It’s the second day of 2009. Many people rang in the new year with a list of resolutions. Others made lists while watching bowl games or taking down Christmas decorations (yes, ours are STILL up), a first day of the year self-audit, as it were, of things that need to be done . . . differently. Some didn’t – and won’t – make resolutions at all, but will instead take life a day at a time, tackling goals only as the need arises.
Me? I always wind up one year thinking of things I’d like to accomplish in the next, but I don’t make a list – which is weird since I make lists for everything else I need to get done. This uber “to do” list that’s not a list covers the usual. And as happens every year, improving my physical health so my mental health follows suit is number one.
Like many writing pros, I do too much sitting and struggling for words when I know from experience if I get up and move, and even better, break a sweat, the words will flow. (That BICHOK thing? When I’ve got my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard, nothing happens if I’m running on the wrong fuel.)
I also know the healthier I eat, the more sharp snap I have. I do better not eating anything at all than giving in to the bread, pasta, potatoes, and baked goods that taste like heaven but suck away my physical energy and turn my brain to sludge. I need my brain. I need my body. I need to be able to focus on my writing, from the big picture of the story to the individual words that bring it to life.
For me, 2009 is going to be about focus, about discipline, about priorities. Before I can even begin to *think* about focus, I need to be *able* to focus, which means ridding the house of the rest of the Christmas goodies still uneaten. Last night, the husband and I finished off the Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie (a dessert donation from #2) while watching The Dark Knight. We’ve got a couple of Ziplocs full of yummies that are going into the freezer. Some things will see the trash as we’ve eaten our fill. Then it’s back to the lean meats and tons of veggies we do love but get lazy about cooking!
So that’s my first step toward focus, putting brain food into my body and then *moving* my body so that it fuels my brain. It’s not about dieting or losing weight, though when I eat healtheir that always magically happens, but it’s about making sure I’m mentally and physically able to do this thing that I so love to do.
What about you guys? Do you see a difference in your physical energy and mental acuity depending on what you eat, sort of a garbage in, garbage out conundrum? (And why can’t the stuff that tastes the best be what fuels us?) My personal chef goes back to work next week, meaning *I* have to be responsible for my own eating! Oh noes!
CARBS ARE EVIL!
by the husband January 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 pmi have noticed, only recently, that what i eat does effect me in every aspect of my life. if i eat healthier i am less likley to throw up all day (like i useally end up doing if i eat unhealthy) and i am in a better mood and can consintrate better.
i do love carbs, but they make me sick… i am going to try to avoid them this year, but not give them up completly.
my actual resolution is to no longer consider myself agnostic by 2010. I will spend this year visiting churches (meaning i can’t work on weekends any more) reading, and talking to people of differant faiths. I hope to either commit to a religion or to consider myself an atheist by the end of this year. (of course i am hoping to commit to one, but who knows what i’ll find on my journey).
useally i have a whole list of resolutions i MAKE myself meet, but this year i have one one main goal.
:)
by taylor k January 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 pmgeez that was a long comment with a lot of typos – sorry!
by taylor k January 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pmI can tell a big difference when I’m not eating right. I don’t have as much energy and pretty much just want to sleep all the time. I’m starting back to the gym (on a regular schedule) today. My brother is in town for the next 2 weeks, so he will really help me stay on task. Plus, my friends and I have started a “Getting Healthy” club and plan on meeting each Thursday to go over what we have done the prior week and our goals for the upcoming week.
by Liza January 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pmYes, husband, for me carbs ARE evol. I am not as lucky as others to have the metabolism that can stand simple carbs.
No worries on the typos, Taylor, and I think your goal is admirable! Spirituality is a journey everyone has to take.
Liza – I love the idea of a getting healthy club. A lot of goals are easier met with a good support group!
by Alison January 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pmI LOVE carbs and I LOVE crap food (not all, but fries? My first love :P)
Um… I notice I’m not cold as much when I work out like a fiend. That whole cardio blood circulation thing is real :P
by limecello January 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pmI guess I need to eat better >.< I can’t afford new clothes and they’re all getting tight!
I absolutely love my carbs and have to have bread at some point each day. However, I don’t overdo it and the breat I eat is a whole grain bread with tons of fiber. I am not a big junk food fan and have never been, aside from sweet things like cookies. However, I eat those in moderation as well.
For me, 2009 is more about being more physically active as my activities trailed off at the end of the year between my two trips and the rest of my volleyball teammates deciding they needed a break.
by Karin January 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pmlimecello – I am a fry fiend, but only fresh homemade ones. I could go the rest of my life never eating fast food fries. But crispy crinkle cuts and thick steak fries and tons of ketchup? Yum!!!
Karin – I love carbs, too, but they do NOT love me, heh. I feel like a slug when I eat them. Now, I’m not talking good things like the black eyed peas I had for breakfast, or the bread filled with lots of grains that I eat sandwiches on. I’m talking more about bread with no discernible nutrition factor, etc.!
by Alison January 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 pmI find that my concentration flies out the window if I consume sugar. I never noticed at the day job but when I started writing it was obvious. I also find if I exercise my mood is better. So why is it so hard to get my butt to the gym when I KNOW I’ll feel better?
by Anne MacFarlane January 2nd, 2009 at 5:20 pmAnne – That is the eternal question, isn’t it! And it’s not even that I hate exercise. I don’t. I feel SO after thirty minutes on the treadmill, and when I do 3 sessions a day like that, I feel great. I’m just so freakin’ lazy! Heh. And sugar. My husband falls alseep within ten minutes of sugar consumption. LOL!
by Alison January 2nd, 2009 at 5:28 pmDiscipline is the word of the day. And mine for the month of January. Even if I find it difficult.
by Barbara January 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 pmYou know, Barbara, after I wrote that I read your post about three words, and realized how depressing and angry and negative mine were in comparison. But then I stepped back and said, “No, they’re not. They’re uplifting and positive because they get me to where I need to be.” So, focus is my January word and where I’lll be “focusing” a lot of my January blogging.
by Alison January 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 pmMy ability to write very much depends on taking care of myself; getting enough rest, eating right, exercise, and also refilling the well. I can’t just keep working without doing the things that support the work. Like you, I’ve wasted far too much time struggling at the keyboard and proving the law of diminishing returns. Sometimes the best way to increase productivity is to get up and come back when you’re capable of continuing.
by Charlene Teglia January 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pmI notice a difference when I drink to much soda and not enough water. If I feel a migraine coming on I realize I haven’t been drinking much water. Even if I don’t get a migraine I do feel more sluggish.
And don’t get me started on carbs! Very much a love/hate relationship with them. I love them, they hate my body!
by Leslie January 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pmCharlene – The diminishing returns thing is what kills me. I don’t even want to add up all the wasted hours I’ve spent TRYING to write instead of writing, argh!
Leslie – YES on the water! I drink coffee when I get up, a soda with dinner (maybe with lunch) and water the rest of the day. It makes a huge difference!
by Alison January 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 pmOh, absolutely! The older I get, the more what I eat affects me. Sugar is a killer, and I am capable of pounding it down. At the same time, it’s like a sleeping pill. I eat sugar and all I want to do is lay in front of the TV or go take a nap. Think creatively? Forget it.
Come Monday morning, I need to get writing again, and that’s going to involve a new diet and exercise plan (or a return of my old one, actually).
by Lori Borrill January 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 amLori, I’ve given myself until Monday, too, to clean house, so to speak, but I’ve also been eating fairly well so far. Except for the pecan pie. The husband even bought veggies last night and brought out his juicer, so I had carrot, celery, pear, apple juice instead of, uh, chocolate milk! LOL! Sugar is the worst, absolutely!
by Alison January 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 amSoy snack bars and roasted nuts have made a huge difference in my energy level and my ability to focus. It may be a placebo effect, because my nutritionist assured me that it would, but if that’s the case I’ll continue to happily delude myself.
I go pretty much vegan on deadline weeks, and it does help the writing to keep things simple and light, mainly salads, stir-fry and rice dishes or veggie soups. Bean bag soup is one of my comfort foods, and I always make a pot of that during deadline week.
As for the bad stuff I know I’m not supposed to have, denial doesn’t work for me; on bad days I’m too tempted to say the heck with it, binge on chocolate or chips and wreck my diet plan for the week. So I let myself have a little reward now and then — a single piece of chocolate from the big box someone sends us for the holidays, or a lunch-size bag of chips.
I was really careful this Christmas, as a lot of people do send us goodies that I can’t have, and made sure to redistribute as much as I could to friends and neighbors. I’ve lost twelve pounds since November 15th, so it must have worked.
by Lynn January 5th, 2009 at 9:14 amNuts and I are BIG friends. For me, I’m sure it’s the protein. I can eat a small handful instead of lunch and almost forget when it’s time for dinner. Good stuff, nuts. And I do the same with the chocolates. Allow the reward. I got a nice big box of chocolate covered cherries (love them SO much) and will pop one every couple of days!
by Alison January 5th, 2009 at 10:21 am