| It's already February and my plans to eat better and exercise in the NewYear are still sitting on a "To Do" list.Yes, I know, this happens to lots ofpeople, but that doesn't make me feel any better. |
| You and your lists. Thingslike lose weight, exercise,eat healthy are too vague to put on a list. If you werea smoker, would you put "StopSmoking" on a list? |
| OK, poor choice of words. They're not really on a written list, they'rejust goals I set for myself. |
| That is even worse. Do you expect you will magicallydo it without any daily reminders – or interim targetgoals? And, what is your motivation? |
| Thanks. That makes me feel even worse. |
| Get over it. You cannotchange the past. But, February is a perfect time to start again. |
| February is too much like January – cooler weather that lends itself tocomfort food and just wanting to nest. Plus,it gets dark early. |
| Those are just excuses. February is perfect because it is American Heart Month.And, heart disease isthe leading cause ofdeath – for both men and women. |
| That's definitely a good reason.The irony is that I know what to do. Ijust can't seem to find the motivationto keep it going for more than a fewdays. But when it comes to eating welland exercising, nothing seems to deter you. |
| That is because every morning, I walk into a large closet filled withsize 2 clothing. |
| That's funny. |
| Funny or not, itis the truth. I have alwaysbeen a clothes horse. Now, decades later,I have asignificant investment hanging in mycloset. And, since almost everything is timeless and classic, I would beextremely annoyed if it no longer fit. |
| Well, even if it's something us "mere mortals" can't relate to, at least it keeps you motivated. I just don't haveanything like that in my life. |
| Really?! I can name twothings. |
| Well, I'm not sure Natasha and Sawyer would want to be referred to as"things", but I see your point. I think I did abetter job staying fit when they wereyounger and truly needed me every day. Plus, when I was cooking for them, I wasmore focused on healthy eating. Now that they're older, they don't need me asmuch. |
| That sounds like more excuses. They may no longer need you as cook andchauffeur, but they need yourlife experience and unconditionallove as they struggle with the challenges of young adulthood. |
| Ok, I don't know whether to start feelingguilty right now or sadbecause I'm not taking good enough care of myself tobe there for them. And hopefully for a long time to come. |
| The third option is to stop being so dramatic, and just start takingbetter care of yourself. Although Jewishguilt is often an excellentmotivator, that was not my intention. |
| Thanks for reminding me that takingcare of myself is NOT selfish, because it's aboutmore than me. |
| Do you rememberthe airplane and oxygen mask analogy? |
| Oh, yes. It was one of your trickquestions. You askedme if I was on a plane with thegirls and we lost altitude,causing the oxygen masks to drop, would I first put the mask on myself or the girls. I answered the girls, ofcourse. You then pointedout that if I didn't take care ofmyself first, I wouldn't be in a position to help them. |
| So, if you rememberedthat, why have you not been taking better care of yourself? |
| Easy. Because day-to- day livingkeeps distracting me. At leastI'm good with having all my annual examsdone because a reminder pops up on my computer. And beforeyou ask, yes, that includes having my blood pressure and cholesterol checked. |
| Good, because getting "your numbers" is an importantfirst step in diagnosing heart disease.But, is it critical to realize that sinceit is the #1 killer of men and women, we are all at risk. Youalways think it will happen to someone else. |
| Well, let me break the news toyou, that's just human nature. Plus, most people aren't into numbers like youare. But now that I think about it,given our family history, we may be more at risk than other people. |
| How many more reasons do you needto start eating healthier andexercising more?How about the financial Implications? Thecost of medical care if you get sick. What if you have a stroke and need long-term care? |
| Just the thought ofthat makes me sick. |
| Cute, but the good news is thatyou can always be a burdenon your children; whereas since I live alone, ifsomething happens to me, I will haveto hire someone to help me. |
| I'llignore the "burden" comment, but I hope you know that I'm always here for you. |
| I appreciate that. But, between my stubbornness and independence, not tomention, my closest full of clothes, Irather do everything possible toavoid that scenario. That includes being aware of warning symptoms and goingto the doctor sooner versus later. |
| Says the woman who can afford to have a stress test and other diagnostictests done when there weren't even anysymptoms. |
| I wanted a baseline forfuture comparisons. And, peace of mind that there were no"silent symptoms". |
| As a mom, I'm more inclined to take a "dowhat I say, not what I do" approach.I've always taken thegirls to the doctors when something was wrong, but not myself. Let's face it,most of the time stuff goes away, so I'm not going to start running to thedoctor for every little thing. |
| I am merely saying that you cannot be an ostrich with your head in the sand when it comes to yourhealth. Ignoring symptoms doesnot make them go away. Not taking care of yourselfcan have serious implications.But, it is up to you what you do … you can make smartdecisions now or regret it later. |
| Well, that's brutally honest. |
| Yes, it is. Would thiswork better? … Since people associate the heart with love, take care of yourheart because then you arealso taking care of those you love. |
| Ok, you being warm and fuzzy is a bit alarming. But it has motivated meto go for a walk and think about how I'mgoing to not only begin, but maintain,my "new and improved" lifestyle. |
| Mission accomplished. |
Want to read other columns? Here's a list.
| I know everyone’s always trying to find balance in their life. I thought becoming an empty nester would make that easier, but apparently not. The girls may be grown, but being a mom doesn’t end when your children move out. Between them, Red & Black, and my seemingly endless lists of things to do, I still struggle. |
| And, as I am a die-hard workaholic who admits to not having a life, you think I have the answer? |
| Excellent point. Never mind. |
| However, I do have some suggestions … although I will preface it with, "Do as I say, not as I do." |
| At this point, I'll take whatever help I can get. |
| Sometimes you need to make a conscious effort to stay present. And, by that I mean appreciate what is happening now instead of thinking about what is next. Or, reminiscing about the past. |
| That sounds good, but it also sounds overly simplistic, not to mention highly optimistic. And where would I even start? |
| Easy. It really is as simple as 1 – 2 – 3. |
| Nothing's that simple. |
| 1. SLOW down and look around 2. STOP using your gizmo and consider putting it away 3. GO spend time with family or friends, or steal some "alone time" |
| Actually, that does sound simple. Now I just have to remember to SLOW – STOP –GO. |
| Just imagine a traffic light. Plus, it would have the added benefit of every time you see a real traffic light, it will remind you to SLOW –STOP – GO. |
| I should've known there'd be a car or driving analogy in there somewhere. |
| Throttle on ... |
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