Developing a plan

As the new year gets closer, I realize the challenge I'm about to take on not only with my resolution, but also with this blog. This is my first time doing anything like this for this amount of time. The most I've kept a blog consistently was in London ("Katz in London" - I know clever right!) when it was part of my class.

I don't know if I will post every day. To be honest, I probably won't, just because life happens. But I will try to post at least three times per week. Some excessively busy weeks might ends up being just a weekend wrap-up, but I will do my best to keep this going. Just as I am counting on whoever reads this to hold me accountable on my journey toward healthy living, feel free to call me out on my blogging also if I forget to post for an extended period of time.

Now that I've addressed that, let me tell anyone reading this that I've been researching some simple, easy recipes that look like they might taste good and that I might not screw up too badly. In addition to healthy recipes and just in general more made-at-home meals, I am planning to incorporate a variation of liquid-only days. A year or two ago I took a challenge to go three days eating just smoothies and smoothie bowls as far as "meals." Over that three-day period I lost 4 pounds, which just amazed me. I didn't know that was actually possible.

So, what I am thinking is doing smoothie-only diets on days when I do a light workout instead of a full on class or something. I know it works if done correctly, and maybe incorporating that into my diet 1 or 2 days a week will help me naturally reduce my caloric intake, which I know is too high.

The workouts and exercise is another thing I need to tackle, and I am still researching that. Look for another post on that.

While diet has usually been the weakest link (cue Anne Robinson's "You are the weakest link. Goodbye!") of my previous attempts at weight loss, I know sleep is also a key component.

As I write this, I have spent two nights up until 3 or 4 a.m. for one reason or another. I have a crazy work schedule and sometimes don't get home until 11 p.m. However that usually means I do not go into work until 1 or 2 p.m. the following day. It becomes a cycle until one day I get home late - 9:30 p.m. or later - and then have to be up at 6 or 7 the next morning. Then I try to get back on track, but many times wind up falling back into my cycle.

Changing those habits is another part of my quest to live a healthier life, and I know old habits die hard. The problem is it's not really an "old" habit. I really only developed it since I moved to Bryan-College Station in March. I went from a routine of a MW 6:30 a.m. workout before a regular 8-5 job plus anything else that happens outside of those hours to a more flexible hourly-paid schedule that meant I sometimes come in at 8, 9 or 10 a.m., but other times might start my day at 2 p.m.

I cannot always help having to work late because that comes with the role of a community journalist. What I can control, though, is getting ready for bed as soon as I get home instead of trying to "wind down," which many times means watching TV and falling asleep on the couch with multiple lights and the TV still on. Believe me, I'm not proud of that aspect. I know I do it, though, and I know I shouldn't.

The habit that will probably be easier to break is eating dinner at a decent time instead of waiting until I get home. Starting with the first week of 2019, I will be bringing or even picking up something for dinner to eat at the office, so when I get home, all I have to do is maybe watch an episode of "The Great British Baking Show" as I get ready for bed.

If you have any suggestions, let me know!