Getting Healthier in 2011 – June Health Goal Wrap-up & July Health Goals

I love my Emergen-C, and I need to drink it again. It really helps me feel energized and well.

I usually do my wrap-up at the beginning of every month, but here it is, the 12th, and I have yet to do my wrap-up or create new health goals for July.

If my goal is “getting healthier”, then I’m seriously behind this month.  I also seriously lapsed on my June health goals shortly after my grandfather’s death and my sudden trip to Florida for his funeral.  So I haven’t been doing what I should be for my overall health and wellness at all, and I’ve fallen back into bad health habits such as not getting enough sleep and eating poorly.

I also gained weight during the week I was gone for the funeral and helping to take care of my grandmother.  She had a whole tub of ice cream!  She tempted me! It was awful. “It was your granddaddy’s ice cream.  I can’t eat it because I’m a diabetic.”  Oh man…  Oh, and she had these horribly unhealthy but delicious peach beverages that were loaded with corn syrup.  They were so bad for me, but they tasted so good!

I was weak, I know.  I’m sorry.

So, my health goals aren’t really changing for July.  July is basically June…part 2, with the exception of one addition (and a few removals that I know I can’t accomplish right now because it’s just too much).

My addition for July is to learn how to bake a batch of cupcakes using stevia.  I tried it a couple of days ago for my husband’s birthday. Let’s just call it an extreme baking fail for now.  I will post a full article, complete with photos, about the tasteless vegan, sugar free cupcakes I attempted.

I’m not going to try to go gluten free as I had planned, at least not right now.  So that item will be removed from the list.  I’m also going to map out a work-out schedule and attempt to accomplish the fitness goals I have listed below, though I’m not sure they are realistic.  We shall see.

Health Goals for July

1. Floss daily – I never floss unless something is stuck in my teeth. That has to change.
2. Take 3,000 mg of Vitamin C daily.  I felt healthier a few years ago when I did this very strictly, as per my Naturopathic doctor’s suggestion, so I’m going back to it to strengthen my immune system, help alleviate allergy issues, and also boost mood and energy.
3. Take 3,000 mg or more of Omega 3s daily in the form of Flax Oil and Flax Milk to improve mood.  Consider switching from Flax Oil to Krill Oil (the pills are smaller and easier to swallow and each one contains a lot more Omega 3).
4. Find a good probiotic supplement. I took a powdered probiotic that I got from my Naturopathic doctor a few years ago when I lived in New England. I have never found this probiotic on store shelves.  I either need to buy some from her and have her ship it to me or find one that is just as good or better than the one I used to take.  The probiotic she gave me was exceptional!
5. Reduce gluten intake. I used to be on a strict gluten free diet.  After moving a couple years ago, though, it was hard to stick with and I haven’t gone back to it.  I think it’s time to do so…in fact, it’s passed time to do it.  I need to dramatically reduce my gluten intake this month, and I’d like to eliminate it by the start of July if possible.
6. Take at least 400 mg of Quercetin per day (1 pill) for allergies and energy.
7. Take 440 mg of Chaste Tree Berries per day (1 pill) for PMS symptoms.
8. Continue taking medications for allergies, back pain and depression (zyrtec, nasonex, muscle relaxer, and prozac).
9. Drink plenty of water – at least 9-8oz. glass per day minimum.
10. Go to physical therapy appointments for back pain. Follow the therapist’s instructions at home!
11. Do light-moderate morning exercises for energy such as a 10-15 minute walk, a 30 minute bike ride, pilates, etc…
12. Do the heavier work-outs in the evening – 40 minutes a day / 3 days per week on the elliptical machine, treadmill, work-out bike, or Zumba class for weight loss, muscle building, and toning.  Consider running (I hate running, but I want to love it!).
13. Get plenty of sleep per night.  At least 7 hours of sleep nightly.
14. Take a multi-vitamin daily and find a new multi-vitamin that is easier to swallow.

I did find a multi-vitamin, though it doesn’t contain iron, which concerns me.

I was drinking plenty of water, but then I got home from my trip and moving from humid Florida back to the desert meant I needed more water and wasn’t getting enough.  My legs have been cramping, and I’m extremely tired from dehydration. I have to get back into the habit of drinking lots of water.

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I’ve been going to physical therapy, but I haven’t been doing the stretches as often as I should.   I have not, however, required the muscle relaxers lately and haven’t suffered from severe pain that kept me from going about my day as before.

I’m not sure how to schedule my exercise routines, but as I understand it, the best practice is a light work-out in the morning and a heavier one in the evening.  Not sure how to get that in, but I will see what I can do.

I completely stopped taking the supplements, and I’m getting back into the habit of it.  I need my Omega 3s and Vitamin C!  I feel so much better with it.

Oh, and no…I didn’t floss…at all.  I know!  I know!  *sigh*  I’m working on it.

Question:  What do you do when you fall face first and almost completely fail to reach your health goals?

Related articles

• Day#5 Ayurvedic Diet: Is GLUTEN Keeping You From Your Optimum? (makenziewiegand.com)
• Probiotic drinks help against allergies (medicalxpress.com)
• Stevia – fighting for recognition (heinzrainer.wordpress.com)