a peek inside the fishbowl

17 Sep, 2022

September is a good time for change

Posted by andrea tomkins in: Misc. life

I went on a power walk around the block this morning and I tried my hand at doing some intervals for a certain stretch of it that has evenly-spaced blocks.

So my 45-minute walk looked like this: warm up walk, awkward run for one block, huffy puffy walk for one block, run for one block, walk for one block (I repeated this about four times) and then a warm down walk that included a pass through the farmers’ market in Westboro.

I’m going to try and do this more often.

While back I upgraded Overdrive, the app I use to borrow and read books from the public library, to one called Libby. It took awhile to get it working but I’m a convert. It has a nice interface and the lending process is easy. It also has some fun features that weren’t available before. For example, now I know how long I spent reading a particular book. Libby has also made it easier to view and borrow other things from the catalogue, such as current magazines. So last night I went to bed with the latest issue of Prevention Magazine. I haven’t read this magazine in ages but I see it often enough in my social media feeds. There were some great articles, but you know what, I kind of knew how they all ended even before I started reading them. Wondering how to stave off dementia? Exercise and eat a Mediterranean diet! Want to live longer? Exercise and eat a Mediterranean diet! Curious about cardiac health? Exercise and eat a Mediterranean diet!

I think MOST people KNOW what they need to do for their health, but we don’t do it for some reason.

I wonder if it’s because we are collectively an exhausted group of procrastinators who don’t like being told what to do, and also maybe we feel a bit invincible and don’t think of our future selves very often.

I think about that a lot. I wonder if future Andrea would be annoyed at present day Andrea because she neglected her health. (Ugh, this reminds me that I need to book my check-up.)

I’m fascinated by behavioural psychology and I’ve read a lot about why people do, and don’t do, certain things. I think all off those articles I’ve been reading about the things we should be doing for our health need a big postscript that comes down to this:

If you want to adopt a healthy habit, you have to take the most enjoyable/fun/delicious change and take a tiny baby step in that general direction.

Ok, maybe that isn’t the most erudite way of explaining it but for example, if we want to eat more fruits and vegetables, we can just pick our favourite fruit or vegetable and buy it more often. It might be that tried-and-true apple a day, or it might be frozen blueberries for the morning yogurt, or a more “exotic” treat like a mango or kiwi. There you go, one easy extra serving every day.

Change is very hard when you’re told to do it all at once. e.g. Lose weight! Exercise! Start a whole way of eating!

The best and most lasting habit change happens when you’re treating yourself, not when you’re depriving or punishing yourself.


2 Responses to "September is a good time for change"

1 | Sally Dowe Marchand

September 17th, 2022 at 5:16 pm

Avatar

Be careful. Running can become addictive and that’s how it starts. One block at a time. I understand the huff and puff. Some mornings I set my watch to walk because I think I can’t do it, but then end up running two blocks and walking one until I have done my 5 km. I still huff and puff ??? a lot! Good job!!

2 | Jennifer Jilks

September 19th, 2022 at 6:45 pm

Avatar

Good for you! that’s how I started jogging. We lived in North Gower, though, and I thought I’d work up to running around the block. It was 7 km, as we were in the country.
I cannot run anymore, my knees have gone. I’m happy to hear others getting out there!

comment form:

Archives

Me and my pet projects

Ottawa Bucket list

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


  • Gretchen Humphrey: I had a beautiful bee& birdbath filled with a solar fountain and dozens of antique marbles that were suddenly disappearing. At first I thought my
  • Jinjer: I am sobbing reading this post. And you're right, companion is not enough. Little furry treasured gifts that they are. Thanks for sharing cutie-pi
  • Karen: Dear Andrea, Mark and your daughters I am so very sad for your family xxx Piper was/is my favourite Instagram post. You shared with us so intimately
  • Christina Banuelos: Thank you for sharing Pipers life with us. Your posts of Piper brought me joy. Every time I see your post and see what kind of mischief Piper was gett
  • Carla Slocum: I am sitting here yet again crying at your loss. We have known that loss with Asta the WFT our first pup but now have the enormous gift of Stryker the
  • Janelle Brown: Dear Andrea Thank you for sharing Piper’s story with her followers. I empathise with your grief and emptiness as I lost my 14 year old Westie last
  • Natasha McReynolds-Nicholl: My god reading this is heartbreaking. December 1st was the as you describe longest day of my life, we lost out beautiful WFT hazel. Pipers final momen

The Obligatory Blurb

My name is Andrea and I live in the Westboro area of Ottawa with my husband Mark and our dog Piper who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. We also have two human offspring: Emma (24) and Sarah (22). During the day I work as a writer at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999. The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.

If you'd like to contact me, please use this form. If you're so inclined, you can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

 


Connect with me at these places too!

Still calling it Twitter