A health-focused connection to body
Here we are again, nearing the end of another month. Admittedly, I’m a week early for the WOTY Link-up, but since I plan to be on vacation next week…connecting with friends I haven’t seen for two years…and with the ocean, which I also have not seen for two years…I thought I’d write my April word of the year update now.
As a reminder, my word for 2022 is CONNECTED, as in…
Connected to this moment
Connected to my authentic self
Connected to my amazing body
Connected to my loved ones
Connected to all beings and Mother Earth
Quick recap
In January, my primary focus was connecting to my authentic self. February was all about mindfulness, being connected to this moment. March was connection to my body through listening. This month, I am going to stick with the theme of being connected to my body, but shift the focus to caring for my body.
Taking care of our bodies
My body takes pretty good care of me…carrying me where I want to go, protecting me from illness, warning me when something is amiss. My body allows me to experience this world through sight, sound, smell, taste, sensation. My body bore children for me! The list continues… So what can I do in return? For the purpose of this post, I will confine myself to three things. (You’ve got other things to do today, right? If not, I could go on and on…just say the word!)
Move more
Our bodies were made to move. Increasing physical activity, evenly in small increments, has been shown to sharpen your mind, enhance sleep, maintain weight, increase energy, strengthen bones and muscles, improve mood, and reduce pain. (I believe this fact is well-enough accepted that I needn’t load my post with authoritative references. That said, remember I am not a doctor. Please don’t look to me for medical advice.)
It’s not difficult to work more movement into your day. I’m sure you’ve heard it before…just park a little further from your destination, take the stairs instead of the elevator, do a few squats or wall push-ups while you wait for your coffee, or break out your best (or worst) dance moves when your favorite song comes on the radio.
Beyond incidental movement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle strengthening activity per week. My preferred forms of exercise are Orangetheory Fitness (a heart-rate based HIIT total-body group workout), outdoor walking or hiking, and yoga. I will also ride the stationary bike and use free weights on occasion.
Eat real food, not too much, mostly plants
All that movement requires proper fuel. The old car analogy still holds true. You wouldn’t put junk in the tank of your car…or fail to fuel it at all…and expect it to run in top form. Why then do we do that to our bodies? There are as many opinions as there are people about how to best fuel your body. I choose to keep it simple: eat real food, not too much, mostly plants. My diet isn’t perfect. I do indulge in treats, including a nightly sweet, but the key for me is to make my primary fuel nutritious. The treats are just that…treats…and served up in moderation.
Get diagnostic checks
In sticking with the automobile theme, in addition to high quality fuel, our bodies also need regular maintenance. And just like your car, it is best to rely on the experts. In the past month, I had my annual exam and screening mammogram. This summer, I’ll be in for my dental cleaning and exam, as well as my annual mole check. Next year, I’m due for an eye exam and a colonoscopy. That seems like a lot when you list it all in one paragraph, but spread out over a year, it’s not so bad…and certainly better than the treatment for escalated diseases that could have been detected sooner. Not to mention, the peace of mind that comes from receiving a clean bill of health from your doctor.
Your turn
- Do you exercise regularly? What is your favorite form of physical activity?
- What is your go-to tip for eating healthy?
- Have you had your recommended preventive exams this year? If not, will you commit to scheduling one now?
- Do you have a WOTY? What is it, and how is it going?
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Hi Christie it sounds like you have the balance pretty spot on with keeping connected to your body and its needs. I’m trying to find a new balance while my hip is causing me so much pain – new ways to move and peform everyday tasks are high on my priority list atm….which makes eating healthily even more important if I don’t want to be a couch potato!
Yes, Leanne, at the moment, I have a good balance. I do go through ups and downs, like everyone. I try not to get too far off center for too long. I hope you find a resolution to your hip pain soon.
I love that Michael Pollan quote… and we try to eat that way as much as we can. If I’m ever feeling bad physically (tired, run down, just icky), I can usually connect it to something I ate, or didn’t eat, or that I haven’t had enough water. Our bodies tell us a lot if we will only listen.
I love Pollan’s way of eating. There’s certainly room for improvement in my diet, but at least it gives me a measuring stick–one that’s not overly complicated.
Hi, Christie – Thank you for joining us early for the WOTY Link Up. I will be sure to include this link in our InLinkz Roundup.
This post offers excellent reminders. Here are my condensed answers to your questions.
1. I exercise daily. My favourite workouts are with my friends which I do online twice per week.
2. My husband and I predominantly eat meatless when at home. When we are away from home we eat whatever is on offer (within reason). We feel that this gives us a healthy balance and the flexibility reduces potential stress.
3. I’ve recently had my yearly check-up. It revealed a small infection that I hadn’t known about. Checkups really are worth their weight in gold.
4. My WOTY is Peace. Stay tuned for more.
Enjoy your time away!
Hello Donna. Thanks for including me in the Roundup and for playing along with my Q&A. We had a wonderful vacation (holiday, for my English friends) and we made some new friends from Victoria. We’ve tentatively made plans to come up that way next summer.
Do you exercise regularly? What is your favorite form of physical activity? I like to go for walks. Simple and as easy as stepping out the front door.
What is your go-to tip for eating healthy? Eat low fat, high fiber. Toss in a few [theoretically] unhealthy things you like regardless of what the current nutritional guidelines suggest.
Have you had your recommended preventive exams this year? If not, will you commit to scheduling one now? I’m a doctor’s daughter, so OF COURSE I do all the preventive exams as scheduled.
Do you have a WOTY? What is it, and how is it going? My word is ‘enjoy’ and to be honest it’s not going too well. More stress than joy lately.
Hello Ally. Thanks for playing along with my Q&A. When it comes to caring for our bodies, it seems we have a similar mindset. I also love walking. And, of course, you must throw in a few foods that are simply for enjoyment without concern for nutritional content. My only “rule” is you must savor them without regret or guilt. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had more stress than joy recently. I hope that turns around soon. I hope you do something you enjoy today.
I love your three things. For me, someone who had zero exercise program before retirement (seriously – NO movement), I’m happy I’ve made some progress here. I’m not (yet) to the recommended levels, but I do yoga at least one class a week, cardio with Zumba at least one class a week, try and fit in a walk or two each week, and I just re-added in strength training which seemed to fall to the side somewhere. I’m a stickler for all the health maintenance and since my cancer was found in a routine mammogram, I’m a huge advocate here, too! Eating is another area I do OK but not great. My push every time we shop is to buy more fruits and veggies and less sweet and salty snacks. When I look at it all, I know there’s area for improvement, but I’m also happy with progress I’ve made.
I’m so impressed, Pat, with the amount of physical activity you have incorporated in your daily life just since retirement. I’d say you’ve made a lot of progress from no movement a few years ago. I like the variety too. It seems that mixing it up would be the most healthy way to move and certainly keeps it from getting boring. I’m so glad you got that mammogram that started you on the path to recovery early in your cancer. Here’s to our strong, healthy bodies and taking good care of them!
My favourite form of exercise is walking. It’s great for stretching the muscles, for getting the creak out of the old bones, and for clearing my head – both emotionally and practically.
Every meal we eat is cooked from scratch, and we happily eat veggie, although vegan is a challenge. For me, avoiding emotional eating is key.
We don’t tend to have well-woman/men medical exams over here in the UK in the same way as you do, but I do attend my regular cancer screenings and any others which are available. Himself is a law unto himself medically speaking, and I’ve had to learn to let go for my own mental wellbeing.
My WOTY has wobbled about (as previously mentioned) but I have settled on Be Brave! Yes, it’s two words and yes, the exclamation point is a critical part – and so far it’s going well. There have been challenges (and emotional meltdowns) but I’ve got back up and kept going. It was always intended to be a journey and hopefully – with practice – it won’t take as much courage in the future.
I love these responses, Debs. Thanks for sharing them. Walking is truly therapeutic for mind and body, and I’m impressed that you cook every meal from scratch. I definitely want to do more of that once I am retired (next month). I understand about letting go of trying to influence others’ health habits. It’s not easy, but essential for our own wellbeing. Good luck in your journey to Be Brave! You are so right that it is a journey and an ongoing practice. And the exclamation point makes all the difference.
I can’t – in all honesty – currently take the credit for cooking, as Himself is both the meal planner and cook in our partnership. But, before he moved in, I did the same. I enjoy it, and my repertoire has always included a number of simple dishes for when time was tight. I hope you get enjoyment from it once you’re crossed the retirement rubicon 🙂
My husband does much of the cooking as well, since he works from home. I suspect we’ll split the duties when I’m retired. It will be interesting to see how things evolve. I’m looking forward to finding out.