I was recently asked why I’ve been writing so much about running, or maybe I was asked why I’m running so much? Either way the answer is one in the same.
First, I have profound words to share. Just because a person is thin does not mean they are healthy. It’s a difficult concept for many to comprehend. I am thin, but have not had the healthiest habits. Running aside, I am known to many for my chocoholic tendencies; my one true addiction. When it comes to eating I have “classic” tastes also known to many as being picky.
I have picky habits that can easily be confused with being healthy. For example, my drink of choice is water, I don’t drink soda, and I don’t eat salad dressing.
I have a high metabolism (thanks, Dad) therefore, I can eat a dozen cookies and/or a bag of chips and/or a pint of ice cream and it won’t all go to my hips.
I would have never considered myself to have healthy habits, even if overall my physical health is great. A year ago I turned 35 and my body began aging. I am not talking about gray hairs, laugh lines and crow’s feet. I could feel my metabolism slow down and my body began internally yelling at me for my lifetime of poor eating habits. I was “complaining” to my husband about stomach aches often. I was diagnosed with acid reflux in November of 2009 even though I never have heartburn. A chronic cough for 5 weeks led to the diagnosis that I am convinced was brought on by stress. I began taking a prescription pill twice a day, and for the record, I hated it. Every time I took the pill I became more stressed. I found two things that triggered my cough…chocolate and garlic, specifically garlic bread. Two of my true food loves.
In the past year I have slowly changed my thinking and then my behaviors. As I’ve stated before, I began enjoying running again this past April and I am thankful that my joy is turning into a minor passion. I am not hard on myself. I look at every day as a new day, a clean slate.
Two months ago things really began changing, and at first I didn’t even realize it. First, I took myself off my daily prescription for my acid reflux. I began eating less chocolate and garlic bread and started paying more attention to what I did eat. Then, I started looking at serving sizes, and included my kids on the experiment. Hmm, will a serving size of five crackers really be enough to fill me up? The answer is yes, sometimes only three will satisfy the need. Eating became something I needed to do to be alive, not something to do when I was tired, bored or feeling “blah”. I’m listening to my body and only eating when I’m hungry.
I’m eating a better breakfast, less white bread and more eggs and recently, raisin bran. I am eating more vegetables and fruit. This is not a diet, but a more healthy conscious me. I am not snacking after dinner, because I’m not hungry. I’m not snacking twice a day just because I’m giving my kids a snack.
My stomach aches are gone because I am no longer causing them by what I eat. There are no more (okay, very few) moments of “Ugh, I shouldn’t have eaten that, I feel sick.”
I’m feeling great and feel confident that I can keep up this new found frame of mind. The truth is it’s simple. My “mantra” always comes back to “How will this make me feel later?” My interpretation of my mom’s words: Live life so that hindsight makes you smile.
I recently read the book, The Mind-Body Mood Solution by Jeffrey Rossman in my book club. I was not the one to choose the book, but enjoyed it, timing is everything and it supports my lifestyle change. Now if I could only go to bed by 10:00 and get more sleep I will become an even better, healthier version of me.
