Simple, not easy
All of the lifestyle changes I’ve made have been pretty simple. I just changed which foods I put into my mouth, what time I went to bed, how much water I drank, how much exercise I got, etc. But they aren’t easy. It’s work to eat a plant-based diet. I can’t just walk into a restaurant and order anything off the menu or go to a potluck and load up my plate with a little of everything. I read menus, bring my own food, and contact the cruise line in advance to alert them to our special diet. We have to prepare not only our own food at home, but we plan where we’ll get plant-based foods even when we’re on trips. I bring my own spices, soy milk, and snacks with me on cruises because these aren’t always available on board.
It’s simple to get quality sleep. But that’s not easy, either. It takes intentionality to go to bed earlier, sleep in a dark, quiet room, and wind down in the time before sleep. It takes not having screens in the bedroom and wearing blue-blocker glasses when watching evening television. And, not eating anything after 7pm so that my body can work to heal itself while I’m sleeping, rather than continuing to digest the contents of my stomach. But it’s worth it—on the recent occasions when I’ve stayed up a little too late or eaten too close to bedtime, I’ve spent hours awake when I wanted to be sleeping, and I don’t soon want to repeat that scenario.
Getting more steps throughout the day is simple. Just move more. But that’s not easy, either. I have to schedule this important activity into my day. Right after breakfast, I’m out on a walk, using the exercise equipment, or riding my bike. And then I come home and stretch. I try to move periodically throughout the day. We take the dog for a quick walk after dinner. And if I still haven’t met my 10,000-step daily goal, I walk another lap around the neighborhood.
Drinking more water is a bit easier. But I still have to be intentional with having constant access to a (non-plastic) water bottle and ensuring that I actually sip from it throughout the day. Are there days that I don’t want to do these things? When I’d rather sit and binge-watch a show for hours or eat a whole bag of store-bought cookies? Yes. Absolutely. I once explained to my mother-in-law why I do all these healthy habits even when I don’t want to: there’s no food worth sacrificing how amazing I feel. Nor is it worth it to skip my exercise, sleep, or hydration. Physically, I feel better than I have in decades. I am at a healthy weight. And I am cancer-free. I’m not willing to risk any of these factors for an ice cream cone or a steak or reading a book all day. I choose health. How about you, are you willing to put in the work to feel your best?