The Best Time is Right Now

Today is the 6 week mark of giving birth to Zoë. I've taken it easy so far, trying to get rest. When I do get out to walk, I usually go 1 mile. It may not seem like much, but I feel it is a good start. Considering I've been in the hospital, on bed rest, or post-partum for nearly 3 months, I feel slow and easy is best for my body right now. Plus, I've walked and recorded 10 miles on RunKeeper since I've been home. Which I'm reminding myself is better than 0 miles!

Hard to beat this view! -- On one of my recent walks -- Do you see the moon up there? 

Tomorrow is my check up, so I've placed a hold on my first workout video from the library--The Biggest Loser: Power Walk. I'll be happy to give a review once I've used it. I thought it would be a good starter video because from what I read, it's broken down into 1 mile segments, so I've already started doing that at a slow pace, now to see what they add to make it more of a workout. I'm looking forward to trying a new video every week for the next several weeks! I think I've picked out over 20 already so I should stay busy :)  

As I was thinking about how I might encourage myself and others to make small, healthful changes, I thought of 2 things. My 2 tips for this week are:

1) Having and Wearing workout/comfortable clothing.  

I think it's important (and I like) to dress nicely and feel good about yourself and I plan to keep doing so. But sometimes it's equally important to make exercise as easy as possible and that might mean wearing workout clothes for most of (or all) day. For me, sometimes I'll have a chance to workout, but knowing I'll have to take extra time to go change my clothes makes me reconsider my time and what I want to do with it. Maybe for me, right now, that means I'll wear workout clothes 3 days a week so I can achieve my goal of working out 3 times a week for the next 3 months. Another benefit of doing this is that I tend to be willing to play with my kids more when I'm not 'dressed up' because I'm not worried about ruining my clothes; this helps to burn a few more calories as well, rather than taking the sideline approach. Plus, what kids don't like their parents to interact more? 

2) Drinking water-- I admit, I have been struggling to reach my goal of drinking 1 gallon of water per day. In fact, I have not done it yet. I'm usually finishing my gallon in more like 30-36 hours. I don't feel completely defeated, but I really would like to do better. One of the things I'm going to try is adding a drop of essential oils to one of my glasses (in an actual glass, not a plastic cup) each day. Changing up the taste might give me just a little boost to drink more water and get closer to my goal. The oils I like to use are orange and grapefruit. And a great perk of grapefruit is that it helps to boost your metabolism!! Woot!

I'm hopeful that by implementing these couple of things starting this week, I might be more likely to achieve the 2 goals I've set for myself between now and the end of the year. What healthy living goal(s) might you set for yourself for the next 3.5 months? The year is not over. You can achieve your goals at any time, whether they were your New Year resolutions or brand new September goals.

To life... full of setting goals all year, not just in January!