Lifestyle Changes // 01

I did my first walk/jog last night on the treadmill. I did 25 minutes, and I felt like it wasn't enough, which is the first hurdle I really need to get over. Rather than thinking "it's not enough", I need to think "I am doing something". Each little step will bring me closer to making good changes and living a healthier, more active life.

I've fallen into a bit of a lazy parenting rut with L. I know toddlers are picky, difficult eaters, but I know I can try different things to try to get her to eat a wider variety of foods. I've just been lazy. I cave and give her the same thing that I know she'll eat. So small goal this week is to make a batch of zucchini bread or muffins. She likes toast, so maybe a slice of zucchini bread can be a gateway to get some new flavors going. She also won't eat fruit anymore. She used to eat bananas, apples and blueberries like a champ. Now, not so much. So maybe I can make some banana/blueberry bread and sub in apple sauce instead of butter.

The biggest challenge I face personally is food choices. I don't eat terrible all the time, but I am definitely an emotional eater, and I'm an overeater. And a boredom eater. And a "hey it's rainy/dark/gloomy/cold out so I just want to eat a lot of carbs" eater. I'm trying to think of little things I can do instead of eating to feel better.

Drink water or a cup of tea.
Write (here or in journal)
Color (this coloring book for adults looks fun)
Clean
Dance to this song
Or this one
Go for a walk/run

It's hard to tell how and why these bad habits formed. I don't remember at what point I started eating anything and everything like every meal is an all-you-can-eat buffet. I have the best intentions to eat light and stop when I am satisfied, and it's like it all goes out the door when it comes time to make a decision about what to eat. And I don't even stop to think I might be full. I think it's partly eating when I'm distracted by tv or the computer or in the car. I think it's also waiting until I'm ravenous and then grabbing whatever looks or sounds delicious.

I know I need to be better prepared. When I'm making a meal plan for the week, I am more apt to stick to that than flying by the seat of my pants. I also tend to overthink things. Meals don't need to be complicated. They also don't have to be typical. I tend to get in the mindset of breakfast should consist of x, y, and z and lunch should be a sandwich with a bag of chips and diet coke.

I have a lot of old habits to work through and shed. I know it'll take time, but the first step is shouting from the rooftops that last night I got off my ass and moved my feet and it didn't kill me, which is good, because I want to be around for as long as possible with this little one.