This post appears as part of our Healthier 2021 series, following three WebMD team members as they strive to improve their health this year. You can follow their travels here.
By Laura J. Downey
Angry! I made it after my birthday week. People told me that calories don’t count on your birthday so I took the liberty of having a smidgen that day. But the next day and the rest of the week I got down to business. I stayed on track with my goals and refused to let anything get in the way.
For my birthday I treated myself to a stay in a beautiful hotel. Before I got to the spa, I put on my workout clothes and jumped on a peloton bike. (Maybe I can challenge my colleague and co-user of the Peloton app, Mark Spoor, to a friendship contest next month!) When I finished, I walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes. On last year’s birthday outing, I certainly didn’t use the gym on my special day, so I think about this advancement.
And when it was time for dinner, I ordered salmon, Brussels sprouts, truffled whipped potatoes, and lobster macaroni and cheese. I didn’t stuff my face and stopped eating when I felt full. The waiter asked me if I wanted dessert; I said no because I used to enjoy a little red velvet cake in my hotel room and I didn’t want to overdo it. Ordinarily I would have said yes for dessert, even if I had candy just a few hours earlier. I also see this as further progress.
When I ordered room service the next morning, I was deliberate in my food choices. Instead of getting my usual waffle with a side of bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, wheat toast and jam, I opted for a protein omelet with a side salad to replace the french fries. Another little win in my book.
Later in the week, I met with some of my sisters for an intimate, chef-prepared dinner. After checking our temperatures at the door, I went straight to the starters and filled my plate with salad. I stayed away from the cheese tray and looked forward to eating the pan seared red snapper, green garlic green beans, and roasted herb potatoes. More progress, right?
I admit, there were some nights I had trouble trying to eat more because I usually crave extra sugar. But I stayed strong and put my holder in my mouth. (That’s one of the tricks I use to stop overeating.)
During the week I ran directly on the treadmill for 3 minutes. There were a few days where I would run up to 5 minutes in a row, and it was during those moments that I felt like I was getting my mojo back.
Every decision I made was intentional. Whether it was taking the stairs instead of the escalator, or buying grapes and apples instead of fries, I chose to be a better me. And to be honest, I like how I feel inside. Because when I choose unhealthy foods, I usually feel stressed both physically and mentally. So I’ll do my best to stay focused and keep an eye on the price.
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