Since living healthy is a hot topic at the beginning of the year, I thought we’d talk about it on Fridays this month.
I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. Though they’re appealing in that they bring a fresh start to the year, I failed at following through so many years in a row that I gave up.
I made resolutions like:
- I resolve go to the gym 4 times a week and be there as soon as it opens. I’ll take insanely hard cardio classes and my body will look like the models on the cover of Shape Magazine.
- I resolve to run a marathon this year.
- I resolve to give up dessert once and for all.
- I resolve to follow a strict diet (whatever the diet happened to be at the time) and will not eat one thing off the plan.
Of course, I was doomed. If I would have been honest with myself at the time, my resolutions would have looked more like this:
- I resolve go to the gym which I can’t afford 4 times a week and be there as soon as it opens even though this requires me to get up at 4 a.m., drive 30 minutes there, 30 minutes back, and adds 2 1/2 hours to my day which, quite frankly, I don’t have to begin with. I’ll take insanely hard cardio classes so that everyone will be wowed by my determination and skill (though my coordination stinks) and my body will look like the models on the cover of Shape Magazine once I grow another 5 inches and somehow find a away to elongate my naturally short waist and flatten my stomach which has never been flat.
- I resolve to run a marathon this year though I don’t have time to devote to such an endeavor, and even if I did every time I try to run my knees ache so bad it hurts to walk. Still, I will do it because that’s what people who are in shape do. And, once again, I’ll impress everyone.
- I resolve to give up dessert once and for all though a dessert is not the problem, it’s that I eat huge portions, and lots of them too. Of course, I’ll never admit this, not even to myself.
- I resolve to follow a strict diet (whatever the diet happened to be at the time) and will not eat one thing off the plan even if it means I’m only eating two food groups a day and I feel like crap. I won’t be able to share a meal with my friends or family, which will keep me isolated. But maybe, finally, I’ll be thin.
Instead of making resolutions, I’ve decided that living well all year long is more important. Notice I didn’t say ‘living perfectly.’
What does that mean to me?
First, it means eating healthy every day. That means regular balanced meals with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. My body is happiest with three meals and two snacks.
I try my best not to get too hungry, which is why the snacks are so important. If I’m going to be out and about I bring along a piece of fruit and some nuts or even a small cottage cheese and fruit salad so my appetite isn’t ravenous when I get home.
When I eat well every day, it’s not a problem when my diet isn’t perfect. A few extra Christmas cookies and a handful of extravagant meals don’t throw me into a tailspin. I don’t have to do any insane starvation plan or weird two-food-groups-only diet to try and repair the damage I’ve done.
I know, it’s nothing to write home about. I can’t tweet about my New Year’s Two Week Get-In-Shape Plan and I can’t wow you with some wild new diet that’s going to eliminate obesity forever.
It’s just good, simple living that brings balance and harmony to my life. And it works for me, one day at a time.
What are you doing that works for you?
Next week, I’ll share my thoughts on exercise (though I don’t love it) and what’s worked for me over the years. Before the month is up, I’ll share some of my ‘secrets’ on staying thin and we’ll chat about doing this thing one day at a time.
p.s. liked KIND bars & SSGF on FB
Gluten Free Diva
posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:29 am
Amy – if I had to write a post about this topic, I couldn’t have done it any better or more succinct or articulate than you. This is right on the money. I learned long ago not to make resolutions that were too out of reach (and out of touch with my reality). The best we can do is to try and live well without giving ourselves the pressure of doing it perfectly. The only thing I want to attach perfect to is being the best human being that I can be, caring about others and continuing to make the world a better place. Thank you for your wonderful post!
[Reply]
carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com
posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:44 am
Lovely Amy, I agree on the “no resolutions” thing. I have goals, but they are not restrictive & hurtful if I don’t meet them. Overall general health is my main goal this year!
[Reply]
Linda
posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:33 am
You speak the truth for all of us – all of us who are willing to face the truth. That’s the rub.
Blessings to you for passing along such wisdom.
[Reply]
Johanna B @ Gluten-Free Kansas
posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:44 am
I love this post. It’s so true. Much more important to live healthy all year long than to give one big push in January.
[Reply]
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:00 pm
This is a great post Amy, although I must admit I am a resolution maker. But to be fair, I only make resolutions to do things I know I am capable of. See for me, I am a list person, and if I don’t write things down, or share my goals with others, I will get lazy and not do anything. For me, resolutions are a strong motivator, and they work for me. But I totally get why a lot of people don’t do them.
[Reply]
Iris
posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Nice post, Amy. I wanted to write something similar, but couldn’t quite find the words. You found them for me!
[Reply]
Miz Helen
posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Miz Amy,
Thank you for keeping us aware that healthy living is a daily life style and that 3 meals and 2 little snacks are important. Thanks for the gentle nudge…
Hugs!
[Reply]
Glutenista Gluten-Free
posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Love it! Making the choice to live healthier every day is a great thing to strive for. {mental note: must work on ice cream indulgence}
I’ve had the same resolution every year since managing a big team in a high-stress environment a few years back: Pick My ‘Tude! Every day we’re presented with opportunities to either embrace or dismiss, complain about or improve. Whenever I’m in a challenging situation, whether it be personal or business, I always strive to look at the positive & what CAN be done, not what can’t. Having it as a resolution holds me accountable & I’ve done it long enough that now my mind self-corrects automatically
[Reply]
Hallie @ Daily Bites
posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:10 pm
You are so right. I’m with you on not making resolutions I can’t keep. Instead, I try to set realistic goals that I know I can achieve so that I when I do actually achieve them, they are confidence boosters…not downers! I look forward to more healthy living discussion on Fridays. It’s great to have a supportive community for healthy living, isn’t it?
[Reply]
Renee @ Beyond Rice and Tofu
posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I hear ya! I don’t make resolutions either. And I think we all need to know our limits! Most people’s resolutions are unreasonable for them and a huge leap for them mentally and physically. Small steps are better and making healthy habits year-round!
I am also interested in your exercise post as I don’t enjoy exercise and I am always looking. Walking and yoga is about all I do.
[Reply]
Julie Bates
posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I love your attitude Amy!
[Reply]
Jeanie
posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:27 pm
I love this Amy! That’s right, it’s all about a lifestyle change!
It’s about having a balanced life!
Thanks for your post~!
[Reply]
Lisa B
posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:55 pm
I don’t make resolutions either. This is not to say that I don’t have goals for self-improvement. It’s just that something about the cultural expectation for the “big-deal-ness” of a New Year’s Resolution dooms it to fail. Have you ever heard someone make a New Year’s Resolution that said “I’m going to keep a food log for six weeks, then evaluate whether it is working for me”? Of course not, it doesn’t fit the cultural expectation of how big the change should be.
But I think that’s the kind of goal that works for me. 1) it’s based on a behavior, not a result. it doesn’t say “lose 10 lbs.,” it says “do a behavior that is likely to lead to weight loss.” 2) it has a specific and reasonable time frame. 3) if it doesn’t work, there’s a commitment to try something different– maybe try a different food logging system, or try something else.
Another thing that works for me is to remember the 80% rule. If anyone does the new thing about 80% of the time, results will happen. No one can immediately change and do the new thing 100% of the time- that’s a recipe for failure– and for me, it will lead to feeling bad about myself because I “failed.” When I shoot for 80%, change is sustainable.
[Reply]
Marcia
posted on January 7, 2011 at 6:24 pm
You are so wonderful! Your authentic nature makes me humble and realize how silly people can be. You somehow can make people see reality in their life, versus being overrun by media driven ideas and concepts that do not fit anyones life. THANK YOU for being YOU! It helps me be me!
[Reply]
Maggie
posted on January 7, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I am so thankful for all of these honest posts coming from such great bloggers. Thanks Amy, for saying something that most of us can relate to. I am with you 100 percent. You know what I’m doing that works for me (thanks to you), not eating refined sugar wherever possible. And I feel SO MUCH BETTER! I am going to continue to watch my intake and find better ways to sweeten my cooking and baking. Can’t wait to see what next Friday brings! xo
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 6:26 am
@Maggie, It’s a two way street with us. You come up ways to make food delicious that I’d never thing of. Hugs.
[Reply]
Ricki
posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I had to laugh at those expanded resolutions–haven’t we all been there? I’ve stopped making resolutions, too, though I do jot down my goals once a year (not always at the new year). I love your approach–so sane and even tempered–that is what so many people who make resolutions that don’t work actually need!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 6:22 am
@Ricki, I have goals too, however I find that I make a palm, start working towared it and often my path changes for the better. So I’m flexible too.
[Reply]
Jenny R
posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:36 pm
I AM WOWED. I get so sick of people making unrealistic goals and then feeling like failures all because a New Year is coming along. I am not saying one shouldn’t have goals but be honest with yourself and make them when you are truly ready to follow through and YOU WILL!!!!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 6:35 am
@Jenny R, Your comment made me wonder why all of these big New Year’s resolutions happen, and at least for me I know I wanted to change. I just didn’t know how. So, instead of focusing on what I could change I tried to change the impossible. Failure was the result. I couldn’t agree more – the change has to be realistic and whomever is making the change has to be ready and committed.
[Reply]
Kelly- 18 Hour Kitchen
posted on January 8, 2011 at 6:49 am
Amy, your post was right on!!! How true that we are so vain a society that we put all this pressure on ourselves… all to impress others. How about we just accept ourselves for who we are, live a healthy life so that we have the best quality of life… then we can take the focus off ourselves and really make a difference in the world.
Here’s to living healthy lives in 2011!
[Reply]
Andrea
posted on January 8, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I, too, do not make resolutions anymore…I find it easier to try to live clean all year long as well. I am a bit of a perfectionist so it’s a bit exhausting sometimes but as I get older I am learning to relax a bit. Everything I eat is gluten, soy, mostly grain and refined sugar free and as long as I stay within those guidelines I feel successful…even with the occasional “over-indulgence” in a healthy treat (i.e. Amy’s perfect healthier, scoopable vanilla bean ice cream!!!). Life is a process…you just have to keep pushing through and do the best you can!
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Clarification…mostly grain but ALL refined sugar free…
)
[Reply]
Alta
posted on January 10, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I love this. I have only made resolutions more recently, but they are really more goals than resolutions. As far as personal goals for health – I just cant make those because January roll a around. I have to feel the need for a change…and ive learned now that the change has to be doable and not drastic. I change one thing at a time. Right now, I’m focusing again on more whole foods (all that holiday baking has my body feeling less than awesome) and incorporating more raw food into my diet. This is doable! I can’t wait until your next post on this.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
January 10th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@Alta, So sane and logical, Alta. I love it…I think your kind of wisdom is often overlooked and people instead gravitate to the “loose 10 pounds in a week!” headline. There really are no quick fixes. And, yes, doable is the way to go!
Hugs,
Amy
[Reply]