By Virginia Winder
It's been two weeks since going public about my health, fitness and life-balance quest.
Not a long time in the scheme of things, but I've definitely come a long way.
I am now beginning to relax and have fun. Went out to a band last night - the John Butler Trio - and danced wildly. Wow, is that good for the soul!
Have also laughed, felt great joy and been ridiculous. I'm also reading again. For months now I've been unable to settle and so have been listening solely to audio books.
My sleep is still disturbed, but it's getting better. Before I would wake up every couple of hours, but now I have five-hour stretches of pure-bliss sleep.
The exercise is coming on well. I swam 30 lengths of the local indoor 25-metre pool tonight and even did some sprints. My muscles are feeling sore tonight, but it's that good sore when you know you've worked yourself hard.
So, have managed 14 days in a row of exercise and have not had even the slightest twinge of not wanting to go. Quite simply there is no out. Even bought new running shoes today because my old ones are getting, well, old.
Went to the USA versus Russia Rugby World Cup match at Stadium Taranaki tonight and it was great fun. The USA won 13-6 in a so-so match, but the crowd was fantastic. Heaps of people dressed up as Cossacks and sporting the red for Russia and even more decked out in Stars 'n' Stripes and some crazy outfits, like Wonder Woman and Uncle Sam.
Even spotted our former Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, sporting an Uncle Sam hat. He was sitting in the crowd a couple of rows up and getting into the spirit of things.
Now, some great news. I weighed myself today and I have lost 7kg, so am down to 113kg (249 pounds). Just another 53kg to go!
Seriously though, I do feel good about it, but refuse to become obssessed with my weight or food. But I am being mindful about what I eat and am only choosing healthy options. That's low-fat, low sugar (but no artificial sweetners) and food that sustains me.
I adore my muesli every morning and add different fruits to it, like an orange from our tree and/or blueberries. Have also been having a scattering of walnuts and am now including two brazil nuts to get the selenium not available in our soil. I soak the untoasted muesli over night in water and then pour a bit of manuka honey Biofarm yoghurt on top. It's so delicious!
Best of all is the support from people.
My sister, nieces, husband and kids are my loudest cheerleaders, albeit two of them from afar. It's great to have my whanau (family in Maori) 100% behind me.
People have stopped me in shops and in the street, written emails and texted me to offer encouragement. Once again, I have been humbled and amazed by the kindness of people.
Arohanui (big love) to you all.
Today, I:
Swam 30 lengths of a 25m pool
Lost 7kg (in two weeks)
Slept for 7 hours
Worked for 5 hours
Ate three healthy meals
Scoffed 5 pieces of dark chocolate (2 would have been wiser)
Need to:
Drink more water!
Showing posts with label mindfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindfulness. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Savour every bite
Slow down and taste the muesli.
That's the message from Otago University researchers, who have found that middle-aged women who eat slowly are much less likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat at a faster pace.
In a university press release, study principal investigator Dr Caroline Horwath says the speed of eating directly corelates with a woman's BMI.
“For every one-step increase in a five-step scale ranging from ‘very slow' eating to 'very fast', the women’s BMI increased by 2.8 per cent, which is equivalent to a 1.95 kg weight increase in a woman of average BMI for this group.”
Other studies, have shown that meditation and mindfulness are more helpful than diets. So, once again, the slow-down message is coming loud and clear.
If we take time to enjoy every mouthful of food, to savour the taste, then we will allow ourselves to feel full. We also need to be mindful of what we eat, choosing healthy fuel, not fast food and eating on the run.
The whole slow food movements suddenly makes a lot of sense.
On the work front, I incorporated a garden interview and exercise by doing a story on the beautiful Ratapihipihi reserve. When I came that excrutiating last hill that went on and on, I held in mirth at imagining my mother there. She went for a walk through the native bush and, when facing that seemingly never-ending ascent she cussed at every step. Hah, my darling naughty mother! I so wanted to let out the same expletives but I was on the job.
But it reminded me of the beautiful spots we have around Taranaki and how much more interesting exercise is when exploring different places. I used to run through Ratapihipihi in my younger days and I imagine that it's possible again in the future.
Work's still tough - still have an absurd number of stories to toil through, but oh the stories people tell! Moving, funny, inspiring and some simply wonderful. Wow, I feel lucky.
Yesterday's achievements:
A long walk with a tough hill climb
Worked 9 hours
Slept 6 hours
Ate three good meals - one was a grilled fish salad from our new Mexican takeaway (had no sour cream!)
Points of interest to share:
Daily exercise is achievable, but you have to make time
People who sleep well and for about 8 hours a night are likely to be in control of their weight
Woman who eat slower have a lower BMI
That's the message from Otago University researchers, who have found that middle-aged women who eat slowly are much less likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat at a faster pace.
In a university press release, study principal investigator Dr Caroline Horwath says the speed of eating directly corelates with a woman's BMI.
“For every one-step increase in a five-step scale ranging from ‘very slow' eating to 'very fast', the women’s BMI increased by 2.8 per cent, which is equivalent to a 1.95 kg weight increase in a woman of average BMI for this group.”
Other studies, have shown that meditation and mindfulness are more helpful than diets. So, once again, the slow-down message is coming loud and clear.
If we take time to enjoy every mouthful of food, to savour the taste, then we will allow ourselves to feel full. We also need to be mindful of what we eat, choosing healthy fuel, not fast food and eating on the run.
The whole slow food movements suddenly makes a lot of sense.
On the work front, I incorporated a garden interview and exercise by doing a story on the beautiful Ratapihipihi reserve. When I came that excrutiating last hill that went on and on, I held in mirth at imagining my mother there. She went for a walk through the native bush and, when facing that seemingly never-ending ascent she cussed at every step. Hah, my darling naughty mother! I so wanted to let out the same expletives but I was on the job.
But it reminded me of the beautiful spots we have around Taranaki and how much more interesting exercise is when exploring different places. I used to run through Ratapihipihi in my younger days and I imagine that it's possible again in the future.
Work's still tough - still have an absurd number of stories to toil through, but oh the stories people tell! Moving, funny, inspiring and some simply wonderful. Wow, I feel lucky.
Yesterday's achievements:
A long walk with a tough hill climb
Worked 9 hours
Slept 6 hours
Ate three good meals - one was a grilled fish salad from our new Mexican takeaway (had no sour cream!)
Points of interest to share:
Daily exercise is achievable, but you have to make time
People who sleep well and for about 8 hours a night are likely to be in control of their weight
Woman who eat slower have a lower BMI
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