You've always got your health...

After years of eating on the 'run' (read: at my desk), not exercising and being too concerned with having my head in a book than looking after myself, at 42 years old, I'm tired, significantly overweight and facing a number of health issues that I would rather not consider.

While I am not actually 'ill' - I struggle to get out of bed, am exhausted all of the time and don't like the way I look.  I have no energy to do anything and am facing my 40s... and 50s... and so on being an unwell, cranky woman.  Clearly, this is not a good plan!

So... what to do?

A few years ago, I tried a 'gluten-free' diet.  By cutting out anything that had gluten in it (which is a long list of modern foods) I managed to lose 15kgs and had a lot of energy. After a while (plus meeting a new man... who is now my husband), I got bored and frustrated as gluten-free food was hard to find and stopped.  Six years later, I don't like the way my body is so... time to try again.

So, 2011 has been named The Restorative Year in our household.  This coming year (a few more weeks of 2010 to finish yet), I will:

• go 'gluten free'; and
• exercise and/or meditate daily; and
• stop shopping (for clothes, shoes etc)

My plan is to lose 40kgs (yes!!), find my energetic self again and work out what my actual 'style' is.  I've been overweight and tired for so long that I've lost my mojo... and my style... so its time to get it back!

Listening to Life Matters (ABC - Radio National) on the way to work this week, I heard about a woman who also stopped shopping for a year (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2010/3085796.htm).  She (like me) found herself shopping a lot... searching for something to make her happy but not finding it in malls and department stores.  I know exactly how she felt so have decided that 2011 is the year that I cut back ... and really deal with what it is that is bothering me.  I must admit, I'm not actually sure what that is... but no doubt, I will find out.

If I can work out how to use this blog... I'll load some 'before' photos so we can track my progress.  In the meantime, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Should be an interesting... and challenging... year.  Blogging - for a Generation Xer - does seem a bit ... well,... self-indulgent... so this is also a struggle.  I am not used to being so public!