Like 40 - 45 percent of most Americans, you also made a list of goals/resolutions/promises for your personal life. You'll eat healthy food, take a class, exercise more.
But in your quest for balance between real life and the writing life, did you think about how those two lists mesh? How do you find balance between writing life and reality, especially when it comes to diet and exercise?
If you're concerned that the battle of the bulge may beat out the battle of words, thanks to the butt-in-chair nature of writing, here are a few tips to implement in your writing routine:
- Bypass bloaters. Sip soda? Chew gum? Add artificial sweeteners to food and drink? Chewing gum may help you concentrate, and a soda may provide refreshing relief, but foods high in sodium or sugar, and carbonated beverages make you gassy. Avoid these misplaced modifiers of the food world.
- Consume veggies. If you're like me, you would probably prefer to reach for a candy bar, but that short sugar high wears off. One of my resolutions is to keep fresh veggies on hand and reach for a handful of carrots or green pepper slices for a mid-afternoon snack. Since they are fiber-rich foods, you'll feel fuller for a longer period.
- Exercise more. Ah, here's the rub. What does 'more' mean? I'm going to try to break my writing day down so I take a break after 90 minutes of writing and exercise for 15. It may be a brisk walk or I may work out along side my favorite trainers on a "Biggest Loser" DVD, but the bottom line is that I'm getting out of the chair and moving.
- Nosh on protein. A small amount of protein with every meal and snack stabilizes blood sugar levels and reduces hunger pains. My favorite: yogurt or a handful of almonds. Beats a decadent piece of dessert every time.
- Track what you eat. Sure, here's one more thing to write down, but tracking meals, snacks, and drinks makes you accountable and lets you see eating patterns (translate: bad habits).
by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website.
Great suggestions, Annie! I'm actually on a cleansing diet right now where I'm eating vegan. Fruits, veggies, grains and tofu, pretty much. I say "cleansing diet" because I don't know if I'll be able to commit to veganism for the long haul. ;) But it's been a few days and I'm feeling pretty awesome right now, so you never know! :)
ReplyDeleteMy goal is to drop 20 pounds...I think that's been my goal for years now. Just can't seem to lose the last 20! I took a break from exercise over the holidays but I'm back to doing my Zumba workouts.
I don't drink soda but I drink red wine in the evening, which is also high in sugar. I wish I could cut that out but mama needs her happy juice! ;o)
Your list sounds so much like mine! :) I do pretty good with the eating (I am writing down what I eat) and finding time to write as well as spend with my family, but my exercise always suffers, especially in the winter because my preferred workout is walking the dog and the baby. But the next three days in the Midwest are supposed to be beautiful so I am going to get out there and walk! Yes! I wrote it here, so now i have to!
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