If our family’s health habits were a month, they would be March. Think about it, March in Indiana is unpredictable. The month usually starts out on the cold side. It might snow, then the mercury starts to rise just a little and we get a few days of sunshine. Two good days in a row and we get a little crazy. We put the winter coat back in the closet and take out our heavy jacket. Then BAM — it snows again!
Our family’s health habits have that same unpredictability. Some days we’re good. We eat a good breakfast, have our recommended servings of fruits and veggies and dairy, we exercise and we make good choices. We walk the dog together or play ping pong or Wii instead of watching TV. Today, I remembered what I learned in last week’s Twitter chat and tried to stay on the perimeters of the grocery store. I bought fruits, veggies, oatmeal, low-fat yogurt and whole grain bread.
We’ll probably make it to Sunday being good this week. But then BAM — like a March snowstorm — our family will probably have a health set back. A busy week will “force” us to eat fast food at least twice. A night of “must-see” TV will keep our butts glued to the couch. In an attempt to save money, time and arguments, I’ll pick up the pre-packaged, pseudo-healthy foods for the kids’ lunches and snacks. Eventually, we’ll realize the error of our ways and get back on track again.
Despite the daily unknowns, I am optimistic when March comes each year. The saying goes: March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb (And don’t let the warm weather this week fool you. They also say if March comes in like a lamb, it’s lyin’!). As each day passes, I am hopeful that the season will finally turn the page and become spring. Likewise, I am hopeful that with the small changes our family is making we will turn to a healthier page – at least for a season, if not the whole year.
Has your family managed to make permanent (or semi-permanent) changes? How did you do it?
Tags: family fitness, family health, motivation
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I don’t beat myself up over a meal at McD’s or vegging out in front of the TV or enjoying a sugary snack. Because I figure that the foundation I’m trying to put down- to make healthy choices of food that energizes our bodies and to move our bodies and be regularly active- can include treats and down time. Even the trainer at my gym will tell you that she absolutely eats girl scout cookies or spend a night in front of the TV or picks up fast food for lunch from time to time. But the key is that it’s not a habit. Even if it’s regular, it isn’t all the time and it isn’t every day.
None of us can treat ourselves perfectly and we can’t, as moms, control every perfect bites and moves our kids make! I think the lesson is really about moderation and impact. Having a piece of birthday cake and balancing that out with extra veggies and exercise.
I don’t beat myself up too much. I just get frustrated that our family doesn’t have as much consistency as I would like — but that’s life. You deal with what comes at you as best you can. You try to turn your good intentions to positive change, and when you get off track you start again the next day.
I firmly believe in the motto, “Everything in moderation.” I enjoy my glass of wine or dessert but I also am looking forward to beginning our nightly walks around the neighborhood again.
The biggest change in our house was to get rid of as much pre-packaged food as possible. We are eating more fruits and veggies and cheese, and since those have shorter expiration dates, we have to sometimes get creative with them. For example, I learned my girls like to bake when we had to use up the semi-rotten bananas. Yum, banana bread!
We too have good days and bad days or good weeks and bad weeks. I think the key for my family is to go with the punches. So we had a bad day, we move on and don’t beat ourselves up. Everyone slips up, if you keep reminding yourself that is when the problems start to come in.
We love to go outside and really spend the most time outside the minute the weather turns nice. The great thing is when the weather is nice we tend to eat more raw foods or foods that don’t need a lot of cooking time. So bring on the nice weather and veggies and fruits. I am ready.