It turns out I was right – not living at home is the best possible thing for me. Since I’ve been living with my friends I’ve been doing really well. I’ve even gone home for a short bit almost every day to spend time with my mom. Apparently as long as I know I don’t have to stay there I am okay. I’ve noticed that if I stay there too long though, I tend to start thinking back in the “old ways” … it’s a fascinating study in how my mind works. But luckily I’ve been fortunate enough to have amazing friends who have taken me in and saved me from myself and my old self-destructive behaviors.
Since I’ve been living with them I’ve picked up, or at least tried to pick up, a few healthy habits. First is I’m not eating at night. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s a lot easier for me to not eat at night now. I think it’s partly because I don’t need the calories – I’m not working out much at all – and also because the people I’m living with don’t do it. I don’t mind eating when they aren’t, but because they don’t I generally don’t even think about it. I get hungry later but I can handle a little bit of hunger right before I go to bed. That won’t kill me.
Also I’ve started walking to the library every day. I have to go because I can’t get internet at the apartment, and I have to walk because I don’t have a car. It’s only a one mile roundtrip so it’s nothing too difficult. On days I don’t want to go there I’ve walked my mom’s house because I can get internet there too. That’s a 2.5 miles trip, which is a lot harder with a backpack full of stuff! If I take that option I usually beg for a ride home so I don’t have to walk it again.
Another thing I’ve been doing is a morning stretching routine around the time when I wake up. I’ve done it every day except today since I woke up really late this morning. I’m hoping to make this a routine that I do every day. I started doing this after something Stephanie mentioned about her daily morning stretching routine. It seemed like a smart idea so I decided to try it and I really enjoyed it. Several days I also did a bit of yoga and the last few days I also added in a quick ab workout. It’s nice to get that done and out of the way so I don’t have to worry about it later. All of this is done in anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on how much I do. If I just do the stretching I am only spending about 10 minutes on it. Not a lot of time and totally starts my day of right.
Do any of you have morning routines that you have to do to start of your day in the right way? I’m not sure if it’s the morning routine or all the walking I’m doing, but I feel really good and happy about life in general. Things aren’t perfect, but they are definitely good.
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Doing ‘GOOD’ is great, Mary! Really happy for you! My morning routine includes myself setting my mind to “positive” about the day ahead and kind of ‘road mapping’ what my plans for the day will be including food, work, exercise so I don’t get into any unexpected jams! So glad you’re doing so well… keep it up! :) PS: No one expects perfection ’cause there’s no such thing! *grin*
Are you trying to say I’m not perfect? Hehe.
Glad things are going well for you Mary. I’ve been wondering how you’re doing. And I totally understand what it’s like to make sure you’re not in an environment that doesn’t support the kind of lifestyle you want for yourself. Good for you for recognizing it!
My morning routine is pretty simple: I drink a full glass of cold water first thing, then, if it’s sunny outside, I stand in the sun for a minute or so. If it’s not sunny, I turn on my full-spectrum lamp (I call it my “happy” lamp), which has the same effect as the sun.
.-= KCLAnderson (Karen)´s last blog ..Defining Moments =-.
My current morning routine involves waking up super early b/c I set my alarm to wake me up super early b/c I want to try to get a morning workout in…
…this is usually followed by resetting the alarm to wake me up again 30 – 45 minute later.
Mornings and I don’t usually get along.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Marathon Week: SUCCESS! =-.
Haha!! I’m not a huge fan of mornings, but I’m trying to make the best of them.
The key to effective weight loss is a lifestyle of health. Tired of fighting to lose weight only to gain it back, again and again? It is a horrible cycle and it is also depressing. A lifestyle of health is paramount to lose weight. This includes sensible eating and moderate exercise.
I’m with ya… I struggle with my eating habits when I’m home and I haven’t quite figured out why. Boredom? Fatigue from the 4-7 hour drive (depends on traffic)? Remembering a childhood of my mom always being on a diet and being the kitchen/food Nazi which made me want to sneak food and eat more? Hmmm…
It’s empowering though to know that you can do it when you control your environment and I’m sure that over time you and me both will be able to manage the food in that not-so-ideal environment called home.
I like your new routines. I NEED to add stretching to my morning and evening routines. My morning routine is to go downstairs for coffee, and egg sandwich on an Arnolds Sandwich Thin and to watch a bit of the Today show and blog before I get ready for work. Ever since I was in college, my morning routine has ALWAYS involved the Today show and coffee before work. It makes me feel like I’ve started the day relaxed and doing a little something for myself.
Mary, glad things are working out for you. Hey, maybe the no car thing is for a reason.. you walk & that is some exercise right there!
Glad you are liking your morn routine! Me, that is my workout time anyway.. I like to get it in VERY early!!! You don’t even want to know! :-) But it works for me so…..and there is nothing to get in the way of stopping me from doing it which tends to happen to some people with later in the day workouts.
Hope things keep looking up!
I am glad your new living situation is good and healthy for you. The stretching and walking sound really sustainable. I wish I was more of a morning exerciser, but end up doing my exercise in the afternoon or evenings. I am trying to quickly plan out my days in the am and think positively.
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Biggest Loser Finale and a new goal… =-.
My morning routine is get up super early. Do some scrapbooking, do some blogging, do some exercise. Pretty boring, but it works for me!
.-= Diane Fit to the Finish´s last blog ..Bad Habit #528,345,251 =-.
That is so awesome that you’re recognising this within yourself. I think that acknowledging this and going on about your life in this way is the most important thing. I was talking to Esther@Faintstartlite about your on Monday over coffee. We were discussing what you’re experience is going to be after you come home. I am excited for all of these posts.
.-= Michelle @ Eatingjourney´s last blog ..Mock Christmas =-.
Sometimes I stretch in the mornings cuz I wake up all tight. But its just made up stretches I make up myself lol. I do them at work too especially when I’m bored watiting for faxing and copying. My other morning thing (besides the obvious shower, etc) is huddling in bed trying to convince myself to get up while checking my email/twitter/texts. Sometimes I take out the trash. Lol. I HATE mornings.
Glad youre happy at the new place!!
.-= merri´s last blog ..Folsom Street Fair 2009 =-.
I don’t know that I really have a formal routine, but when I am in my “walking mode” I do that first thing in the morning. It is really rough getting out of bed, but once I get going I am usually pleased.
I love stretching in the morning. Because I live alone, I get to make all these wonderful groan-y noises, too! :)
Glad your situation is working out for you!
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Healthy Fun at School? =-.
my morning routine…
one word.
coffee
.-= chris´s last blog ..I want to be like you, mom….. =-.
I’m so glad things are going well, and I love the healthy habits you picked up :) And yay for hanging out with your mom! :)
I look forward to participating in the morning stretching routine, if you’d like company, that is.
The only thing that resembles a morning routine for me is waking up, and checking twitter to see if you left me a message, and leaving you a message :)
Hehe, you can totally stretch with me!! Or just watch. ;)
My morning routine? Coffee! Exercise starts to feel doable sometime around 2 p.m. I’m not a morning person!
I can relate to your thoughts about the habits you fall back into. As a child, I’d get up and sneak downstairs to watch late movies just to have the house to myself for a while. Then I’d sneak something to eat, but I had to be careful not to make it obvious. Usually it was peanut butter and chocolate chips. Even today, umpteen years later, when I have the house to myself, I start thinking about peanut butter and chocolate chips. I must admit, sometimes I get up and get them…
.-= Nancy B. Kennedy´s last blog ..Fred Schenck: "Avoid the whites" =-.
It’s crazy how those habits and thoughts get so ingrained that they really never go away. CRAZY.
i like the idea of a morning stretch routine! My morning routine is more of the, drag myself to the computer and pour a cup of coffee, variety.
Kudo’s to you for the new healthy habits!
.-= Meg´s last blog ..Running again =-.
I like the idea of a stretching routine… Our bodies really need it. I’ve been talking about doing it for a long time, but never actually got down to it…
.-= Hanlie´s last blog ..Coconut Oil: Good for You! =-.
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