Find a happy place!

In an effort to improve overall health, decided that I would try some beginner's yoga. Gigi has a DVD with an morning and evening routine. Just about 20 minutes a piece. I did the evening last night. Wow! There are some parts of me that haven't had much stretching in a long, long time. It felt good. It was a good stress reliever and I think I got to sleep more comfortably--not that I have ever had much trouble getting to bed. Additionally, the routine really seemed to, uh--how do I word this delicately--move things along?

This morning I tried the AM which focuses on rejuvenation and meditation. I enjoyed it also. It finishes with the meditation and I really liked that part. Very relaxing.

I spoke with my chiropractor about it and he thinks the yoga is a great idea. By gaining some flexibility and strengthening of the joints and limbs, you prepare your body for additional exercise--which is something I hope to do more of.

So, love the results, but will I take the time to do it daily? That remains to be seen.

Miles

Results of the no soda pop decision--so far, bad news...

It's been nearly 20 days without soda pop. And it really sucks. Not only have I really missed the Dr. Pepper when I eat pizza, I have seen no visible benefits. In fact, I have gained weight! Now, part of that is that it is Christmas time and so the holiday treats have really been tasty. But I think the bigger impact has been the fact that there hasn't been something (i.e. soda) to take care of the sugar cravings and so I end up eating more in the evenings than I might normally, trying to satiate them.

I have decided that on January 1, 2010 at 12:00 AM I am going to have a big glass of Dr. Pepper. And I am going to love it! (although I am curious about the potential caffeine effect)

Miles

My commitment for December 2009

So, I made a spur of the moment goal just over a week ago. I decided that I wasn't going to drink any soda for the rest of the month. I knew it was going to be hard and I even realized that I really set myself up for a hard time by doing it in December when the number of tasty food opportunities increases significantly, and therefore the accompanying beverage. Yes, it has been hard and it has been easy. I am on day 10. So, for the most part it has been fairly easy. I have never really had a regular soda habit. There is no routine around it. I simply drank it with meals or because it was there. So, because I don't spend a lot of money on things like that, I don't usually have it at work (except for meals as I said). Home is where it comes up more.

There are times when a cold glass of caramel-flavored carbonated water just tastes good--like with pizza--that is when it is hard. Or when there is a lot of food like at a Christmas party. That was hard too.

But you know what else is hard? Seeing the rest of the family drinking it--not because I choose not to, but because they are putting that into their bodies. I know that for my family that if we stopped drinking pop, it would make a huge difference to our health. That is why I am trying it out first. I want to see the impact and then hopefully share that with the family.

So, what will happening in January when I have finished the goal? Will I start drinking it again? Well, I don't know. I don't think that I will go back to drinking it as much as I have, but I think it is unrealistic to say I won't ever drink it again. Still, I am prepared for the fact that after so much time NOT drinking it that I really could be adversely affected by drinking it. And that's fine too. It can only really help me in the long run.

Apologies to Chris

I have failed my friend, Chris. We are supposed to be doing this effort together to be healthier. I haven't made any progress really. Mostly due to the fact that I haven't set any goals around it. Sorry Chris!

So, the bad news is that we haven't been doing very well with this. The worse news is that Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Yeah! So I am not going to really be doing much healthy eating until next week. :)

Benefits of Breakfast

I am still eating breakfast (mostly). I find that my need to eat late at night tapered off a little. Although my oldest son does not help with the late night eating, he is usually preparing 2 packages of ramen noodles after 10pm...he is a growing boy and I am not.

I am getting better (modifiying this behavior) and I think it is helping. My coke intake really has not changed. I guess one step at a time is best. Once breakfast consumption becomes habitual, I will start on coke, or carbs, or rest, or vitamins, or exercise. Such a long list.......

I am still more self aware of the things that I am eating. It has not changed my consumption but is helping my education of food.

Chris

Traveling is hard on commitment

Eating out really does a number on eating healthy! Now that I am more cognizant of what I am putting into my body, I realize "this is hard"! I went to DC over the weekend and my intake of Coke, chocolate, and carbs galore were unending. The one good thing about DC is that I probably walked a totaly of 20 miles in three days. My feet were sore but I got a lot of good pictures.

Right now I am back to eating my yogurt and granola, with limited Coke on hand. It feels like I need to flush my system out and begin again (sorry for the graphic material). Back to the grind.

Chris

Breakfast...gag

I had to force feed myself this morning. I made scrambled eggs, sausage, bread and juice for the children. They loved it....coming down the stairs WOWing. There probably will not be any more sausage left. I had my yogurt, granola, some juice and a little sausage. I was battling my gag reflex (almost). This is a habit that will take some time to get used to! I need to start off the day with good food!

I had a really good talk with a friend over the weekend and he is on the South Beach Diet. He talked mostly about white flour and white rice and that he is not eating them anymore. I get the rational (complex carbs). Now to modify....just a little....my eating habits in that vein also. My Coke addiction is still there! :0)

That is my report for this weekend. Miles and I had a great talk on Sunday also, thanks Miles for the pep talk!

Chris

Road trip snacks: Chris v. Miles

Chris and I are on the road to St. Louis today--heading to the temple. We each brought some snacks for the trip. Let's see how they compare.

Chris: organic granola (good choice), and a Coke (tsk, tsk)

Miles: all natural juice smoothie (not bad...not bad), Crunch-n-Munch, pringles, and a Coke (WOW to Health FAIL!)

We see now who is committed here--mostly...

Much more eloquent

Miles is so much more eloquent than I. I second what he said (and third and fourth). This process will be all about behaviors. Once we correct behaviors, we probably will see results in one form or another.

Also, I just downloaded a resource from lds.com regarding addiction. Yes, I have a love affair with food (addiction). I need to know how to temper this addiction and this resource may assist in that success.

Sounds like Miles and I need to get together (rather than just blogging) and set up which behaviors we want to focus on, then create our objectives.

Chris

Exercise felt good

I played basket ball for almost 2 hours tonight. It felt good to get some running in. I really enjoy the group of guys that play. They are there to have fun and not too competitive. Drank more water. Got to come up with those goals for health soon.

As I come home and write I feel more responsible for what I am doing to my body. I think this will work. Too soon to be 100% sure but I find this motivating.

Chris

Miles says: "I've committed myself to what?"

Okay, so yes, I am here, Chris. I didn't abandon you. I decided to accept Chris' challenge for a few reasons. One, he's a good friend and I want to support him. Two, I like the approach that he suggested and that we are taking about focusing on the principles of health and finding specific behaviors we can modify, letting the results come as they may. Three, well, I've got several pound's worth of reasons to get healthy.

My journey started a bit earlier this year. I joined a biggest loser contest at work. There was a big financial incentive. The winner won about $400 for greatest percentage lost. I didn't win--at least not the money. But I did learn something about myself. When I had decided that I wanted to do it. I could do it. I lost about 11 lbs over the course of three months. Perhaps it doesn't seem like a lot, but it's more than I had lost in the past several years. It really felt good. I had a smile on my face, my clothes didn't fit very well (in a good way). People actually noticed.

After the contest I didn't really focus as I wanted to and a slid a bit. Still, I managed to keep enough good habits that I didn't backslide to the beginning. Still, I wanted/want to be healthier. I don't feel that I can really be the best husband, father, church servant I can be if my health is suffering. I think that is why the Word of Wisdom is such important counsel.

As for our approach, I think this is the key. I am sure there are weight loss gurus out there who would say that we don't really have much of a chance we we aren't focused on results, i.e. the pounds lost. But, we are focused on results, but it is the resulting behavior change that we want to focus on. As I learned this year, weight loss is only as good as the behaviors that are changed in the process. So, I would like to identify behavioral goals around reducing stress, exercise, healthier eating, moderated eating, sleep, etc. and work to instill those so that they become life long habits. And that is our next steps...what are the principles that we are following and what are the behaviors that support those principles.

Miles

Not time but better

I did not take the time to evaluate my objectives and goals for my new found need, but I did eat healthier today. I really need to eat breakfast (and didn't). I had a sandwich and banana for lunch with 1/2 of a Dr. Pepper (left over from yesterday). I even drank some water...which is very hard for me to do. Yogurt and Pizza is on the list for dinner. Pizza in moderation!

I will even exercise tonight. Miles I hope you are there.

Miles will also be posting to this blog. So we will each sign the blog with our names so one will know who is taking. I will try not to write in the 3rd person (then you will not know who is talking)! :-)

Chris

The decision

I have been feeling more responsible for my health lately and have been thinking about enacting a plan. Here is goes.....I have enlisted the help of a friend, Miles Coleman. In the principles of my belief system (religious) there is something called the word of wisdom (thus the WOW in the title). This suggests that adherants follow a health code. I do not violate the principles per se but push my limits. The WOW calls for eating things made for our bodies (i.e., grains, fruits, vegetables and other things in moderation). My wife, Rachel, would be jumping for joy if and when she reads this.

I have decided that I need to be more healthy with what I allow in my body. I do not plan to go cold turkey and eat like a rabbit. Rather, I do plan to moderate things in my life. I need to not eat some much, at midnight, I need to exercise more (but nothing too out of the ordinary). I am going to make small modification and chunk things for a better life in the future.

I talked with Miles about this and we agreed that this would be a good, needed thing for both of us. I set up this blog so we could each report our progress or missteps. We both will be reviewing principles of the gospel to help inspire what we need to do, make those goals and track ourselves.

I know that this seems like an amalgamation of words that do not make sense, but have the need to write as a means to commit myself to this process. Some of the outcomes that I have for myself is to generally eat more healthy, reduce my consumption of soda, do things to keep my activity up, and maybe loose a few pounds in the process. Miles and I decided to make this process principle based and not results. MODERATION IN ALL THINGS. We do not want to set ourselves up for failure.

That is it. I will report back with a plan and small goals.....Chris (part of the WOW team)