meatless monday springing into fitness

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go.

-- Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe 

Y'all, Spring is upon us!

This year, Spring Cleaning begins not inside my home (which has sorely needed it since Spring, last, but seems to be holding up, bravely) but, rather, with me.

Perhaps it's being surrounded by an abundance of natural life, which relies on the four seasons, rather than a paper calendar, to direct it's life-cycle. Maybe the introspection of a closing year, the shorter days, the sunlight lacking, all combine to make me feel one with the dormant winner, not ready to birth changes that the new year seems to bring forth for others. Possibly, it's linked to the annual retreat in March, just completed, when, along with sharing precious time with precious friends, we take time to examine our lives--considering, and reconsidering, contemplating what might stay, and what might go.

 
Whatever the reason, resolutions, for me, come about not in January, but as the earth awakens. The days are a bit longer. Nature's abloom. It's time for Spring Cleaning.

Let's get personal.  

This precious Spring is the last of my 40's.  Some would consider that a time for letting go.  It feels as if I've something to get started.  Both a letting go, and a getting started.

And just for the sake of staying committed, I'm sharing it here, with you.  I'm going to get started taking better care of this temple I've been assigned.  I'm going to let go of dreading the idea.

I'm Springing Into Fitness, and I'm inviting you along.

In fact, I'm going to do something quite bold for me. I'm going to go as far as to keep a running tally of my progress.  Pounds lost. Inches whittled. Distance gained. Progress made.

And I'm going to do all the 'fessing up on these Meatless Monday features, through the middle of December, when the deed will be done-- I'll have turned fifty.

!!! (insert shark-infested waters theme music)

I welcome you all to do the same, if you'd like. (Not if you'd like to turn 50. You have no choice in that matter. You either have, or you will, so no laughing at me!) Help a sister out, and meet me here next Monday to hold my feet to the fire.

It's gonna take a village, y'all.

Seriously. Fifty is right up the road. It's huge and looming and daring me.  I'm planning to meet it with courage and purpose. I'm planning on fit being the new fifty.

It's a Fabulous Fifty, I'm planning.

++++++++++++++++++

The Plan of Action

Tools!

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
Abraham Lincoln.

Tools are important.  Good tools make good work.Technology is the newest, shiniest fitness tool, and there are scads of (free!) fitness and health management tools available online, as well as apps to carry with you via smartphone.  I'll be sharing all kinds of tools I find, and welcome you to do the same, in the comments below.  We're all in this together!


Tools will help support our focus on three keys to fitness:

• Get Moving: Keeping the Pep in Your Step
• Habits: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
• Fueling the Machine:  Eating Well for Health and Wellness

This week, we begin to...

Get Moving:  Keeping the Pep in Your Step

While working around the farm can be quite physical, there is a lot of sedentary work for a writer, the second part of this life.  The dogs and I enjoy the occasional hike,  but this week, we're going to ADD at least 30 minutes of cumulative, sustained activity to our day, 6 days a week.  We'll gradually increase that time to an hour of additional exercise.  Be sure to start slowly, building your exercise program over a few weeks, to give your body, and mind, time to adjust.  Useful links and tools include

• How to Start a Fitness Program, Web MD.
• Fitness Programs: 5 Steps to Getting Started, Mayo Clinic
• Begin a Fitness Walking Program and Zero to 60 Beginning Walking Schedule from The Walking Site.

Habits: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Studies show that people who use food diaries tend to lose more weight and keep it off longer than those who don’t.  We begin with the basics, simply recording the time and amount of everything we eat or drink.  Additionally, you may find it helpful to record your emotions, thoughts, felonious temptations, whatever you find affects your diet.  We're going to keep it simple for now.  Find templates, apps, and suggestions from

• Starting Your Food Diary, Eating Well Magazine
• Five Best Weight Management Tools, Lifehacker
• Food and Fitness Planner, WebMD

Fueling the Machine: Eating Well for Health and Wellness

Becoming aware of how the foods we consume, by using the tools, above, either promote or inhibit our fitness goals will be ongoing, helping us to develop control over our choices.  This week, we'll concentrate on determining our personal body mass indices, basal metabolic rate, setting weight loss and/or fitness goals, and determining caloric consumption and activity levels necessary to achieve these goals.  Some tools that are helpful include

• Health Calculators, Health Status
• S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting for Fitness and Weight Management, Fitness Mantra
• You, Inc.: A Practical Guide to Setting Fitness Goals, Experience Life

So, really.  I'd love to have you join me.  Researchers contend that it’s easier to stick with a weight loss plan when you have support, can share tips on diet and exercise and have an exercise buddy. I need a buddy!  Or two, or a few, or more! Wherever you are on the path to wellness-- whether beginner, fully engaged in your passionate pursuit, or an absolute swami of health, we could all use your encouragement, your experience, your motivation, your pratfalls, your victories, your example, and your will.  

Where are you along your path to wellness?