Embarkation point.

[rivka]

This winter and spring, it seems as though I've had a continual series of colds. I've also been fighting tiredness and low energy. It seems likely to me that the general unhealthiness of my living habits has something to do with all of this. In combination with my desire to get gradually stronger and increase my endurance, I've become motivated to make some changes in my life.

I'm going to try following a weekly plan they've been outlining in the Washington Post. They call it the Lean Plate Club, and the idea is that you gradually develop positive health habits by adding a new goal every week. It's not a diet, although they acknowledge that you may lose weight. It's more about adding things to your life that are going to make you healthier, rather than restricting or eliminating unhealthy things from your life. I really like that focus. I have a hard time with Puritanical, pleasure-phobic health arguments. I'm never giving up ice cream and butter and chocolate.

The first week's goals are: (1) 10 minutes of physical activity per day, and (2) five servings of fruits or vegetables per day. The first one's going to be a lot easier for me than the second one - I can easily fit two five-minute walks into even the busiest of my days. But five fruits and vegetables... that takes planning. That takes hassle. That takes working around my vegetable-averse husband and my allergy to raw fruit. That takes shopping more frequently, so there will be fresh fruits and vegetables in the house.

On the other hand, maybe all those vitamins will keep me from getting another lousy two-week cold like this one. Which would definitely be worth it.

Comments

[sashajwolf.livejournal.com]

I've been eating more fresh fruit and veg since we moved house (for some reason I rediscovered my interest in cooking - I don't know why - and after September 11th I decided to switch to more fair trade and organic products, which tends to mean more fresh and less processed foods anyway). I've gone from struggling to get in five a day to wondering how I ever managed on less than seven, and I often get ten. I really do feel much better for it. I wish you the same pleasure from your plan!