Refocusing on Wellness: August 2012

 

 

Hello lovely friends.  It’s August 1st…the eighth month of the year…and the last month of summer here in the northern hemisphere.  When I stop to think about it, I alternate between awe at the speed at which this is happening and occasional flashes of panic that time is “tick, tick, ticking away” so quickly.  I know the only way to slow down time is by living in the moment. (Remember those endless summers of childhood?)  Living in the past or the future is a sure way to speed up the clock.

I’ve been practicing “now time” all summer. A current “tool” that we’re working on with Eloheim (via Veronica Torres) is to continually ask ourselves the question “what is true now?”  It’s an amazing technique which pulls the mind out of it’s old familiar thinking ruts…the one’s that don’t bring peace of mind, have never brought peace of mind, and never will create a peaceful mind.  By asking myself “what is true now?”…the sun is shining on my face, I have a headache, I feel the breeze coming through the window, I’m feeling sleepy, etc…the brain is forced to find and create new neural pathways in a completely different part of the brain. (Using this tool along with a notebook is a powerful way to notice just how many times a day we go back to the same hampster-wheel thinking)

 

 

Like any new task learned, it takes practice. It’s much easier to let the mind run down the old familiar rat’s maze.  I recently learned an interesting fact about the brain…it’s been found by observing MRI’s of brain activity that it uses 85% more energy when learning a new task, than it does when doing a routine task that it knows well.  This explains so much!  Every wondered why you felt so tired when you were learning a new job at work?  Breaking ground on new neural pathways can be really tiring!

 

The wellness change that I made for July was to eliminate potatoes from my diet for reasons I wrote about here.  When I cut out wheat two years ago, I began using potatoes…in all their glorious permutations, as my go-to comfort food. I was apprehensive about eliminating them but told myself I could do it for a month and then add them back if I felt I needed wanted to ;)

I’m happy to report that I went the whole month with nary a potato and didn’t miss them at all, so I’ll be continuing on with this for awhile.  I also lost about 4 lbs. which made me pretty happy.  My intent is to lower my blood sugar and cholesterol levels and the only way to do this without medication, is to loose weight and increase my exercise levels over and above the walking I do 3X’s (or more) a week. 

 

We’ve been alternating our walks between the airport path and Elk Lake which has a 10 kl. path all the way around it.

With this in mind, I had decided that August’s wellness change would be to add some low impact exercise and I thought I’d do this by using a weighted hula hoop.  It doesn’t require much room, doesn’t put pressure on my knees and some can even be taken apart for traveling.  After doing a little research, I found that they’re not recommended for anyone with back issues…which I have.  To be honest, the thought of me trying to keep that hoop up off the floor was a bit daunting anyway!

 

 

So…I decided to increase my activity level with weights.  The ones that I ended up getting, wrap around the ankles and wrists and can be worn while stretching and doing gentle movements, as well as while walking around the house with them on during the day.  I plan to begin using them on my outdoor walks too but I feel very ungainly and clumsy in them right now so I think I’ll wait until I get my “sea legs” with them.  I’ll report back on their effectiveness and ease of use at the end of August.

Should be an interesting month!

Wishing you all a beautiful month of sunshine and good health.

Comments

[olivia]

kate, what a great job you're doing in gently focusing on wellness. I'm glad you don't miss the potatoes. I too often have that "tick tick tick" feeling of time passing. Wondering how many more summers I'll see--just an awareness of my own mortality. And a wondering when someone "younger" dies. As more and more people I know pass away I wonder how many years I have left. There is so much more I want to do...at the same time I am truly learning to be here now. I agree with you that it is the only way to slow time down. What a gift the slow gaining of wisdom is! xoO

[AnDee]

An inspirational post...

I've been thinking a lot about "the now"...What can I face for this hour is a lot easier than the whole night. I am having issues with a past relationship, letting go. It's good to know that my brain is getting stronger as I let go! I love the idea of the notebook too...I can attest to the hamster wheel, journals from 6 years ago read exactly the same as ones from 4 months ago. {A bit of a change in the last couple of months I am happy to say} Time to toss the darn hamster wheel and get on with it...

You don't miss potatoes? I think I would, a lot! Fries...I've been noticing that when I eat cereal lately I feel sick. I cut out most diary and it seemed to help but I think, now, the cause my be wheat. Do you use other grains?

I am glad you are making these changes and sharing your results. Looking forward to an update on the weights. I am a big fan of really heavy lifting. Getting strong is wonderful.

XO to you Kate.

[AnDee]

Oh and I wanted to say thank you for not having a captcha. Those things make me want to tear out my hair! :)

[Patti]

I don't eat potatoes except on rare occasions though I do love sweet potato (Kumera) it has lower GI and it satisfies that need.

Time does have a habit of escaping and tapping on our window panes! I am conscious of a hurry up, it's now or never! At the same time it seems to stretch into infinity - a paradox!

Good luck with the weights, they should make a difference!

[tanna]

Most excellent, inspiring and thought provoking... you are so good at that Kate! I have been practicing the mantra, if you will, of: I have enough time. I find myself constantly feeling stressed that there is too much to do and not enough time... it seems to race past so quickly! I have several "hamster wheels" that need to be exited! LOL! But, this simple assurance to myself has been amazingly calming.

I have started back on my elimination of all things extremely starchy this week and I can already tell a difference in the way I feel. Why those damn things are so appealing I will never understand! LOL!

I have started back to a yoga class three times a week (if I am not having to meet a worker at one of the Old Girls!). Still need to get back to regular walking!! Grrrr. I will be very interested to hear how the weights do for you.

blessings ~ tanna

[Susan]

Thanks for sharing all that you do, Kate. There's so much to pay attention to, isn't there? Food, what to not eat, what to try to get more of and excerise and sore knees and all that goes on in your mind, too. Whew!! That's a workout, right there. I should go back in your blog and try to see what your deal with potatoes is about, my biggest weakness and could be causing me problems.
Carry on, sounds like you are certainly on the right track.

[martie]

New neural pathways! How exciting is that. You ARE never too old to learn! And how wise to concentrate on one area of wellness at a time You are such a wise woman.