Try Something New

Today is a new beginning!  Frankly, every day is a new beginning, a new start, a chance to make a change, and today it's mine!  I'm starting the new Plexus Slim, and am having my first #pinkdrink as I jot down these notes.

Why?  My health.  I have issues with gut health, am currently taking meds to combat the effects of Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM from here on out)  My liver produces bile acid, and my gall bladder has been removed, so said BA goes right into my system, and irritates my colon with the usual typically bad reaction.  Thank goodness the cholystyramine that I take once a day does the trick-- most days.   With a bit of research, it's safe to assume that while I don't want to reduce the bile my liver produces, I could improve the quality of the bile.  Which sounds like a very weird thing!

Personally, I've found that eating sugary or fatty foods makes things worse.  I also recently introduced oranges into my diet, and those?  are a no-no!  I'm guessing too much acid.  I've also recently discovered that drinking water with higher alkalinity seems to improve things as well. Because of this new PinkDrink, I'm supposed to drink half my body weight in water each day.  That might be just a stretch; however, when I was exercising, I was hitting 100+ oz per day.  So it's doable!

Eating too much also amps up the BA, so "eat small and often" .... but let's face reality.  Changing our eating habits is one of the hardest things a person can do.  Sticking with it is even harder!  Small changes that you stick to over a long period of time seem to be the best way for making a long term change.  We all think we're strong enough to do it! But statistically, it's a very hard road.  And we slip up.  For me, it was the hardest thing giving up "donut Friday" at work.  But I did it.  For about 6 weeks.  Last Friday, I slipped up, and couldn't resist a quick afternoon sugar high.  The end result wasn't fun.

The other thing I know that I need to do is to kick my Diet Coke habit.  Again.  Three years ago when I was on a big exercise kick, I was able to do it.  Nine years ago when I moved from Ohio to Arizona, the money struggle was real and I kicked it then, too.  But I keep going back to it.  Why?  I'm not sure ... caffeine, because it tastes good, or my personal favorite:  I'm hooked on the bubbles! (lol)

My trip to the grocery store each week is usually filled with good intentions, I even make it out the door with healthy choices, but the stresses of the week become too much and my will power loses its oomph.  When I get home and am making the dinner choice -- broccoli and cauliflower just don't make the top of the list when I'm stressed! 

So today, with a weekly plan, and a shopping list in hand ....... off I go to the grocery store!
Wish me luck!

Me Time

Here it is, my last day in Calif.  I've had a good visit with my Mom, and siblings.   Even got to spend some quality time with my BFF as well!   But I'm ready to be home, too.  I've spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to see my parents, and I'm ready for some time to do my own thing(s) as well.  I know that I ramble on and on, with resolutions, new challenges, ways for me to improve myself, do creative things.  All good and admirable - but only when things are accomplished, measurable in some way - that's the part that makes me feel "successful".

When I get home, it is my plan, my goal, to follow the motto "Less is More".

I can recall when I visited Arizona back in 2007, and made up my mind that it was time to move there.  I was tired of Ohio, tired of not having any family or support.  I needed to be closer to my parents (which proved correct over time).  And even without knowing when or how it would happen, I began packing up boxes.  Things I didn't use, things I could do without out.  Every day, I packed one box up.  As moving day moved closer, I had an entire 10foot section along the wall in my dining room covered in packed up boxes (i could get same sized boxes from work each day, so that made packing up a truck much easier!)

But the thing that amazed me the most was how I was able to live a "minimalist" lifestyle - and actually enjoyed it!  It was tough packing up clothes, because of the variable temps from summer to winter in Ohio, but one doesn't need 5 sweatshirts when just 1 will make do.  One dressy outfit was enough to get me by on those occasions when that's required.  And knick knacks and memorabilia that one tends to accumulate, especially when you have kids, having those boxed up meant less dusting, etc.  And there was a lot of freedom in that!

So that is my goal for the next ... oh, lets take it one week at a time.  I want to concentrate on me, to eat better, to make better choices, and to make it to the gym after work every day.  I need to do this.  For myself.   Because I'm worth it, too.

Something New!

Sunday, a day of rest.  And resting we are!  Time for some football, and this isn't easy!  The 49ers are playing the Az Cardinals... and I don't know who to root for!  Well, in fact, most of the year, I root for both teams, and today, I'm just rooting for each play to go well, no matter which team has the ball. But.  In the end, because it will make a difference in moving forward to playoffs, I hope AZ wins!

I took "the girls" (my mom and her sister) to church - because I am always the driver. hehehe  It was a good service, same church I was raised in; that part doesn't change. We stopped off and had lunch at Chili's, and that's never been bad.  We were talking about ordering food at restaurants - how often do we go in and order the same old foods?   I can remember years ago when I would order something "safe", like a burger or sandwich that I would be familiar with.  But .... almost always, food in a restaurant is really good.  So today, I gambled and ordered a Quesadilla Explosion Salad.  It was a mixed greens salad with little tortilla strips, pico de gallo, and a honey lime type dressing that sort of exploded with flavor in your mouth.  It was served with a cheese quesadilla on the side.  This was probably the best salad I've had in a restaurant in a long time!


But my point?  We're always worrying about ordering something we know we will like that we don't venture out of our comfort zone and try something new.  That doesn't apply to just food in a restaurant, however.  It works that way in life as well.  We should always strive to try new things, to see what we're capable of, to push our personal limits and use that to grow.

So go out there,
be bold, be brave
and try something new!