Week 11 of the 52 changes

I just realized that it has been 2 weeks since I posted on my progress. Eeegads!  It's been a busy few weeks, and the changes from the past two weeks (and this week's change, as well) are ones I have already been doing for a while.

Week 9 was Enjoy Time Alone.  This one's easy.  I live alone (for the next few months, anyways, but that's another blog post to come soon).  I am a very social person by nature, and I used to fight against the solitude and work to fill every minute with people and activity.  A few years ago, I decided to spend some time alone, on purpose, and I learned quickly how centering having quality self-time can be.

Week 10 was Stretch for 20 minutes, three times a day.  I already stretch 15 minutes, twice a day, in the morning and at night.  So, this one was easy, too. :)

Now we are on to week 11 already.  I can hardly believe we are already almost 3 months in to the project!  I hope your progress has been as positive as mine.  I feel better, I sleep through the night (well, most nights; I'd say 9 of 10), I have more energy and I feel like I am more productive in both my professional and personal life.

Week 11 is one that I already do, as well.  The change is ~ Learn to read the Ingredients List and the Nutrition Facts box on packages.  I've been doing this for a few years now, and recently have amped it up even more.  No high fructose corn syrup, no trans-fats, no artificial sweeteners, short ingredient lists, nothing I can't identify.  Since I had my high-cholesterol diagnosis in January (which set off this whole  plan), I watch very carefully for fat content (especially saturated fats) and sugars.  I also try to keep the whole grains high and the refined anything low.

Keep up the good work. Next week, we learn to breath....
Thanks for listening!

Week 8 ~ A rainbow of vegetables

Progress is being made, changes are settling into routine. I'm finding myself readily drinking lots of water, taking my vitamin, sleeping through the night and thinking positive thoughts on a daily basis. The food diary is second nature, I move around a lot during my routine day and I am even remembering to take my shoes off (well, most of the time).

This week is another near gimme for me. The change is to eat 4-6 vegetables a day, which I already do on a fairly regular basis and have for a long time. I eat a salad at least once a day, either for lunch or dinner; I snack on cucumbers and carrots and other crunchy veggies. I pack the vegetables into my wraps and sandwiches; I make soups and stews chock full of different vegetables.

I do find myself slipping into different ruts with my meals, though, eating the same foods over and over and over.... So I will do the extra credit in the chapter and challenge myself to eat from all of the colors of the produce section. I will say that since starting this healthy eating lifestyle, grocery shopping has gotten a lot more fun.

More changes are on the horizon; stay tuned.... :)

I hope you all are doing as well as I am in this 52 week challenge.

Thanks for listening!

Week 7 of 52 Small Changes ~ Keep the outside out

Allergies have been a bane of my existence for as long as I can remember, mainly hay fever and outdoor allergies. Sneezing, headaches, asthma, sinus, and so on and so forth. So this week's change fits in with my needs very well.

Change 6 ~ Create a transition space to keep the outdoors out.

This is, however, much easier said than done for a small-apartment dweller with a dog. I do try to remember to take my shoes off when I come in the house. I'm not always successful, but I'm getting better. I have a shoe bench and small rug by the front door, so I do have a place to leave shoes when I get home. However, I have about 35 pair of shoes, so I can't keep them all by the front door. I have a small apartment with no real entranceway, just a front door that opens into my living room. Luckily I like barefoot best, so as the weather gets warmer, this one gets easier and easier.

So, I'll keep on trying, and keep on vacuuming, and look forward to the day when I have a place with a bigger entranceway with shelves for all of my shoes. :)

Thanks for listening.