I'm just sick of myself. I'm sick of feeling tired most of the time. I'm sick of having this "trucker belly". I'm sick of coughing first thing in the morning. I just don't feel well most of the time. I need to do something about it.
I had started eating healthier some months back but somewhere along the way, somewhere out on the road, I slipped back into my old unhealthy eating habits. I had cut back on my smoking too but somewhere along the way, somewhere out on the road, I slipped back into the 3 pack a day thing too. That's just too damn much.
I do pretty well with walking as much as possible, bicycle riding when I can, and generally getting as much exercise as my job/lifestyle will allow but it simply isn't enough if I continue to eat poorly and smoke too much.
Maybe it's just the Spring fever thing, but I have decided that it's time I got serious about taking better care of myself. I know, I know, I've said it before. But I really do mean it. I feel like hell most of the time and need to feel better.
I'm 45 years old (how the hell have I lived this long?) and not getting any younger. I'm now into that age group where all of the percentages are starting to go against me. Heart disease, cancer, clogged arteries, high blood pressure, all the nasties that seem to swarm on you in middle age.
No, I am not one of those people who constantly worries about these sorts of things nor do I ever intend to become one, but I am a realist and realistically I am setting myself up for serious health issues by not taking proper care of myself.
So it's time to do something about it. To act and not just think about it. Starting now I am going to make a serious effort to actually think about what I eat and try to choose healthy foods over not so healthy. I am going to try and avoid fried foods as much as possible, eat more veggies and fruits, and cut down on my sugar intake. That's a start I think.
I am also giving serious thought to quitting smoking after 30 years of it. I've been thinking about it for a while now, and even wrote about giving up cigarettes a while back but never actually followed through with it. I think it's time. I am getting into that morning cough thing now and don't like it. I think it's a sign that it's time to stop abusing my lungs and perhaps allow more oxygen into my system. I am wondering if that's not why I feel tired most of the time, a simple lack of proper oxygen levels.
After smoking for 30+ years, and spending as much time driving as I do (which is when I smoke the most), I do not think I can just quit cold turkey. Well, I probably could, but I don't think I'd be pleasant to be around for a while. I'm a serious nicotine junkie. I think I will pick up a box of patches between now and Monday (how hard are they to keep lit?). I am thinking Monday will be my target quit date.
It would be nice to feel better and have some energy once again. I am hoping that between giving up smokes, eating healthier, and getting exercise whenever possible I will start to feel better again. I know I definitely wouldn't mind losing this gut and looking better. I'm sure shedding the extra weight would help my back as well.
I think it's not going to be as easy as it sounds, but it's worth the effort anyway.