So, the new approach to home-keeping has been glorious. My house is actually cleaner, because cleaning doesn’t seem so daunting since I’ve simplified things in a way that works for me (such as keeping an entire set of cleaning products in each bathroom because I’m willing to do a quick scrub-down if everything is already there – not so much if I have to haul things from room to room).
This week, I’m focusing on the next value. Which is:
I value health.
Health. Not thinness. Not a certain size. Health, the kind that occurs in both body and mind, because I happen to have both. So, here’s how I plan to pursue it in a way that’s meaningful to me.
1. Eschew all food rules other than “eat what you want when hungry and stop when it no longer tastes good or you are otherwise satisfied.” I’ve screwed around with my eating quite a lot in the past 10 or so years. I’ve tried all kinds of diets, I’ve counted calories, I’ve made up my own random food rules. And yet, the only thing that makes me feel sane, healthy, and keeps my weight from wildly fluctuating is paying attention to appetite and then eating whatever I want. Trying to “control” my food choices ultimately makes me eat more than I do if I just relax and trust my appetite.
2. Get lots of exercise. I may think I hate working out a lot, but I hate how I feel more when I don’t. I need lots of activity to stay centered and, let’s be honest, I like how I look when I have decent muscle tone. It doesn’t have to be hours and hours each day, but I need my sweat – “chasing after a toddler” just doesn’t get the job done and I’m fooling myself when I pretend it does.
3. Trust my own body. Yeah, that’s pretty hard for me, but as I get older and more comfortable with myself, I’m learning there is wisdom to be had there if I only listen for it. More than one drink, and I feel dehydrated and regretful the next day. Too much running without stretching (I know! Why do I never stretch???), and my knee starts to ache. Too much weight loss, and I look 15 years older and get dizzy when I stand up. It’s hard to change behaviors that may feel good or be easier or seem desirable, but if I’m willing to notice, my body tells me how I can feel my best. I don’t just live in my head, after all – how I function in the world is often a direct result of how I *feel*. Gotta remember that.
I can’t give my best to my kid, my husband, my family, my world, unless I’m taking good care of myself. I want my boy to see that health is about how we treat ourselves, not how we look. He deserves that. So do I.
Yay for a a healthy relationship with food and exercise. I am inspired! My 2.5 year-old is my trainer these days — begging to do exercise videos. It’s more effective than I might have imagined.