How often do we find that our priorities need to be reevaluated? For me, it’s quite frequently. And I have recently decided that taking care of my physical well being needs quite a raise in priority level. It’s not a “New Year’s Resolution” fad that will have already failed. Nope. I decided that I was going to take care of myself. From now… on. Does it mean changing some of my favorite activities? Yes. Does it mean changing some of my favorite foods and restaurants? Of course. Are those changes easy? Nope. But here are a few things that I’ve found to be helpful in this strive for a healthier me.
- Accountability. I have an accountability partner that is always ready to make sure I’m doing what I need to be doing to reach my full potential – even if it means telling me NO – DON’T EAT THAT!
- Encouragement. I have a husband who is constantly telling me he is proud of me, and is noticing progress. That makes a huge difference in my outlook. And my kids encourage me too… because they love going to the gym playcare area, and are always asking when it’s time to go to the gym!
- A fabulous program. I’m participating in the 52-day Countdown to your Best Body from Sohailla Digsby. You can find out more information here. But any program that is going to combine diet WITH exercise to help you get to your healthiest self is the most important. It’s not about just eliminating certain things from your diet. It’s about toning your body AND feeding it healthy foods (including liquids!).
- Strong foods. I knew I would need some diet changes… one of which was eating breakfast. I know the research says it’s not healthy for me to skip breakfast… which is what I was doing most days. But how to find a low sugar, high protein solution that was also low calorie?
Right around the same time, I was approached by Chobani again (see my previous Chobani post here.) to see if I’d try a new product and give it a review. Note: I received three free coupons to try the product, and have been promised a reusable tote bag for this blog post, but this is solely my opinion.
So, I tried the Simply 100 yogurt, and it’s wonderful! I added 1/4 cup of my favorite granola to it for that extra crunch I’m used to in their Flips! and I absolutely love it. It’s a great way to start my day, or works fabulous for a strong snack in the afternoon. I have also tried and love their strawberry flavor. You can view more information about the nutrients included, etc, on their website. I’m excited to try their Simply 100 Crunch options soon – if my store will start carrying them!!
Have you recently decided that taking care of yourself needs to be a high priority? I know it can be a challenge to start. There are some days that I really don’t want to go to the gym. There are moments that I really just want to eat junk food. There are times sitting on the bike that I really just want to quit. But then I remember – it’s only myself that I hurt if I do. And I have decided that I have worth. I have meaning. If I ‘m going to continue to be proud of myself, I need to keep going. It’s only today. It’s only tomorrow. It’s only pain. It’s only a food craving. If it means that I will be here and be healthy to watch my kids (and God willing, grandkids) grow up, then that’s all that matters. As someone who lives with an autoimmune disease, I have started to realize that every day is a precious gift and I need to treasure it and treat my body as God’s temple. I need to keep it clean and healthy so that I can reside in it as long as need be!
So if you’re just starting to take care of yourself, I hope that you’ll find yourself an accountability partner who will truly hold your feet to the fire and tell you NO DON’T EAT THAT! I hope that you will find yourself an encourager who will continuously praise you for the progress you are making. I hope that you will find a program that combines diet and exercise into an accomplishable goal. If you’re not sure where to start on this, check and see if a gym near you has a dietician on staff who can work with you to set up a plan to match up your diet AND your exercise! And I hope that you will find smart, healthy foods like the Chobani Simply 100 yogurt to give you a good foundation of health each and every day.
Have questions? Comments? Need encouragement or tips? Please know that I’m not an expert on diet or exercise. I’m just learning. But I’m happy to be an encourager for you in this process, and I can definitely point you toward sources that have been a help to me! I’d love to hear from you, either here on the comments, or over on my Facebook page.
Butterbees and Bumbleflies 
Good for you, Christy! I’m trying to do the same thing on my own which is hard some days since I definitely have a sweet tooth! I’ve been eating a fruit yogurt every morning with my usual granola bar and coffee and trying to eat less at meals avoiding fried foods. I’m up to 5 mins on exercise bike every day for my knee mobility and doing 30 mins of leg stretch that Joanna taught me. Still stiffness and soreness every day but hopefully over time the muscles, ligaments, and vessels will heal back to normal. I’ve had friends tell me it will probably be a year before it feels normal again but I’m able to work and walk and drive so I’m doing o.k.
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