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....