On my quest for health there will of course be several obstacles, both big and small that I will have to overcome. The two biggest are definitely exercise and vegetables. Vegetables aren't nearly as challenging as they once were because only a couple of years ago I was a self proclaimed vegetable hater. No questions asked, I hated vegetables. Being from southern small town USA I have grown up on the "meat and potatoes diet" and if and when there was a vegetable to found it was either drowning in butter, smothered in cheese, or deep fried--and don't forget ranch dressing. However, I suffered through, made myself eat vegetables and can now honestly say that I have learned to like and even enjoy vegetables. I actually had an epiphany about this a couple of weeks ago. I was at dinner at an Asian cuisine restaurant and when I got my meal there was a LOT more meat than vegetables. Previously I would have been delighted at the sight of so much meat but this time my thought was--where are the vegetables?
Exercise is truly my biggest obstacle as I am a self proclaimed lazy person. Don't get me wrong, I love the euphoric, post exercise feeling. But getting myself to the gym to run on the treadmill or getting myself out of my warm, cozy, comfy bed to do a video is the difficult part. I even enjoy the feeling of my heart and blood pumping once I get started but the getting started is what is difficult. For the longest time I strived to do my work outs first thing in the morning so that I would still have to shower, get ready and put on make up, make myself "beautiful". But let's be honest, each morning I have an epic battle with the snooze button just to get to class, much less to get up and work out. Therefore, I have started working out in the afternoons and it is working perfectly. Work outs are a great way to de-stress and after a long day of classes, a date with the treadmill seems to be just what I need.
For small obstacles the most pressing one will be the convention that I am attending this weekend, themed "The Finer Things in Life" and sponsored by Godiva Chocolate, so you know where this one is going. I am thinking of chocolate covered chicken entrees and all sorts of wonderfully delicious Godiva chocolate thrown around the hotel to eat whenever you wish. (And I used to think the cheesecake at dinner was a vice to be reckoned with). I know that I can do this though. I have the willpower to overcome and I can overcome this small obstacle in much the same way that I overcame my aversion to vegetables. My plan for the weekend is to pack myself snacks so that I don't get ravishingly hungry and therefore won't be as tempted to over indulge in chocolate. And don't get the wrong idea--I am not an extremist who thinks there should be no chocolate and no sweets. We all have to treat ourselves occasionally but the goal is to not over indulge and to not use food as a reward. I actually just had a decadent piece of dark chocolate. Speaking of, if the Godiva sponsors milk chocolate, I have nothing to be concerned about, another recent re-training of my taste buds.
Until next time, wish me luck.
No comments:
Post a Comment