My Journey With Health And Fitness – Time To Move Forward And Fix The Damage

My apologies for anyone who has been looking for posts over the past several weeks. I got a little too wrapped up in things in Mexico which really means I was having too good of a time. We actually had 2 sets of guests come stay with us and we did a lot of going out. Sometimes it was for touring and others for food and beverages. We actually ate out far more than we ever have at the condo and my tight clothing is showing it.

But I have to admit, I have been doing some damage to my health and fitness for a while now. It’s been going on for 8 months, since the day my brother died in my arms. Don’t get me wrong, I still exercise pretty much every day but not as much as I used to. As well, I have gone back to some bad eating habits and that is definitely showing. And finally, I have been drinking far too much alcohol over the past 8 months and I am now really not comfortable with it.

While we were in Mexico I did a lot of reflection on all of this and decided it was time to move forward and fix the damage I have done. Don’t get me wrong, it does not mean that I can somehow just walk away from my from my grief, that is not in any way possible. I know because yesterday marked 8 months since we lost my brother and I still feel as destroyed as I did when it happened. I think it has more to do with moving forward with the grief just part of my life and maybe it always will be.

What I really had to decide is do I want to keep living the way I have been and I realized the answer is an emphatic no. I promised myself I would never become obese again yet if I keep doing what I am doing that is exactly what will happen. I promised myself I would keep my diabetes in remission for as long as possible but I fear if I don’t make some drastic changes that it will be back soon. I want to be back to being comfortable with my body and having control over what I am doing hence it is time to fix the damage.

Now, what am I going to do about it. First of all I need to go back to setting goals. By that I mean for exercise, food and alcohol. I’m going out of town tomorrow until Friday and this will be the first challenge for me. I am at an event at a resort hotel, the weather is going to be really cold and on top of that I have developed plantar fasciitis. But, my goal is to do an hour swim or walk everyday. Food is definitely going to be tough but the plan is to be really conscious of my carbs, focus on fruits and veg and keep my meals small. Oh, and stay away from my kryptonite, the Hawkins Cheezies that will be in the facilitator’s lounge.

That leaves alcohol. I really am concerned about how much of a crutch it has really been to me. It will be easy to cut back this coming week because I will be facilitating a course so I have to set the right standard of behaviour. But I don’t want to come home and slip back into the same rut I’ve been in. Instead I have set a goal that no alcohol (with the exception of March 17th but even then I will limit it to 2 Guinness) from February 15th until I return to Mexico on April 2nd. Even then I want far more dry days while I am there unlike this last trip.

How am I going to do this? I’m going to do what I did at the beginning of this journey, I am going to be selfish and focus on me and not the distractions around me. I’ve done this before and I can do it again because I want to be fit and healthy. Oh, and I know I have my biggest champion looking down on me encouraging me to move forward.