Mantras

I have two mantras or quips or slogans I LOVE, one for diet and one for exercise.

It Starts With Food

That's the title of the first Whole30 book.  And lordy is it true.  Until I tried a W30, I didn't realize how connected EVERYTHING in my body is to the food I put in my mouth.  Mood, joints, energy, skin, brain function, sleep, sinuses, sex, immune system, gut health, weight (of course) and more.

Intellectually (and as a nurse) I know those connections exist (duh), but I didn't "know" it.  Sure, I know I gain weight when I eat too much.  I know my stomach would protest after a night of junk eating.  Etc, etc, etc.  But my knee pain??  My sex life??  My mood?? Yes and yes and yes.

This last W30 and subsequent "off" W30 really drove it home again (I take a long time to really, really get a message - ugh).  I need to be aware.  I have thresholds and certain foods don't agree with ME.  Everyone is different.  Everyone's best diet is different. But everyone's health STARTS WITH FOOD.

When I'm trolling the pantry, I TRY to remember this mantra.  Is the less-healthy (for ME) choice worth it?


Just Do It

Thanks Nike.  3 simple words.  When I procrastinate working out - boom - Just Do It.  When I get stuck deciding how to work out - often the answer is simple.  Just Do It.

I'm lucky exercise is part of my life - no matter my size, my age, my mood, my location, my vacation, etc.  It's a part of my routine and I feel confident it always will be.  The what and how changes here and there, but the routine of it never leaves me.

Just Do It.  Overthinking is the beginning of talking myself out of it.  There is plenty of time to figure out the "best" way to exercise or something that feels fun or something that is exciting. None of that REALLY matters.  What matters is I DO SOMETHING.  The rest can work itself out.

And a little secret - I don't usually like working out.  I like the way I feel when I've finished working out.  It doesn't HAVE to be fun, exciting, joyful, blah, blah, blah.  It can be, but isn't often (for me).

Just Do It.