Being Healthy

I’ve never been the healthiest person.  I don’t eat right and i rarely (never) exercise.  By “not eat right” i specifically mean i eat a lot of chicken wings and hot dogs.  But those days seem to be behind me now (although i had wings a couple of nights ago, but i ordered a salad to balance it out).  Here’s an update on what’s been going on the past month or so:

About a month ago i gave up soda.  No more Coca-Cola!  I started drinking strictly water (Smart Water is my preference) and cranberry juice.  To be completely open and honest, this wasn’t really my choice.  I managed to get a kidney infection and this diet change was instructed by my doctor.  But, after the kidney infection went away, it still stuck and i’m grateful for it.  Yes, i’m human and often crave a Coke and yes, i’ve had one or two since then.  Like a couple of weeks ago at the Falcons game i bought a Coke at the game.  However, often instead of a soft drink at a restaurant i’ll order a lemonade or something else non-carbonated.  I still love the taste of Coke and this diet might change once summer gets here because you can’t beat an ice-cold Coca-Cola Classic on a hot summer day! (can i get an amen??)  BUT… i’m so thankful for this new diet change.  I feel so much healthier and my body seems to act the way it’s supposed to.  

And there’s more…

I’ve made some conscious efforts to eat healthier.  I don’t like to eat fast food, but let’s be honest, sometimes you just need a quick cheap meal.  For that, i’ve been turning to Chick-Fil-A more often than not.  Perhaps it’s not any healthier than the others, but it seems that way.  It’s certainly healthier for my stress level because the people at Chick-Fil-A are so much nicer.  Also, at night or during the afternoon when i get a craving for a snack i now turn to a bowl of fruit rather than a bag of chips.  This has made a huge difference in how i feel!  You know that gross feeling after eating a bag of chips?  I hate that.  But after eating several pieces of fruit, the hunger is subsided and my body feels great.  And here’s a practical tip:  At Publix they have those bowls of already cut up fruit ready to eat… the price of one of those bowls is about the same price as the brand of chips that i used to buy.  

And there’s more…

With all these diet changes i started feeling great about what’s going into my body, but still feeling pretty guilty and bad about how out of shape i am physically.  I may be a skinny little guy, but i can hardly walk up an escalator.  So i started going to the gym.  Granted, at the time of writing this i’ve only gone 3 days in a row, but i’m trying to start with short, easy workouts and build myself up.  It feels great so far!!  

And i seriously mean this next part…

If i can do something like this, anybody can do it.  I’m stubborn about what i eat and drink and do.  I’ve never had a weight problem and i’ve always put into my body whatever i want.  I’ve never really known the other side of what it feels like to put stuff into your body that you’re supposed to.  The discipline to turn the corner has not been the easiest and i still have temptations and i still give in and choose to eat junk in moderation rather than with a “no junk” rule.  Rules are made to be broken. That is not just a saying, it’s a universal fact. So instead of making rules that i’ll only break, i choose to remember how it feels to eat right and workout and then i try to choose wisely when to give into unhealthy cravings in moderation.