2015 is a good year to make some changes that are lasting. I have found that no matter how dedicated you can be about eating the right things it's one of the most difficult addictions to kick.
Memories associated with certain foods or TV ads that push certain foods that trigger remembrances are the hardest to resist.
It's very easy to fool myself into believing I can have something even though I don't need it just because it doesn't bother me but I've realized in some instances, I can have low-grade reactions. Even the very idea that I'm eating something beyond what I need puts weight on my body - weight that is rooted in fat not muscle.
In my case both in 2013 and 2014 the holidays meant having sugar. In 2013 I weighed enough that it didn't really matter because I stayed at about the same weight because I hadn't lost that much but in 2014 I gained weight because I had lost enough. Now I have to look at myself in the mirror and know that I need to change 365 days a year.
Having fellowship and having memories of family and good times is not a reason to eat. I can have relationships I can have a social life but I need to be clear on what I need to eat to digest properly.
I don't have the resiliency of a 20-year-old anymore and whether or not I like it, it's true as I age my digestion has changed and I must change my eating habits accordingly.
It's been a hard lesson for me to learn but luckily I can still fit into the new clothes I bought and the new shoes.
We all have a job to do and for me its to stay as healthy as possible to be a good citizen and I also have learned the best way to do this is through moving my body, cleaning, eating right, and working as hard as I can on each thing I need to do.
Managing my asthma symptoms is another big thing I've been tackling in 2014. So far I have learned that there's a different way of managing triggered asthma versus constant asthma. Triggered asthma doesn't need long acting medicine but more short-term types. Also, controlling sinus symptoms is key to not having flare ups. One of my biggest triggers is dry air so I've been humidifying my apartment helps much to stop symptoms. Knowing the triggers and avoiding them as much as possible is better than any medication.
Along with proper diet and controlling my asthma I've discovered sustainable exercise is best when completed daily for at least 30 minutes. I have been able to ride my bike on a fly wheel that simulates the road and walking through my apartment building to replace outside activity whenever weather keeps me indoors.
I found that I do best when instead of being discouraged when I fail, I rededicate myself to those things worth doing. Eating food because it sustains my body in the best way possible instead of as a comfort or reward works best for me. I have to keep food as a means of fueling the body not as a means of satisfying me emotionally.
I hope you find a solution to staying healthy happy that works for you.
Keep on working on being the best person you can be when doing all the activities you need to do in a day. I pray to be the best driver I can be when I drive, the best worker I can be when working, and the best eater I can be when eating. It works for all the things I do in the course of a day.
I've been discovering other ways of getting enjoyment besides finding it in types of food and drink. There's ways to stay busy. I ask myself - what needs doing right now to be a good citizen and I find many things that need doing.
I'm hopeful to find the strength and courage to follow my dreams in 2015 even more so than I was able to in 2013 and 2014. Everyone has set backs I've discovered I want to succeed.
Good night and peace to all.
