Warning Shot

My personal health has been an issue which I pay a great deal more attention to now than I ever used to in the past. Being naturally lean allowed me a lot of leeway in eating habits and in my self-assured sense of invulnerability drinking were things I was sure I could adapt to. Since last March, more than ever before, I finally got the message that I should slow down, pay more attention, and care just a bit more. Without really being able to pin-point a single cause, that last trip into the hospital was enough for me to decide to redesign how I approach my health. I write this today, because it was roughly 10 months ago that I had an "episode" and yesterday I had another, though it passed seemingly like a warning shot that I was getting reckless. I know that I've made some good progress, but being reminded for the need of consistency is a lump in my throat that I still have to learn to swallow.

There are several things I've changed that I can actually write down as "progress." I still don't know what sort of specific behavior causes an "episode," but all of these things are helpful for my overall future.
-Quit smoking completely (Celebratory is the only exception, once every two months)
-Serious workout plan, 3-4 times a week(I've gained ten pounds of muscle and can run a decent mile)
-I eat small meals every 2-3 hours throughout the day (Mostly whole foods, no frozen or bagged junk from the store. This used to be harder to do at work, but now that I'm on steady midnights, it's easier.)
-I take a Vitamin D 1000 U and Fish Oil 1200mg supplement once a day.
-I limit my caffeine intake (Very hard because of midnight shifts, but only a few cups of coffee a night at most and no energy drinks anymore)
-I structure my sleeping more (Again, difficult because of midnights, but I can put on a sleep mask, take two benedryl and usually get a solid 7-8 hours.)
-Drinking is only a social thing and happens maybe twice a month. I avoid hard alcohol and only have 3-4 beers or 2-3 glasses of wine.

There is actually very little extra time investment to accomplish any of this, except for the workout portion. I've found as life gets busy that is the first thing that I will begin to neglect, but I've been able to pick it back up steady after things settle down. Working overtime shifts is particularly hard on all of these things. Sleep is neglected, I don't pack enough food, I rely on caffeine more, and I don't make it to the gym. However, I usually have control over when and where I take overtime so I can plan ahead and mitigate some of these consequences.

So basically I'm pissed at myself for getting sick again, but I recognize the importance of being reminded and I get another start to improve even more.