I Can Haz Healthy Lifestyle?
Last night I woke up at 4:30 in the morning thirsty, desperately in need of a bathroom, and absolutely CONVINCED I was becoming diabetic. It may be completely irrational (I had a glucose tolerance test last summer which was showed I had very, very good insulin levels both short-term and long-term), but it's been on my mind all morning.
I really need to get in better shape, but especially start eating better. I've blamed my PCOS for a long time, but the truth is I'm sort of lazy and a very picky eater. PCOS helped get me where I am (in terrible shape and overweight) but it doesn't keep me here, I do. And for a long time, I may have said "I want to get in better shape" but I haven't wanted it badly enough to change bad habits. And if we're going to be teaching in Asia next fall (2011) I have little over a year to get into great shape (which will most certainly help us).
So I am reaching out to you guys on my friends list for help. I see two major areas I need to work hard on. First, exercise. I am not a member of a gym, and probably won't join one any time soon. There is a chance we could move to an apartment with a fitness center, but that is no certainty. I do however have access to a wonderful walking/bike trail alongside the Trinity River. So I think that, combined with audiobooks on MP3, and some extra ounces of willpower, and I can easily commit to start walking every day.
The diet is going to be harder. First of all, Nick and I love to eat out at least twice a week, which means we try to cut back on our rest-of-the-week groceries for balance. And as many of you know, eating healthy on a budget is just about impossible.
Second, I am a horrifically picky eater. I dislike the flavor of most veggies (carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes) and can usually only get past it by drenching them in bad-for-you-I'm-sure sauces. Fruits are not such a hard thing, and I eat mostly whole-grain pasta/bread, nuts, yogurt, and other "good for you" things. It's mostly the veggies I'm lacking.
So, some diet goals: one, eat three vegetarian meals a week. Two, cut out sodas, or at least cut back to only having them when we go out. Three (a modifier to two), try to eat as "whole food" as possible, and make it a priority to try veggies grilled, steamed, etc., rather than tricks parents use for picky children (in cheese, sauce, etc.).
If anyone has any recipes to share that could help, ESPECIALLY for some dinner ideas, please please share. And please ask me how I'm doing with this. You can on twitter (my username is shelflifebooks) or thru email (kalligraphia@gmail.com) or here (though I hardly update my LJ as much as I used to). If I'm going to do this, I really need all the support and encouragement I can get -- I know that in a week or two, I'm going to not really care as much as I do right now, and I will start whining.
I really need to get in better shape, but especially start eating better. I've blamed my PCOS for a long time, but the truth is I'm sort of lazy and a very picky eater. PCOS helped get me where I am (in terrible shape and overweight) but it doesn't keep me here, I do. And for a long time, I may have said "I want to get in better shape" but I haven't wanted it badly enough to change bad habits. And if we're going to be teaching in Asia next fall (2011) I have little over a year to get into great shape (which will most certainly help us).
So I am reaching out to you guys on my friends list for help. I see two major areas I need to work hard on. First, exercise. I am not a member of a gym, and probably won't join one any time soon. There is a chance we could move to an apartment with a fitness center, but that is no certainty. I do however have access to a wonderful walking/bike trail alongside the Trinity River. So I think that, combined with audiobooks on MP3, and some extra ounces of willpower, and I can easily commit to start walking every day.
The diet is going to be harder. First of all, Nick and I love to eat out at least twice a week, which means we try to cut back on our rest-of-the-week groceries for balance. And as many of you know, eating healthy on a budget is just about impossible.
Second, I am a horrifically picky eater. I dislike the flavor of most veggies (carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes) and can usually only get past it by drenching them in bad-for-you-I'm-sure sauces. Fruits are not such a hard thing, and I eat mostly whole-grain pasta/bread, nuts, yogurt, and other "good for you" things. It's mostly the veggies I'm lacking.
So, some diet goals: one, eat three vegetarian meals a week. Two, cut out sodas, or at least cut back to only having them when we go out. Three (a modifier to two), try to eat as "whole food" as possible, and make it a priority to try veggies grilled, steamed, etc., rather than tricks parents use for picky children (in cheese, sauce, etc.).
If anyone has any recipes to share that could help, ESPECIALLY for some dinner ideas, please please share. And please ask me how I'm doing with this. You can on twitter (my username is shelflifebooks) or thru email (kalligraphia@gmail.com) or here (though I hardly update my LJ as much as I used to). If I'm going to do this, I really need all the support and encouragement I can get -- I know that in a week or two, I'm going to not really care as much as I do right now, and I will start whining.