It's the new year and I have decided NOT to make any New Year's resolutions. They are a flash in the pan, so to speak. I don't want to be fired up about something one day only to watch the idea fizzle and die, a victim to the pull and pressure of every day life.
I have, however, been contemplating how I might change my life for the better. "For the better" as in for the healthier. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2001 the day before my twenty-seventh birthday. The dietary advise I got from the doctor who diagnosed me, and I quote, was: "Don't eat cake and don't drink." Solid.
Since this earth-shattering diagnoses (not the first earth-shattering diagnoses I've ever received in my life, but I'm sure there'll be more on that later) i have yet to receive any sound instruction or advice on how/what to eat. Sure, it would be easy enough to search on Amazon or Barnes and Noble to find a lengthy book on diabetic eating or to grab up a diabetic cook book or literature on the glycemic index to help me out, but, for those things I'd need the time to be able to read the book, become acquainted with the recipes, learn the science behind a glycemic index.
I know, I know. "If these things are detrimental for healthy living as a diabetic wouldn't you just MAKE time for them?!" I know I should. And then there's that word "should".
For the same reason I won't make any New Year's resolutions, I won't be starting a "diet", per se. I just can't bring myself to do it. I won't make it past the initiation period or the cleansing phase or whatever the first week of any given diet might be entitled. I won't. I like dark chocolate. I like pasta. I like beer and wine. I like meat.
I know and understand and have come to accept all of these things about myself but still want to make a change for the sake of my health and longevity. I'm an "older" mom. I had my first baby boy when I was thirty-six years old and my most recent/most-likely-last baby boy at age 39. The fourth of 4 boys, I gave birth to him just two months shy of my 40th birthday. I need to stick around a while and get these boys growed up!
I'm not sure where it came from but the Mediterranean Diet crossed my path somewhere along the way in the recent past. Hesitant to read up on a "diet" I was open to learning more about it because there were studies on the way of life of people in the Mediterranean region. It wasn't just about what to or what not eat. What I am choosing to call a Mediterranean mindset or Mediterranean living encourages a lifestyle of low stress, strong relationships AND healthy eating.
I'm listening to an audio book (the only way that the mother of four/wife/medical social worker/mental health counselor can actually "read" a book) called "Everyone Is Beautiful" by Katherine Center. Okay, first of all let me say I am loving this book. If I would ever write a book it would be one like this. She's in my head. She's quoted me. She feels my frustration. In other words, I'm really connecting with the main character, Lainey. We have a lot in common right down to our husbands names and being the mother of boys to being near the same age and post-child bearing wondering not only where our bodies have gone but our selves. In the midst of this wondering Lainey does something that has helped me to determine my next step toward living more healthily, she joins a gym. She started with one hour one day and just worked her way up. Hearing this fictional mom take such a realistic step to live healthier kicked my curiosity about the Mediterranean Diet into high gear. It made sense to start small. So this is me, starting.
Here's what I know about Mediterranean eating and living thus far:
1) They eat in season
2) Their big meal is during the day
3) It's about taking time to experience the smells, flavors and textures about what's being eaten
4) Emphasis is on relationships-who you're sharing the meal with
5) There will usually be wine
Those are 5 things I can certainly live with! The trick now is to figure out how to incorporate those practices or to adapt at least the philosophy into my life and the life of my family.
I read today that the Mediterranean way of eating can reduce the risk of many diseases including two of which I am personally acquainted: diabetes and cancer, it can reduce and even rewind the signs of aging and helps one maintain a healthy weight. Eating typically includes a lot of olive oil, nuts, pasta as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
While this blog will not strictly be a blog about diet, it's more for recording my journey in hopes of encouraging and inspiring others to take baby steps to healthier living in all areas of life, I will be sharing what I eat and any recipes that are worth passing on. Tonight I made fettuccine in evoo (extra virgin olive oil-supposedly the best for you) with sea salt, tomatoes, spinach, black olives and finely grated parmesan cheese. It was delightful. I capped it off with a Blue Moon and orange slice. (I've also read that daily 2 glasses of wine or sometimes substituted with beer is common in the Mediterranean diet, so I went with it). My evening snack was sea salt almonds and dark chocolate chips. Very satisfying overall.
As far as physical activity is concerned I have not been to the gym in about a week. We have a family membership at the YMCA near us and I do not have a set time that is mine to go to the gym. Due to physical restrictions (left knee replacement, cancer history, more on that later) I tend to use the pool primarily. While it's nice to have a pool to be able to use so near by it is also very time consuming. I take one of the four boys with me typically to help get them acquainted with water and then they watch as I do my exercises in the water. I figure walking laps in the pool as I hold them up and encourage them to "kick, kick, kick" provides some form of exercise for me.
In "The Everything Mediterranean Diet Book" by Connie Diekman, Connie sites that for physical activity those living in the Mediterranean region are typically active in their gardens and they walk or ride bikes both for pleasure and for transportation. Since it is unrealistic for me to walk or ride a bike to where I need to go (I don't own a bike first off) and I don't have a garden (tried it once, don't ask) I will work in increased physical activity to this new lifestyle/mindset that I'm developing here and will document what i come up with that is realistic to my situation.
At the risk of being too "defined" I would like to list some of my intentions as I begin this journey:
-This blog is for me. It's a record of my journey toward healthier living shared to encourage and inspire others.
-I will read more about the Mediterranean way of eating and incorporate as many healthy habits as I can with the understanding that these things will be introduced to my diet in a gradual manner.
-Stress reduction/management will be one of the central areas of investigation. How do they manage in the Mediterranean region and what can I learn from them? What practices can I apply to my own life?
-Discover the religious beliefs and practices of those living in the Mediterranean region and how that impacts their health.
-Find creative ways to increase physical activity (probably starting with using my membership at the Y!)
I would appreciate any insight, feedback, recommendations, etc from my friends, family and future friends who might read this in regards to Mediterranean eating and living. I look forward to sharing my experience as I take my first steps toward becoming healthier by way of the Mediterranean path!
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