Summer is a time for me to put my life on hold. I use this season as an excuse to stop living my regular life and just turn into a vegetable. This year I was not a vegetable all summer long. This time I chose to dig myself out of my vegetable state of mind.
Even with my new state of mind, I still found ways to avoid moving. It’s just hard to kick bad habits. I could have gone every single day to the gym but I didn’t. I could have gone out to parks, museums, or stores to walk and get some sun and fresh air. Instead I chose to stay home, sleep, watch TV, surf the internet, and eat when I was feeling bored.
A few weeks of doing mindless things were enough for me to realize that this had to stop NOW. I just couldn’t let myself fall back into old habits, not after coming this far. That decision is what kept me from gaining my usual 10+ pounds that I gain every summer.
To keep my mind busy and my body moving, I tried many different things to keep me away from falling back into old habits.
When I felt boredom setting in, I put on some shorts and I swam in my swimming pool. I visited different gyms and tried new machines occasionally. At home, I dusted, vacuumed, cleaned, scrubbed, washed….when I got the urge to sit and surf the web for hours.
I ate light dinners so that early morning hunger would force me out of bed. No excuse kept me in bed after 10 a.m. Just thinking about a papaya, mango, or strawberry smoothie made me get up early and eat breakfast. I also visited grocery stores and tried different recipes each week.
I went to bookstores, libraries, malls, and dollar stores when the Texas heat was too much for me to be outside. I did whatever I could think of to get myself out of the house. I kept my mind busy so that summer boredom and old habits would not creep back into my life.
Classes start next week. I have one more weekend to say good-bye to my summer vegetable state of mind. This summer I proved to myself that summer is not a time to sit and do nothing. Summer is a time to find new ways of entertaining my mind, enriching my life, and healing my body. I can’t wait what summer 2008 will be like.
Posts
At the end of any journey, it’s always nice to reflect on the experience and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with accomplishment. During the past 12 weeks, seven real women have opened their hearts and minds to women across the country. They’ve revealed struggles, shared empowering messages, offered valuable tips and served as genuine advocates for this program.
During the Choose To Move challenge, these women not only engaged in physical activity, they discovered a community of women who share a common goal – increase physical activity in order to develop a healthier lifestyle. Their success is a direct result of determination, commitment and the support they received from those in the Choose To Move community.
From a mom with three kids to a full-time college student to women in the workplace, our real women take on many important roles. And as women juggling multiple responsibilities, we want to be the best we can be - a common thread among women in America. However, in order to be the best for our families, we must do what’s best for ourselves. Our seven real women did exactly that! Each woman, in her own way, learned how to make time for physical activity and develop better eating habits!
For Ruann, Kara, Lisa, Melanie, Vernita, Kathleen and Zulema, the 12-week challenge has come to an end. However, the ultimate reality is that their life-long journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle has only begun. No matter where you are in this journey, I encourage you to rely on women in the Choose To Move community, as well as those around you. Take advantage of the Choose To Move program and turn this challenge into a way of life.
Dear Dr. Mieres:
About the only time I can find to walk is during my lunch break. Is it better to eat prior to or following a vigerous walk?
Thank you,
Ruth
Dr. Mieres,
I saw you on TV several months ago and while the face has changed some, the name surely was very familiar. I finally found out that you are a native of Trinidad and just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and the great job you are doing.
I believe we attended the same high school in Curepe, Trinidad, SAGHS.
Keep up the good work.
Denise Baptiste formerly Charles
(Math Teacher/College Instructor)
Dr. Mieres,
I saw you on TV several months ago and while the face has changed some, the name surely was very familiar. I finally found out that you are a native of Trinidad and just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and the great job you are doing.
I believe we attended the same high school in Curepe, Trinidad, SAGHS.
Keep up the good work.
Denise Baptiste formerly Charles
(Math Teacher/College Instructor)
Comments
Aug 20 | Melanie said …
Way to go Zulema! I have the same urge to lounge around and just vegetate when I'm off in the summer. But I feel so much better when I exercise! I also could have done better this summer. We're not perfect ... but we ARE making progress :D
~Melanie
Aug 22 | kathy said …
I know what it is like to just want to sit around because of boredom. Today I made up my mind and did 30 min low impact aerobics, it gets me to want to keep on moving (you see I hate exercise). This may sound like a dumb question, but do you know of any good moving exercises that would help with posture? My excess weight is in my middle and I slouch (sp). I heard that this is bad on the heart to have excess weight in your middle. Thanks
Aug 22 | zulema said …
kathy,
I don't have good posture either. When I feel my back and waist hurting, I stretch. I bend back and do some of the things I did in yoga class a long time ago. The cobra pose feels great. I also take breaks between typing and reading to pull my shoulders and arms up and back. Keep up the good work!
Aug 30 | Lucy said …
I feel good & have more energy when I'm exercising but it's hard to restart a healthy routine again.
Dec 12 | Terri said …
Hi. Sometimes i get bored and try to make myself have lots of energy. Thats hard to do when all i do is sleep. That gets old after a while. Husband says girl your going to sleep your life away. I tell him why get up early? I plan on going back to school nextweek then i won't be so bored.It doesn't take long to clean the house but, i do try to make it fun by listening to music so i can dance.Any other ideas on how to keep from being bored?? Thanks Mrs.Terri Marie Howard I'm also a big fan of all of the Osmonds famaliy.
Sep 02 | Anita said …
You have really been an inspuration to me .First of all I have to say Thank you.I have put my foot down on the potatoe.I am deterimed to stick with it .I always felt like I was the only one that had a weight problem.I was doing very well for a while to start off I was 165 pounds.I reduced down to 142 I felt so good ,and I kept it off for over 1 year.Right now I am at 158. It has really taken a toll on my self of esteem, and my health.My doctor has told me that my cholesterol is too high for my age.That is a scary thought for me .
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