As you may have noticed, I haven’t been around lately. It’s been a challenging couple of weeks, as I discussed before, and just when I thought I’d get back on my feet, I was hit with a stomach bug. Sunday through Wednesday saw me doubled up in pain – alongside my husband. And the kids have been sick too!
Now that the kids are settling into school and adapting to the changes (a record in timing, I admit), it’s time for me to get back on track.
And while most people look at January as a brand new start, for ME the new year starts now.
My first order of business is to get clean – let me explain.
After 3 painful days of not eating (and seriously now wanting to), my system was empty and, believe it or not, that was a good thing. I felt pain, but also “cleansed.” On Saturday night, I was finally better and we went to a family party for my cousin. The party was catered but it wasn’t what I’m used to eating: GMO-free food, grass-fed beef, no gluten or dairy or soy, etc. It was good food – on the palette but my body rejected it. Maybe it was because I was still sick, but I get the feeling that’s not it. I think my body was TICKED OFF at me that I had put that unnatural stuff in my newly cleaned system.
So now I have some goals and they’ve been a long time coming. I’m going to take it a WEE bit easy on myself this week and see how many I can accomplish in a reasonable time frame. In 6 weeks, it’ll be my 49th birthday – as good a goal as any, right?
Feeling Better Goals For The Next 6 Weeks
WEEK 1: ALCOHOL OUT / DETOX SMOOTHIES IN
I’ve actually already started this. I had sips of beer and wine at the party only because I can’t drink soda and didn’t find anything else to drink! But I’m done. It’s all sugar anyway, and in allergy season, that glass of wine during “Outlander” is not helping my sinuses. In fact, I may even give it up for date night, even if we go to the Celtic Festival. Maybe.
I can replace it with detox smoothies. Today, I did a “Whatever’s in My Fridge” smoothie that came out AWESOME. I NEEDED protein today (didn’t work out for breakfast) and I’m low on fruit and don’t’ want to overdo sugar, so this is a way to detox with what I need RIGHT NOW. I just learned that Silk has teamed up with fitness instructor Mandy Ingbar – and you can check out Mandy’s fridge for smoothie recipes and more! The Strawberry Fields is close to my own mix. Sign up with Silk for coupons and to participate in their brand new monthly giveaways.
WHATEVER’S IN MY FRIDGE SMOOTHIE
Ingredients (use organic if possible):
1 cup Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk
1/2 frozen banana
2-4 frozen strawberries
2-4 red seedless grapes
I/4 cup pineapple chunks
2-4 tablespoons pineapple juice (I use fresh from my cut pineapple)
1.5 teaspoons flax seeds or meal
1 large kale leaf (pick the leaf off the spine)
1 heaping tablespoon Sunbutter
Blend until done or use the “smoothie” button. This is one of the most delicious smoothies I’ve ever made. Remember to use coupons for products like Silk (you can sign up to get them!)
WEEK 2: STIR IN WORKOUTS
I’ve been WAY too sedentary but if I jump in with a hardcore workout, I keel over. I learned that if you want to do High Impact Interval Training – the only one that gets you REALLY fit – you need to do a month of cardio first. I’m presuming they meant 6-7 days a week. So it’ll be a slow start but I’ve got the working Wii U (again) and can manage to pull in the cardio slowly.
WEEK 3: SUGAR DETOX
Yea, been postponing this one, but it’s NOT as hard as I think, I know that! That doesn’t mean no sweets at all. There’s also a sugar detox cookbook I’ve been meaning to review. I have a friend who wanted to do it together and then started THAT DAY. No, no, no, mama needs prep for this! Plus, Zoe’s birthday party is next week and I know I’ll be eating sweets. SIGH.
WEEK 4: START WALKING
Now that the weather is nice, it’s time to get out. It’s kind of boring around here, BUT I’m afraid of getting lost too. Maybe I’ll find a nearby park. I could hike up by the mountain but a little scared to do that alone. Ok, I have 4 weeks to plan it so I can get it right! Oh, I know, my friend runs, I’ll ask where she goes.
WEEK 5: RAMP UP TO REGULAR WORKOUTS
By this point, I’d like to be doing 5 days of working out regularly, walking and cardio at least. I have little weights so I can do some strength training. Arm workouts are easy for me, even when they hurt because the results are fast. I hope I can add the weights before then but maybe I can size up some larger dumbbells than just the 5lb.
WEEK 6: DOCTOR VISIT
I know this should be first but I’m waiting for health care. Or perhaps I can save up. Either way, I just got a decent doctor recommendation – not a functional medicine doc, which is what I really want, but someone who can get me off the coumadin and onto the blood thinner I don’t need lab work for. And who can monitor my thyroid, which I’ll be attempting to heal with food – that’ll be my New Year’s goal along with menopause care.
REWARD
Well, it’s my birthday, so why not? I very definitely want a pricy pair of jeans, you know the kind. Not the date night kind, the everyday kind that fit like skin, that I can dress up or down, wear with sneakers or boots or flats or sandals, the kind I haven’t had in a long time. That means we’re probably looking at an $80 visit to Lucky Jeans (I hope!). I’d also like better fitting sneakers. Mine are ok, but a little tight and they are summer ones – with air holes – so I need a winter pair. And, budget willing, some more workout gear.
That’s my Health & Fitness plan for this new school year. Off to make that smoothie!
