New Years 2012

It's a New Year again, and time for a status check.  It was two years ago, in January 2010 that I made my initial resolution to lose weight and live healthier.  So let's see how I'm doing against my original objectives.

Lose Weight - The first year (2010), I finally lost 5 pounds in the late summer but then re-gained it by the end of year, being overwhelmed with work and my husband's frequent business travels.  In 2011, I took up stationery cycling at night for the first few months, which got me off to a good start, before I got bogged down with several rounds of neck problems.  I also dropped to 4 days per week of work, but spent most of my Fridays running errands or getting frustrated with my housekeeper who was inclined to cancel on me without warning, and answering emails or calls from the office.  In June 2011, I discovered a belly dance class which I attended with my 12-year-old daughter (and still do!).  This has been a significant positive influence in my life.  By the end of the year, I achieved a 10 pound drop in my weight, which I have been able to keep off for a couple of months now.  So time to set my target for the next 10 pounds.

Increase Flexibility - The belly dance class has been AMAZING for me.  I have learned so many good stretching exercises, which I have been able to incorporate into my everyday life (especially before going to bed, or on awaking feeling stiff).  I have learned some of the early warning signs of my neck and shoulder problems, and some of the stretches which can prevent me from getting myself into serious pain.  Looking back in my medical receipts, I see that I have been able to avoid visiting either of my chiropractors since July!  This is VERY good.  I hope to continue this trend into 2011, and continue to heed the warning signs, and one day even avoid the stupid things I do (yes, I am a workaholic) which get me into trouble in the first place.

Increase Stamina - Hmmm, not good.  Although my daughter and I love our 4 pet rats we started collecting in April 2010 dearly, I finally admitted to myself after a year of coughing and finally wheezing, that I was allergic to them, and asked my doctor for confirmation.  I have been on asthma meds ever since, which has controlled the symptoms, but I am sadly aware that I am operating on a somewhat reduced lung capacity.  I get winded much more quickly, and in addition to my 2 puffs per day, I need to puff before going on walks or any other type of vigorous exercise.  For my daughter's sake, I hope it is a long time from now, but when they are gone, we will not be replacing them.  Hopefully I can go back to a relatively "normal" life after that.

Become Pain Free - Thanks to the belly dance classes, I have gained a lot of core strength in my tummy and back, and have learned more effective ways to stretch out the neck, shoulders and back before getting into too much pain.

Kick-Start my Thyroid - I have not been tested recently, but I seem to be pretty fine on my reduced dose of Synthroid, thanks to the natural supplement Thyrosmart, by Lorna Vanderhaege.  It is one of those awful big capsules which I don't enjoy swallowing, but it has been effective for me, so I highly recommend it.

When I started, I set out some strategies for myself.  How are these going, and are these strategies I will continue?

Find a sustainable exercise program - Belly dance once per week.  And recently my husband and I have started walking a few nights per week, after the kids are in bed.   We walk for over an hour each time, up and down the hills (there are no level streets where we live), so it is a good work out.  But more importantly, it has done wonders for our relationship.  We finally have a chance to talk, and even if it is about work most of the time, it has been very helpful to me to have this opportunity.

Introduce natural foods - Not so good.  Mostly quick meals, or eating out.  4 out of 5 weekdays we have lessons or other activities after school/work, so it doesn't leave me much time for cooking.  I am usually driving home with little time to spare before turning around & going out again.  Then on top of it, my daughter is inclined to become a vegetarian (except her mom won't permit her to), so is even less interested in anything I know how to cook, and I haven't taken the time to learn new vegetarian cooking methods yet.  Perhaps it would be a good time for her to learn some?

Learn what hunger really feels like - Hmmm, still largely reactionary eating.  But I am trying to think of drinking water or eating fruit or other alternatives, when I feel the urge.  This area needs more attention.

Stay off the scales - This worked for a while, but on the flip side I also found that stepping on the scales every morning worked for me also.  If I was a good weight, I would be encouraged.  If I was a higher weight, it was a wake-up call for me to pay more attention that day.  Somewhat inspired by the book "The Jerusalem Diet", which was written by a church pastor.  He used this basic principle (but was more disciplined on his diet days), and also the principle that some days life just happens (like he was invited to someone's house for dinner, or to a celebration), and you shouldn't beat yourself up on account of it.  Just be diligent again the next day.  I like that.

Be patient - Ha, I guess I'm that.  Still here 2 years later recording my efforts in this blog.  Not very determined, I guess, but patient with myself.

I didn't have this original strategy for myself, but I think I want to add one more:

Feel good about yourself and about life - My challenges revolve around neglecting myself in favour of my family (as I'm sure all moms will relate to), and in favour of my work & company.  The belly dance has been a wonderful way to enjoy something for myself, as well as enjoy the evening bonding with my daughter.  I need to continue the walks with my husband, since I finally feel like he has an opportunity to listen to me, and share ideas with me also.  Recently, I gave up hope in having a housekeeper.  For some while, she was coming for 2 hours on Fridays, but since it was mid-day, it tied me up from accomplishing errands outside the house (leaving me feeling locked in), or from enjoying time with friends or family, or by myself, for that matter.  Then when she kept cancelling on me with too short of notice to make other plans, I finally (on advice from a few different people - it took a while for a it to sink in!) asked her not to come any more.  Since then, it has been a great relief to me to have Fridays pretty much "free".  I started going out with my sister for lunch, we will try for once every 1 or 2 months (which is really good, since it took almost 15 years of married life before I finally had the first lunch out with her!).  I have a couple of friends I may also start seeing for lunch on Fridays also.  This has given me something fun to look forward to, and to feel good about life and who I am (not just as a mom or employee or company founder).  I hope to also take up more gardening and creative activites in the spring/summer.  That always brightens my mood, and when I am feeling good about myself, I tend to take better care of my body too.

I hope that I will have some positive experiences this year to share and inspire you.  If you are on a mission to look and feel better and are blogging about it, please let me know, so I can follow along with you too.  Or drop a note about what strategies you are finding helpful.  Happy 2012, everyone!