family Archives - Page 7 of 7 - Insanity Is Not An Option

I wrote this post as part of a movement by Weight Watchers to encourage people to remember that loving yourself starts with taking care of your health everyday. Though I was compensated for my time and commitment, all views, positive and negative, are entirely my own.

I can’t say this enough, I’m no spring chicken. As you age (oh how I loathe that word), it gets increasingly harder to stay healthy and fit. But does it really? Is it just a mindset? Was it just easier when I was younger because I was more motivated with way more time on my hands and a lot less to worry about? I’m beginning to think that’s the case and I’m ready to make some simple changes to my everyday routine toward a healthier, happier me. I started this a week ago and it feels GREAT! I turned to an unlikely source for help. I don’t need to lose weight really (a little belly fat perhaps, but not weight) but I stumbled upon a list from Weight Watchers that has changed my daily/weekly activities and I’m pretty glad I did. This Simple Start, these simple changes, are changing the way I look at and do things, and they can change me for the better.

Commit to eating at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day! I need to eat better. I don’t eat bad foods. No, no, no…no fast foods, no unhealthy preservatives, no heavy sugars for me. BUT, I basically don’t eat. I mean, I eat enough to stay alive obviously, but I don’t eat much. This, my friends, is not a healthy habit. Nope. I need to eat more. I’m a vegetarian so my diet is already heavy in fruits and veggies, but my diet doesn’t consist of much. These clever Weight Watchers folks suggest that I commit to eating at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day. FIVE PORTIONS. I rarely eat more than twice a day. Time to change that up! I’m starting my days with a healthy Blackberry, Banana, Yogurt smoothie. A handful of blackberries makes an exceptional mid-morning snack. For lunch, a nice bowl of black beans (hello protein) with some fresh red bell peppers and onions mixed in for flavor. A quick mid-afternoon break (yes I’m taking mini-breaks from work now too) includes half of an orange. And for dinner, how about some homemade veggie soup? I’ve got this and I have so much more energy to accomplish my tasks and do the things I love.

Take the stairs! Aside from diet, there are so many other things you can do. We’ve got an elevator in our building. I’ll shamefully admit that I’ve taken it quite often while rushing Bug to school or bringing up the groceries. I mean, for real, I have 2 little kids and groceries to carry. Why wouldn’t I? Well, because those extra 44 steps, 22 down, 22 up, make all the difference in the world. That’s exercise right there people. Throw in a full trunk load of groceries, and it’s a work out. Up, and down…up, and down…and up again. You see where I’m going with this. Who needs a gym?

Get in a workout! Although we do have a gym on the premises, I don’t visit it much. B does, I don’t. You see, my babies aren’t always on their best behavior. They aren’t bad per se, but put them in a room with work out equipment, it’s game on…for them. This means I get distracted, frustrated, and overly annoyed. Not my bag. So, I work out at home. I’ve been a little lax lately but since jumping on this band wagon with the Weight Watchers activities, I’ve been making it a priority. Just 30 minutes per day. JUST 30 MINUTES! For me, it’s yoga, abs, or cardio, and it makes a difference. I feel it. I see it! PLUS, at home, I can work out in my jammies. So there’s that.

Get active as a family! If working out isn’t your thing, you know what? Play time can be work out time! Consider taking the kids to the park. Instead of just watching, play with them. It’s fun! You can laugh and a simple climb up the ladder, swing across the monkey bars (you can do it), or slide down the swirly slide is actually exercise. For real. They’ll laugh. You’ll laugh. And the break is amazingly fabulous!

Reward yourself for healthy behavior! One final thought. Take a break! I don’t do this enough. But thanks to this reminder, I did something I enjoyed this week and the emotional rush was incredible. I crafted (ha! I know) and I decorated for one of my favorite holidays, Mardi Gras, which starts this weekend. So you know what I’m doing? I’m taking time off. I’m going to basically unplug and just enjoy my family, my surroundings, and a little play time. This is MY reward for making all of these simple changes in my life. Yes, I deserve this.

It’s really not that hard to stay healthy with these simple changes. Eat, work out in my jammies, play, and enjoy life. It’s really that simple! By making a few changes in your every day life, and learning to appreciate life, you can be a happier and healthier you. I’m serious, JUST.DO.IT! I did, and so can you with this simple motivation. What simple changes do you think you can make in your daily routine to help you be healthier…and happier?

Apparently I’m a vegetarian unicorn that loves to read about chicken on a daily basis. Don’t try to understand that, just roll with me here.

It sounds weird, I know, but I have best friends that I rarely see, that listen to me talk about chicken…all.the.time. It’s my job. In real life anyway. I see them every day in this little black box. I share in their daily lives, I know their joys, their woes and sorrows, I know their children. I KNOW THEM. But I never get to see them, except through this little black box on a daily basis. I love them. I cherish our relationships. I’ve known most of these lovely ladies for about 2 years now, but until last year, I never got to hug their necks. I never got to come face to face with them. I never got the chance to tell them about the impact they’ve made on my life.

But last May, my dreams came true. I met my best friends, IN REAL LIFE, and they were as amazing in person as they were in this little black box. They were real. They were genuine. And you know what? I’m lucky to have them in my life! I’m forever grateful to Collective Bias for hosting SoFabCon13. If they hadn’t, I may never have MET my best friends. And I may never have made other real life connections that I’m now grateful for having. This community, this tight-knit online family, is a part of my every day life. This makes me happy. This COMPLETES me. I have my own family, here at home, but without these friendships, without this community, I would feel incomplete. Last year, when I met these best friends, when I connected with so many Collective Bias employees that I talk to every day, my life felt complete.

There’s another conference happening this year in May *SQUEE* that I’m hoping to attend. But I’ll be honest, life has hit kind of hard this year for my extended family and we’ve been doing some major “save your family” work around here. It might not happen. I’m kind of sad face about it, but it’s a fact of life. I’m saving my pennies and hoping to find the love again. I want to see my SoFab family again. I miss them.

I learned so much last year. I made so many real life connections. I love my Social Fabric community. I love Collective Bias, and I love my friends. Fingers crossed y’all, I’ll make it back to Arkansas again this year. I hate to leave my family here at home, but I long to see my other family again!