Week 34 - Eating Habits

Eating habits – yep I have them and they aren’t good.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about, dwelling on and reworking my eating habits during my life time. After many many many years of looking at this issue where I even dabbled with writing a book (actually I wrote a book but it needs lots of work) I know what I should do but I don’t do it.

My book dealt with looking back to move forward – looking at why the habits were formed in the first place. No blaming but an honest look to know why food became my enemy. I found out that food wasn’t the enemy it was what I did with it that was the problem. I treated food as comfort or as a reward anything but what it actually is…. Sustenance.

So what happened, what did I do, how did I use this information………..nothing, nudder, zip, zilch.  Ok that is a bit harsh. I have changed some things but I haven’t made any progress with my weight reduction. There needs to be a strong correlation between eating habits and moving the body and so far for me there hasn’t been.

There is so much more to weight reduction, eating habits and moving the body – well it is for me.  I do know what I should do but I don’t do it. I’ve read heaps on this topic but I don’t do it. For me it is getting my headspace right – understanding why I treat food as a reward, as comfort and not sustenance, in particular why I eat so much and why I look to food when I am happy, sad, scared, alone, in company, annoyed, upset, celebrating…… I think you get the idea.

I am working towards changing my relationship with food and I will be successful – these SYL challenges are an important part of this journey. I am also participating in a Heal your life workshop and that has also been very important.

Another thing that I need to take into consideration is that LOML has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so I need to make sure our eating habits work for the whole family. We were going really well but have been a bit slack lately.  

I am going to take small steps and work on two things each week – drinking more water and designing an eating plan that is 6 small meals per day instead of 3 big ones.  

Combined with at least two gym visits and walking at least 3 times a week will make a difference. I am not going to stress about numbers – how many kilos lost, how many calories, how many centimetres. I am going to change my eating habits and move my body and that will make the difference.

Thanks Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/simplify-your-life-week-35-rest-and-relaxation/ ) another great challenge.

Week 33 - Moving my body

I really need this, I have to do this. Now is the time. Actually now is overdue but I can’t go back and change things – the past is the past and for the future I want I need to get my act together now.

So now it is.

And now more than ever NOW is so very important to me.  Four weeks ago today my sister passed away. Four weeks ago today my life changed forever.  With all the sadness, with all the massive changes and with all my tears there has to be some positive changes too and this is the promise I make now – there will be changes and they will be positive. I need to take better care of myself and I will.

I am nearly 49 years old and overweight, unfit and generally unhealthy but not only my body my thoughts need an overhaul. I have started working on my mind – actually I’ve been working at it for a while and being part of Deb’s SYL has been a major part of the changes. I am also taking part in a 10 week heal your life workshop (which is fantastic and I highly recommend). So my mind is getting on track, I am simplifying my life – decluttering my headspace to leave room for the positives and finding the affirmations to help me to a better place.

Now for the body………….

I’ve done it all Jenny Craig, Gloria Marshall, Beer diet, weight watchers, Fernwood, swimming, walking, fun runs and the list goes on but nothing worked.  Even wrote a book about losing weight but didn’t lose the weight.  I know what to do – but just don’t do it. Something always gets in the way.  I am figuring it out and I know it is about feeling safe and protected, my headspace work is getting to the bottom of this but I also need to work on the physical side of things.

Everything happens for a reason…….  This is the only way I can explain the devastation that has occurred in the last four weeks (at the moment nothing else makes sense to me).

Last week I didn’t feel like cooking so after dropping Merman at work I picked up some “slow noodle fast” and there was a brochure for a new gym……….. Samsara Women’s Health Club.  I was intrigued and I needed something to read while I was waiting for dinner to be cooked.  As I read I knew I had found it, the place that was going to be perfect for the changes I needed to make.

It is not about the gym work it is about “Your journey towards positive health and wellbeing”. A safe and positive place to make the changes that need to be made. It’s not just about the body it is about the journey and the headspace to make the positive changes. 

I made the call and yesterday I met Belinda and wow what an amazing woman.  Yes I signed up and today in an hour I go for my assessment and then we will work out a program for me. I am so excited that not even the cold Canberra morning can dampen my exuberance.

I really am looking forward to this journey – this is the place I need to be right now.

Not only is it close to home – 4 mins in the car….. operating times are good for me. Meditation classes start next week and also Kinesis classes too.

 Everything happens for a reason.

Thanks Deb (  http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/simplify-eating-habits/ ) for giving me the reminder how important it is to move my body.  

A brand new day is dawning for me.........................

Week 32 - Balance

Well here we are at week 32 and wow hasn’t it gone fast. So much has happened and to be honest the last few weeks have knocked me for six. I don’t want to rehash a lot of stuff but with my sister passing away 3 weeks ago so much has changed for me and I am reassessing everything in my life, everything!

Balance is more important than ever now.

More importantly my priorities are changing – have changed. I now have more responsibility regarding my father’s care. A responsibility I am more than happy to take on but I also know it will had many pressures to me and my family.

Balance will be the key and I need to get my life back into balance.

I have been spending far too much time on me – I have been selfish and have been doing too many me things. 

So how do I change this -  yep I make a list and add in my new responsibilities.

I will be travelling more – one day trips to the Gold Coast, sorting out Xmas – can’t have dad being by himself at Xmas.

I need to remain healthy – I need to fit into the airline seats without getting the seat belt extension. So for me the next couple of months will be about my health – getting to a healthy weight and maintaining it, getting a few medical things sorted out and letting go of some of the pressure.

Thanks Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/exercise-habit-motivation/    )  just what I needed.

SYL - 52 Week Challenge - Weeks 28 to 31

I’ve been away for a few weeks and need to do a bit of catching up…..

 

Week 28 - Cleaning

I’ve said this before and no doubt I will say it again (and again) – I don’t like cleaning, I really don’t like cleaning at all.
I do anything and everything to get out of cleaning. I actually don’t think about it too much, I just don’t do it until the house is really bad and it needs it or visitors are coming.  So I really need help with this part of my life.

I am very lucky my husband does all the washing and I do the ironing. We share the cooking and the rest of the chores sometimes.

We have a modest 3 bedroom house with one bathroom and toilet. Not a lot too do.

Should be easy shouldn’t it…….

Well its not – I hate housework and I would love to get a cleaner and you know what that is what I am going to do.  I can afford it so I will do it. Just for the bathroom and toilet and floors. Surely it shouldn’t be too expensive.  Who cares – let me explain.

Two weeks ago my sister passed away unexpectedly she had the flu and then had an asthma attack which lead to two cardiac arrests.  She was on life support for 7 days and we turned it off on the 21 July. My dear sweet sister passed away on 22 July. She was 57 years young and my world has been turned upside down.  I am devastated but I have a family too look after but I also have now taken over power of attorney (along with my other sister) for our father who lives on the Gold coast.  We both live interstate so there will many issues.

My life has to be simplified even further, I will need to make day trips to the Gold Coast to take dad to doctors appointments, I will be managing the finances, I will be taking on many responsibilities so I will need time.

I have already simplified my life in so many ways – getting rid of clutter (still some way to go) but more importantly getting rid of the emotional clutter.

I am going to be reassessing many things over the next few weeks to make sure everything The 3 questions asked are very important:

What is your minimum standard cleaning routine?

I would love to say do nothing at all but being realistic some housework needs to be done.  Minimum is bathrooms, floors and ironing each week. Dusting every second week. Little bits in between.

What is your cleaning approach?

Well it has been when I wanted to do it – which is hardly ever. But now it will be a routine because I do better with routines and you know I am even do a list or two….

Do you use any systems to save you time and effort with cleaning?

Something I have never thought about but well I will need to I suppose. Maybe tomorrow…….

Ok so that is cleaning ticked off…. I wish it was as easy as that.

Week 29 - Paper and information

With my new responsibilities this is going to be a major challenge. Dad on the Gold Coast and my other sister in Adelaide  - providing the care he needs will be a challenge.

The only way to do this is to have routines, lists and a good system well for me anyway. LOML already has all our paperwork sorted now it is my turn to set up some processes for Dad’s stuff. 

I will be approaching it in my usual way – lists, processes and making it happen.

I’ve set up folders, simplified the banking and have a daily to do list. I know things will calm down when we get into a routine but it is a bit overwhelming at the moment.

Updating contacts and the diary, keeping in contact with my sister and the home were Dad is, reconciling bank statements will be an hourly job each night. Yep it will take time but Dad gave much of his time for me this is the least I can do.

Week 30 - Household management

My household needs more than one new habit a day but as with anything that is important starting out small is the key and to that end I will establish one new habit and then then when it is well entrenched I will establish another new habit.

So what habit will it be first……….

I like the idea of the 15 minute clean up each day so I am going to steal it ( I am sure Deb won’t mind).

I will make a slight adjustment I will make it a 30 minute cleanup and include electronic cleaning up too.

Week 31 - Catch up week

Whew!  I really needed this.

I have looked back and I am so pleased with my progress. So much has changed in my life thanks to SYL I have been decluttering my home but more importantly decluttering my life and I have gotten rid of a lot of garbarge – literally and emotionally.

With any change it is important review it, check what has been working and what hasn’t been working. 

I am really really happy with my progress. Have I done everything I wanted to – no I haven’t, is there still more to do – yes there is.

As I move to this new phase of my life I know the skills I’ve learnt from Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/simplify-your-life-week-32-balance/) will help me take care of all the responsibilities that I know have.