Conviction

I'm not someone who gets personal on blogs.  But here I go.

I've gotten lumpier.  Significantly lumpier.  I can blame on it being stressed during my last semester of seminary.  I can blame it on being too lazy to cook anything.  I can blame it on video games.

But I can't really blame it on anyone but myself.  I like food.  I like eating food.  I like cooking food.

Problem is I'm not always attentive to the content of what I eat.  I like sugar and peanut butter and potatoes and things that aren't terribly healthy for me.

I'm also much more likely to sit with a book or video game controller in my hand, rather than engage in significant times of exercise.

I've never been a skinny girl.  And it's never really bothered me.  I've always had a healthy attitude about my body.  I'm confident in who I am and how I look.

So I should start by saying this isn't about me losing a ton of weight.  I'm not looking for that perfect (and unattainable, really) bikini body always advertised in the grocery story check-out line.  I'm looking to be healthier in the way I eat and the way I take care of my body.

All this being said (out on the internet, for the wide world to read...), I'm going to try to eat better and exercise more.

What does this mean exactly?  I'm going to try to cut out foods with processed sugar.  This means I will no longer be eating or drinking most of what is the grocery store.  This means I will eat a lot of fruits (but no banana, pineapple, raisins or watermelon), vegetables (minus beets, born, potatoes, and turnips), whole grains, and lots of fish and chicken.  Dairy is still in the picture, particularly eggs and plain yogurt.   I can still drink coffee and tea and lots of water.  All nuts and most beans are good, but anything with enriched in the title or printed on the label is out.  Real chocolate is all good.

I'll also up the exercising that takes place. At least 30 minutes per day, alternating each day between less stressful activities like yoga and tai chi and more strenuous workouts that are harder on muscles.  I'll also be walking more.

So, why put all this on my blog that has been dedicated to food?

I think having to record my progress on here will help hold me accountable.  I always find its easy to say I'm going to do these things, but when push comes to shove, I don't follow through.  I figure maybe letting the web know my plans will force me to be a bit more attentive to the goals I set.

Also, I figure I'm still going to cook, but what I post will be slightly different.  And who knows, maybe something will peak your interest.

And now for the logistics.

I'm not going to post my weight on here.  I'm definitely not that open.  But I will post my Body Mass Index (BMI) on the right sidebar.  I'll also post the change each week and the total change overall.

So yeah.  A lifestyle change, documented on a blog.

Here goes nothing.....