From mediocre to excellent health: my roadmap

[IAmGoingToTri]

I thought it would be interesting to share the biggest steps that am taking or intend to take regarding my health. It's a big list, I think it will take me at least 6 months before I do everything on it, but that is fine. I like to take it step-by-step.

1. Quitting smoking
   On day 3 now. I will never smoke again. Quitting smoking probably has a bigger positive impact on my health than all other things on this list combined. So, I guess this is a good start.
2. Losing weight
   From 98 to 78 kg. I am at 93 now. I already notice that it's nice to carry around less weight. I find it hard to imagine what it would be like to reach my goal weight. I also don't have to imagine it, I will experience it in a few months.
3. Improving sleep
   Both in terms of quantity and quality. Setting up a sleeping routine, making my room darker, avoiding screens in the evening.
4. Daily cardio (triathlon training and kayaking)
   Different types of exercises for variation (fun), to train different muscle groups and to prevent injuries.
5. Greatly reduced sugar and alcohol intake
   I have already started this. I don't think I will cut out alcohol completely, but it will become a rare treat instead of a regular habit. Same for sugary foods.
6. Cooking healthy meals
   I don't cook a lot yet, but I want to do it more. The reason that I find this difficult, is that I live on my own now, and I used to cook for multiple people, so I didn't see the point of just cooking for myself. Healthy food would include a lot of vegetables. I will try to eat the rainbow every day.
7. Preparing my own lunch and breakfast
   I tend to skip breakfast a lot and I often buy a sandwich somewhere, instead of making my own. I want to stop skipping meals and start making my own food, so that I can choose what to make.
8. Daily strength/core-stability training
   This can be an hour-long workout, or just 5 minutes.
9. Daily meditation
   Meditation helps me to reduce stress. I don't do it a lot though.
10. Regularly go on (weekend) trips/events that require physical exercise
    Hiking trips, triathlons, duathlons, ice skating in winter on a lake, rock climbing, kayaking, long-distance cycling, sailing... get crazy regularly. Doing these things makes me feel great, really alive, so I should do these as often as I can. It doesn't have to cost a lot of time or money, a lot of these things I can do in my own region and (nearly) for free.

What do you think of my list? What would your list include?

 

[allcdnboy1]

7. I used to believe that skipping meals was a cardinal sin, but the more I read the less I believe that to be a problem. If you find lacking in energy, then that could be related to not eating. However, the only thing that I find to be a problem with skipping meals is that if I get too hungry, I'll eat junk for a quick fix instead of a real meal.

9. I've been working on doing mediation as well. Helps with all sorts of things.

This is a pretty impressive list and we should all be doing these. Nice work.

 

[Brooke1]

Great post.