You Are What You Eat [Happiness Project Update]
We've all heard the saying that "you are what you eat." For 2012, I am resurrecting my Happiness Project and I've decided not to change the focus of the months that I laid out last year. So, once again, I'm focusing on my health for January.
I took a look at my typical weekly diet and let me tell you... yuck. I was sorely lacking in a balanced, nutritional approach to my eating habits. I was eating whatever, whenever and it was taking its toll. I was tired all the time, couldn't fight off simple colds whatsoever and I was still in maternity clothes (which isn't that big of a deal but I was really missing my "old" wardrobe). All this plus dealing with the ongoing element of grieving and things have been a challenge to say the least.
So I pulled out my goals from last January and reviewed them. Most of them were still valid and I updated them to make sure I'm hitting on my biggest needs for physical, mental and emotional health.
- Develop a healthy eating plan and include the kids. Track our progress. I'm into week two of the new eating plan and we're all doing pretty well on it. There a lot more fruits and vegetables in our daily diet and the variety of foods we are eating that we previously were not has definitely increased. I can feel a definite shift in my overall mood and physical well being and I have also noticed improvements in the kids.
- Get more rest. With a new baby in the house, this can be wishful thinking. Thankfully, my youngest is amazing and has been sleeping through the night for weeks. I'm routinely getting to bed by 10:00 (unless there's a big game on or something) and I'm getting up early to have some quiet time before the kids get going on the day.
- Exercise three times a week (at least). I do have a plan for this, but I've been fighting a cold since the start of the year. Next week I will start my new exercise program whether the cold is here or not.
- Meditate. Since I'm routinely getting up earlier than the kids these days, I've been able to have some quiet meditation time in the mornings. It definitely helps get my head ready for the day.
- Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. I still have a ways to go on this one. I'm typically getting half of that on an average day but I have cut out pop entirely so that's helping.
- Develop a general awareness of my health. Everyday I'm doing a health check-in to see how I'm feeling physically as I focus on my new eating habits. It's keeping me aware of how I am on a daily basis. More to come on this one in a later post.
- Create something every week. I know I've mentioned before that I've gotten back into crafting and my daily time with my knitting or crochet needles is satisfying a need that has been dormant for quite a while.
- Get kids involved in a physical activity. I already have the kids signed up for a physical activity that will start in February. We did really well with this over the past few months and plan to keep it up.
Keep in mind this is not a resolution. This a lifestyle change. I'm already feeling the positive effects and I have to say that I completely agree with the whole "you are what you eat" concept. Have you changed your eating habits? What have the effects been so far?