SOS: I'm in a rut. Please send help!


All I can say is that I am tired of eating chicken. I need something new to eat. It is time to expand my horizons and try something new. I am putting out a request to help me with this matter. Exercise is just the opposite for me. I need a very specific routine and adding to or changing up my exercise routine can seem stressful to me. I have found a way to make my routine seem not quite so long and would like to share.

Let's Talk About Food:

In my Daily Food Accountability, I mentioned that I am in a food rut. I am feeling like I need more variety in my diet. Particularly, I would like to find more entrées from which to choose. It would be helpful if I liked seafood. As far as I know, I have never liked fish or seafood. The way we eat is developed through our experiences in life and our childhood experiences often play a huge role in our eating habits. When I was a child, my Papa (my mom’s father) wouldn’t eat any seafood. He had been served some bad fish when he was in the service which made him very ill. Ever since then he wouldn’t eat seafood. Even the smell of fish was offensive to him. I, being the adoring granddaughter, wanted to be like my Papa. Since he wouldn’t eat fish, I wouldn’t eat fish. I learned to dislike the smell, the texture and the taste of fish. Now that I am an adult, those childhood habits are very ingrained in me. My tastes have changed and I have become more open to many new seasonings and flavors. I still have not been able to get past the hurdle of the smell of fish. I would like to learn to like at least some fish. This is a goal of mine. I would like to ask my readers for suggestions of restaurants that serve a great, healthy fish dish. The key is that the fish needs to not smell very fishy. I am hypersensitive to the smell. Also, I do not eat meat that is not well done. I would appreciate any suggestions that you have to offer.

Our Favorite Subject: Exercise :-(

Exercise seems like work to me. I don’t enjoy working out like some people do. Maybe someday that will change. I remain hopeful of that. I have found a trick that helps me get through my treadmill routine that I would like to share. Maybe it will help others find a way to get through their routine as well. My routine utilizes variable inclines and speeds. The most challenging part of the routine is about 2/3 of the way through the routine. Focusing on the time left is mentally difficult for me. I like to watch television as a mental distraction while I am running. I do not want to be oblivious to what I have left to finish though. Since I don’t like to watch the time, I needed to find another way to know where I am in my program without knowing too much detail. I found that I can count off the steps only when I reach run speed and know enough about where I am in the program to know what I have left to finish my routine for that day. As humans we like to look at things that seem achievable and a high number of reps can seem more difficult than a lower number reps. To trick the mind, I started counting off every fourth step. Doing this keeps the number of reps low enough that they seem more achievable. I can watch television and count every fourth step without much difficulty. If you have not already done so, find a way to trick the mind into thinking that your workout routine is manageable.

That’s A Wrap: No, I Am Not Talking About Food.

When I get into a food rut, I try to expand my horizons and try something new. One way to do that is to find a restaurant to which you have never been. One of my new horizons for this year will be fish. Fish is a great alternative to other meats when you are trying to eat healthier. I have never liked fish and would like to learn how to eat fish. I am looking for suggestions of restaurants that serve a great, well cooked fish dish. A rut can be a good thing when talking about exercise. Remember when you exercise, it can help if you can find a way to make your routine seem easier mentally.