Continuing Healthy Eating...

So there are some knowledge gaps in my mind of what it means to be physically "healthy" and how to get there. For the longest time, I have spent most of my energies on intellectual and mental development. I am open to learning and hope to read books, articles, etc. on better eating. The focus right now is on physical health, but there are other aspects that could use a bit of attending to: spiritual, financial, and mental (e.g. focusing on relaxing more!). However, the physical is the most concrete and it shows visible and measurable benefits so I'm starting there.

In my teens, I spent a great deal of time reading classic nutrition books. My favorite was Dick Gregory's Natural Diet for Folks Who Eat: Cookin' With Mother Nature! I read this book about five times in high school. I loved his writing style and his advice about eating natural food. It's basically a raw food diet but he goes into why it's important and how nutrition even affects your inner peace which can affect eventually world peace. I love that this book was written in the mid-70's as that era and the ideas of that era resonate with me. 

FITNESS

I need to lose about 10 body fat percentage points. You can't tell by looking at me that my body fat percent is somewhere, somehow, in the ballpark of 30%. A fat-burning diet and exercise regime is needed! I met with a physical trainer at the gym today to talk about setting some goals and a timeline for doing so. She said 4-8 months would be reasonable to reach the 20% body fat goal.

COOKING

Tonight for dinner, we are making Jamaican Beans and Rice! http://www.generationyfoodie.com/2012/08/jamaicann-red-beans-and-rice.html 
I didn't get real ginger but visited the spice aisle instead, but the other ingredients look yummy!

I also want to experiment with more beans and rice recipes that have spice and flavor. There are so many creative recipes online! Also, we're having broccoli slaw with carrots and snap peas plus vinaigrette.

So, at least we know we are eating real food, nearly all of the time since we started this healthy-living regime on January 5. I also have only been to corporate-coffee-chain four times since January 5. That so much better than my 1-2 daily visits previously! There has also been no typical dessert fare other than fruit smoothies.

Tomorrow, we will try to make a low-fat salmon dip and eat it with whole wheat bread and a bunch of veggies. 

I got a new haircut today and I really like the symmetry.

Layered bob haircut

Making Progress

So our physical self-improvement is very slow but very steady. We have been to the gym at least 5-7 times (depending on if you count Jeff only or Jeff and I together).

We primarily work out at L.A. Fitness, which is a stone's throw from the runway of Love Field. On our way home, I could see the entire underbelly of a Southwest Airlines jet on final approach, wheels down, the whole deal. [I LOVE being next to an airport. It reminds me of my youth in rural and urban Alaska.]

Our workouts have been about 30-45 minutes long and mostly cardio. A goal is to start up yoga again, but stiffness is ironically keeping me from doing so. Fitness goals include more flexibility, more stamina, lower resting pulse, and previous goals stated.

Dieting at a slow pace is good. It's truly a challenge to find completely sugar-free foods at the grocery store, but this Kroger on Cedar Springs Road (Oak Lawn, Dallas, TX) has quite a bit of organic selections and some sugar-free options.

Last night I made Jeff dinner and it was ready when he got home.

Broccoli slaw-Top
Whole Wheat Pasta with sugar-free sauce; later added black beans to the mix!

Building on the salad theme, we branched out from our usual Spinach salad and tried broccoli slaw with vinaigrette.  Dessert was a blueberry and cherry smoothie with non-fat coconut milk and Greek yogurt! DELICIOUS! Eliminating sugar is hard. Our six-week goal is to go out and pig out on the yummiest dessert in the entire DFW Metroplex! 

Tomorrow, I'm getting a much-needed haircut--probably something like a bob and maybe with retro elements or mod. Thinking, too, of going blonde (highlights). It's time for a real transformation, both inner and outer.

Exploring Healthy Living...Day 1



Jeff and I are on a quest towards healthier living-body and mind! We both live in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and spend a great deal of time on our respective jobs and other indoor activities.

Our goal this year is to clean up our act with intentionally living healthier in terms of our food, exercise routines, and by making other healthy choices! We will post a diary of our food choices, tips for getting started, and links to resources like recipes.

We will also post our progress and goal attainment here! Please post comments!

Jeff's goals: Lose weight, feel fit, improve overall fitness, eat healthier!

Peggy's goals: Lose 10 pounds, feel fit, improve overall fitness, improve energy levels, boost the "good" cholesterol in my system, improve muscle mass while decreasing body fat percentage, and improve flexibility while decreasing muscle pain.

We are also doing the 100 Days of Real Food Challenge starting today, January 5, 2014!

Today's diet so far:

Breakfast:
natural oats cereal
Sprouts 9-grain bread (toast) with butter and apricot spread (organic)
fresh cut pineapple

Lunch

cruciferous greens salad (Kale, Spinach, other greens) w/vinaigrette and sliced apples (no sugar)
smoothie (Blueberries, cherries, Greek yogurt, vanilla almond milk, a few drops of real vanilla)
Sprouts 9-grain bread with sun-dried tomato hummus

Dinner
We will have whole-grain pasta with sugar-free tomato sauce w/added garlic and spinach
broccoli with fresh-squeezed lemon and a whole sliced avocado

 We joined a gym and start our first workout this evening. It's been a while to work out! Peggy