Year of Months // February: A Month of Listening -or- 28 people worth listening to » A Month of Health Living

Fire at the whites of their eyes

Nathan Clark — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:35:49 +0000

On Sunday I had pizza and soda for dinner. First soda of the month, and not a particularly healthy meal even with water. Granted I had only two pieces, it was still an anathema to my month of healthy living. Then I compounded the problem by working until well past midnight, and finally by marking my day by turning in at 3:11, choosing finally to tribute a terrible band. Unhealthy diet, unhealthy sleep, unhealthy art.

I’ve seen the enemy and it’s me.

Of course all of those unhealthy choices had good reasons. My family wanted a peaceful meal and the pizza place we went to is a favorite, and on the water. We had a great family time. And the late work was fine tuning the live iPhone video, then finishing up editing photos from a friend’s wedding. And 311… well, there was no excuse for that.

On the first day I asked for input from many people as to what defines “healthy living” and the most intriguing answer had to do with balance. As I’ve tried this week to find health, I think balance’s close cousin, proportion has stood out as a virtue. So while Sunday wasn’t particularly healthy by certain regards, in others it wasn’t all that bad.

As for today I smartly declined soda and cookies at lunch, wisely partook of chick fil a with my family for dinner and elected to stay up past midnight to document my progress. I don’t expect to stumble into bad choices of the lazy variety tomorrow, and with a trip to the YMCA scheduled I can hope to take some active steps toward health.

What does healthy mean?

Nathan Clark — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:42:26 +0000

According to the dictionary health means “in good health.” Right. In trying to pick a lunch today I had tomato basil soup, which after the fact I was told is certainly unhealthy owing to it’s cream base. So clearly, I don’t understand “heathy.”

Can anyone help? What does “healthy” mean?

A month of healthy living

Nathan Clark — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:05 +0000

This month I’m in pursuit of health, because next month I’m spending 10 days playing soccer in Brazil on a mission trip. I workout semi-regularly and consume some fruits and vegetables, but I’m also overweight and spend my work days in front of a computer. The out-of-shape me is in for a terrible shock when I start to play soccer in the hot, humid Amazon.

I know I can’t change my health but so much in the next month. I also know I can take good steps towards a better lifestyle that will ensure next summer I won’t be in the same predicament. The question is, how do I get there? I could just try working out more, or eating differently. But those would both be guesses, because I really don’t know what “healthy” means. So these 31 days I’ll try to figure it out, and as I do practice what I learn.