a journey I don't want to end - 179.9

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here it is after mid-March, already. Things health wise are going well. I am following the CG workouts. For Lent I gave up most sugar and alcohol (though I still have wine and the occasional baby Manhattan). We're eating at home more, and I make healthy meals and track my food. We had a super awesome ski weekend in Snowmass, I didn't track a thing but also didn't overeat or drink and I came back exactly the same weight. I am not sure I could do that for a full week, but this is definite progress. Something seems to be clicking with me, this time. Like, I want it [optimum health and fitness] innately and I'm just choosing the healthy behaviors because I know it's the best thing for me. I'm not super focused on the results, I'm more focused on "committing to the chase" of doing the day-to-day work and, well, the results seem to be taking care of themselves. 

So I just listened to a Q&A session on fitness/exercise with Caroline Girvin, during which, she said fitness 'should be a journey you never want to end.' VERY well put. When I start changing a habit, I typically ask myself 'Can I do this for the rest of my life?' and that is a similar concept, but for some reason I really prefer the thought of just making this journey to health be something that I never want to end. I never want to eat fat-free cheese. I cannot do fat free cheese for even a day, let alone the rest of my life. Therefore, fat-free cheese has no part in my journey. 

And further, I want to ski every winter for the rest of my life. Even if I'm 96, I honestly don't want skiing to be outside the realm of possibility. My grandma is 97. She can't move the way she used to, but she still loves a trip to the grocery store or to Bealls to look for new pants or tops. Therefore, she does laps with her walker around the pool deck at my mom's every day (weather cooperating). She does this so that she can still go walk around the store - for her, shopping is the thing she will always do for as long as possible on her journey. I really think that if my grandma were a skier, she could ski the bunny hill today, if that's what she wanted to do. But she doesn't ski, and that's what I want, for me - my journey will ideally include skiing into my 90s, followed by a slopeside adult beverage, of course. 

I also want to be able to walk my dogs every day. I want to eat all the tasty in-season vegetables. I want to COOK the tasty in-season vegetables. I want to eat full-fat cheese, have a cocktail, enjoy a slice of cake (in moderation, of course) - there will be zero forbidden foods or drinks on this journey. I want to be well rested. I want to be there for my DH, my family and my friends, wherever "there" is, even if it's just on Zoom. I want an annual trip with DH and friends to a fun destination, and I want to physically enjoy whatever we decide to do - a ski, a hike, sledding, bike rides, whatever. I want to ride my bike and rollerblade throughout the warm seasons for the rest of my life. I realize I *may* have to give up my rollerblades (pavement is a lot less forgiving than snow) but I will ride a trike if it ever has to come down to that! These are the parts of my journey that I never, ever want to end, these are the reasons why optimum health and fitness are important to me. 

I really do want to have as much fun outside as possible, for as long as possible. Do I want to do the daily workout? Some days, maybe not, but because there's a bigger goal I can tie that workout to, I JUST DO IT. That's where my head is at, these days. I am currently listening to Matthew McConaghy's Greenlights audio book. It's amazing, and probably the fuel for my current mindset. All I know is I have felt great about life in general at times when I was in great physical shape - tennis, rowing, triathlons. If you have your health, you have everything, there is nothing more important. I am happy I am making my mental and physical health a priority right now. That is definitely a journey I do not want to end, so I will just keep my commitment to me. 

Consistency - 181.2

Quitting my job back in December so that I could take back my health and sanity may seem extreme, but really it was just what had to happen. I recognized that I could not adjust how I wanted my life to look, while remaining in the situation I was in. I was unable to incorporate consistent healthy habits in the midst of that environment, so at the end of the day, I chose me over the money. 

January and February were for decompressing and getting back to a healthy routine. Things I am now doing consistently for my health, both physical and mental:

• Tracking calories with the aim to hit my 50%-30%-20% fat-carb-protein ratio
• Following Caroline Girvin's workouts - Epic Beginner complete, Epic 1 started yesterday
• WW job
• House chores
• Calling my mom just to chat at least twice a week
• Seeing friends at least once a week
• Skiing at least once a week

March is for assessing my view of a good life, beyond just good health, and taking steps that are actually in line with that. Plus, I want to continue and BUILD ON the healthy things I've been doing. 

Things I want to be more consistent about:

• Daily dog walks
• Daily declutter (add something small, like a drawer or a cabinet each day)
• Daily stretch or yoga routine

Lent starts tomorrow. I think I can just incorporate those three bullets above into my days for Lent. In addition, I'd like to cut sugar and alcohol on weekdays. So, how will I do all this? 

• Daily dog walks - these can happen at lunch
• Daily declutter - this can happen in the space between breakfast and lunch. Literally this doesn't have to be more than 15 minutes. I can do a single drawer or a single shelf, or if I'm feeling ambitious, a cabinet or closet (more time, but fine!)
• Daily stretch/yoga - ideally this will follow a workout. But I can also carve out some time every day before breakfast. I need to be waking up a bit earlier anyhow, I can start that tomorrow. Wake up and stretch/sun salutations. 

As for cutting the sugar and alcohol, I'll have substitutes on hand (like fruit and dates for the sugar, and diet ginger ale or kombucha as alcohol subs). That is really just a mindfulness thing. I'll probably keep the Friday night bourbon, and some weekend wine or cocktails, but I can be mindful there, too. Realistically I don't want to eliminate sugar and alcohol completely from my life, (hello, maple syrup on weekend waffles!) but I definitely see the benefits of - and have the desire to practice - moderation around them. 

Getting my head straight about consistency for my health really is key for me. I am on my way, there. None of this is extreme. It's really just what I want to become. So now I go DO.

Happy first day of March. :)