Taking care of Sarah

For the past two years I have led a healthier lifestyle than I had for most of my adult life.  I followed Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet completely for the first 6 months.  Through the diet and exercise, I lost 40 pounds.  After that first 6 months, I was not as strict with the diet, but I have maintained that weight for two years now.

That part is good.  However, for the past 6 months I have not been as regular with my exercise. I'll start running, and do well for 4 or 5 days, or maybe up to a couple of weeks, but then I fall out of it again.  I tell myself that I have too much to do, or I am too tired at night to fit in a run, or whatever.  Excuses.  I seem to do better when I don't allow myself to miss even one day, because once I do, it turns into a week.

That same idea holds true for my diet too.  When I follow the diet completely, I don't crave sweets and salty food.  I feel good about staying true to it, and that encourages me to continue.  As soon as I say to myself that a couple of cookies or one dessert at a party won't make that much of a difference, I want more.  Even just a little makes me feel guilty, especially if I don't stop at just two cookies.

I have gotten a little lazy with making my meals, relying too much on frozen vegetables, and not enough fresh.  I don't make enough variety.  I am kind of bored.

So I have been processing all of this lately, and thinking of how easily I could fall out of this healthy lifestyle.  While so far my small exceptions to my diet and lack of consistent exercise has not made a huge difference, I worry that little exceptions could turn into big or regular exceptions.  I don't feel as good as I think I could.  I don't feel as good as I have earlier in this journey.  I am not as proud of myself.  I don't feel as confident.  I am also more anxious and tend to get more down about things.  While that is kind of a natural part of my personality, I know that diet and exercise can help with stress.  So, what I am trying to say is that there is probably some correlation there.

The scale still reads the same.  I always fall in the same range of 4 pounds. So that's good.

And I am healthy.  My sister suggested that I schedule all of my doctor appointments for one month of the year.  I like that advice because it is making me get it all done, and I have not always been so good about regular health care in the past.  So February is my month.  So far I have had 2 appointments, and only have my dermatologist appointment left.  (I have to have my skin checked for skin cancer once a year.)  My regular doctor's appointment went very well.  I hadn't seen him since I lost the weight, and he said I was like a totally different person. 

I was glad to hear that what I am doing has made a difference, but I still don't feel one hundred percent.  (Interestingly enough, all of this could possibly correlate with my lack of consistency on my blog too.)

So, anyways, tomorrow is a new day.  I am recommitting myself to eating completely clean.  (I am actually going to re-read Tosca's book.) I am going to run.  And I am going to be consistent.  I am starting at a pretty good place, but want to take myself back to when I felt my best.

(As a side note, I am also scheduling a hair appointment, and am trying a new skin care line.  I got some new glasses, and am trying to wear my contacts again.  I am hoping this makes me feel better too.)

I hope that I don't sound too self-absorbed in this post...I just want to feel good, and strong, and energetic and confident, and know that feeling that way makes me a better wife and mother too.