Alyssa phillips’ reasons for being (Pt. 2 of 4)

Kamala:          You just shared two really good tips. You said support your body and remember that your body is meant to move. Do you have one or two other really good tips that are easy for people to do that the everyday person can incorporate in their life and just be healthier?

Alyssa:            Sure, absolutely. You actually touched on a point earlier that is something kind of near and dear to my heart and kind of speaks to the shift that I went through. So often, we can see in others somebody being hard on themselves and what you would very easily do for a loved one or your child or your, you know, whatever that relationship is, your husband, you know, whatever, and yet we don’t do it for ourselves. And I think when I shifted into that more loving, compassionate, you can still exercise, you can still stretch yourself and stuff but really being compassionate about it. Not starving, pushing, you know, doesn’t matter, but listening to your body instead and what you need and giving it to yourself as a gift. It’s really a difference maker and, I think, combining your efforts as kind of a general rule. You know, we’re all busy and certainly something like this stops you in your tracks but, at the same time, it’s better to do something than nothing. And I think a lot of times that we can combine our efforts. Like for instance, I have a walking/working station at home. So I’m all for turning technology off and going out for a walk in the woods but, on an everyday basis, sometimes checking your email or listening to a podcast or something while you walk or you’re on your elliptical is a great way to fit it in.

Kamala:          You know, that is really good advice. I think, with people, the biggest excuse is often “I don’t have time.” I mean, how many times do you hear people say that? “I don’t have time to eat healthy. I don’t have time to exercise. I don’t have time to sit quietly and kind of catch my breath for 30 seconds.” I mean, I know I’ve fallen victim to thinking, “Well …” And then I’m like, “No, Kamala. You have time. You can make time.” And it is little things like, again talking about my dog, I conditioned my dog to run six miles. I didn’t know he’d be able to do it but I started with “Let’s see what he can do.” Now he can do short runs with me (four to six miles). I started him with one minute, one minute of running. And now, I don’t have to spend an hour and a half walking him and an hour and a half working out. We can do it together and it’s really fun. He feels like, you know, he’s part of the pack and he’s doing important work. And it makes me feel good that I’ve made him feel good. Same with eating. I have definitely been one of those people who have said, “I don’t have time to cook fresh food or do this or that.” And then I said, “You know what? I’m just gonna start with two days, two days a week when I cook things from scratch.” You know, lots of vegetables, cook them all at once. Reinvent it for a few nights. And then cook another three days later. Like for example, taking leftovers from Thanksgiving, ‘cause I cooked, and creating like a bread pudding and soup and sandwiches and other things that you’ve done based on a big meal that you did cook from scratch. And even if it doesn’t have all nutritious things, it’s gonna be more nutritious than if you go out and binge on fast food or something.

Alyssa:            That’s right. Well, and you’re touching on a great and universal point that everybody, including myself, we forget. You know, it’s so easy to think that other people have it figured out but we forget to just break things down. We get so bombarded and so overwhelmed by “it’s got to be perfect” and “it’s got to be this” and “I’m gonna lose this amount of weight” or “I’m gonna eat healthy every night” with the fresh food example and stuff, and that seems so big when you’re starting out. We hear it but it’s so true when you break it down and you just take it one day at a time, you take it one jog at a time, you take it one day in the bone marrow unit at a time, you get through it. You get through it.