I spent a week in North Carolina (Feb 17-23) during which I did some marketing/recruiting and participated in a conference where I presented an academic paper...two more stressful tasks. The "highlights" included some serious southern-style eating....biscuits, grits, fried chicken, more biscuits, more grits, more fried chicken. While fun, I did not return feeling good nor did I have any energy.
Since my return, the roller coaster has been a little less scary but still there. I have been swimming and walking regularly, but my food history has been horrendous and yoga and meditation efforts have been dismal. I want to/have to make some changes. Besides being able to deal with students, I am facing another trip to the US April 7-19 that will include four full days of recruiting/marketing beginning in Rochester, New York of all places and ending in Davenport, Iowa. In between there will be travel days and a series of meetings in Pella where lots of changes that will affect study abroad programs and directors are in the works. Personal time will be extremely limited.
To make a long story even longer, I decided yesterday that I have to feel as good as I can today and everyday in order to just keep up with daily responsibilities. I have 36 days in which to eat well, swim and/or walk daily, complete 30 minutes of yoga and 13 -15 minutes of meditation daily and just generally take care of myself. I spent yesterday planning meals, grocery shopping, fixing food for the week ahead. My goal is to report daily here.
Saturday: Water aerobics - 1 hour
Meditation - 13 minutes
Yoga - 0
Food: Chilaquiles at Central House, green drink of cucumber, celery and lemon, beans, 2 eggs, pico de gallo, toast with pb and mango, chicken
As of 2:00 Sunday: Laps - 1 hour
Meditation - 13 minutes
Toast with pb and mango, same green drink as above, chicken
Any and all suggestions, words of wisdom and support are welcome.
2 comments:
Words of wisdom? I'm fresh out. Support? You got it!!
I'd been wondering about your absence on the blog but reading about the demands of this semester explains so much. It sounds exhausting. And - yikes! - the trip in April sounds like a killer!
And I understand. I understand how the good habits and intentions fall away even while you tell yourself - I need to go to bed - and then sit up for another hour.
I understand that good choices get pushed aside in favor of the easy or expedient even as you hear that voice in the back of your mind outlining the dangers facing you.
(actually, I think I will attempt a WOW) We've talked before about our tendency to lapse with stress/emotional eating, but I've recently come to think that it's disarray or disorder in my life spilling over from one aspect to another that seems to so easily derail my best intentions. I see what's happening - know it can't end well- know, too, how to manage it - but a lack of focus leads to inertia morphing to chaos and it becomes harder and harder to play catch-up when I've come to my senses, again. I understand.
I like your list: meditate, exercise, eat well. We are complex creatures living multi-faceted lives. The "solutions" need to be multi-faceted as well.
I'll follow along for these next 30-some days as you put your house in order. I'll be glad to see the progress as the trip in April approaches. I'll gladly hear your successes and see energy and focus take a more central role in your reports. This is a constructive period and you'll do well.
Thanks, Ilona. I appreciate your support and your thoughts on the downward spiral we can too easily find ourselves in. I have always said food is my drug of choice...hands down, no contest. I am so tired of the "conversations" between my rational,logical side and the not-so-rational, not healthy side where the unhealthy side always seems to win. Stick with me.
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