Healthier

While in DC 2 weeks ago- insert comment about missing DC and bemoaning the fact that it has now been 2 weeks- I lost something like 7 pounds in the 4 days that we were there. It was something that blew me away, and inspired me. How did I lose so much weight you ask? We walked 11 miles on Friday and another 5+ on Saturday, according to my friends pedometer. But thats not all, on top of walking I ate foods that were not my norm, I didnt have many "junk" foods and I drank mostly water. Yep, that will make you lose weight.
But then I come home and get back into my normal routine, except man it would be REALLY nice to keep losing weight. SO I started exercising, biking, walking, mucking out the barn. I put on the 5 pounds I had lost and then I lost them again. (I know, I know, its not exactly healthy to be seesawing weight so much, but its only 5 pounds.)
Again, here we are 2 weeks later, and I am still inspired- though decidedly less inspired on rainy days. My weight still cant decide what it wants to be but its not that important. I've decided that I want to be active, happy and healthy- but I dont want to cut out all of my favorite foods. So I have been working really hard at moderation. Last week I did 3 miles worth of something- walking or biking but it was just not really what I wanted to do. Over the weekend I mucked out part of the barn, and thats all fine and good, but I dont want to do that during the week. And then I realized I missed running. Therefore this week, I have ran. I was always more of a sprinter and less of a distance runner but maybe I can train myself to run further- farther?... Anyway, Monday I ran to my old bus stop- a half mile away from the house. I ran the whole way, I was flabbergasted that I could, much less that I did. And then I was ecstatic. Then Tuesday I just wasnt feeling the whole running thing. Wednesday I ran to the bus stop again- and then I ran half way home too. Again, impressing myself. And today, I ran to the bus stop. Who knew I had the stamina for all that running?! But being a reasonable person, I dont want to push myself too injury so I think I may walk tomorrow. See, its all about moderation- even exercising in moderation, because if you push your body too hard you wont want to go out the next day, but if you dont push enough you might get bored.
Being healthy isnt just about exercising though, is it? Its a combination of exercising and providing your body with the right fuel. And if you know me at all, you know I love sodas, but sometime towards the end of lint I decided no sodas during the week, but I could have them during the weekend. And that worked, for a while. Now, though, I am allowed a soda occasionally. It can be during the week- like Wednesday, I was really craving a Dr. Pepper from McDonalds, so I got one. When I gave up sodas I started drinking a lot of sweet tea- a lot. Well, thats not exactly MUCH better than sodas. So now, my general rule is to drink water over the course of the day and have something different with lunch- so tea or soda or whatever and yes I am allowed to cheat occasionally. I am even starting to enjoy the tastelessness that is water- who would have ever thought?! That explains my drinking habits but not my eating habits.
Food= fuel. But not all food is GOOD fuel. No, I am not perfect, I ate a milky way as I walked out the door for my run yesterday, but I am getting better. Breakfast- I eat cereal. I get bored with sticking to the same cereal all the time though, so I switch up the cereals as I go along and I am allowed any cereal. Lunch- I try to eat fairly healthy, but sometimes I splurge. Like today, I went to Mr. Gatti's and had some ridiculous amount of pizza and it was SO FREAKIN good. And then for dinner I had a pear and a greek yogurt. So you see, I have small-ish breakfasts and dinners and then lunch is kind of whatever.
Is it working? I dont know yet, I figure really, it ought to be a gradual weight loss.
Will I stick to this plan like a dairy farmer milks his cows? Hell no. I am human, I want to be healthy, but sometimes not being healthy is so freakin fun. I am not going to have my life run by my goal weight and how far away I am- that ISNT healthy. I am however, hoping that little changes can become habits and that overall I will be a healthier person because of those little changes.