Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Writing Myself Positive

Image: Wikimedia Commons

I'm approximately a third of the way through my self-imposed regimen, so I thought I'd better assess my progress.

Diet: This still goes well. It's not that I ate unhealthily before, but this time I really am cutting back on sugary, fat-laden and processed foods, and concentrating on natural and organic as far as possible. As far as sweet things are concerned this wasn't too difficult, as I have a naturally savoury rather than a sweet tooth. Though everyone craves sweetness now and then — and I find fruit or small quantities of chocolate or ice cream fit the bill. This diet does seem to suit me, I must admit, and I feel fit, healthy and full of physical and mental energy. My ban on alcohol wavered once or twice recently, but I haven't fallen back into the habit. My weight this morning was hovering between 13 st 12 lb and 13 st 13 lb, so I've broken the 14 st barrier. Therefore, roughly speaking, in a month I've lost half of what I set out to lose in three months. The rest sounds easy? Well, no — as I predicted, my weight loss rate has now slowed considerably.

Exercise: Because of the pulled hamstring, exercise was on hold for a while. But I'm now back to doing 20 min to half an hour stretching and various resistance and cardiovascular exercises each day. I haven't any expensive exercise equipment; in fact I have no equipment at all except for a Bullworker and a skipping rope. I find that the free props we have around us in the home — the wall, the floor, the chair — work perfectly well. I'm also walking again each day. In fact, the other day I walked 6 miles into the nearest town, and yesterday I walked 3 or 4 miles through the surrounding countryside. Soon I'll begin some very gentle running in combination with walking.

Meditation: I suppose I'm practising this on my walks rather than putting aside any special time or place for it.

Reading: I'm still reading a fair amount, but not as much as I was when recovering from my cyst and my muscle injury.

Computer: Hopeless! I'm grazing on it at every possible opportunity.

Thanks to everyone for your continuing support. Rereading the above, I hope I don't sound too smug and pleased with myself. In attempting to hide and cope with the problems in my life which were the impetus for this new regime, I sometimes may come across as more self-satisfied and in control than I really am. I'm just trying to think and write myself positive.

7 comments:

  1. You don't come across as smug to me at all. Stating the facts and how you feel about them is simply straightforward, and I'm glad to hear that you feel your regimen is suited to you so well.

    I am impressed and amazed with your distance walking. Truly walking is the best form of exercise, though as you point out, stretching and other challenges get at our bodies in different and important ways.

    I'm about to leap up and head out in the snow for a walk myself!

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  2. You don't sound too smug and pleased with yourself, but, given the considerable progress you've made, I think you're entitled to a little self-satisfaction. Well done.

    There is much wisdom in the notion of writing oneself positive. Writing, I find, is usually a reliable way to bringing forth our authentic selves.

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  3. Hey, that's good to hear! Diet, exercise, meditation, reading, computer (the internet is the open-ended book everybody can contribute to).

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  4. I'm in awe of your ability to cut out sweeties, choc, pastries, cakes, wine, all those things I severely doubt I would have the will power to give up. so very well done indeed!

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  5. Of all the things you've been cutting back on/improving upon I'd find sweet foods the easiest to give up. I find almost all deserts too sweet and don't even eat as much fruit as I ought to because most are sweet.

    Initiating regular daily meditation I find difficult, but once I've stuck to it for a week or so I can stick to it for months until my routine is disrupted. . . then it can take months to get back. I'm not the only one who feels I'm much better company when I'm at it regularly. It's amazing what a difference it makes and how much it helps with all the other goals on the list.

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  6. Thanks for all these comments. I love your remark about writing being a way to bring forth our authentic selves, George. I do feel this. Though you have to be careful. With some writers, conversely, they use writing to hide their real selves. One can often, but not always, tell.

    Everyone's different, dritanje and Laurel! I think a lot of it depends on what we were given as children. Myself, I always remember liking salads from a very young age — God knows why. I also, Laurel, find a lot of desserts sickly sweet — though I do like short sharp sugar shots regularly.

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  7. Glad it's going well overall and I do admire your persistence, especially with the fat and sugar that for me, at present, are islands of pleasure (rapidly aggregating into continents)in a sea of monotony.

    Also love the idea of computer "grazing"! I'm gorging on the stuff, and I'm not happy about it, mainly because my paper-book consumption has plummeted. And my newish iPad and the various magazine apps I use on it (usually devoured with a sugary/fatty treat and a nice coffee close at hand) are consistently pleasurable - guiltily pleasurable...

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