Wednesday, March 26, 2008

getting back on track tips

the home improvement project continues. last night i painted two coats of varnish on the newly black tv unit, painted one wall in the den pink (one coat so far), and painted a frame black. i also took lots of empty boxes down to my storage locker. some of you might remember that i bought the debbie travis paintable wallpaper for the one pink wall in the den... i've decided it's a no go. i did the measurements last night and i would need to buy another roll and truthfully, i can't be bothered to hang it up and make sure the patterns match and stuff. it's too much work. so the wall will have to be pink on its own with no texture and hopefully that will be interesting enough. (it is... it's vividly pink.)

i didn't mention this before but i have this thursday, friday, and monday off of work. i have vacation days from 2007 that i have to use up before the end of march or else they vanish into thin air. poof! i only get 2 weeks of paid vacation a year so of course i greedily hold onto those days in case something comes up and i need to lickity split. of course nothing comes up haha. but i am going to use those days for painting. *finishing* painting so i never have to talk about it again.

i just read this article which had some pretty good tips for getting back on track if you've fallen off the wagon. so here are a few (that aren't plugging the website...)

1. Try a short workout. Even five minutes is better than nothing.

2. Try a new recipe. Cooking healthy foods can be fun and it never has to be bland.

3. Eat a healthy breakfast. Your morning meal sets the stage for the rest of your day, so start if off right! Get lots of breakfast ideas here.

4. Drink your water. Try to aim for 8 cups each day and you’ll feel the difference!

5. Read success stories online.

6. Track your food today. No matter how it adds up, you’ll learn from it.

7. Share your goals.

8. Exercise for 10 minutes. Jump rope, march in place, or do some crunches. Small amounts do add up to something big!

9. Find a buddy. Get support from friends, whether you need someone to listen or a mentor to give you ideas and encouragement.

10. Take a walk. Don’t worry about how long or far you go—just get out there!

11. Go shopping for some healthy foods.

12. Check the nutrition facts before you go out to eat. That way, you can make an informed choice.

13. Ride your bike. Even a leisurely ride has benefits for your body and mind.

14. Work in the yard. Gardening and yard work is a great way to add activity to your day.

15. Take the stairs. Even if this is the only thing you do all day, you’ll feel stronger for it.

16. Listen to an inspirational song. Better yet, make a playlist of them so you can turn to it whenever you need a boost.

17. Measure your portions. It’s a simple way to learn how much you’re eating.

18. Eat a piece of fruit. Even if 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables sounds impossible to you, one is doable.

19. Slow down during meals. You’ll be less likely to overeat and more likely to enjoy your meal.

20. Play! What kids call “play,” we often call “exercise.” Play a sport, a game, or use the playground equipment to bring the fun back into fitness.

21. Learn something new. Sometimes simply taking a quiz or reading an article about nutrition, fitness, or health can change your mindset and get you back on track.

personally, i love shopping for healthy foods, and reading success stories online - but sometimes i forget about these things.
i'm very busy at work so i'll post workout and menu for today... tomorrow!

13 comments:

Jenn said...

I think the pink wall will be interesting enough on its own. I don't have the patience to match patterns or textures either.

Enjoy your time off work! It will be a fun little break as you transform your house. :)

Randi said...

Make sure you show us pictures when it's all done!

I like the "play" idea. I should join a sport or something. doesn't have to be a super hard workout.

Unknown said...

I can't wait to see how the house turns out! And woo hoo about days off! Sounds great! Like a spring break, during spring break time!

Anne said...

Can't wait to see all of your hard work when it's done :)

Great tips btw, they're so true.

Anne said...

oh yeah, I'm back to blogging :)

P.O.M. said...

My fav is finding new healthy recipes online :)

Lex said...

great post!! lots of great suggestions!!

hope you have a good time off work!!

Erin said...

I find that if I can work out in the morning then I have a great day. It is like I had a good start and I don't want to negate my work out by eating crap.

I totally agree with the one about trying a new recipe. I find that I get bored sometimes by eating the same thing day in and day out. New flavours can really keep me on track!

Vanessa said...

Nice tips! I miss my bike :( can't wait for winter to be gone!

Laura said...

Wow! 2 weeks? I can understand why you hold on to those days. Working at a university has its perks (I won't add insult to injury by telling you how many days I get). You have my sympathies. Enjoy your extra long weekend!

Thanks for the tips. I need to get back on track.

Carolyn said...

I love these tips. Very inspriing and you are so right...every little buit adds up and a little bit is always better than nothing at all. You are going to rock it and get rid of that pesky gain in no time!

eurydice said...

oh people, i wish i were at work still haha. i like the routine and this painting task seems so dautning.

and laura: some people in my company have 5-6 weeks... but they have been working there for much longer than me. :( two weeks is really a punishment!

Claudia said...

Thanks so much for posting the tips. I've had a crazy few weeks (finishing up my thesis, defending my thesis, packing to move from NC to TX, plus getting engaged... it's been insane around here!) and I've let my good eating and working out habits go down the toilet! I'm moving to TX this weekend and am starting a new job on Monday, so next week is my week to get back on track - your tips are perfectly timed. Thanks! :o)

PS - will you be posting pics of your new pink wall?!