Little Changes...

 

I'm leaving this month trying to make little changes in my diet.  No serious chopping is happening.   I fairly significantly cut back my sugar I got just from sweets.  That was a surprising lot.  I'm also trying to  get more water back into my evening schedule.  These aren't big shifts, so I can probably manage them.  I think when some people try to alter their diet, they do huge things.  Taking big steps can work for some people, but most of us don't handle them well for long.

That's what's going here for now, take care.

Cya...

After Labs...

 

Got up for labs yesterday.  It was the 1st jolting wake up I'd had in months.  I was tired & anxious most of the day.  I haven't  got all my labs back, but the basics are up.  

Other than my triglycerides, things are good.   The triglycerides aren't in the high zone yet, but  borderline.  I know what happened.  We've been eating out a lot because it's hot.  There's also been a lot more sugar in my diet this Summer.  I can cut back on those.  I can stand to lose some of the sweet things.  Or least not have them as often.

That's all I know for now.  Take care.

Cya...

Beans & Yogurt...

We've altered our diets a bit by reintroducing 2 things; beans & Greek yogurt.   It's sort of a switch-off here,.  My roomie usually likes beans more than me & the reverse is true for yogurt.  But, they're back in our diet on a fairly regular rotation.

We've been trying to cook up a pot of beans (various types) every weekend.  It's means less wondering what we're going to eat.  We've copycatted fruit on the bottom, Greek yogurt with generic Greek yogurt & sugar-free pie filling.   That puts the snack under 100 calories with a lot of protein.

I think these switches are starting to have an impact on our diet.  They're both filling & less processed than a lot of foods we were eating in their place.   The boost in protein & fiber is helping us to feel fuller.  

Hopefully, this is a habit we can keep.  The price point is fairly low & they're good for us.   It's hard to find something that fits both of those.  

Green Giant has a line of fresh vegetable & veg mixes in the produce section.  They're a little higher than frozen, but they taste great & only take 3 minutes in the microwave.  I could by the regular vegetable, but a lot of the bulk produce is sketchy at Walmart & too pricey at the other stores.

Little changes like this could help us to eating better.

Cya...

Exercise Issues...

June was the start of my 5th month of exercise.  I'm near 30 minutes a day.  I'm happy with that.  Changes are becoming more apparent.  My blood pressure seems to be lowering.  The toning & weight loss is a good thing, but there are other things as well.  There are changes in how my clothes fit, that's a good one.

Both my roomie & I are both noticing some other changes as well.  We've both been noticing new aches & pains coming from the exercise & the changes in our stature.  As we eat less & exercise more, it seems like more & more is wanting to leave the body.  Exercise increases metabolism & food goes through faster.

Just about every aspect of our life is being affected by this decision to exercise.  Buying less &/and different foods.  Finding old standby foods less & less appealing.  Daily activities have been altered to allow for the exercise.  In turn some of the daily things have become easier to handle.   Everything from how we sleep to what we want to eat is being altered by this decision to start moving our asses.  

I wonder what things will be like in next February, when it's been a full year.

Cya...

Short Post Baby Steps...

The post is going to be short today.  It's storming here in Oklahoma & the electricity has flickered once already.   So a short post it is.  

This one is about me & some baby steps I'm taking.  I've mentioned I've been watching my blood pressure for a bit.  I've decided there are some things I can do in my life before resorting to more meds.   I've been slowly changing my diet & adding some physical activity into my life, I refuse to call it by the "E" word.(Exercise)  Weirdly enough, I have this blog to thank somewhat for my choice to engage in this undertaking.

This blog reminded me that I'm a Virgo, dammit.  If I choose to embrace something in my life & not have it forced on me I can get used to just about any regimen.  I have blogged continuously for over 15 months now.  I can make a habit out of any thing, not that that's always such a good thing.

As important as it is for me to choose the new addition(s) in my life, they have to relatively unnoticeable at first.  The diet aspect about this has focused more positive rewards (introducing something good), instead of negative sanctions, (removing something).  I've cut back on the amount of junk food, but not removed it from my diet.  Instead, I have focused on eating much more fruit than I was.  Also, I have tried to make sure that I have a fairly plain, side salad with low cal dressing or vinegar & oil several times a week.  I have been more consistent with my vinegar lately.  Apple Cider Vinegar can work wonders for you, Google it.

Onto the activity part.  In February, I decided I can handle adding 5 minutes of movement to my daily roster.   Everyday, I got up & did a mix of little-kid wiggles, toe-touching, squats, walking in place & any thing else I could do in 5 minutes.  Even that was cause to be sore for the first couple of days, but I kept at it.  In March I added 5 - 8 minutes in the midday.  I'm doing mostly leg lifts, crunches & incline push-ups there.  In April, I added 5 minutes in the late afternoon, this is mostly floor work with reverse leg lifts & leg pumps.  In May I will added another 5 minutes across the board & so on in June, until I am up to 30 minutes a day of physical activity not already part of my daily routine.

I know, 5 minutes a day, woohoo, stop the presses.  I'm really good at the sarcasm & my favorite exercise is the eye-roll.  But I had to start somewhere & I knew if I started with too much, I'd quit in a heartbeat.  Now this physicality is becoming part of my routine.  Hopefully in a few months, it'll pay off.  I'll lose some weight & lower my blood pressure.  Here's to baby steps.  I guess this wasn't such a short post after all.

Cya...