80 DAYS TO NEW YEARS! (#4)

Time For A Change

The further I get into the writing business, the further and further I feel myself drifting away from a lifestyle of well-being.
 
I never thought it would be this way. The truth of the matter is that once I retired from nursing and started to write full-time, I hoped to create a routine that would benefit my health—where I would find the right balance between work and my personal life. I trusted that I could allocate more time toward my well-being: working out, spending more time involved with outdoor activities, relaxing, dieting, etc. But things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. I quickly sank into the typical life of a writer.
 
You probably envision the life of an author as nothing but glamorous—working from home in your PJ’s or sweats, creating your own schedule, accumulating empty coffee cups throughout the day on a desk piled high with notes.

You may be partially right, but sometimes, long days in PJ’s, surrounded by empty coffee cups and endless notes is not exactly as captivating or wonderful as you might think. I can promise you it’s a bumpy lifestyle full of hard work with good days and bad ones…maybe similar to yours.
 
This morning, when I got on the scale, Boom! It hit me again. My weight. That’s it, I reached the limit, I thought. I’m now thirty pounds heavier than when I worked full-time as a nurse. I was devastated, ready to quit this new deskbound career and go back to nursing. As much as I love writing, I realized that I couldn’t continue to sacrifice my health and appearance; I had to prioritize differently. Obviously, the routine I created just doesn’t work.  The long, inactive hours in front of the computer; the lack of interaction with people; the bright, glaring screen straining my eyes; the snacks on my desk; and the emotional roller coaster of the characters in my books… are all contributing to the downward spiral of my health. Unless I make some drastic changes, I fear that I may soon find myself dead. 

I carried myself to my office with heavy steps, devastated, and ready to quit. I closed my eyes, wondering how I allowed myself to get this far. Where have I been all this time? How much more room do I have in these sweats before I need to buy a larger size? I drifted with my thoughts back to the old days when I could slip into a Size 8 dress and show off my well-toned figure. Well, that’s never going to happen again, I thought, as I shook my head. 

By lunchtime, I had six empty coffee cups on my desk and three empty plates. I paused for a minute, thinking about the unnecessary calories I just consumed. I felt angry and disappointed.
 
Okay, I get it. So, what’s next? Am I really going to quit writing, or should I just find a new trendy diet to follow?
 
Obviously, dieting is not enough. Besides, I find trendy diets to be a waste of money. It’s going to take more than just choosing the right foods. I need to be more active. After spending a few hours in deep contemplation, I came up with a plan. There are a few variables in this deal:

Timing and Commitment: I have to feel it’s time to make a change and be committed. Timing is important, if not everything.  It needs to happen at the right time. Otherwise, I’m set to fail.

Reasonable Plan: I have to put together a reasonable plan, something that I can stick to and be successful at.

Prioritizing: I must make my new schedule and all my health-related activities a high priority. Meaning, they come first—no excuses!  
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Small Goals: Big goals are hard to achieve. I need to start small. I would benefit from thinking only in small segments. Losing 35 lbs is an overwhelming task. Dieting and working out daily for the next year is a far-reach. However, dieting for two weeks and losing 5 lbs is a piece of cake. I would rather do the two-week cycle, six times, in order to achieve the long-term goal.

​So, what’s next for me? Effective tomorrow, I will walk two times a day for 20-30 minutes, as well as follow my own low-fat, low-carb diet—no big tricks or magic here.
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I believe it’s not too late to make a change. And if I don’t get to a size 8, then a size 12 will do.
 
If you want to join me on this journey of getting in shape before the holidays and the New Year, then join my group on my Facebook page, where we can motivate and support each other.
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I am making a change! Will you?
 
Michelle