What are your most helpful habits that inspire you on this journey of health & fitness?
TaosLiz
Posts: 54 Member
Being new here, I would love to hear from those who have been on this journey for a while, about what inspiration and knowledge you have discovered on your journey to support your efforts. Any inspirations or daily habits beyond logging in daily and joining this group, for staying committed to restoring and or maintaining your health and fitness journey?
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Great question. In no particular order -
1) I’m a data person, so my Fitbit has become my best friend. I compete with myself - and know my daily targets, so the device keeps me accountable and active.
2) I have maybe two mfp friends who I’ve been communicating with for years. I’m already relatively lean but these friends are also - so they understand the struggle. They will rein me in with I need it - too many empty calories, too strict on myself, sharing new programs, unrealistic goals - anything!
3) pick the exercise I like - it won’t feel like exercise.
4) don’t stress the daily weigh in numbers. It’s the trend that counts.
5) I have a goal dress and jeans - I try these on weekly.
6) sometimes my cravings and hunger are just thirst.
What I need to work on is my mental and emotional health. Fitting in my jeans and seeing a tricep muscle ain’t all that if I’m having daily anxiety attacks!! But that’s another post -😜😜 full time eldercare responsibilities take a toll!4 -
Two things that have helped me is pre planning my meals. It try plan my meals out for the week. Sometimes I even put the whole day into MFP diary in the morning to kinda hold me accountable for the day.
Another thing is a gratitude journal I have a personal one that I try to write in daily. I have one now that is 40 Days (lent) of Gratitude I found it on a blog and it give you suggestions to write in daily. For example today was list somethings that you need to do more in your life.
I think sometimes just writing it down helps. I have some personal things I am working on. Somethings are hard though now since the pandemic is in play.
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I initially got a lot of motivation and information from a podcast called The Weightloss Podcast as well as one called The Happy Menopause. The Happy Menopause podcast really helped me change my mindset about Menopause and helped me learn how to navigate it healthily.
Next I started daily yoga practice which has helped tremendously with stress and avoiding stress eating.3 -
Thank you CeeBeeSlim, Sarah7591, and tmbg1 for responding and for offering Inspirational information! I will take to heart all that you have shared.0
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This is a good thread. Thanks for starting it TaosLiz! I found a Gratitude Journal on Amazon that I enjoy. It's called Morning Mindset (although it could be done at any point in your day) Each day has an inspirational quote. The idea is to start your day with positive thinking to carry you through the day. You do this by choosing a word, writing a short statement about how you feel at the moment, list up to 3 things your are grateful for, why is today worth waking up for, what did you do for your growth yesterday, what didn't work for you yesterday and up to 4 daily goals. It takes about 5 minutes and it's something I look forward to doing with my morning coffee. A weekly check in is included. It will carry you through 13 weeks. Sometimes I will open it before going to bed and make notes about the day on the page with the quote.2
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I see many women my age (in their 60's) who move like little old ladies. I observe them when we're camping; they take the three steps out of their RV one at a time. I observe them when I'm shopping; their husbands drop them off at the entrance to Walmart and then park the car, and they lean on their shopping cart as they push it through the store.
Compare that to a woman I read about in a book called "What Makes Olga Run". Olga competed at World Masters track and field events into her 90's. She didn't even start running till she retired. In fact, the author noticed that many athletes who compete at those games had done little or no sports for most of their adult life because work and families had taken priority. It was only once they reached their 50's and 60's that they had the time to enjoy sports.
Or Chris Crowley, the guy who wrote "Thinner This Year" (amongst other books) who at the time of writing the book did a hilly 50 mile bike ride in the mornings, for fun, and skiied black diamond mogel runs. He was 79. He calls exercise "the flywheel of life".
Or Sue Reynolds, who wrote "The Athlete Inside". She started out weighing 335 pounds and ended up being a world class triathlon competitor. She didn't begin her journey till she was in her 50's.
Closer to home are other women who inspire me. My mother-in-law once injured her ankle when she fell out of a tree while picking cherries (she was in her 80's at the time). She walked her dogs every day over a steep trail on her property, and kept a huge vegetable garden. I paddle on a dragon boat team with a woman who's turning 80 this year. We also regularly snowshoe, and kayak together. I know a married couple who are in their 80's who I often see cross country skiing on our local trails.
I don't want to be that frail old lady who falls and breaks her hip and has to use a walker the rest of her life. So I do things now to help. I lift heavy things and move stretchy bands to maintain muscle. I improve my balance by practicing things like yoga. I keep my heart strong by doing some cardio. I eat well. I know that looking at small goals is necesssary so we don't get overwhelmed. But for me, sometimes I also need to look at the bigger picture. I'm not doing what I do every day to look good. I'm doing this so that I can have a better life. And if for whatever reason my health suddenly goes south, at least I can honestly say that I did my part to try and prevent that from happening.
Do I celebrate holidays? Do I have birthday cake? Do I have a couple of glasses of wine? I sure do. But 8 years into this and I'm still diligently logging my food. And I move every day.
Of course your journey is going to be different to mine. But I think our end goal is the same: better overall health so that we can enjoy this life we've been given. That's what inspires me.
Bet you wished you'd never asked! 🤣🤣7 -
Thank you salvagedlife! An attitude of Gratitude is sooooo important and it is a wonderful way to begin the day! And I love that you end your day reflecting on your day. Thank you again for sharing!
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Thank you ridiculous59! and I have no regrets at all for asking, you have packed your answer with inspiration information. And WOW 8 years, that is amazing. Congratulations!
And yes like you, I have not intention of growing old before my time especially when my grandmothers lived to be over 100. And I want flexibility/agility, stamina, strength and endurance. I happy amazing life of travel, dancing, activity, and a long healthy life to be able to enjoy my friends and family.
Thank you again for sharing!
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@ridiculous59 I will see if my library has any of these books. Thanks for the recommendation.
I too am motivated by others, some are my friends who are my age (59) or a few years older than me and have just given up saying its too late. They look and act old. No no no!
I have a 74 yr old friend who is so active! I'll never forget seeing her on a run (I used to run as well) and I joined her and could barely keep up. Now she takes a 5 or 6 mile walk each day plus lives in a 3rd floor walk up. She regularly bikes and takes active vacations that include hiking and biking.
Damn.. I'm getting out there today and am going to make it happen!3 -
My inspiration is my mother. She is 78 and can still out work me. And all of this is after breaking a hip 4 years ago! She has always been active outdoors, whether walking, gardening, mowing...She just never quits! She is my biggest supporter and my best friend.6
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Okay, so I completely misread what you were looking for.
My inspiration would be MFP. So far I have logged 36 days straight. I enjoy reading the success stories and connecting with others. I find something new to inspire or motivate me everyday!2 -
Thank you Blackburn23. I thought your first commit was appropriate. I think about my Mom everyday. I think about her lying in bed after her chemo with two 1lb weights doing arm lifts and her skinny white legs doing scissor kicks. She was not able to win the battle against cancer and the devastating affects of chemo on her body, but it was how she faced the challenge that inspires me every single day! She was only 72 when she passed, and my dad 74 who passed 6 months before her from cancer. I try to live each day as if I am living for all three of us. I feel that they both are cheering me on...so on I go, and here I am.
With that said, Congratulations on 36 days straight of logging in! I am right behind you as you and other trailblaze ahead.
Liz2 -
TaosLiz: I am so sorry for your loss. I admire your outlook and your positive approach to each day is inspiring!1
