Say Cheese ...

Up at 4:30 this morning, hitting the morning routine so I can manage 5 adults and 5 dogs and STILL look presentable.

Picture day is here!

Here's some quick scoop.

Jack's meeting was FANTASTIC.  He's meeting the other dog Sunday night.  We had such conflicting schedules this week (between the 3 of us), so I gave my Spanish Wine/Food tickets to my eldest and his girlfriend and hubby and I are taking Jack for his overnight with a possible new family Sunday.  I'm a bit bummed to miss it, but this is important.  As long as someone is enjoying the tickets (and they aren't being wasted, it's okay).

I listened (i.e. read the transcript) for crazy interesting podcasts.  Remember The Life Coach School  ... check out #116-#118.  It's about how to manage DRINKING LESS.  Not giving up drinking.  Not a 12 step program.  It's for someone who has a desire to drink less and finds that difficult.  It's totally fascinating.  I read all 3 podcasts again this morning (you can scroll down the page and the transcript is there for reading).

Sometimes I want to drink less.  It's not that I'm drunk and going crazy drinking.  It's more that I drink for reasons that I don't like ... I want to relax; I need to be more fun; people will think I'm boring; I NEED a drink; this night is boring.  You get the idea.  That doesn't sit right with me.

Brooke Castillo's method regarding lessening-the-desire is something I've NEVER heard before and it's incredibly interesting.  Of course, I'm trying it immediately.  P.S.  It's the same method she uses for sugar overeating.  Anything that you do or consume that has a undesired over-desire or craving.  It's about managing those cravings, not giving up the action.

I will say that it beats against the philosophy of Whole30 a little.  When you think about it, there are similarities between her ideas and Whole30 (don't feed the craving), but the method of doing it is different.  Whole30 says you decide in the MOMENT if it's worth it.  Brooke says you decide AHEAD of time if and what you are drinking (very specifically) and she makes a compelling argument.  Whole30 deciding-in-the-MOMENT is great for things that don't hold such a big DESIRE ... do I want some rice, do I want the cheese, do I want salad or the steak, do I need to eat the entire plate of food, etc.  Alcohol and sugar are the things that are harder during the moment to regulate for ME.

I'm implementing Brooke's ideas for the alcohol (since it's meant for the BIG DESIRE things) and keeping Whole30's for everything else. (I'm still on my dessert experiment until January - so I'm not including sugar.)  I'm really curious if this will help.  She says it best and over 3 podcasts so I won't delve into the details ... way too much to thoroughly explain.

Time to get moving this morning (bummer - I could talk about this a lot more - can you tell I'm excited?!?!)  Later gators!