Wellness Wednesday – Week 2.

Last week I started a weekly feature here about my journey toward better health.  I affectionately called it Status of the Fat Ass.  I offered up a cookie to someone who could give it a better name and I’m going to go with Carinn’s suggestion of Wellness Wednesday.  Carinn, what’s your poison? Chocolate chip?  Oatmeal raisin?

I mentioned last week that I was certain I had come down with the stomach virus my son was just getting over.  Turns out I was right, and today is my first normal food day in a week.  I haven’t had an illness like that in 25 years and I really hope that doesn’t happen again any time soon.

I still managed to walk on three separate days (once twice).  I also spent Saturday and Sunday running around my house for various cleaning projects.  A smarter woman probably would have rested, but unless I’m dying, I generally don’t give in to illness.  I’m stubborn that way.

The upside of this virus is that I am down 5 pounds.  Sure I lost them in the most unhealthy way possible and I certainly don’t advocate not eating for a week as a way to lose weight, but if I had to get a virus, losing a little bloat was a nice perk.

The downside of this virus is that I’m still feeling dehydrated.  I’m not great about drinking water, so when my stomach rejects everything I put into it, even the little bit I did manage to drink, um, evacuated promptly.  Monday night my eyes were feeling particularly dry, something I battle even on the best of days, and in trying to remove my contact it actually stuck to my eye and ripped in half.  So I’m *trying* to drink more water now.

I had casually set a goal of walking/running 100 miles in 2013, but I had only really mentioned it to a few friends.  I decided to go public with it here.  After today’s 2 miler, my total to date is 57.03 miles.  I think I’m still on track to make it to 100 miles, so I’m pleased with that.

I’m not setting a weight loss goal other than to eventually get to a healthy weight.  My thinking here is that if I set better eating goals and goals for exercise, I will lose weight by default.  Also, I know losing 1-2 pounds per week is healthy and the thought of not hitting a healthy weight for almost a year is a bit overwhelming.  I’m going to focus on healthy habits and let the weight take care of itself.

Part of having a healthy lifestyle is to have a healthy mind.  I’m trying not to go overboard, trying not to get discouraged by the long road ahead of me, and trying not to think about about the fact that the changes I need to make are forever changes, not short-term.  There will be setbacks, slip ups, days where I make poor choices, and many other obstacles.  My hope is that I treat them as obstacles and not complete blocks.  I’d like to learn from them and make better choices in the future.

This past week hasn’t been a good indicator of how I’m doing.  That’s life, I guess.  Hopefully this week will give me more opportunities to practice some healthy habits.

Have you made little changes that have added up in big ways? Share them with the class!

10 thoughts on “Wellness Wednesday – Week 2.

  1. Gina

    Your attitude is fantastic! Pursuing your eating and fitness goals definitely equals the results you want. You will definitely make your 100 miles! I am a huge believer in hydration and that’s coming from a camel. I started back to my “Sassy Water” on Monday and I already feel better and notice the reduction in bloat. In the old days we used to (jokingly) call a stomach virus a diet.

    Sassy Water
    1 med. cucumber sliced
    1 lemon sliced
    12-15 torn mint leaves
    Couple teaspoons fresh grated ginger
    Put in a2qt. pitcher and fill with water. It’s better made the night ahead but I make it sometime in the morning then drink all day. It makes me drink. A LOT! And each ingredient has it’s purpose.

  2. Samantha Brinn Merel

    I love the idea of no weight-loss goal. I did Weight Watchers for a really long time, but once I found myself trying to “cheat” the scale by not eating or drinking anything before weigh-in, wearing the same thing every week, or being really careful what I ate the day before, I cancelled my membership. Caring about the number on the scale made me completely crazy, and started really messing with my head. Once I stopped weighing myself and tried to focus on just being healthy I was so much happier. It’s still a struggle every single day when I want to attack an entire box of Cheese-Its, but I think that it’s a struggle that’s worth it for me and for my family. Wishing you lots of luck beautiful girl!

    1. Michelle Longo

      I haven’t quite gotten past weighing myself. I keep saying when I’m consistent about the good behavior I won’t, but I am trying to stick to once a week only. That’s hard enough!

  3. 50Peach

    So proud of you, my friend! You are on the right path, with an amazing mindset. It truly is a battle against your mind and not (always) your body. I’m especially excited about your 100miles/yr and happy that you put it out there. Keep chipping away at it, it will happen! Lastly, one small change that yields big results? No eating after 7:30-8pm. Promise. Lastly, I have your back all the way! xox

    1. Michelle Longo

      Thanks Peach! The late night eating is so hard because we don’t often sit down to dinner until 8pm just because of our schedules. And since I’m asleep between 9-10, it’s not a good combo. I try not to eat dessert after dinner if I can though and at least that’s something. I need to move up that dinner time. I think that would help a lot.

  4. Stacie

    I agree 100% that it’s not about the scale. If you eat right and move your body, you will drop weight. Feeling how your clothes fit will be enough. If you do strength training, which I firmly believe is the best way to get in shape, you may or may not lose weight in the beginning b/c muscle weighs more than fat. I did strength training for 7 months, without losing weight and then a few pounds came off. But before that, I felt better and my clothes felt better. I say toss the scale. It’s how you feel!

    1. Michelle Longo

      I definitely feel better when I have healthier habits, so that’s what I’m trying for. It’s tough though, because instant gratification and rapid weight loss are so much more alluring. I really wish there was a quick fix. Or that I didn’t love food so much, that would help too.

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