You may remember my post last week about my summer challenge, trying to live a healthier life by following four easy tasks. Well, week 1 has come and gone. So how did I do?
Healthy Living. Change Your Life with WATER
The first thing I discovered healthy living challenge is that 8-12 ounce glasses of water is a lot of water. A LOT OF WATER. On day one it took me right up until bedtime to finish all my water for the day (but I did it). The other thing I discovered is that what goes in, must come out. Meaning I found myself having to go to the bathroom often. As the week went on, the bathroom frequency wasn’t so much of an issue (perhaps my bladder stretched) but drinking all the water is still a challenge. If I remembered, I would bring a water bottle with me when I was out to ensure I was still drinking but some days I still didn’t get through all my water. Although I know that drinking water is good for you (keeping your hydrated and your energy level up, flushing out your system), but I stumbled upon another benefit - feeling full. I have discovered the more water I drink, the fuller I feel and this is really good, especially at night when I usually crave a snack. I still had a craving but the fullness deterred me from giving in. A nice bonus.
Healthy Living. Change Your Life with EXERCISE
I’ve been making an effort to walk most places. The good thing is that two of my kids are registered for summer camp so we’ve been walking there and back, everyday. But in addition to this I wanted to add in regular exercise. I’ve been using the Xbox 360 Kinect Your Shape Fitness Evolved program. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a regular fitness routine so getting back into doing a workout programs has been tough. My body has been telling me that too. It’s funny how you (or at least I) base my fitness on my weight. I’m not overweight but I’m completely out of shape. My oldest daughter was home with me so we tried a few of the fitness games together (virtual hula hooping is just as hard as the real thing). And the virtual smash game has been working on my cardio but also my mental agility too (having to communicate to my body where my eye seems the target and striking quickly).
Healthy Living. Change Your Life with MEATLESS
I was fortunate to find a meatless recipe, or actually an EverythingMom member (Merry with Children) shared a meatless dish that her family has enjoyed: Thai Style Tofu Noodles. It was actually easy to prepare (which is a good thing) and it was pretty good too (though my 2 youngest ate it reluctantly). I think I would cut the tofu smaller next time. I would definately try this recipe again but now I’m on the looking for a new meatless meal to try this week. Ideas?
Healthy Living. Change Your Life with SLEEP
I did great on day one; I was in bed by 10:00 p.m. I was so impressed with my willpower to call it a night early (not like me). Too bad I didn’t stick to my guns for the rest of the week. No surprise, this was actually my hardest challenge. I really want to go to bed by 10 but it’s so hard to let go of the day, give in to not doing work or hanging out with my husband. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day. I think because I’m a night owl and I’m not feeling tired at night (though come morning that’s a whole other story), there’s nothing, no physical sense that compels me to go to bed. I know sleep is important so I’m going to work on this again.
I also received some more Multibionta multivitamins to ensure I don’t run out (and have an excuse for not taking them) during my summer challenge. Each morning I ensure my kids eat their multivitamin so to make sure I don’t forget my own (which does seem to happen) I’ve kept my bottle in the kitchen with the kids’ vitamins. Now when they eat theirs, I have mine too.
There is one other obsticle I wasn’t expecting when I started this healthy living challenge: the weekend. I guess since we don’t have camp and our schedule is more open, I thought the weekends would be easier to fit in my challenge tasks in (except the sleep one: I knew I’d be struggling to getting to bed earlier). But the weekends proved to be a challenge for everything: I didn’t drink my water, exercise or get to sleep on time. I can see how I’ll have to be more vigilant on this during the weekend.
Well I’ve started week 2. Hopefully things will get a little easier but even these tasks, which should be easy enough to follow through on, are proving to be a real challenge. A real summer challenge.
I’ve come to terms with that (I think) and actually there are a number of great features on my van that I really value, like some of the safety features. I can’t imagine driving without my back-up camera and blind spot indicators. I’m usually the one transporting my kids to and from school, lessons, errands, appointments, and friends; sometimes I feel we live in our car if it’s a busy day.
I don’t know about you, but there always seems to be something that I ‘have’ to get done. I HAVE to follow-up on emails. I HAVE to update the website. I HAVE to help the kids with homework. I HAVE to make a homemade dinner the kids won’t turn their nose up at. You can see where I’m going with this.
Of course like any parent I was concerned — no one wants to see their kids sick — but I must admit my mom skeptic radar shot-up. If you’re a mom you know the radar I speak of. I started to doubt my son’s ailment. I mean it wasn’t like a standard bug we’ve seen before (and we’ve seen a few). There were no other symptoms and he would burst into tears spontaneously, like when it was time for bed or halfway through dinner. It all seemed suspicious.
It was obvious to even the kids that Tick (our cat) was not well and really struggled with her disease near the end. We all tried our best to make her comfortable and pay her extra attention but her condition quickly worsened.
