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Why "Dieting" Is Not My New Year's Resolution

 

I can honestly say I felt at my best when I was in my thirties.  I was physically, mentally and emotionally at
my peak and firing on all cylinders.

Since then, it's definitely gone down hill and I've lost plenty of brain cells and lean muscle.  I haven't lost weight though as muscle has been replaced by fat – plenty of it.

Over the years it's crept on.  I've gained a pound here, a pound there, but regrettably haven't taken action to get rid of it straight away.  

Now over the past twenty years those pounds have turned into stones, so no prizes for guessing what my New Year's resolution is going to be.

I watched a programme on tv last week which was probably cleverly scheduled to prevent people from eating too much over the Christmas break.  It was about a poor man who had to lose 30 stone or risk dying.  He had reached the point where he couldn't even get out of bed and his whole life was spent in the confines of his four walls.

He'd lost all self esteem, and was physically incapable of doing any activity without getting out of breath.  He'd been the butt of jokes and ridicule so had stopped venturing outside.  He ate for comfort and didn't exercise.

It seems he's not alone.  Obesity is common and the numbers of morbidly obese are growing.  People often turn to food as a substitute for something missing from their lives.

We all do things for a reason and apparently this poor chap had a cruel father and an unhappy childhood.  He'd been forced to eat everything on his plate or suffer a beating.  Even after the death of his father he continued to eat everything put in front of him. It became a vicious circle.  He got depressed because of the name calling, being unfit, unhealthy and not finding clothes to wear, so to comfort himself he ate.  Consequently, he got bigger, and even unhappier.

It doesn't matter what size you are as long as you have self-confidence. This poor chap didn't.  Self confidence is a wonderful thing. When you feel good about yourself, life is wonderful and you can achieve so much.

In my thirties I felt elated, engaged, excited and focused.  I want that feeling back again so I am not going to "diet" but focus on four areas in my life – Nutrition, Fitness, Relaxation and Sleep.  

I've neglected them all lately. My excuse is I've been very busy and this is true. However, if I want to get the most out of every day and live a lot longer I need to address them all.  

Nutrition is what, when and how much I eat; Fitness is sensible exercise and improving my recovery rate; and Relaxation and Sleep are the times during the day and night when I switch of and just rest, not only my body but my brain.

Friends and family say I'm doing "too much", but there's much to do and  if I want to be more productive and expend more energy I have to become more efficient at renewing it.  

Wish me luck!

 

Jean Shaw© - All Rights reserved

 

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