Routines.

Friday. Well my last post was five days ago because it was back to work full time! I’m home today trying to get some work done as the office has been nonstop questions.

Trying to get new healthy routines is really a challenge. You get so set in your ways (for me years and years) that it’s pretty damn hard to start anew. However, it’s been a very successful week in regard to what I’m ingesting! I’ve been eating great. I’ve cut out all the “vegetarian” fast food snacks such as potato chips, and also have cut out dairy products and most grains. I’ve already lost about 4 pounds just this week from the shift. No wine or beer, and no cigars. Feeling pretty good about my start I have to say.

So, what’s missing? I am still a slug in the morning and don’t want to get out of bed. I am still listening to sitcoms during the night (on my phone and earbud) to keep my mind from waking up. I am still snacking a bit too much in the evening. I am still NOT exercising in any direct way. I am still distracted with my relationships and not engaging enough with family and friends. BUT, it’s only January 8th. I can and will make these changes yet.

Small victory. So yesterday I had a broth for lunch and a tangerine for a snack in the afternoon. Will had said that he wanted a specific pasta that I had made in Bend when we visited Nick and Jess. So I got the fixings on the way home and prepared to make everything. But instead of indulging on the pasta (excellent I’m told) I ate a huge garden salad and a small bowl of beans and rice. That’s the kind of life I want to change to where I’m putting nutritious food in my pie hole and not the garbage that we all want to eat. Here is a look at the pasta (all fresh).

My health kind of sucks.

I need to be honest about my health. It’s not that great. Sure, I am not on any medications, but I feel like shit a lot of the time. I’m overweight (193 lbs this morning), constant body aches and pains, my lower back has me bent slightly sometimes, I believe my prostate is swollen, etc. A lot of my issues are “vegetarian junk food”! Chips, popcorn, bread and other processed foods, and of course sugar. Especially the kind that goes with barley and hops!

Now the positives are that I already eat a lot of veggies and actually love fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts and seeds. Therefore, I just need to cut out the crap!

I’ve done this before and it is a remarkable transformation. After only three of four days of cutting out the processed foods and sugar, the cravings actually go away!!! That’s right, gone. Unfortunately habits are not that quick. So the key is to maintain those changes for at least 4 weeks at a minimum.

So I know what to do. No worries. Piece of cake. I mean simple and easy.

Here’s my issue. I love to ingest anything and everything that tastes good or makes me feel good. But the real problem is I do not have an off switch. I do not know when to stop eating, drinking, smoking, etc. If it’s good, then more will be even better. And there’s a bonus! I get bored eating healthy for long periods of time. I know, I know, nobody is like that right!? ;-)

What I do know is that when I start doing the right things and treating my body well, I do start feeling better almost immediately. Here’s last nights dinner and I had some nuts and grapes for an after dinner snack!

Ok, day two.

Well, Alicia is in Bend right now visiting the kids, so I’m taking the quiet time to reorganize my life and also the house. :-) One of my favorite things in the world is organizing and having a clean environment. It really speaks to my spirit (my OCD spirit).

So in the mix of cleaning and organizing I have been thinking through the details of my new 2021 life. I’ve cleaned out the refrigerator and the cabinets. Gone are the Christmas cookies, leftovers, beer and wine, chips, etc. I cleaned up my cigar ashtray and put it away. I’ve also been taking down Christmas decor and doing a little deep cleaning. Yesterday I rearranged my desk in the bedroom (below) and bought a comfy office chair to replace the wooden one my butt’s been sitting on for five years.

What does all of this have to do with health and wellness? I’m wired in such a way that it is hard for me to mentally check IN to something new if my environment is not suitable. So I’ve now cleaned the slate and finished the dirty laundry! It’s about 4:30 PM and I’m ready to settle for the evening and start thinking about my new schedule and how to create all the new habits that I wish to have this year. I’m excited!

Had some cooked cabbage and beans for lunch followed by a few cashews and some fresh blackberries for an afternoon snack. Kick butt salad for dinner tonight. The boys will be convulsing in a few days from sugar and fast food detox. Ha ha! I may even try a little stretching this evening while listening to some new vinyl.

To be perfectly honest, I’m a bit nervous.

I have to be honest. It’s January 1st and I’m committing with a damn blog site. Hmm. I’m not sure how smart this is.

From the time we left Palm Coast, FL on December 26, 2010 (Alicia just reminded me of that date which was just 10 years a few days ago) until yesterday, I’ve had my share of unhealthy living. I’ve enjoyed more than a few beers and a few glasses of wine. I’ve struggled with cigarettes (although that has been over for a few years now) and at times daily cigars. For sure in Victoria, BC, and recently here in Jacksonville. In fact, just writing about it makes me want one. :-(