April and Resolutions

Meet  Brutus.  This small dog will be a major part of my 2016 fitness  program.  Brutus has allergies, to nearly everything!    We have had allergy testing.  Fortunately Brutus is not allergic to the cats.  He is allergic to the most common ingredients in dogfood, grass, weeds, trees, flees, and those invisable to the eye mites.  I can’t control all of these things, but I have spent time the past few days cleaning, vacuuming  (with filters),and moving out as many of the offending  materials as possible.  Keeping this dog happy and healthy is going to be a lot of work.

All of this activity fits in nicely with my New Year’s goal of loosing weight and getting more active.   Normally I am a passable housekeeper, now I need to upgrade my efforts to a higher level.  Allergies and dust do not make for a happy, healthy pup.

Like most people, I start off strong with my weight loss resolutions, renew my efforts just before swimsuit season, and again in September when the start of school has been seems like a time for beginnings for many of us.  Now here we are in 2016 and I am nearly as big as I have ever been.  There are reasons galore  (excuses? ).  I’ve been sick, have some joints going bad, I was grieving the loss of my parents, and distressed over the state of the world.

Throughout the month of December I began recording everything I ate.  Just this one act made me aware of  how much I really eat, and why I eat.  With this knowledge fresh in  mind I have a plan.

1. My meals will be healthy and delicious.  I am to old to feel deprived.  None of us should be deprived.
2. I will eat a healthy dessert.   Some say a healthy dessert is impossible, but I  disagree.  Life is just better with dessert,  and I will not be  deprived.
3. I will continue to use my meal planning app to make sure I stay on track.
4. I will be more active, thanks to Brutus, and the YMCA and the women in  my water aerobics class.  As I get stronger, I’ll explore the Y and see what else is fun to do.
5. I will take every opportunity to go out to eat with others, making my friends the focus of the meal.
6. I  will be prepared for those times that could be a set back.  Those times when I am traveling, sick, of face with unexpected temptation.
7. I will use my time to write, sew, camp, and find other activities to add enjoyment to my life.

Sure I have tried to do all of this stuff, but I get lazy, careless, and let my old habits take over.  I have come to realize that consistency is the most important skill I need to develop.  Like most of you, I have been on enough diets to know what works, but have been derailed by the exceptions.  I have come to realize that there are no exceptions for my health.  If I want something, I will fit it in.  I will not deprive myself, but the thing I want most is my health.

If I missed anything I need to keep in focus let me know.  If you would like to be kept in the loop on my progress let me know.