Why Weight?

So many people these days, including myself, have struggled with weight issues.  Many of those same people are no stranger to several failed diets and discouraging scales.  Why?

We're focusing on the wrong thing.  Does weight really matter? Does the scale really determine what you should look like?  It can't even see you!  Visually, everyone wants to look great to others, and in front of the mirror. Then, "feeling better," is commonly the runner up.  Not always, but in most cases I've found this to be true with myself and others.

I'm no pioneer to this thought, but I'm finally BELIEVING it.  I must think of improving my HEALTH first, then the fat (not weight), will start to disappear. Weight doesn't matter.  I should have known this for years but it's been hiding in the back of my mind.  Example:  When I was 15 years old I remember being at the doctor. I was weighed in at 135 lbs and I was just over 5'3".  The doctor told me, based only on weight and height, that I should be 115lbs so I was 20 lbs overweight.  Guess what size I wore?  A SIZE 3!!!  How the hell could I possibly lose any weight?  That was the thinnest I've ever been in my full grown frame!  At that time I was swimming and dancing and my muscle mass was making up that "weight."  And that is EXACTLY why the concept of "weight-loss" should be ignored. 

Nowadays I couldn't imagine fitting in 3 again...that's probably the size of my thigh. But I don't feel the need to worry about getting there in a hurry. Really, I don't need to worry about getting there at all. Goals are good, and yes I'd like to wear smaller clothes, but a 3 is a little not even on my list of things to visualize.

Right now and each day to come, I will continue to focus on my health, and place "feeling better" first on my list.  So far, so good!  In the past few weeks of doing yoga daily, in conjunction with eating better and eliminating alcohol, I have noticed several changes in my body and mind.  I have been less stressed and irritable (this alone is a HUGE success). I have noticed increased strength and flexibility as I do my sequences/poses. My pants fit better?  Whoa!  What do ya know? I guess it just comes with the package.  You know what else came in that package?  Boosts of both self-confidence, and motivation.  This approach doesn't allow much room for disappointment.  I'm not expecting the scale to show me a smaller number to justify progress.  I don't need to see a smaller circumference when I wrap a measuring tape around my stomach, only to wonder if I got the measurement from the same exact location the day before. Ignore those misleading tools.  

I will focus on continually improving my health and wellness one day at a time.  The better I feel, the more likely I am to continue developing new healthy habits.  Are you willing to try the same? 



   

What are you feeding yourself?

You have to eat to live.  I know that I have survived thus far by doing so, but I have also fed myself an abundance of garbage.

This year I have really been focusing on eating things to nourish my body, rather than feeding my cravings.  I'm trying to train myself to shop, for the most part, around the edge of the store (there are still exceptions to this rule).  I focus heavily on the produce section, primarily vegetables (organic when possible), and whole meats (NO processed lunch meat, sausage, prepackaged "faux" meat), eggs and very little dairy.  If you are willing to follow this plan, you will find yourself feeling so much better! I feel lighter, my head is clearer, and I feel more energized.  I plan to get much more detailed with my feeding plan, but this is a gradual introduction to making this change long term.

The majority of the things in the isles are crap. Pure crap!  I do venture into the isles to buy stevia (natural sweetener), sea salt and other spices, olive oil, and teas...and I can't forget PEANUT BUTTER! I do grab cereal and random snacks for the kids, but I am slowly introducing less of those sugary items to them as well. If you can slowly start steering your shopping cart around the store, avoiding the isles, you'll start to appreciate yourself more after a few short weeks.

Can't imagine your dinner plate without mac-n-cheese, or microwaveable rice?  Just swap out your starchy cardboard-powdered cheese funk combo with a fresh salad or slaw.  Hell, even just some sliced tomatoes pretty up your plate, and provide you with something you need rather than something you need to rid yourself of.

Worth trying, isn't it?

Take care of you!

I really enjoy writing. It's relaxing, sometimes challenging, and often therapeutic. In saying that, this blog I'm writing is for me. That may sound weird because most people write blogs for others to read it...that's the point of blogs. My view: I look at is as more of a public place for me to write my thoughts, views, and eventually some experiences.  And, hopefully along the way, some will find inspiration or be able to relate to some of the things I share.

This writing is new time I am allotting for myself, along with pottery, yoga, meditation. I am taking baby steps in working in as many things for me as I possibly can, and I WILL continue to grow this list.

The things I listed are just a few things I am allowing myself time to do, but I also need to make changes within myself. I need to take better care of me, because in the big scheme of things, I've been coming in last on my list.  Is that the right way to live? Is that how we're supposed to do it? I'm sure you do that same.  Most people take care of everything BUT themselves, and I mean EVERYTHING BUT! Even people that think they only take care of themselves and are proud to be selfish and self-indulgent, are not taking care of themselves. I'll tell you why...

We'll start with the self-indulgent type that "thinks" they are taking care of themselves.  She could spend up to thousands of dollars a year on tanning (harmful), hair-dying/chem treatments (harmful), make-up (damaging), clothes/shoes/accessories (disposable), flashy car (disposable), top-shelf alcohol for fancy martini's (harmful).  These are all part of a costume. This is maintaining an image of how she wants others to see her.  This is "fabulous."  At the end of the day, is she really taking care of her "self?" Nope.  If everything was stripped away tomorrow, she'd have nothing but her physical and emotional health, and it what condition would that be in? 

Now we'll look at an average person. We'll use myself as an example.  I live with my boyfriend Joe, and we have his two daughters full-time.  We also have 2 dogs, a cat and a bird. I also have a "job." From the time I awake in the morning, my energy is dispersed amongst all of that.  I help to make sure the kids stay on track getting ready for school. I let the dogs out to the bathroom. I make coffee or tea for Joe and I. I usually make sure he has something to eat before he leaves for the day. I take the bird out. I clock in for work (I work from home) and then...uuugghhhh, worry about all the many people I need to please for my job.  Oh yeah! I forgot to eat breakfast, or I suddenly feel rushed to get work done so I grab something unhealthy to eat, my morning is gone so I can't squeeze in a walk, I'm thinking ahead to my lunch break when I have to make a couple phone calls and pay a couple bills, then DAMN it! I didn't get a chance to have a decent lunch, so again grab something quick and gross to eat. Before I know it, work is over! Kids are home, help with homework, clean the house, let the dogs out a couple more times somewhere in there, run to the store, get things ready for dinner,cook dinner, serve dinner, clean up after dinner... I do shower and get dressed at some point or another during the day.  Sheesh!  I don't expect anyone to feel bad or anything because I do all of this, because TONS of people do this type of thing daily, and many have to squeeze in even more than this! My point is, because of all these things going on, and we take the time to take care of everything other than ourselves, we are missing out on nurturing one of the most important things we have in life. What is that?  Uhhh, our one life.  Our body. More specifically, the inside of our body. It's easy to ignore because we don't see it.

We only have one body and without that body, we have no life. So, when will you make time for you?  Not just the time to do fun things and live new experiences, but make time to take care of the core of You? I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to take care of the inside of me, and I WILL succeed. This may be one of the most challenging things on my list of things to do, but it is the most important.  When will you start to take care of You?

Are you Settling?

I live in an average neighborhood in Middle TN.  When I look around at the majority of my neighbors, all I see are "settlers."  I'm not saying that in a bad way...to each his own. I just know that I don't want to be one of them. I don't want to accept my job as what I will be doing for the rest of my life because it's stable. I don't want to live in this house forever because I own it and life is manageable.  I think one of a few things happen. Some people have dreams that they are made to believe aren't achievable. Some people fall into lifestyle patterns that they aren't willing to break. Some people think, that the life they have is the life they were given.  That's fine for some but not for me.

I refuse to wake up 30-40 years from now wishing that I'd have tried something different. Wishing that I'd have taken the time to explore things; interests. There are so many things in this world that I might be really good at!  How will I ever know, if I'm not willing to try?  And trying those things that I'm interested in, or going to places I've never visited before, could lead me into a completely new and fulfilling life.  Perhaps not, but I believe it's worth trying.

Some people may think that I'm too old to make changes now. My dad is a firm believer in sticking with the job that has "good pay and good benefits."  Those are exactly the things that directly aid in "settling."

I was just telling my boss the other day, that I am comfortable being in a neutral position though I know I'm capable of growing in the company.  I'm rather intelligent, hard-working, and I'm very good at finding ways to develop and implement new strategies. But I don't want to advance. I told her I plan to work there for a few more years, while I develop my own personal plan to do my own thing.  Why wouldn't I want to advance?  Many people think that's stupid because EVERYONE wants an opportunity to advance, right?  Nope.  To me, it's money and responsibility. And what happens to a lot of people that make more money and get more responsibilities? They start to settle.  Not everyone. Some people love what they do and if that's what makes them happy, like I said before, to each his own.  But, that will not make me happy.

I know now, that it's worth it to me to start taking risks. To do things for myself. To start learning more things that I want to learn. To be adventurous in life, because I only have ONE!  Life is here to be enjoyed. To thrive in happiness. And anyone, like many of my neighbors, some people in my family, many of my friends, that aren't happy, are missing out on so much.

Through meditation and yoga, I'm learning how to focus on my soul. You need to listen to your inner self. I'm sure it has an abundance of things to tell you, and if you disagree then you aren't listening.  You're settling.

Choices

Yesterday I mentioned how I've taken wrong turns, and it may have seemed as though I was blaming those turns on other people.  I wasn't. I made a choice. Every single thing I've ever done in my life was my choice, regardless of it's influence. Many people don't realize that, and I was one of them. So many people don't take responsibility for the negative things that occur in their lives, and that is a very unhealthy way to live in my opinion. All I'm saying is, from here on out, I will try my best to not allow outside influences to persuade my thoughts into a direction I don't want to go. It's hard, because like many others I live to take care of others, and put others before myself. 

One of the first things I realized I needed to do this year was improve my health.  HEALTH.  In the past I have said, "I need to lose weight." "I need to go on a diet."  "I need to go to the gym."  But I really wasn't addressing all aspects of my negative contributions to my health.  Because of the people around me, it was easier to make excuses for myself to "choose" unhealthy approaches to my days. Well now, I am not eliminating the people, I am eliminating the excuses.  They can do what they want. I have to choose what is best for Erin.  I need to make the choice to eat healthier foods. I need to make the choice to be more positive to reduce stress. I need to make the choice to stop drinking alcohol. I need to make the choice to find some form of exercise that I enjoy...because I tell ya, the gym is NOT for me. I will no longer try to choose that path because it's what I "should" do.  The gym doesn't work for me, and it might not work for you.

Today marks 3 weeks that I have taken an hour each day to practice yoga, and meditation...haven't missed a single day which is a HUGE accomplishment for me. This too, may not work for you, but it is what works for me.  The first yoga class I ever took was when I was about 17, maybe 18 years old.  Since then, I have taken classes here and there, but nothing on a regular basis. I've always loved it and been drawn to it.  But, I made excuses not to go.  Just like the pottery, I "wished" I could do yoga everyday, and "wished" I had more time for yoga.  Well, the fact of the matter is I can do it, and I can make time. I just had to be willing to do it. I am willing now, so it too has been moved to my new, "I WILL" list. How can I do it? I have learned a lot about yoga over the years, but continue to learn things online still, and I practice in my home ALWAYS over the past few weeks. I don't take the time, nor do I really have the money to spend to go to a studio everyday (though I'd love to). But, that shaves off two of the excuses for not doing it.  I find my quiet place, at a quiet time, and work on me. Not motivated? Me neither some of the time, but I read something recently from a woman who does yoga daily, and she said there are days that she doesn't feel like doing it. Then she made a fantastic point which has been ingrained into my brain, and that is that the days you want to do it the least, are the days you probably need to do it the most. After doing yoga on the days I didn't feel like it, I came to the conclusion that she is absolutely right! Regardless or what you choose to do, I'm sure you can apply that to your life as well. 

Whether you choose to improve, or choose not to, you still have a choice to make. What will you choose?

Wrong Turns!

Just like you, I'm human. I've often tried to do my best, and there are countless times that I felt like throwing in the towel and just accepting things the way they are.  BUT, days, weeks, or even months later, I would throw my internal transmission into gear and start rolling again. The problem was this...

I'd drive down avenues that I was directed down. I made turns based on where I felt I "should" go. I took detours based on other people's suggestions. I've steered myself in the completely wrong direction several times because of where people EXPECT me to go.

I'm rapidly approaching 32, and I've recently come to the realization that this is my trip. My journey through life. I have no map with a definite destination. And, neither does anybody else. They only think they do. So, I've decided that if they want to be a navigation system, they should seek an opportunity to guide themselves away from making wrong turns in their own journey.

This year, I have decided to take better care of ME. To take time to do things for MYSELF. To venture into my own dreams and make wishes come true that I want.  How do I do that?  I'm not exactly sure if I can give an exact answer because I'm in the beginning stages of this practice. I have taken note that wishes don't always fall in your lap out of thin air. Sometimes it's more of something you're willing to do, rather than something you're wishing for. Example:  I have been "wishing" for years that I could learn how to wheel throw (you, know...making pottery like in the movie "Ghost?").  I would say it all the time.  Then, my brain told me one day, "Hey dummy! You aren't going to magically acquire this skill."  Ding, ding, ding!!!  So, recently I looked up pottery classes in my area, signed up, and now I'm taking my 4th class. Turns out I'm quite good!  I still have plenty to learn, of course, but I'm taking the time and making an effort to do this for ME. I made a right turn!

I have plenty of other things on my wish list. I just need to make some adjustments, and start calling it the "I WILL" list.  Because, if I'm not willing to do it for me, I can't expect results.

I am starting this blog to keep tabs on myself. To track my progress. To inspire others to do the same.  I am making the choice to guide myself, take chances, experience life, renew my health (lord knows I need to focus on that), and reflect on my wrong turns so I know where to avoid driving from here on out.

Let's GO!!!