Back to basics, Again!

As spring arrives with the start of a new promising growing season and I know that I have taken on too much work, I plan to start with my new frame of mind, small steps, but not in the garden. I had forgotten this concept in practice over the last few weeks. With this spring and the weather and the kids, well, things became overwhelming and I regressed to old ways. I have discovered that I tend to freak out over the unknown. I like order and I want what I want, now. This is of course not useful and I am starting again with my lifestyle change because I do want it and I have made some progress.

Small steps are required for most of the things that I do, I just don't listen to myself that clearly. I had given up coffee and now I am drinking it again. But I have incorporated more veg into my diet and water and I don't even have to think about those any more.

I wanted to share some small step guides with you again. These three things have helped me get back on track without loosing the big picture:

1. upper body strength - I haven't got any upper body strength and haven't for some time now, so a push up for me is intimidating to say the least. I have now been instructed on how to get to a point of being able to do a push up. Do push ups up against the wall. As many as you can do for three sets every other day. It looks silly I'm sure but I can feel it working in my arms. Now if my life depended on a push up I might be able to do one.

2. Cardio exercise - I don't have the time with two very young children to get in the cardio that I need the way I used to think I needed to get it, in 20 or 30 minute bouts. Burst training is helping with that and I am starting to feel stronger too. I've mentioned the Burst training in the past I think but it is worth mentioning again. Just run on the spot for half a minute for three sets with a small 10 to 15 second break in between the sets. Mixing it up with running, jumping jacks, squats, kicks, etc. makes it more fun and must be harder (at least it feels harder). As you get better at it increase the duration to 45 seconds a set, then a minute and so on.

3. Eating Veg - I always thought that a serving of veg was what you put on your plate (and it is) but in general, a serving is about half a cup. When speaking in terms of broccoli for instance, half a cup is only three or four uncooked florets. That's not that much and makes it seems more attainable to get my goal of 10 servings a day. I had a lunch of baby carrots, celery sticks mushroom caps, and broccoli and cauliflower florets with a small sandwich and I've already had three or four servings just with that and I couldn't finish my sandwich.

I'm going to be constantly learning and making mistakes at this but I know that I'm trying to do it and so I have to believe I will.

"Small Steps"