making an appearance

Greetings, everyone. I've been a bit slow to post on our AA blog, what with the move and all, but I'm in the groove again and ready to add what little I can to our little community...which is actually quite big. I have to say, one more time, that I am still amazed at the heartfelt response and evolution of this blog in response to my posts about body issues and feeling ugly. The support and honesty being offered in this specific space among the female academic community is exactly what so many of us need, I think - people who know exactly what we're dealing with and support how we're trying to address the many issues associated with weight loss, health, appearance and personal identity.

So, what's up with me? First, I've made the move from Grad School City to PRU City, and that move has indeed made me an active academic. Yesterday was my first slothful, i.e. significant hours on the sofa reading, day in two weeks. There's been too much to do: errands to run, boxes to unpack, phone calls to return, people to see. This leads me to...

• Key #1: Staying active. I may not lose any weight calling the water company or returning paperwork but at least I'm doing something. When I'm busy, I tend to be healthier: I eat when I'm hungry, I sit less, I drink more fluids, I stay in motion. I'm also happier, which directly correlates to the physical: happier me = healthier me. Naturally, there's busy and there's too busy but striking a balance of activity and rest is key for my wellbeing.

Second, the move has put me in a new place, physically and mentally. I'll be establishing new routines as I learn my way around; I'll also have different tasks required of me, both as an academic and as a homeowner. This leads me to...

• Key #2: Set reasonable goals I can live with long-term. I would love to start exercising every day, fixing healthy gourmet meals and shrugging off the stress inherent in my life. Of course, I'd also love to have a live-in massuese and never load a dishwasher again. Those things may happen eventually (although I seriously doubt those odds) but those aren't reasonable end goals for me to set now. I have the opportunity to start afresh now because so much of what I'm doing will evolve as I go along. Reasonable goals that I can incorporate into my daily routine are much better for me in the long run.

So, I'm starting with these:

1. Pay attention to meals. Today, for instance, I ordered a sandwich but didn't eat the bun - not because I'm against carbs but because I didn't want it. Last night, I asked for a to-go box when the waiter brought my meal - not because I was trying to be good but because there was too much food. A simple goal, really, but not something I normally do.
2. Avoid eating in front of the tv. This is going to be very hard for me. Living alone, I often use the television as company while I eat a meal. The problem is, my meal time is determined by the length of the show; I literally will eat for an hour if the show is an hour long. I'll also eat when I'm not hungry because I'm sitting comfortably, absorbed in a show and not thinking about what I'm doing. This has to stop.
3. Think activity, not exercise. I hate exercising. Hate. It. I know I need to do it; I know I'll feel and look better in the long run; but getting on a machine or forcing myself to run laps is truly the ninth circle of hell for me. That means I need to be creative in incorporating activity into my daily life, considering small things like taking the stairs (my office is on the 4th floor) or weeding my flowerbeds (got lots of 'em) positive steps for me. One big step I can try is walking; now that I live in a new neighborhood, with walking trails nearby, I have some incentive to get out and walk about in the evenings.

Tag: goal-setting and accountability