2013: my year of health

[vaneramos]

During 2010 and 2011 I took significant advantage of the 6 Changes approach to personal improvement. Notably, Leo Babauta has dropped the  6 Changes website and revised his philosophy to a more marketable form. Apparently simplicity is more worthwhile if it's profitable.

18 months ago my little changes got derailed by big ones: moving in with Danny, establishing a household for the first time in 16 years, shifting to more local food, planting a vegetable garden, getting a diagnosis for sleep apnea, hiring a writing coach, relaunching a freelance writing career and, most recently, figuring out how to keep the family cottage. There has been plenty of goal-setting and not much time to think or talk about it, except with my coach.

Meanwhile some important matters have sat on a back burner, particularly my diet and fitness. Needless to say, I cannot afford to leave them there. I am not comfortable with my weight and my cholesterol was high last time it was tested. My life has reached a new normal, and now is the time to address some details.

2013 must be my year of health, as far as I can control it. I need to revisit the 6 Changes, or perhaps an alternative, since its original philosopher has decided the best goal is no goal.

Comments

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

Hello dear heart,
Happy Holidays!
Do you like ground flax?

Dean's cholesterol is through the roof. In part it's familial (mediterranean) and in part it is due, I believe to his low thyroid.

Ground flax , non flush niacin and red rice yeast as well as a few mild dietary changes helped a lot.

I have heard conflicting things about cholesterol. My chiropractor seems to think the concern is a racket so that pharmaceutical companies can make money of the medicines they give. He feels you need cholesterol for healthy brain function amongst other things. Here is another interesting tid bit about cholesterol I had never heard before.

Years ago when I quite smoking my cholesterol was high. My doctor told me not to worry about it because my body was likely in cleansing mode because of smoking cessation and it was common to have high cholesterol when the body was in stress of cleansing. Dean is a painter and works with toxic chemicals. .I wondered if there was a correlation. Is there anything in your life like that you can contribute the cholesterol to?

Happy New Year to you and Danny.
Looking forward to another year of sharing.
xo

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I used to hope it was racket until I was getting my eyes tested last year and the eye doctor asked whether I knew my cholesterol was high. She could see it in my retina! "No cause for alarm," she said. "I just want to make sure your doctor knows and you are following up on it." I have many conflicting thoughts and feelings about this.

I am 5'9". When I was 38 I weighted 180lbs. Ten years later I weight almost 220. I am not comfortable with this extra weight or feeling more and more out of shape at this age. This is the main issue: I want to feel better. I want to be able to put my boots on without my belly getting in the way.

Part of the problem is my meds make me hungry. I have been taking them for seven years and they keep my moods stable (mirtazapine). Getting off them would be one possible route to better eating habits, but that would be a hard road, maybe not the best.

Flax meal is yummy. I scoop it on my fruit and yogurt every morning if I'm on the ball, which is not most mornings.

xoxo

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

I had a hunch you would be well versed because I know you do your research. I hear you on the weight gain. The joke is always we are like the country fair we get bigger and better each year but I have put weight on around my middle as well. Going gluten free helps but I am not able to be diligent. I get lazy with my diet and I do so love a good crusty bread.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I think I need to take a look at the six changes approach.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately the website is gone. It was very practical and helpful. But here are the basics:

1. Choose 6 goals for the year. Make them reasonable and actionable.
2. Spend two months on each goal.
3. Don't tackle it all in one chunk; start by making a plan. Break the goal down into parts that are so small it is hard not to do them.
4. Don't start your action plan immediately. Give yourself a few days to look forward to each step.
5. Tell people what you are doing. Blog about it or talk to your friends. That gives you incentive to stick with it.

For example, I might set a goal of having salad or vegie sticks with hummus every day for lunch. I might break it down by starting with one day a week: Friday, Jan. 4. Each week I would add another day until I was eating vegies every day for lunch. I might also add subgoals of looking up and preparing a new salad recipe once a week and later twice, to make the process more fun.

6. Start the year with an enjoyable goal. Over the course of the year, alternate difficult or unpleasant ones with others that you look forward to, as incentive to stick with the process.

I hope this helps.