Healthier Eating Habits

I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions. Probably because I'm not one for sticking with them. However, I have been trying to implement some healthier eating habits, even if they're small changes. They could yield positive results. I'll be the first to admit, I like food and I like to indulge. I have a hard time saying "no" to desserts and I definitely stopped counting how many cookies, slices of pie and helpings of ice cream I've enjoyed between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Yikes! As my coworker Todd likes to remind everyone in the office, the 4th of July is just around the corner.

I'll also be the first to admit that I avoid exercise like the plague. Unless it's something fun like soccer, a bike ride, or an occasional game of tennis in the summer (who am I kidding?), I live a fairly docile life. Does rigorously cleaning the house count? Laps at the mall? Exercise is SO boring, inconvenient and tiresome. Right now I'm focusing on my diet and pretending that exercise doesn't exist. You probably shouldn't listen to me.


The following are 5 small things that I have been trying to do (although not terribly successfully). I'm hoping that putting it out there for people to read and maybe even hold me accountable might help. And seeing as it's the last day of January, I might just make the new year's resolution deadline! 

1. Drink more water
Sounds easy enough, but I don't know how people actually drink 8 glasses a day. I keep a water bottle on my desk and it takes me the whole day to even come close to drinking one.

2. Dilute juice with water
What I do love to drink is fruit juice. And lots of it. Orange, cranberry, grape, you name it. But that's a lot of sugar. So, I've been trying to cut my juice with part water or ice. It's actually not bad and I like that ice keeps it chilled.

3. Less bread

This is a difficult one if you're a bread-lover like me. A fresh loaf of crusty Italian bread is like water to my soul (or in my case, juice to my soul). I'm not planning on eliminating it from my diet, just eating fewer slices. As in, not ripping off the heal of a fresh loaf while driving home from the deli. 

 4. More salads and vegetables
I really do like salads and vegetables. It's more a matter of keeping veggies on hand and incorporating them into my daily meals. I love fruit too. I blame winter for making fresh fruit and veggies not as readily available or affordable. I'm going to need to get creative with my salad making and try to plan ahead more.

5. Fewer sweets
This. One. Is. The. Killer. I don't just have a sweet tooth, I have a whole set of sweet teeth. Brownies, cake, candy, gum, muffins - they all call my name. They are dear comforting friends. I want to make a more conscious effort to limit my sugar intake and eat fewer sweets. We'll see how this goes. Those 100 calorie packs are pretty satisfying during that afternoon junk food craving. So are caramel rice cakes. 


How about you? Any healthful eating suggestions or new year's resolutions you'd like to share?

Happy New Year!

Happy new year! I wish you health, happiness and many blessings in 2010. Looking back on 2009, I have so much to be thankful for ~ wonderful family & friends, a cozy home that keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the summer (and I get to decorate it!), a great job, good health, and the list could go on and on.

Many people are picking one word or phrase as the theme of their new years resolution(s). I think I will too. I could probably write a mile long list of goals, accomplishments and improvements for this year, but I think keeping it focused on one or two is a much more achievable task. Don't you?

This year, my word is Gratitude and my action is Love. I consider myself to be generally thankful. I try not to take things for granted and rarely forget to say "Thank you". But I want to have an attitude of sincere gratitude, at work, at home, with my family and friends, and most importantly gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's far too easy to look around at the things that others have, and start the comparison game. Instead of seeing what I think I may be lacking, I want to focus on all the things that I have been blessed with. And to put my gratitude into practice, I want to exude more love. Not just saying "I love you" here and there, or doing nice things for people because I feel like it's the right thing to do. Really and truly loving others. Love demonstrated toward my husband, my family, my friends, co-workers, strangers at the grocery store, even crazy drivers during traffic (I may need to add patience to my list for that one!).  I believe that the more grateful you are in your heart, the more love you will have to show. I want to be that kind of person. "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Here's to 2010!