Things to Think About
Being Healthy Can Make You RICH
March 22, 2011
I had dinner with a close girl friend last week. We tell each other EVERYTHING. We talk about fitness, healthy eating, relationships, work stress, holistic practices, etc. We like to explore the unconventional stuff.
She told me about her friend Courtney* that has relationship issues and is always disappointed, even when the situation is not “make-or-break.” For example, Courtney will get really bent out-of-shape and take it personally if her boyfriend, Mark* doesn’t call at the exact time he said he would. Courtney’s therapist suggested that she create a “checkbook” to record and monitor Mark’s positive and negative behavior. So, when Mark calls on time, she writes down +$50. When he takes her out to a nice dinner, +$75. When Mark is late, -$25. Courtney determines the worth/dollar amount for everything. And, the list is a way for her to determine what’s meaningful and focus on the positive things Mark does. Instead of flipping out, she’s programming herself to “check herself before she wrecks herself.”
I’m not endorsing or putting down this concept. I do feel bad for Courtney and her negative associations, but I’m happy that she’s working it out by getting help and using techniques that work. My thought though, is how to apply this idea to exercise and healthy living. Why not keep a checkbook of the things you do each day to get to your health and fitness goals? Assign the amount you’ve “earned” based on what you think you deserve.
My list would look like this:
Drank a full glass of water to start the day = $10
Packed my lunch(es) = $15
Avoided eating the coconut patties at work = + $15
Taught kickboxing at 30% exertion (injury) = + $20
Jogged for three miles and sprinted the last quarter mile = + $35
Ate consistently, four small meals, four hours apart = $30
Got to sleep before 10:30 pm = $40
With time, hopefully, your “bank” account will be exactly where you want it to be, you’ve “saved up” the “amount” you want and you have reprogrammed yoursef to have positive, happy associations with being healthy. Now, feel free to send me a real check in the mail! 
Please share your list! I’d love to see what you think things are worth.
Photo by jridgewayphotography.
*Names changed!
Choose YOU. Get Healthy!
March 19, 2011
Day 33 on Four Hour Body. I feel sick since it’s my Cheat Day and my body can’t deal with junk food.
I’m that type of person who’s all or nothing. Until about 33 days ago, I approached diet and exercise just leisurely. In the rest of my life, however, I was intense. If I was going to be a kickboxing instructor, I had to be the best ever — motivating, creative, dynamic, fresh, new, challenging. If I was a dancer or cheerleader (hs and college), you better bet I was front and center and earned my spot there. When I started writing, I had no idea. So, I volunteered for things, took harsh criticism and made my best effort to just keep learning and growing with it. I wrote freelance stuff — sometimes for free — so I could get as much experience as possible. People took me under their wing and I’m happily still working in marketing communications for a hospital.
Learning more about myself and using it to my advantage
Now, I’m all about diet and exercise. I’m reading as much as I can. Talking to people, learning about their experiences and what works. In that, I’ve figured out what works for me. I’ve let go of the mindless, emotional or inconsistent eating. I’ve tried to eliminate foods that aren’t nutritious, and I love it! People say I’m really disciplined and determined, but it’s just my personality. I’m all in. 100 percent.
Determining a goal
My initial goal wasn’t to lose weight. It was just to change my lifestyle. I still don’t know what my goal weight is. All I know is that life was stressful, and I was overcommitted to things — as so many of us are. And, the things I talked about above, being the best EVERYTHING — wife, daughter, cousin, friend, sister, aunt, teacher, writer, blogger — is a lot. I think I was trying so hard to be good for everyone else — to be thoughtful, motivational, someone people count depend on — and it was too much, especially since there were many real-life stresses going on.
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No Excuses, No Emotional Eating
February 22, 2011
Cupcakes from Ben's First Birthday!
My life, WAS a bunch of oxymorons — mixed up and confused. See, I love to work out, teach group exercise classes … and eat my face off. I’ve never been disciplined with eating healthy or followed an exercise plan. (I’m Filipino and all we do is gather around food.) I’d run a 10K without training, sign up for all kinds of races and just do them. I never felt strong while doing them though, and always chalked it up to — I don’t have time to do my own workout since I’m teaching so many classes. Regardless, no matter what I knew was right to do — for diet and nutrition with all that activity — I never did it. I’d answer everyone’s questions and be encouraging for them, but I was always a “fraud” so to speak. I always felt like it.
Bad Scene
In fact, I’ll never forget the time I drank one Diet Coke the day before a 5K. One Diet Coke and that’s it. No water. In the summer. On the way to the race, I barely drank any water for fear I’d have to pee (stupid excuse!) . The race was brutal. It was insanely hot and I felt horrible. I barely drank water after because it was a long ride home. I ended up getting crazy dizzy and barely being able to drive during a major storm. Yes, I made myself sick for days because I was dehydrated. Could barely get out of bed. Stupid.
Emotional Eating
I realize now that life is always going to be hard, there are always going to be challenges and I need to stop the emotional eating. During 2008 – 2010, I gained about 25 pounds from my stressful job from which I’d later get laid off from. I’d start at 7 am after an hour commute, be falling asleep all day, and when I came home just wanted to eat everything in sight and decompress. And, I did. My excuse then was — I work so hard, I deserve to eat this! I know now that that job sucked the life out of me and eating gave me joy. Life didn’t give me joy. Thank goodness the door closed there for me, because it was emotionally unhealthy for me and the other people in the department that were let go/left as well.
More Excuses
Here I am now, married. Before the wedding, I was watching what I ate (sorta) and lost about ten pounds simply by not eating late at night. I still look back and wish I tried a little harder … but again, I had an excuse. At that point, it was — I’m stressed! We have so many expenses! I got laid off months before and was bugging out about what to do with my life. I had a flood of emotions associated with losing my job.
More Unhealthy Habits and The Turning Point
Recently, we’ve been going to a lot of family parties. My hubs and I have tons of cousins, and we have a lot of close friends. That means first birthdays, showers, weddings … all that. Last weekend, we went to a first birthday and they had an insane amount of desserts — vanilla ice cream with caramel and toffee, ice cream cake, a candy bar and gigantic sugar cookie favor. I ate all of it. These aren’t even my favorite sweets! It was there and I ate it. Did the same thing at a baptism the day before. GROSS. I was really feeling like I was eating sugary stuff I didn’t need and felt like crap about it.
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AllThingsGwen.com is my unofficial guide to health and happiness. It's a chronical of me finding my way.
I encourage you to think about “AllThings[YOUR NAME HERE]” and what’s really, truly important to you. Hope you enjoy my recipes, fitness tips, motivational posts and aha moments.
- Will work for sneakers. http://t.co/fyLwM3Ug
- RT @motivationlive: People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. - Anonymous
- Oh man. Gotta teach 7 am and 9 am kbox after crazy Meise wedding.
- I was part of Facebook's IPO! Bought many a share. Hope it makes some bacon. I will tell my grandkids about this historical moment.
- Planning our First Annual Meise Summer Jam. There will be a big roasted pig.
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