It's the Little Things

As Americans we tend to think BIG. Bigger is always better. But I have found that it is not always the case. With my realization that I need to shed a few pounds, I grew overwhelmed thinking about all the big things I needed to do. Cut out foods from my diet completely, join a gym, give up soda, etc, etc. While these are all great ideas, they were too big for me. Too much out of my comfort zone, too much at once. Most likely something that I would do for a few weeks and then jump back into my old routine and habits.

Instead, I started focusing on the little things that I could do that would contribute to an overall better and healthier me. I love sweets. I mean I really LOVE sweets. This doesn’t go well with the fact that I love to snack as well. During work, while watching TV, before I go to bed. So one of the little things that I have done was purchase almonds, grapes and happy cow cheese. I make sure that I always have one or another on my person. Instead of heading to the vending machine at work or making a trip to the local QT for some sweets, I snack on one of the healthier options.

It has also helped with my snacking on chocolate at home. Instead of going to the candy bowl (I know, it would be so much easier to get rid of the bowl, but I can’t…my husband is a mild chocoholic) I open the fridge and grab some grapes. Not as sweet and yummy, but I feel better about my choices after.

I have also started parking further away from where ever it is I am going. It does not have a huge impact, but it does add steps to my day, get my blood flowing a little more and, again, makes me feel better about my choices.

For those of you that do not know me, I am a Diet Coke junkie. I drink it first thing in the morning, clear until bedtime. I recently started just taking a limited number to work. Once they are gone, I turn to dreaded water. When I get home, instead of having regular Diet Coke, I drink Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Still not ideal, but having caffeine free vs. regular diet coke has allowed me to sleep better. I am not staying up as late because I jacked up on caffeine.

I know these are all little things and will not have BIG AMAZING EFFECTS, but these small things are allowing me to make healthy choices. These healthy choices can (and will) lead to additional, bigger healthy choices. It seems to be contagious. Once I do something that makes me feel even a little better, I want to do something else, and something else, and something else. So they were right when they said it’s the little things that count. What little things can you do, or are you doing to make a healthier you?

I Think ALL My Pants Shrunk!

Okay, so, most people have New Year’s resolutions that revolve around weight loss, being healthy, etc. Well, I am no different. Somehow, over the last year and a half I packed on 25 pounds (give or take a few). I am at my heaviest weight I have ever been. Now, I say “somehow”, as if I am unaware how or why the weight came, and came, and kept coming. Could it be my sudden decrease in working out? How about my decisions to eat fast food almost every day for lunch? Or enjoying an Arby’s milkshake before bed as a reward? I slowly realized that my pants were a little more snug, I didn’t feel as fabulous in my little black dress and I had developed what most of us know as a muffin top.

Once I started packing on the pounds, instead of doing something about it, like working out, eating healthier, etc, I just seemed to get more depressed and eat more, exercise less, etc. I use to love to get dressed up to go out with friends. Getting dressed now just put me in a foul mood since nothing fit. I didn’t look good, I didn’t feel good and it started to reflect in my attitude.

So it is now my goal to make healthier lifestyle choices. Whether it is food, activities, etc, I am going to make a choice to live healthier overall. I decided that I am not going to be obsessed about weighing myself of the dreaded scale. I have had a love/hate relationship with scales. One day they are your best friend. A few days later they turn on you. I will weigh myself tomorrow morning and then only once a month after that. I figured I could tell how I am doing weight wise better by monitoring how my clothing is fitting.

So I am finding fun and exciting ways to live healthier. Thanks to Groupon I have some fitness pole dancing classes coming up, Bikram Yoga and a fabulous body boot camp. Perhaps I will buy a shake weight....nope, not that desperate. I am also seeking out healthy recipes to try and I am going to start hitting my local farmers market. I am dedicating Wednesdays as “Wellness Wednesdays”. Each Wednesday I will fill you in on my latest healthy lifestyle changes, challenges, accomplishments, failures, how my pants are fitting, etc. Once I reach my goal, I will share with you all (if you dare to look) my before and my after photos! Uggg.

Thanks for coming on my journey with my!