Little Steps

I’ve had Bob Greene’s “Best Life Diet” book for a while now.  Picking it up here and there.  I never went through with the plan because I felt it was too slow going, too gradual – not RESULTS IMMEDIATELY based.  Ha.  If only I started back then… but enough of that!  Since my youngest has been in tumbling, while my oldest is in school – I’ve been bringing the book with me for the one-per-week 30 minutes I have completely alone (well, except for the other loud mothers talking about banal and facile things) – I’ve been able to get through a lot of the book and yeah, it’s been making me think and BELIEVE that gradual is the way to go – and if it’s for anyone, it’s for ME.
So, right now I’m on stage one of the Best Life Diet… kind of.  I don’t know if I’m going to stick with it’s eating plan, I’ll see as I get into it.  However, month one on the plan is pretty much no diet change – it’s exercise, not eating late, eating breakfast, drinking lots of water and that’s about it.  I’ll pick up the book and let you know exactly – but it’s in the car right now.  But these changes are changes I CAN make.  I’m comfortable with making them now.  They’re not too overwhelming.  Yesterday, I went to the gym – it’s been a while since I had gone and it felt GREAT to be there.  I walked 1.25 miles.  Not very far, but it got me moving and felt good.  I rewarded my soul with a sit down in the eucalyptus steam room and a shower – uninterupted by my own children, since I was at the gym – haha.  That felt REALLY great, I must say – just having time to myself without rushing around and hearing my kids fight.  My youngest was in school, my oldest in the child center – which I’m so happy is incredible because my kids like to go – so I don’t have too much momguilt about leaving them there.  It was great!

The rest of the day, I chose water over other drinks and limited myself to one diet soda – which eventually I will cut down to very ocassionally, but for now, these baby steps are working for me – and making me feel like less of a complete failure and that does wonders for the soul, too.

Today, after coming back from dropping my oldest at school, I put the 3yo on her bike and we took the dog for a walk in the sunshine – SUCH a wonderful break from all the grey, snow and drear we’ve been having since SEPTEMBER, it seems.  So, yay, I got in a few more steps.  I’m still planning on getting to the gym today – so that will make me really smile.

SO yeah, that’s what I’m up to – gradual approach.  I’m hoping this gradual approach and breaking away from “everything is failure if not perfection” will do me a lot of good.  Because maybe it will become easy, habit even, so when I introduce other life changes, it won’t be so overwhelming!