Health and Wellness: My Primary Personal Goal This Year (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

Health and Wellness: My Primary Personal Goal This Year

[Niki]

Ok, I'm with you!

Two years ago I lost about 18Kg (39 pounds). I was very happy about it and was only 4Kg (8 pounds) away from my goal!

Now, today. I'm back where I started. I need to redo it all the way.

I think this is a great opportunity to get started again and to stay motivated.

I will be posting updates whenever you update. Thanks for this opportunity and Good Luck!!!

My current body measurements

Height: 1.71m (5.6 feet)
Weight: 93Kg (205 pounds)
waistline : 103cm (40,55 inches)

My goal:
Having a weight of 71Kg (156.5 pounds)

[jpletting]

Though I don't recall making a conscious commitment to working on my health and fitness in 2009, it seems to have become my primary personal choice by default. Funnily enough everything converged right at the end of the year to facilitate this change in a fun and pain-free way!

-- I got a bitchin' new computer, and thus was finally able to download and burn workout videos--all sorts! Yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, kick-a-robics, Tae Bo, The NYC Ballet Co. Warmup workout, boot camps, cardio and even a martial arts staff fighting workout. I realized I need LOTS of variety if I'm to keep up with any kind of exercise routine. This is like having 20 fun classes available to me whenever I want.

--A few mornings over the winter I woke up in the wee hours to vomit the previous night's meal. I can't even tell you what made me sick or why it took so long, but I quit processed foods after that. A heavy association with vomit is pretty much all anyone needs to not want to eat a thing again! (Okay, so this isn't really "pain-free"...)

--I went looking for new tea ideas to make the break from coffee and ended up learning about kombucha. While posting an ad for kombucha starter on Craigslist, I found a woman giving away extra water kefir crystals! They're supposed to be amazing for vegans and raw foodists for promoting healthy gut flora, regulating digestion and getting those live cultures most often found in dairy. Now I'm drinking kefir water daily and trying to figure out which raw foods I can start the boys on that they'll actually eat. I was once vegan and am working my way there again, but sometimes it's not financially feasible when you're the only one in the house with a "special" diet. As I was walking out her door, I love that she asked that I never sell them and pass on my extra to others with love and "maintain the purity of the crystals." Vegans are so awesome!

Also, I'm loving my morning exercises and very excited to start seeing some results soon. All of which is to say, I'm on this train with you this year, let's kick (and work off) some butt!

I think it's customary on some diet/weight loss sites to post your starting weight/current weight/goal weight with each post, so mine's below.

5'6" (1.68m)
154/151/125 (70kg/68/57)

[yoscolo]

This thread is a great idea, Erin -- I'm on board!

I've also made health and wellness one of my major areas of focus for this year. My goal is to significantly alter my diet, engage in a daily fitness regime, and lose 30 lbs during the next six months.

I officially kick-started my efforts a few weeks ago. In addition to changing my diet (I'm going with the "Zone" for now), I've managed to get out running 5-6 days a week (I'm now up to 2-3 miles), and I work out at the gym 3-4 days a week. So far, the results have been encouraging: I've lost 5 lbs in about 3 weeks (I started out at 215 and am now at 210).

Each day I remind myself that a few minutes of pain while running and/or working out is a price worth paying for optimal health -- and maybe even keeping myself alive. My family's health legacy has been a major motivator. My dad suffered a heart attack a few years ago, my mom's two brothers had heart attacks in their late 40s, and my mom's father had multiple heart attacks. I'm only 46 -- I sure don't want to be next!

Another thing that has worked well for me is to crank up my portable mp3 player to full volume when I run or work out -- the more intense the music the better. Metallica's latest album, "Death Magnetic," usually does the trick... It may sound a bit morbid, but it works for me! My ears have been ringing a bit lately though... :-)

It would be interesting to hear what other forum visitors do to motivate themselves.

- Steve

[Solas]

Hi Erin, and everyone,

First of all - I wish you the very best to achieve your goal for this year.

Inspired by Steve's idea of having a major goal for the year, I decided to also focus on my health for 2009.
Mostly I want to lose weight and lose my belly. I also want to alter my diet to include lots of fresh fruit and veg, and get rid of cravings for sweet and carbohydrate foods. My baseline is very low - poor diet and very little self-discipline.

Progress so far:
Since my diet was so bad, in mid-Dec I started a 30 day trial to eat at least one piece of raw fruit, veg or greens every day. Yes just one piece! My diet really was shocking. I allowed myself to eat whatever else I wanted, so I didn;t feel deprived. I think that was key to success of the trial. By the end, I was having more than one piece of raw food, I developed a liking for the taste of raw food, making delicious salads with lots of greens, smoothies, even finding a piece of fruit more satisfying than a biscuit, or even half a pack. Not that I would say no to a cookie!

In Jan I started a second 30 day trial to not eat after 8pm. I can drink herb tea or water in the evening, and during the day I can eat whatever I like. Usually I snack a lot in the evenings, munching on biscuits, bread, chocolate till I go to bed. This is turning out to be very interesting for me. In my whole life I have rarely had the feeling of my stomach being empty, as I am constantly snacking. It has made me realise that a lot of the time I am hungry in my head and not in my stomach. In a strange way it is quite a nice physical feeling to have an empty stomach. Though I am finding this trial is fairly easy to do, it is a little more challenging than the previous, and the novelty is wearing off. For example, as I am writing this the thought keeps coming into my head to get something to eat (it is 11.30 pm), but I am not so tempted as to give in. I know the thinking is just a habit. Where I think of food when I don;t know what else to do, or what to write next.

I had to start this trial after 12 days, so though I am officially on day 12 it is 24 days since I first started. I was away at a work meeting, and some nights we went out to dinner at 10 pm! Apart from the lure of a delicious meal, I was also not brave enough to stick to my trial. To be honest I was disappointed in myself for that, but I will tackle lack of courage another time.

I have not lose any weight. A bit surprising, since I have cut out loads of biscuits by not eating at night. However, I am not worried about that just yet. For the moment I am trying to build up some good habits, so that when I attack the challenge of losing 1.5 stone (21 lb), I will have lots of good structures in place to help me. I am also trying to build up some self-discipline by sticking to 30 day trials.

So I will post on my progress occasionally. Perhaps my dismal state of affairs and attempts to improve will be of interest to someone. And I will be very interested to see what others have to say, and your experiences with your good health adventures in 2009.


Solas

[Erin Pavlina]

I'd love it if everyone posted updates periodically. I'll probably just pick a certain day of the week and post a progress report and then people can post their progress in the thread.

[adriana]

This was my only 2009 New Year's Resolution. Actually, it's a New Year's Plan Each month, I add something new to what I'm already doing. In January, I've cut out fried foods and sodas. My goal this month is to lose 8 pounds, and I am now 0.8 pounds away from my goal!

I started at 165 (this time) and am currently 158.8, with a goal of 158 even by January 31 and 125 by the end of the year. It's DEFINITELY doable but it takes a lot of work!

I haven't included physical activity into "the plan" yet - BUT - I find that I *want* to go to the gym, so I just go. I'm active at least four days out of the week, and have been since the new year (except for that one week with the deadlines. Then, it was only weekend walking around the lake.)

I'm happy with the way it's going, but it's not effortless. This is party time in Louisiana, and I turned down king cake today...very hard to have that kind of discipline! All my coworkers were REALLY supportive though and wished me the best to make my goal

[MariaSm]

Hi Erin and everybody!
It's a great goal - health and wellness. Good luck everybody who chose it!
Although I have another primary goal for this year, I pay close attention to this as well.
For me the main thing is not to loos weight, but not to gain it -)).
I thought it's really easy to stay on the same level of weight once you reach your ideal weigh, but it's not ! I gained about 5 pounds by last year. We recently had a conversation with my husband about gaining weight and reasons why, and we both admit that it is easy to slip from the right road.
So we decided to stay focus and eat consciously
First we throw away all all sweets and chips, cut off our meals and drink more water. It is helping so fare.
For me it was a real eye opening that it's OK to be a bit hungry. Once you OK with that it's easier to go further on eliminating unnecessary food. I'm learning a lot about my body and my mind by taking these steps.

[kdwiens]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum, though I've been reading Steve's blog for a couple months and yours too Erin ever since you did the 30 day raw food diet. My goal for 2009 is different but certainly related. My goal for 2009 is to make a change in my career and turn my passion for health and fitness into a career. I'm just getting started. I'm currently studying to become certified as a personal trainer and hope to pass the test in the next 2 months. I've spent the last 20 years studying everything I can get my hands on about health and nutrition, weight loss, etc and transformed from my body from being obese to a runner. It's been a long road but I must say, the benefits are countless and your life changes in more ways than you can ever imagine.

You all sound so motivated and passionate. It's so great to find a group like this and I'm excited to hear about all the progress. Erin, can't wait to hear what your dietician says. I'm a vegan too and most "diets" out there don't address that. I think it's great that you all realize it's what you eat (better way to say it than diet) AND exercise that will make a long term difference in your health and fitness. You really have to think about it as a way of life, not as a diet that you will do for a while and then go "off" of. You owe it to yourself to take care of your body. I've struggled with this more than anything. It's not about seeing some magic number on the scale. It's about fueling your body with whole, nutritious foods so that you have the energy to do whatever you want!

Like I said, right now I'm concentrating on studying for a test so I'm just getting started with blogging and I know I need to add more articles but I have a couple that might be helpful. I truly believe that these are small changes you can make that can have a huge impact!
Fitness4Good | EAT to achieve your ideal weight!

There is a link in that post to another about fiber. I can't believe there isn't more emphasis put on this with people trying to lose weight. I truly believe it is the untold secret to people getting to their ideal weight.
Fitness4Good | Fiber: A secret weapon to achieve your ideal weight!

I listened to the webcast of Oprah and Bob Greene the other day and Bob explained some of the reasons our bodies react certain ways. He explained how empty calories - like soda (pop) - for instance, make our body call out for more. The body is craving the nutrients it needs. Those empty calories not only have no nutritional value, they also make the body ask for more food! The same goes for the stuff out there that has had all the nutritional value stripped from it like white flour, white rice, etc. We need to get away from processed foods and back to food the way nature intended. Food is processed to increase shelf life and decrease the cost to produce it. It's all big corporations doing what is good for their bottom line, not what's good for people. We shouldn't be eating high fructose corn syrup and white flour but it's cheap and can sit on the shelf for two (or 10!) years! That's good for food manufacturers but it's not good for the human body!

So now, the exercise program... If you aren't currently exercising, you need to start moving more. Baby steps... For health, you need to get at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week. For weight loss, you should exercise 5 days a week, start with 30 minutes and work your way up to 60. Intensity is important too. Start off with an intensity where you can still talk. If you are short of breath and talking is hard, you need to decrease your intensity. Listen to your body. As you start moving, it will get easier and easier. Your body will react to the work you have asked of it and come back stronger. If you can walk fast this week, soon you will be jogging, or increasing your incline and soon it will be easier. Add hills (or incline to a treadmill) or move faster. Keep challenging your body and it will come back stronger and ready for a bigger challenge!

The next consideration - weight training. Weight training increases your muscles, turns fat to muscle and everyone knows that muscle burns more calories, even while you are sleeping! Get your metabolism going! Make your body work and it will react. What's hard today will be easy in a couple weeks and you will reap the benefits!

Ok, I'll stop for now. I hope someone finds this helpful! Wishing you peace and fitness in 2009!
Karen

[MidasGirl]

All the best Erin. I bet you'll kick butt
My main goal is to kick butt with my money. I feel I have pretty much nailed every other area of my life except this one, what's strange is that intellectually I know money isn't supposed to be elusive.

Will check end of year to see if you achieved your goal.

[Erin Pavlina]

I got my plan yesterday from my dietician. It's going to be challenging but I prefer when Im on some kind of program where I don't have too many things to choose from becuase I tend to make poor choices when it comes to eating. But put me on a plan, and I'm there.

I'm glad you're all with me. I think it helps. I'm going to post updates on Monday mornings.

[lifetimelearner]

Good luck

[DerekH]

I do have some dietary goals for the year.

A 30 day raw vegan trial and a 92 day juice feast(tentative).

I am currently in the process of declaring bankruptcy. So once that is cleared up, I'll have the funds to undertake these trials more effectively.

I am currently on day 7 of 30 of doing egoscue stretches each day. I haven't noticed any major improvements thus far. We will have to see further down the trial though. Its the kind of habit that would be more evident 5-10 years down the road. I'm working as an electrician and I do have to contort my body in many different ways and these stretches will help keep my body in alignment.

Looking forward to seeing your progress Erin!

[Savage]

Just wanted to express my appreciation for everyone who's helping to support and encourage Erin on her weight loss goal. I've been seeing some shifts in her lately. She's really committed to this.

[RRR]

I've been vegan since january 7th? And raw since Obama took office. I must say the difference is very pronounced with raw (pretty much a juice fast). I've shed visible weight and don't really miss cooked food, it helps a ton having new vegan roomates.. <3 Dan & Nick. I'm trying to learn how to exercise with love. I once weighed 250lbs (I'm 5'8''), and got down to around 170 with a lot of fear based exercise. Running only under the cover of darkness, secluding myself from people, eating very bland meals as punishment, overall...an unpleasant experience. I still avoid exercise to this day because I have yet to determine how to make it match my prefered love polarity...it scares the bejesus out of me to think what I'd have to do...

Polarity and Health

To lose weight in a love-polarized way, you might form a support group of people who also want to lose weight. You would commit yourself to their weight loss as well as your own, celebrating their milestones as your own personal victories. You might start a blog to share your weight loss insights with people around the world. You might even kick off something like the Million Dollar Experiment with an intention based around weight loss, and allow people to track their progress. You’d probably provide the service for free or for a very nomimal fee if you can reasonably do so, so you can help as many people as possible. This commitment to helping others is going to boost your own motivation for losing weight. It’s no longer a should — it’s a must. People are looking up to you as their role model. You’re not just doing this for yourself; you’re part of a team. Does this help you get an idea of how you’d approach weight loss from the standpoint of love polarization?

Its fair to say you fit that example perfectly.


PS. Do you think an intention to "Lose weight" without the "increase health and wellness" portion might manifest as food poisoning?

[Monique7nuns]

I'm taking a slightly different approach to the whole health and wellness area than most here.. I think. We'll see.

I'm looking at it from what I think may be a more spiritual perspective. My primary objective is to honor myself by being more aware of how my lifestyle choices and habits contribute to my overall sense of well being: mind, body & spirit. In developing this awareness, my intention is to connect with my true self.. I'll act and react and become more aware of how it trickles back to my relationship with food.. I'll be more conscious of what I consume and how it makes me feel.. I'll learn how I move and how it effects me.. ALL in order to evolve into a woman who truly loves and honors herself in all areas of my life.. but for the purpose of this, of course, health will be the primary quest or focus. AND.. not only in sharing my experience, but also in offering suggestions when and if I see an opportunity.

To begin.. I'm calling this "the conscious nourishment phase".. because I really love food and want to completely de-stress all my "issues" relating to it. I want to develop a grounded, yet evolving (cause I will very likely change as I age) relationship between my body, my spirit and food.

First, I am planning weekly menus of recipes and food I like while broadening my palate and culinary skills. This is the third week of it and even though I don't always eat exactly what I have planned, that is the objective. So far I've found that this answers the question, what's to eat? and it has the potential to save tons of money. Currently, I'm about 60% on this objective I'd say.

Second objective, I want to be totally present when I eat. I want to experience what I eat on many different levels. Here's an article that address' eating meditation that explains what I'm referring to. I just started this a little today because I noticed that even as I ate something I perceived as decadent and indulgent, I didn't enjoy it much. It didn't really taste that good, but I ate it anyway. I thought I deserved it I guess.

Thanks for the open invite on this Erin.. I hope to make some helpful suggestions to you and others along the way.

Yes we can!

[danas]

YAY!
You can do it!!

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

Health and Wellness: My Primary Personal Goal This Year

The blog-entry focused on "losing weight",
while this thread is about health and wellness. Is it assumed that weight-loss, equates with "Health and Wellness"?

Were a person of 175lbs, attain a weight-goal of 130lbs, and then start diabetesing or worse cancering, would
said person be considered healthy? and well?

What is the working? definition of Health and Wellness

[Erin Pavlina]

I think each person needs to define health and wellness for themselves. For me, it includes coming to a healthier weight. For someone else, it be overcoming an addiction or becoming physically stronger.

[jpletting]

@sk8joyful:

I'll admit, initially I was most excited about the weight loss aspect of adopting a new lifestyle, but I have also always loved dance and movement, so any activity that increases my flexibility, core strength and fluidity is something I will love and now I am looking forward to developing more of a dancer's body as well. When I exercise and eat well, I feel like I'm loving myself better, if that makes sense. I'm treating my body to a good thing, even while I'm challenging it, and the increased energy I feel as a result is the gift it gives me back (sometimes I have TOO much energy!). All the amazing systems of my body come together to make it possible for me to accomplish this action or that contortion, perfectly. It's a beautiful cycle and I feel more connected, spiritual and focused when I take the time to pay this much attention to my body's needs, even if it's just my temporary meat suit.

So, as Erin said, while some may focus primarily on weight or inch loss, others may be seeking increased strength and flexibility, increased muscle mass, a lower BMI, a more regulated blood sugar, getting their cholesterol under control, etc. The possibilities are endless, because everyone's needs are unique. Erin's path (or yours) isn't necessarily my path, and vice versa, but we're all working under the general umbrella of Health and Wellness.

[Kazeko]

Absolutely! My health goal for 2008 was to quit alcohol (I succeeded), and for 2009 I restore my nerves. Erin's goal is to lose weight. But we're all on the same path of health. We all can support each other.

I'm totally sure about Erin's success (I'm manifesting it from my perspective ). Erin, you do everything right and we are with you!

[Erin Pavlina]

this is going to be great. I am hoping we'll all work together to support and encourage each other. Accountability is a real motivator for me. If I could this alone I would have done it already. I appreciate you all coming along with me.

[NDavid]

Good luck Erin! Got no doubt you'll achieve your ideal weight :-)

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I think each person needs to define health and wellness for themselves.

Agreed when a person believes, & acts her/himself into healthy & well, living joyfully...

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by jpletting

@sk8joyful:
I'll admit, initially I was most excited about the weight loss aspect of adopting a new lifestyle, but I have also always loved dance and movement, so any activity that increases my flexibility, core strength and fluidity is something I will love and now I am looking forward to developing more of a dancer's body as well.

The possibilities are endless. Erin's path (or yours) isn't necessarily my path, and vice versa, but we're all working under the general umbrella of Health and Wellness.

Kewl! I hope you enjoy a wonderful & enduring life as a dancer...
I'm on a related journey, as far as re-gaining some flexability, for our beloved sport.

[Solas]

For me health and wellness includes developing some sensible (yeuch word) habits about my health, drop emotional eating, eat great exciting food that nourishes me and that I love! I don't love it all yet, but bit by bit I will change, already am.

@Erin - Monday check-in is a great idea, something to look forward to. And keep us all on track!

[singer]

I love your blog. Best of luck with the weight loss.

Perhaps the wisest thing I read in a diet book was that everyone really is unique. A program that works for one has no guarantee that it will work for another, and to a large extent, everyone needs to find their own way. I'll share my story anyway...

I've been on a self-designed weight loss program for about a year and a half, and have lost about 25 pounds (yes, pretty slow). For me, it's all about the calories. If I run a calorie deficit (through reduced eating, more exercise), the weight comes off. If I don't, it doesn't. I track the calories in and out pretty obsessively - all the needed info is online - and the results match "theory" fairly well. 3500 calories down = 1 lb lost. Diets based on sticking with a type of food (vegan, low fat, low carb, etc.) without the tracking of the calories never worked for me. This is slow weight loss, but I found early on that I got way too hungry running more than a daily 150 calorie deficit.

For the record, I'm 5'4'', 154 lbs, aiming for 140, which I hope to get to by the end of the year. I'm rooting for you!