Real Age versus Calendar Age

I found a great website a few years ago, www.RealAge.com. The site asks you to fill out information about your health and lifestyle and within an hour or two they will send you an email telling you your "real age" as opposed to your "calendar age." If you smoke or drink a lot, don't work out or have health problems your real age may be older than your calendar age. At this point they will recommend changes you can make to improve your health.

The first time I did this it actually said my "real age" was a year or so older than my calendar age. I wasn't thrilled but was already on a good path to improve my health so I took their suggestions and kept moving forward. Yesterday I filled out the online form again and with a calendar age of 40.2, (my birthday was in November) they said my "real age" is 35.8.

I have to acknowledge that my hard work to create a healthy lifestyle has paid off. Granted, it's a computer program but the changes are also reflected in blood work and test results when I go to the doctor. The true test though is how I feel on a day to day basis. The more effort I put into a healthy lifestyle has increased my confidence, my self-esteem, my energy, my sense of self-respect...

We tend to be drawn to the quick fix headlines, "Get your Summer Body, just 12 Minutes a Day," "Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days," but real change isn't a quick fix. Lasting change requires commitment to permanent lifestyle change and you begin with just one change. One small difference you can make and build upon. Maybe it's taking vitamins or drinking water or taking a walk every morning. Whatever that one change is you are willing to make...why not start begin decreasing your real age today?

Self care with insane work hours

This has been the craziest work week I have had since college. I think the last time I worked as many hours with as little sleep I was in college. From Monday at 1p to Wednesday at 11pm I worked roughly 38 hours. I'm not kidding. I have software that logs the number of hours I work on a project. I am a life coach but I also do web work and a variety of related projects for my brother's advertising company. This week I was helping out with a project that that was very behind schedule. I worked out Monday morning and that was the last time I saw anyone other than the guy behind the counter at 7-11 who sold me my caffeine and the Chinese food delivery guy. That is until Thursday when I took the fruits of my 38 hours of labor to a meeting to be presented.

Self care takes on an entirely new meaning when you are on a short term project demanding that much attention. Normally self care means 7 hours minimum sleep, a workout in the morning, eating food I prepare even if it's my left overs and planned snacks.

Self care for those four days meant acknowledging I was tired, taking a 10 minute break when the pressure made me feel like screaming or crying, ordering take out and canceling my trainer. While ordinarily working out is the kindest thing I do for my physical and emotional well being, in this high stress week I needed to give myself permission to skip the gym and eat take out. I needed to trust that 4 days would not undo all the effort I put into my body and my health. I needed to trust myself to get back on the bandwagon, into the gym and my own kitchen when the project was complete.

The great news is that Friday I worked out and Sunday I cooked enough chicken and chopped enough veggies to carry me through much of this week. I am fully back in my routine and rested from what was complete insanity last week. I don't normally work those hours but it is good to know I can take care of myself on the rare occasion I have to.

Holiday Burn-Out

December was a long and challenging month. Single and starting a new business, my old habits of avoidance were banging at the door. On the weekends I would wake up to unusually cold mornings. I live in Los Angeles where the temperatures hover in the mid 60's to mid 70's most of the time. This December there were 45 degree mornings...brrr. I usually wake up, jump out of bed and head to the gym. Instead I found myself curling up in bed, watching TV reruns for two or three hours. I still managed to get to the gym at least 4 times a week but my weekends...the days I tend to eat a bit more and drink red wine...I was skipping the gym.

I work from home so gratefully I was able to avoid the holiday munchies people bring into the office. After family dinners I always refuse to bring home leftovers, which saves me from deciding to eat a bowl full of stuffing for breakfast. That being said, I was definately choosing to eat out more often, go out with friends more often and cook less. This explains the four pounds I discovered and the fact that my jeans feel just a smidge tigher.

The key for me this week is portion control, eating at home and accepting no excuses. I actually hit the gym first thing Sunday morning. Getting out of bed was not my favorite moment but when I got off the treadmill 4 miles later it was all worth it. I don't believe in New Years Resolutions...I believe in commitments. In December I allowed a little wiggle room and in January I am back to honoring my commitment.