Let's Get Healthy in 2010!
 

Im starting my New Year's Resolutions early this year and inviting all of you to come along for the ride.
I generally don't make resolutions but every so often I do redo a list of goals for myself. The last few months, I have felt a gentle tug toward putting more energy into getting healthy (er) in 2010.

Getting healthy isnt just about weight either. Sometimes it's about breaking bad habits or working toward a new mindset. No matter what healthy looks like to you, let's work together to support each other!


My personal goals for health in 2010:

* Lose some weight - This isnt for vanity reasons because, HELLO, I'm a FINE-ASS woman just the way I am but my knees are QUITE pissed off at me every time I have to climb stairs or walk more than 2 miles so I plan to work on trimming down enough to be more mobile.

* Cut out the sodas - I drink an unhealthy amount of sodas. I admit it, Im a Coke-a-holic. Like maybe a 6-pack a day. YIKES. I want to work toward trimming out the sodas and drinking a LOT more water.

* Movement - Im going to dust off my exercise bike and actually USE it. I also would like to start doing more outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, etc. Even walking the dog can be good exercise and getting some fresh air is good for the soul.

* Paring down - "Healthy" to me is also having a healthy house. I want to focus on getting rid of the rest of the clutter, unpacking the rest of the crap in the garage, and making order out of chaos in the office.

* Healthy boundaries - I want to continue to focus on making healthy boundaries with toxic situations and people. I did GREAT with that in 2009 and want to continue that progress into 2010.

* Conscious Living - I want to continue to live consciously in 2010. I want to continue making good choices around reusing, recycling, and leaving a better footprint. I want to put more focus on gardening, home crafting like quilting and canning (Im a closet grandma), and moving away from using excess to just what I need.

Let's talk! What are your health goals for 2010?!

Already??? *groan*


I really want to do some of this stuff..but I'm really ........not feeling like it..LOL

The main thing I want is to quit smoking..we'll see.

What an inspiration!!! Thank You, Medusa!!!
So I'm going to use Your points here as a guide for myself....thanks!

~Lose some weight -- I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I have fooled myself into believing that this is ok. It hasn't affected my knees so much as my hips....especially my left one. And I'm really not in the mood to have that hip replacement thing. So there's only one thing to do: I'm going to move the treadmill back to the middle of the room, plug it in, and get on it!

~Sodas -- thankfully, I cut a majority of those out last year. I haven't missed them much. Of course, I have replaced that with more coffee. So I'm going to cut that down....I'm going to start with that 50% kind first....and wean myself from the caffeine. Some of my Hater Friends were quite surprised to hear that I have 6 bottles of wine left over from Thanksgiving!!! I'm working on not drinking so much wine, too! I think with losing my job, I've been doing what I could to feed my depression.....wine was my answer. No more of that! Or maybe I should say "a bit LESS of that"! And more water!

~Movement -- I'm going back to Yoga.....it was a good tool for relaxation and gaining some strength.

~Purging -- This is also something I've been working on in my home ~ cutting the clutter. It feels SO good. But I'm not very organized and sporatic at best. So I'm going to start with one room/closet and not move to the next one until I've finished a room and taken all purged goods to Goodwill or the trash.

~Healthy Boundaries -- This has been the year of doing this for myself. I got tired of being open to insensitive, insecure & unhappy people cluttering up my personal space. It has amazed me how removing toxic people from my life has opened me up to more peace.

~Conscious Living -- I have begun this process....old habits die hard, don't they? But I'm taking those reusable bags to the grocery store and feel SO good to use them instead of the plastic! (They multiply, I have found!)


Thanks again, Medusa.....I feel that putting this out there will be good inspiration for me to 'put my money where my mouth is' and really DO this stuff!!!

I will be a non-smoker on jan 1 i dont care what i have to do, how much hair I have to pull or teeth im done and dont want to a heart attack or stroke

AWESOME posts y'all!

I quit smoking as part of a goal back in 2008. I was one year smoke-free on October 13th of this year :) It was one of the best decisions I ever made. There has been a noticeable improvement in my general health - no more pesky colds all the time and sinus infections. I have also noticed renewed skin texture and my hair is shiny again. Those are little things that are all about vanity but I can imagine my lungs are much pinker and happier too :)

Well..if someone would come up with a good alternative to smoking that would be great. I need something that mimics the effects of smoking..calmness,satisfaction....sorta like the after glow effect. Yep that's what I need.

Other wise...

It
Wont
Be
Pretty..:whine:

The only thing I found that even came close (and it was a MILE off) were coffee-flavored Nips. Those little hard candies.

Oh, and gum.

I ate 40 packages of gum the first month. (no Im not kidding).

I STILL have a bad gum habit. I buy it in bulk at Sams. :blah:

I smoked for six years... from age twelve to eighteen. I finally quit on the fourth try. Here's how I did it:

Ya know how you usually think of all the bad things that smoking does and try to motivate yourself that way? It generally doesn't work so well. I made a list of all the POSITIVE things I had to gain from not smoking. Things like: my breath will be fresher. I will have more money since I won't be spending it on cigarettes. I will feel more energetic. People won't feel as uncomfortable around me. Things like that, and more. It was a long list lol.

Then I kept the list in my pocket, wherever I went. Every time I felt the urge to smoke, I pulled out that list and read it. Focusing on the positive really helped a lot. I didn't need a patch or nicotine gum. All I needed was to change my thinking. I also consciously stopped thinking of myself as a smoker who didn't smoke. I said to myself, "I am a non-smoker now." It is amazing what a new point of view can do.

Don't focus on what you are missing, like that satisfaction a cigarette gives you. Instead, think about the satisfaction of being smoke-free. Believe me, it works. :)

Thanks for the advice sugar...I'll keep it in mind..I'm gonna start on the first...
:seeingstars:

Glad to see this...
 

I've had some stuff happen in the two years and consequently I've let a few things slide as far as what's good for me. Also the things I just basically haven't done right from the get-go it's probably pretty much should call myself on...

I did quit smoking though, 3 years ago this month and stayed good on that (with the admitted cigar a couple times a year).

I'll probably bbl if get a good list going.

Great inspiration... thanx...

I jumped on the healthy bandwagon back in August...

I stopped consuming carbs (insulin resistance bordering on Type II).

I stopped consuming sugar.

I stopped consuming sodas.

To date, I have lost 61-67lbs. Four sizes.

I feel better than ever.

My fibro is ramped down significantly and I have more energy.

I just feel good.

Much luck and success to those seeking healthier living in the coming year. It really is mind over matter.

Christie

2010 is a year I wanna see taking *three steps forward*, and 1 back. not TWO, not staying stagnant, but constantly aiming. aiming. aiming.

Body/Mind/Spirit must all work together.

And since I'm almost never a guy of absolutes, yeah, I'll indulge in the 'odd' (and really happily do mean: ODD) cigarette. Harder to do with friends who still smoke, but how happy am I that I don't frequently visit friends who do? lol

Now that I've been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, my focus can now be on using all tools I have at my disposal more efficiently. This is exciting for me.

healthier boundaries, a must. 'nuff said.

Some random words and phrases that will shape my 2010:

Work, independence, de-cluttering, organizing, creating routines, bus passes, swim passes, paying bills, personal responsibility, meditation, teaming up with doctors (as opposed to deferring to them), standing up for myself, claiming my voice, remaining calm, reflect, breathe crisp air, finding adventures, stretch, learn, love.

WHAT!?@#%

No cake??!!!

:overreaction:
:mob:

This is a fantastic, realistic outline. I wish you much luck.

The funny thing for me is, I prefer it to be cold when I run outside. I actually LIKE that feeling when you can feel ice crystals forming in your lungs.

I know; I'm a weirdo. :admin:

Excellent ideas and goals, miss Diva.

I love your concept of using these words and phrases to shape your year.

That just means there's more for us. :drool:


I'll be back later to work up something for myself. Perfect timing for this thread, Medusa.

Well, Im already off to a good start. Had a little thing happen tonight after work that made me smile:

After work, I decided to run to Target to pick up some marshmallow creme to make fudge for my family. I decided on Target because the grocery stores are CRAZY right now and Target is on the way home.

Needless to say, I grabbed a cart and walked the perimeter of the store and eventually made my way around to the food section. I looked and looked and didnt find the marshmallow creme. As I made my way to the front of the store, I took a real good look in the stuff that had made its way into my basket while I had been cruising the aisles: a sweater for Jack, a hat for me, a game, a new cleaning product I had wanted to try, a CD, a couple of spices, and a new lip gloss.

Random stuff, right?

I stopped right in the middle of my store and asked myself: What did I REALLY come in here for?
That sweater for Jack? $30
That hat for me? $12
The game? $9
The cleaning product? $5
The CD? $13
The spices that I probably would never use? $3 each
The lip gloss? $6

The total $78.

$78 for stuff that I didnt NEED.
$78 for stuff that I had NOT come into that store for.

What did I do? I grabbed my purse, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out of the store, leaving the basket with all of the stuff still in it in front of one of the registers.

I saved $78 and also accomplished a tiny goal of not bringing more useless crap into the house. Victory.
Im going to seriously start doing this every time I go to the store.
Did I come into the store specifically for that item?
Do I REALLY need it?
Will I USE it or will it end up shoved in a closet or under a bed?
Do I already have one? (or in the case of the lip gloss, do I already have 130?)

Still, I have no marshmallow creme but I DO have the $78. Its a fair trade I think :)

This is me. I started losing weight last year and making changes but I found my emotions always throwing me into a tail spin. I'll have a few great months and then BAM, I lose my motivation and desire. Desire, I have learn is the key fuel to create almost any change. Desire is often stifled by depression, loneliness and old past shit we never completely healed.

I started doing Debbie Ford's "21 Day Conscious Cleansing " and it's shed some light on some things I know I must hurdle or all of my attempts, as in the past will be useless.

In season I try to grow most of my food. I will buy organic first depending on quality and availability. When you grow beautiful organic food its really hard to pay 1.50 for a fucked up looking cuke that was probably picked too soon and sat there too long.

I've been slowly getting rid of shit I've carried around for years. It's been hard because I get attached to things and this is a process I am learning. I don't need this big house and all this land. I really want to down size and live more simple and frugal as well. I learned that my attachment to money and the importance I place on it is just unhealthy. Living more simple and to continue to live more independently- growing my food, preserving, etc. gives me true freedom. Money really can't give that to me but what it can give me is stress.

I have the same problem with food. I'm sure something from my past. I hate the waste. I've been more conscious and prepare things I know I can make a few meals or worse case it's healthy enough to mix in with dog food or one of my other animals can eat.

I share shopping with my sister. she goes one week i go the next and when my son goes to work or run an errand I have him pick me up things. I've saved at least 40.00 a month in gas, maybe more just by doing things different.

TD do you juice or smoothies? This makes a huge difference for me. If I get lots of fruits and veggies into my system I have less cravings. Increasing this will also help MANY illnesses- the list is way way long but Fibro is on it.

I haven't dated at all. 2009 was exciting and yet filled with intense heartbreak. I spent quite a few years healing from a bad break up and 2009 was the year I thought I could fall in love. I did and got my heartbroken and although I'm not the same person i was in round one, I'm smarter, it still hurt and made me withdraw. This year I am working on myself and opening myself up more to the idea. I'm not looking but I'm praying and opening my heart, for the first time in a long time to find a partner, lover and friend. Someone that is also ready to slow down, enjoy life, grow a garden, walk in the woods, hold hands and sit on the front porch. I have a feeling this person will enter my life this year or maybe my desire is setting in. lol

I have so many animals and decided to adopt out a few dogs I had rescued and planned on adopting but kept one too long. I finally adopted him to a wonderful family but I'm having a really hard time with this. More so then normal. I've rescued and adopted out dozens of animals but this really affected me. I have more to go, to make my life easier but I'm a little freaked by this.

I'm looking for the right roommate that love farm living to share the house and garden. I'd like to spend some serious time in Costa Rica by the ocean. If I get the right roommate I can afford to do this and hopefully she/hy can start living their best life too.

It's going to be quite a year but its off to a great start. I'm simply opening myself up to receive and trust in God to bring me the peace and balance I long for.

I would love to have a pool. I love water and swimming. This is the hardest thing for me in winter and living in a house without a pool.

I love all this. One of my biggest problems this past year was the fact that I teach online and have become even more attached to my computer (as I told my boss, my chair is being welded to mah butt!). Sedentary lifestyle is a challenge for me and it is something that has to change. To that end...

** I'm with y'all about chucking sugar out the door. Explicitly in my sight is HFCS (high fructose corn sugar). This hidden gem is in nearly everything and I have suspicions has a far more addictive quality than regular sugar.

** get rid of my dependence on soda (even diet soda). A few years ago I managed to kick it and lost 5 lbs -- and this was **DIET** soda I had stopped drinking.

** more water. Because of T, it's even more important than before and being sedentary doesn't help either. For those who have iTouch/iPhones, there is an app called "Water". This helps keep track of how much water you drink in a day and how much you need by body weight. It's been an eye-opener for me.

** remove any and all processed foods from my diet. If it's not from a tree or the ground, then it ain't going in me. This means removing flour, sugar, etc.

** more exercise. I've started this (although this week was a bit of a washout because of the early start and long end of day). Thankfully, I don't teach this particular class that often. To this end I have a few things to help:

1. Iron Gym (hangs in the door -- every time I enter or exit I do or try to do 10 pull-ups)
2. Blue Rubber Fitness Band (use this for curls, flyes, raises, etc and I can do it when my colleague is teaching)
3. Yoga iTouch App (10 min x 3 times a week)
4. Kettle Ball exercises (30 min x 3 times a week)
5. Do the X number of exercises 3 times a week (as part of Kettle Ball workout)

• 100 pushups app (3 times a week to try to eventually be able to do 100 pushups)
• 200 situps app (as above)
• 200 squats app (as above)

** go through my books, sell what I can or give it away. Keep only what I truly need.

** go through clothes, sell, give away or toss.

** go through old documents and such and toss anything over 7 years (age that most tax Ministries or Departments require you to keep stuff)

** sell Dell system (after February) as it's not needed. Return Dell laptop to corporation (not used/needed)

** enter at least 3 blog entries into my personal blog a week and 2 a week in the cigar blog (yes, I won't give that up since it's limited to 1-2 a week)

** do a weekly ToDo that includes many of the above to help me keep track

I think this is a good start for now. I may add more but for now this will do. Go Team BFP!

Hey all! I am loving everyone's "Get Healthy" lists!

I was about to post that I have sucked lately at cutting back on the sodas but when I really think about it, I have done better than Im giving myself credit for. For instance, yesterday I had half a can of coke in the morning and half a can last night. That was IT all day long. I had some sparkling apple cider with Jack when I got home from work and my nightly cup of hot tea.

I am definitely not drinking enough water so cutting back on the Cokes needs to equal more water for me.

Today, I drank half a Coke before leaving for work and am now swilling away on a Diet Mountain Dew. These are wonderful but chock full of caffeine so I wont have any more soda today once Im done with it.

Water Water! I need more water! I am going to take the suggestion about the iPhone app from Linus and try to track my water :)

Best of luck to all of us. Little changes along the way can mean BIG results later.

XO

Am I the only one here who KNOWS I need to do this stuff ..but am totally feeling whiney, and annoyed at giving up my beautiful smokes, cake, and soda??

*whine*

Nope. Im having a totally grouchy day because I ate a turkey wrap for lunch and didnt have chips or anything sweet with it. I want my fuggin' SUGAR.

And Im totally annoyed that there is a biggo gallon of Rocky Road in the freezer that I will want to kill when I get home because my hormones are in overdrive. :hanging:

Thank you!!

I've delayed starting the diet, and quiting smoking thing becouse I've felt so..mad about it. Not mad that I'm fat..not mad that I smoke. I've felt mad that I NEED to do this stuff..and I dont WANT TO!

I've decided not to start until I really feel like I WANT to..otherwise? It will never work, and in turn I"m going to feel like a total failure.

I want to WANT this..I really do. I just dont right now.

xoxo

This post is brought to you by the letter 'w' for water
 

I :stillheart: water, thank Goodness. Every once in awhile, I attempt to drink some of those sugar-free water flavorings, but more often than not, they mess with my stomach and give me wicked cramping.

Do any of you track your food/calories on www.thedailyplate.com? It's pretty cool and I find it so much easier to keep track of every teensy little calorie. I need to get back to eating better and exercising more. Every day I try to do a little better. Like PapaC says: Three steps forward and a few steps back.

Cheers!

cara

I've actually used it before and even have the app for it. I think I'd need to get back into that habit again to track everything so I can see when I do good and when I need to redouble my efforts. Changing a bad habit into a better lifestyle does take a bit of work.

Nice job, Gemme! :) One other thing I like about dailyplate is that you can add in your fitness, no matter how small, and it will take those calories from your daily total. It takes all the guess work out of it. :)

Yes. Both the act leading to it (foreplay) and the actual act (intercourse) do burn calories. For an idea as to how much see here: http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc

Thanks for this link cara. I just signed up and I love it. I took the "eat more fruits and veggies" dare.

I quit eating all meat except for fish in December and I hope to remove fish from my diet in the coming months. I’ve flirted with vegetarianism off and on for years, but 2010 is the year it becomes a permanent lifestyle for me! I’ve been trying to do it right this time and not just live off of bread, potatoes and sweets. So, I’m learning to use fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Even though it’s been only a few weeks, I can see a difference in my energy level and my skin. I love it!

Eating this way definitely takes a lot more time and preparation. To make sure I don’t have a lot of produce going bad, I’m making trips to the store several times a week now. And I have to actually prepare a meal instead of just picking up fast food on my way home from a long day. The pull of “quick and easy” is the hardest urge for me to fight at the moment.

I like the “You Are What You Eat” books by Gillian McKeith. You can also see the show by the same name on BBC America.

I need to get back to the gym; it’s been too long. It seemed like I was always too tired after work before. But, hopefully, this increased energy will help me get back on track! It’s great to have a group to support the positive changes we are all making.