multivitamins, supplements, taking tonics and remedies.  Taking lots of naps by day and having lots of early nights.

LAst year l started to take a more holistic look at my back problem and committed to months and months of intervention.  

It was a huge committment for me, both financially, and also with time and energy. I feel it is finally paying off.

I am now in the phasing out part of my treatment plan.  I think l will always need input from the therapists for maintenance but in terms of my "rehabilitation" plan, i am coming to the end.  

I am now, finally, moving into a action phase of my plan.

i am hoping to start a Pilates Class shortly with a physiotherapist.  While waiting for the next round of classes to start l asked my Chiropractor would Aqua Aerobics be something l could try.  She said absolutely.

So off l went this morning, with my backpack.I got there just in the nick of time. I had been told it was a very popular class.  

Well, there must have been about 40 people in the water at the local leisure centre.  Now l have to say, l am significantly overweight, so the thought of stepping out in my swimsuit was not filling me with glee, but it did not stop me from getting on with it, thank god.

I got into the pool and made my way to the back to ensure l would have space to move.

My first observation that l was by a long long shot, the youngest person there.  it was like being on holidays with my mum and all my aunties and all their friends too.

There were about 3 gentlemen there and fair play to them l say.

I knew that the session would be 45 mins and non stop so l had been told to go at my own pace and if anything caused me pain, to stop or slow down.

The instructor stays outside of the pool and was easy to see and understand. The music started and we were off.  It was fantastic, action packed from start to finish.  The women and the men, are obviously seasoned campaigners, all were very focused on the task at hand.

i have to say, l absolutely loved every minute of it.  At one point we had to do star jumps in the water and she urged everybody to jump as high up in the air as they could and clap your hands above your head. 

This might sound corny but at one point l felt like l was the only person in the pool, i jumped as high as l could , l clapped my hands over my head, and l smiled from ear to ear.  Inside l was cheering. 

In that instant l felt vibrant, alive, energised and so happy, so very very happy. It was a moment of pure delight and it light me up on the inside.  I laughed out loud and the lady in front of me turned and gave me a winning smile.  Then we all continued with 45 mins of hard work, exercise, and positivity.

I look forward to going next week and all going well, eventually l might try twice a week.

New Years Resolutions..so far

Well, here we are, its January 20th and to be fair things are going just fine.
I started the NEw YEar with determination and cut out, cakes, biscuits, sweets, crisps, chips, dips, chocoate, bars, pastries etc etc.
I also decided to work on increasing my intake of water, and also green tea.  I am a tea lover and l know from past experience if l cut out tea altogether l get a nauseating headache.

So l did just that,  l have been drinking mugs of hot water all day long, and also having green tea throughout the day. I am still enjoying my cups of ordinary tea, which l drink without milk so l reckon there is no harm in that.

I did go hell for leather with cutting out carbs too. I felt fine actually.  I embraced fruit, veg and salad, and also homemade soup. All of which l love eating anyway so, again, no hardship there.

What threatened to derail me was that after about day 10, the abundance of fruit, veg and salad began playing havoc with my tummy so l had to rein that in a wee bit and introduce some carbohydrate.   I had a very unsettled stomach for a few days so l increased carbohydrate but resisted any of the junk food .

Today l have embarked on an attempt at the 5:2 diet which lm hoping will be easier to tackle now that l have done the NEw YEars Cleanse.  I think trying to do it all at once would have been a bridge too far for me.

I am motivated. I am happy to be trying. I am happy that l feel motivated. I am also easier on myself about slips. everybody does it.The real challenge is not to throw it all away when l do.

I read a very good quote recently that said If you drop your mobile phone on the floor you dont then proceed to stamp it to bits and kick it around the room and say hey, it was bust up anyway.
 So if l decided i want something, or it is a special occassion or something, its ok to have that scone, or whatever.  What isnt ok is to come home and eat   a cookie and maybe some bread, or some crisps etc.  The scone is fine, if its just the scone.

I constantly remind myself that I gave up smoking, without any help.  I also stopped drinking, not because l drank a lot, but more because l really didnt need it, or want it.  So its important to acknowledge the fact that l have willpower, and if l put my mind to something, I REALLY CAN DO IT, FOR ME

its not a time to focus on calories but to focus on overall wellbeing

New Years Eve /New Years Day is a natural time to reflect on the year just gone, and the years before it too.
I realise that many, far too many, of my years past have had been totally consumed with losing weight and lots of it.  This year in some respects is no different.  I sit here at my desk and put my hand up in complete honesty and say that l am very very overweight.
The difference is that this year, I will not cry, I will not panic, I will not embark on some drastic regime for the first few weeks of the year and exhaust myself from the lack of solid food.

I need to switch my mindset. I have been thinking about this all year.   A bit indulgent you may say!!
I have had a difficult 16 months or so where l have been exhausted and unwell. Overworked, out of shape, very stressed, emotionally drained and physically and mentally tired.
Beating yourself up about your weight serves no positive purpose.
I have spent time looking at myself, my habits, my stresses, my health issues, my lifestyle.  I see the need for a complete overhaul that will not be started by a NEw Years Day frenzy to launch myself into the New YEar only to crash and burn by January's end.

I have been looking at dietary information, allergy information, immune boosting, energy creating, super foods...
I now feel that l am set and ready to slowly launch myself into 2014 with a new attitude.
It is my mind and my way of living that need to change.
I know my family history includes heart disease and diabetes.  Both hugely influenced by weight and poor exercise habits.
So now that l have turned 40 ...WHY WHY WHY would l create a paradoxical situation where l am terrified of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes amongst other illnesses, but my weight and my health issues have put me closer to the pathway of these diseases.

So...instead of waving furiously at these illness and trying desperately to attract their attention, l will bid a slow and steady retreat and move in the other direction of sensible health.

This has another dimension to it.  My two beautiful kids. THey are aged 5 and 7 now and l would like to be around for as much of their life as is humanly possible. So it is up to me to take measures to make this happen.

So here's to 2014....