habits

Make Healthy A Habit – Three Months Later

/ christinaparisi / 2 Comments

It’s been three months since I decided to change things and make healthy a habit.

I wish I could write about how great it’s all been and how healthy has become so much a habit for me that I don’t have to focus on it…. but I’m not going to lie. It hasn’t been easy. And focus is exactly what keeps me going with it.

Allow me to explain…

My goal for making these changes to begin with is so I can live a healthier life and make the best decisions I can for my mind and body. Sounds smart, right?

But has it been easy? No. Not in the slightest.

I’ve had days where I threw caution out the window and reverted to the unhealthy habits I’m trying to get rid of. More than I care to admit actually. Things like deciding to go for the easy drive-thru meal rather than making a healthier one. Or opting for a third glass of wine, for the second day in a row.

No one is perfect and I’m fully aware of that. I’m far from it and I have no plans to live in a bubble. There are times for celebration and a little debauchery (granted it hurts no one other than yourself) but those should be the rarity, not the norm.

So, yes, I’ve had some struggles with reverting back to bad habits as time goes on and life kicks back in and the plans I made for the New Year just aren’t as shiny as they once were, now that the practicality of them has settled in while the romance has vanished.

But, and this is a big BUT, things have changed.

When I was pondering why I still made choices that are unhealthy for me, I realized something – they’re happening much less then before I made healthy a habit.

I’m much more conscious of living healthier now and even though my bad habits try to rope me back in, I’m able to resist them more by reminding myself of why I don’t want to make those choices any longer.

And the more I resist them, the easier it gets.

Here’s what I’ve found:

Three weeks may not make a habit, but it does change your focus.

And isn’t that the beginning for any real change? After all, how can you change something within if your focus on it hasn’t changed?

So while I may still have bad days, they are fewer then before. And changing my focus to be healthier these past three months has absolutely led to many wonderful things – regular weekly yoga, less processed food, healthier snacking and much more.

Personally, I think the key to changing one’s habits is being conscious about the ones you want to break and the new ones you want to make and then taking action, over and over again, to do so.

And know, it is not easy.  But then, what of value is?

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

 

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Make Healthy A Habit – Three Weeks Later

/ christinaparisi / 3 Comments

Here it is. Three weeks after my three-week long project of trying to make healthy a habit.

I thought I’d answer the same exact questions from before…

Have I changed any habits?

Yes, I still maintain the changes I wanted to make. Not perfectly though, I will admit. I’ve gone through a fast food drive-thru twice in the past three weeks and I’m not proud. It was out of convenience. (And just for the record, In ‘n Out and El Pollo Loco doesn’t count as fast food to me. They’re more like once-in-a-while fun.) I have wine maybe two to three times a week and mostly two glasses or less. Big difference for me and I love that this has stuck. My diet has stayed way healthier with dehydrated fruit and kale chips leading the way in snacks as opposed to the kettle chips and candy days of 2015. I still have some other faults I’m trying to kick but those are more inward. I can say this though – a healthy life makes a healthy mind.

Is it getting easier every day to do so?

To some degree yes, but there are still challenging days. I miss things, like frozen soft pretzels and cereal bars, but learning about the unhealthy things inside them helps keep me stay strong.

Do I feel better?

Definitely. All over. Inside and out.

Does it take three weeks to make a habit?

It seems that three weeks is a pretty solid number to start with but effort is needed far beyond that, at least in my opinion.

Will I continue?

100%. And by my mind focusing on it so much right now, it seems that everyday I learn a new way to be more healthy and happy. The universe speaks, if you’re listening….

What does being healthy mean?

To me, it means treating my body the best that I can while being proactive by doing my own research about what is good or bad for me.

Thanks again, to all of you who have come along for the ride and showed support through likes, comments and shares. And for talking to me about it!

Stay tuned… I’ll keep you updated :)

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

Make Healthy A Habit – One Week After

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It’s been a week since I ended my three-week long project of making healthy a habit, and I thought about how it would be best to write this blog post. I decided to go with stream of consciousness…

it’s been a week. i almost bought cheese puffs today at the drugstore. I haven’t had a snack like that in four weeks and counting… I resisted and went with cashews. the decisions are getting easier, but the temptations are everywhere. must they put candy in front of you at all times? no wonder kids these days live off of instant gratification and have two-second attention spans. treats are in front of them everywhere. i digress. i’m back to doing yoga. weekly. and with my husband now. if possible, i love him more. i recommend couples do this. wine has gone back to being a treat. i have it about twice a week. that’s better. sparkling water is great with dinner. i’m snacking on a banana as i write this. my habits have changed. it’s been four weeks now. i just had pizza for the first time. i’ll never quit that. just won’t have it too often. i feel good.

#makehealthyahabit

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Twenty-One

/ christinaparisi / 1 Comment

Here it is. The end of my three-week Make Healthy a Habit project. And I am so happy that I’ve done this…

Have I changed any habits?

Yes.

Is it getting easier every day to do so?

Absolutely.

Do I feel better?

I feel great (and I’ve lost five pounds!)

Does it take three weeks to make a habit?

I don’t know. BUT here’s what I do know – it’s three weeks later and my desire for wine has greatly subsided, to the point I no longer think about it the same way I had before. And buying junk food has stopped being a part of my routine. I’m serious. Week one I had to focus on it regularly. Week two was a struggle. Week three felt way easier.

Will I continue?

Absolutely. I haven’t conquered all the bad habits I need to break yet…

What does being healthy mean?

I think it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To me, to be healthy means I’m making the best decisions for my mind and body and taking steps to prevent future illness while appreciating the moment I live in.

Thank you all who have joined me and showed support through likes, comments and shares.

Stay tuned… I’ll keep you updated :)

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Twenty

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The Universe speaks to us.

And if we pay attention and listen, we can hear it.

The past two days, I’ve been sick. And I mean sick. I had a fever that spiked at nearly 103! And I’ve never had so many chills and sweats.  At one point, in the early morning, I could not get out of bed. Literally.

This morning, however, I woke feeling much better. Though I’m not 100%, I’m close to it and just need to get some color back in my face.

When I was at work tonight trying to summon up the energy to be on my feet, I thought about how being sick has really made me appreciate what it means to be healthy.

It’s kinda crazy not to take care of our body, when you think about it. Who doesn’t want to feel good physically?

We hold so much power to achieve that. And yes, there are unfortunate situations where our health is not within our reach, but if it is, shouldn’t it be the goal?

Okay, Universe, I get you. Being sick made me value being healthy so much more.

Point well taken.

And thank you.

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Eighteen

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Today, I have been under the weather. It was odd but late last night, I woke up with a fever and chills and have felt horrible since.

Being sick is part of life. Fortunately, I can go years without getting ill but this year, I haven’t been so lucky.

So I must deal with it.

It’s very tempting to keep going while sick but I’ve learned from past experience that is exactly what I shouldn’t do (unless I absolutely have too.) Today, I was able to take off so I did and I listened to what my body needed…

Rest. Fluids. Protein.

And then, I received something I did’t even know I needed but so did. It’s made this whole experience so much better.

Love.

My husband not only went to the store for OJ and medicine but he’s been my nurse all day, checking in on me and showing me love while I shiver under the covers before sweating it out.

My eyes are closing now, so I must go. Tomorrow I hope to be back to 100% percent. But even if I’m not, I know I have to listen to my body to heal it.

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

 

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Sixteen

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As I continue on my journey of making healthy a habit, I’ve begun to notice a few things. All these things didn’t start because of the project, but the project has certainly placed a spotlight on them and even added a few more. Things like…

I want to go to sleep before midnight and wake up by 8.

I don’t want candy in the house.

I like a made bed.

Dishes in my sink longer than a few hours bother me.

Vacuum cleaner lines in my carpet make me smile.

Snacking isn’t what it used to be.

I read ingredient labels.

And the invincibility I believed I had when younger has been replaced with a sense of preservation.

Hmmm……

Could it be?

Why, yes..

I think I finally slipped into adulthood.

(Though the kid in me will always have a say in the matter.)

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Fifteen

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Today marks the end of the second week of my 21-day Make Healthy A Habit project.

And I am already reaping the benefits…

My body is less bloated.

My mind is clearer.

I’ve lost four pounds.

And my husband and I have grown closer as we do this together.

Now, I know making healthy a habit does not happen overnight. It takes day by day. But the starting point is the roughest part, at least for me, and after a couple weeks, I’m feeling better than ever and invigorated to keep it going till it does indeed become a habit and start to happen more automatic.

As I made my lunch of a BLT with avocado and kale chips, I realized that’s definitely already started. I haven’t had a french fry in two weeks and didn’t even notice till now.

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

 

 

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Thirteen

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Part of being healthy is having a healthy mind.

And I believe our thoughts directly play into our health.

It’s very easy to allow negative thoughts to spread in one’s mind and take over but for the most part, it’s not worth being angry and negative…

Today, I had to catch myself.

I believe a woman was flirting with my husband right in front of me. And while that should have made me smile and feel proud, instead I felt a pang of anger and wanted her to just stop it.

Yes, I am a Leo. And Sicilian. And originally from New York.

But those are just excuses. Allowing my temper to flair over petty things is not good for my mind, body or soul.

And I’m glad I caught myself today and stopped that stream of negative thought from taking up anymore of my time.

Instead, I focused on positive things, like my husband and I doing yoga together for the first time. And now I’m going to do an all natural detoxing mud mask for my skin, because that too needs some healthy love.

And that feels so much better than holding a grudge.

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.

 

Make Healthy A Habit – Day Eleven

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Today was all about focusing on what I’ve chosen to do – make healthy a habit and get rid of my unhealthy ones.

I know this is the right thing for me and I’m aware of why I’m doing it.

It hasn’t been easy but that’s okay.

And as I was thinking about these things today, I realized something has come in very handy for me during this time of change…

Self pep talks.

They’re incredibly helpful to remind me of why I’m doing what I’m doing so I can either keep doing it or stop. They help keep me going when the going gets tough.

And each day, change sets in a little more.

Make healthy a habit. #makehealthyahabit

 

**For the original idea, please visit here.