Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Reflections, NOT Resolutions!

We all know what happens to resolutions this time of year, so instead of lining up those things that will ultimately make me feel bad when I fail, I've decided to reflect on the past year, and ponder the coming year in a more positive manner.

In March, after a wonderful trip to Phoenix, The Perfect Child and I decided to embark on a new, and healthier lifestyle. Hubby Dearest came along for the ride. :) A modicum of success was achieved on my part....I began this blog. The Perfect Child's blog kinda fell by the wayside, but her efforts at being healthier did not. After eating my way thru every Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, I also decided it was time to lose some weight as well as regain my health. Initially I lost 16.4 pounds!! After sending out a search party in the last month or so, I found almost all of those pounds again. DAMN!!! I am down about 2.2#, which, if I really look at the positive side of this, is not a total bust. At least I still have a small loss to form the base of my new program.

According to my Dr., even with a weight re-gain, I have, in fact, improved many factors regarding my health. That's a positive for sure, but I know I can improve even further. Another trip to another Dr. (ortho guy) reaffirmed what I already knew. My remaining original equipment knee is shelled and is going to have to be replaced. No big surprise. However, what I did learn, is that cortisone (or any steroid) will raise blood sugar! Well, color me shocked. In spite of that, my blood sugar levels went down, and all is well on that front. After spending a good deal of time on my feet over the holidays, I now have a knee that is swollen to the size of a volleyball and is stiff as a board. I'm thinking an excess of sodium (and alcohol) might also have played a part in this little "problem", so I'm drinking gallons of water to begin the flushing of my system. I have learned a little something along this journey. :) Exercise is a key, but I will have to sort out those exercises that I can do safely, and not stress my knee any further.

I NEED to journal my foods. Even when I think I'm just so damned smart I don't need to keep track anymore, I find myself back in trouble. I know, I know, everyone will agree that a food diary will help more than almost any other thing one does, but for whatever reason, there was a time (recently) that I thought I had it all organized in my head and no longer needed the paper "crutch". Reflecting.....I was wrong. So I pulled out the food diary today, and am back in the fold. The lost sheep had been found.

Soooooooo, reflecting on the past year has made me realize several things. I really do like blogging, and communicating with other bloggers. I do need to journal my foods. I do need to try and do the exercises that I am able to do. I want to continue to incorporate healthy choices into our everyday living. We've been doing pretty well in that department, so I want to keep at it, refine it, and make it a healthy habit. None of these reflections are meant to be resolutions, so therefore I cannot break them......as I usually do. :)

In closing this particular blog entry, I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy New Year.
Happy 2010!!!!

11 comments:

  1. I started my food diary up again too! Its really such a great tool... so easy to be more mindful of what is going in when I have to write it down!

    :)

    Happy new year to you as well, and thank you for all your support! You are a rock start!

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  2. I'm a food-logger type person, too!

    Good news about the health improvements! With that to build on, there's no telling what you can accomplish in 2010!

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  3. I am with you on the food journal, I haven't done so over the past few weeks but the New
    Year will see me keeping tabs on everything I eat once again.

    We need to fing a rythym we can fell into together and keep each other company for 2010, what do you think?

    I have a good feeling about the coming year and reaching places I have only dreamt of before, are you coming with me?

    Hugs

    Sheilagh

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  4. I have definitely got to get back into better journaling!!
    We are all going to have a great 2010 :)

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  5. I'm with you - I have just got to get back to keeping track of my food. Good idea to focus on the positive. Happy New Year!

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  6. I have changed my blog into a food journal of sorts....
    I eat the same thing almost everyday....zzzzzzz
    Happy New Year - and thanks for all of your comments and support!

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  7. Sounds like we have parrallel universes. I'm in the same boat, the journal is out and the water bottle is full. Happy New Year.

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  8. I am so glad to have you here in blogland and want to thank you so much for your support over the past year. I cannot begin to tell you how much it has meant to me.

    So sorry to hear your knee is suffering after all the extra work this season brings and what a revelation about the cortisone and blood sugar levels - that is something I didn't know!

    Yep, the food journal helps, we lie to ourselves otherwise, lol!

    Happy New Year xx

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  9. Happy New Year to you!

    I like your reflections instead of resolutions.

    May you have a healthful 2010!

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  10. I am pretty much addicted to my food journal. I feel very shaky if I don't have access to it! Guess that means I don't trust myself to know when I've had enough.

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  11. There must be something in the air - I just decided to resume my food journal efforts this morning. I'm hopeful it will encourage better choices.

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