It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. Mahatma Gandhi
In late February like most companies in the world my company had us stop traveling. Annually, I averaged 60 nights in a hotel for work in addition I would take trips with family and friends. In a typical month I was away from home 2 times a month. When I travel, I am much more active due to meetings and just the walking you do in airports and at client locations. I am always on the go, there is no time to sit around binge watching TV. Additionally, on average twice a week I was out meeting friends, again more walking.
With my new free time I have taken up trying new recipes and cooking some amazing meals and desserts. The side effect of all this shift in my routine has been an additional 10 pounds of which has changed my waist size by more than 2 inches. I am sleeping more and still wake up tired and don’t have as much energy as I did just 3 months ago.
I am 53 and until I hit 45 never had to concern myself with what I ate or exercise due to the DNA gift of a fast metabolism and being a single mom always on the go. So this shift happened rather quickly I gained the 10 pounds between Memorial day weekend and July 25th .
This morning I caught a glimpse of my body in the mirror with folds where there were never folds. There are countless approaches to diet and exercise, and I have dabbled in various approaches. However, this morning I came to the realization something is going to change or I am going to continue to be exhausted and gain more and more weight.
This is not something I am willing to accept. So, I have a choice to “Change or be Changed” literally. When I reached this realization, I knew I had to do an inventory/audit of what had really happened or changed. This required me to get honest and real with myself.
I have never been a person that snacked between meals or late a night. However, since Memorial Day I realized more often than not I am grabbing a snack after 9 pm because I am on my sofa watching TV and I think I grab something because I see them eating on a show. I am not hungry yet there I am shoving food in my pie hole.
I don’t really eat unhealthy food as much as the times of day I am eating and the amounts I am eating coupled with my decreased activity has resulted in the additional weight gain.
Monday, I am going to make the following changes. These are not life altering changes they are small and will require some discipline.
I do believe; however, I will begin to notice a change in both the way I feel and the inches around my body.
At least once an hour during my 8-hour work day go up and down my stairs 5 times in a row quickly. This takes me 2 minutes at most and will result in 40 trips up and down my stairs for the day.
Workout 3 days each week for at least 30 minutes
Walk 6000 steps
Drink 100 ounces of water
No snacks between or after meals
3 structured meals with no processed foods
Next Saturday I will share my results and commit to doing this for the next 4 weeks.
Weekends are mine to do as I choose, however, I will follow the movement schedule on one of the weekend days.
I would love to have some of you join me and share your progress to “Proactive Change!”
CL Landreth