Jan 2, 2014

2014 Focus: Get Healthy {Mentally as well as Physically}

Get Healthy in 2014 with chieffamilyofficer.com

Normally, I'm focused on financial goals at the start of a new year. But this year, things are different.

I had a milestone birthday last year, and I have to admit that my body has changed physically. My eye doctor has told me that my vision - so nearsighted since I was eight years old - is starting to reverse course {bring on the reading glasses!}. I got sick in mid-December and I haven't been able to shake off the flu the way I normally do, and I actually got bronchitis for the first time, possibly ever. Getting plantar fasciitis nearly four years ago has limited my physical activity, so my conditioning has worsened gradually and I'm in the worst shape I can remember.

I was told by one of my doctors to lose weight, but I went on a "diet" and promptly gained five pounds.

You see, I've been an emotional eater since I was seven or eight years old, and thus overweight since childhood. Not surprisingly, I've spent a lot of my life trying to lose weight, or trying not to care that I haven't lost weight.

I know many of you can relate.

I've discovered that my biggest problem is mental. I don't know how to be physically healthy and thin, because I never have been. So I've lost weight, but then gained it right back because it was too scary and hard to stay at my new weight. For a lot of you, that may not make any sense, but some of you totally get what I'm saying.

I've decide to spend 2014 working through these mental barriers, because my health is too important not to. I've reached an age where if I really don't start taking care of myself, I'll end up unable to keep up with my kids, sitting out events because I'm sick or infirm, etc. And I don't want that.

It's not going to be easy, but it needs to happen. If you feel the same way, I'd love to share the journey with you. I'm not quite sure how yet, but we'll figure something out.

The book I'm reading now on this topic is Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth. I don't know if it would have made sense to me at any previous time, but it's making a lot of sense to me now. As I digest what I read, I'll have more to say on this topic.

Whatever your New Year's resolutions or goals are, I wish you all the best in making them come true!

Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net by Apolonia.

2 comments:

linda said...

I went through this struggle last year. This year I plan on continuing the process. I have really struggled since I left the gymnastics world at age 17. I ave tried every diet plan and everything else out there. I struggle with exercising because it hurts to, not like a normal person but as I am out of commission for a day or 2 after and in severe pain. I do what I can though. I also this year discovered Advocare and the 24 Day challenge. I believe it takes 21 days to create a habit and the 24 days were perfect to create my habits. I learned to eat better(I already ate healthily but this was different) I learned when to eat and how much to eat. I also gained a ton of energy. It works for me now. I am down most of the weight my doctor asked me to lose. I have stayed on some of the products but do not continue with others. This is the first plan I have that my doctors seem to approve of also. I learned I can eat and not deprive myself then gorge on food later (bad habit number one) I also learned I could eat GOOD food and still lose weight. Which was probably the scariest part. I dropped my soda and coffee habit (Bad habit number 2 my doctors have begged me to drop) I believe that before I have had huge mental issues with losing weight. I cant exercise, I cant do it, its too hard, I am not strong enough etc. I created habits and stuck with them this year. Thats the biggest thing I learned from Advocare. I ate when I was sad when I was happy and especially when I was mad or stressed. Now that I have a plan to follow (I learned a long time ago I need rules to follow and a plan or it doesnt work for me) I can do it because I have the plan in place. I am no longer scared to be healthy because I have my plan to fall back on and with that came losing the weight. I have had huge ups and small downs this last year and I made it a point to focus on the ups instead of downs. I also have a great support team which has been my biggest help! I am excited to continue my journey and hopefully follow yours!

Chief Family Officer said...

Congratulations on your success, Linda! Your story is impressive and inspirational - thank you for sharing it, and giving me confidence that I can do it too :)