Changing Lifestyles

May I just say, "UNCLE!"? For years I've needed to do something about my sedentary lifestyle and diet. If my shrinking clothes (Surely this is the reason I kept outgrowing them.)  did not serve as an adequate reminder of my backsliding, unhealthy ways, my well-intentioned mother's persistent prompts did refresh my memory each time I saw her.  
Not effective!


But now I am committed to a lifestyle change. What did the trick? Really, two long-term processes. Last year Fife was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease and has had Gout attacks for several years. Over the past year he has drastically changed his diet to control both conditions -- life-altering for him -- and very effective for weight loss. His positive response to dietary restrictions helped me begin to change my own diet (Thanks, Fife!). Then, for half of a year I followed a friend's professional blog  in which she reported her day-to-day experiences during her international exchange to Hungary and, in so doing, also documented her active, healthy lifestyle. Later, her simple encouragement for me to try Yoga and to become more active sealed the deal. (Yes, first I stubbornly argued that I couldn't do Yoga. Thanks, Jane!) Turns out that living examples are uncomplicated and effective motivators, if rarely noticed.

I'm loving learning Yoga (Also doesn't hurt that instructor Rodney Yee is a former ballet dancer.) and can't figure out why I was so resolutely opposed to trying it before (Could it be that I have a very hard head?).  For five days each week, I participate in some aerobic activity, and I am rehabing my diet. Another friend, a former aerobics instructor, has been coaching me on machines at the Y and has taught me how to use an exercise ball (thanks, Laurie!). Yet another friend shared her cabbage soup recipe and Yoga DVD recommendations (Thanks, Cindy!). What would I do without my gentle and generous friends?

Try these tasty, filling, low fat, low carb, low salt, meatless Eggplant Stacks (thanks, again, Jane). Sandwich low-fat Swiss cheese, greek oregano, green onions, tomatoes, basil, grilled portabello mushrooms, and roasted bell peppers between grilled eggplant slices (brushed lightly with olive oil) and bake until heated through.

Now that I've blogged my resolutions, I have no choice but to be committed to them. Can't lose face. :D

Sometimes my stubborn persistence can be a good thing.

And, persist I will.

Hold me to it, friends.