Healthy Habits Update

Self Sabotaging 

I wrote about this in my PHB homework last week --  I seem to be a walking SELF-HELP CLICHE.

Fear-of-letting-go of my less-healthy ways.  Why?  My guess is I don't know what happens if I'm not working on THIS STUFF.  Who am I?  I'm either busy breaking healthy habits (nothing) or busy sticking to healthy habits (all) and it occupies so much headspace -- for decades!!  (Ummmm ... no shock there - I think every post hits either one of those things.)

If I'm NOT doing one or the other ... what am I doing??  What do I "work" on?

Lately, if I nail my meditation in the morning, I let my food slide.  If food is spot on, I don't do my affirmations.  You get the idea.  Then I have one area to "work" on the next day.  Sabotaging something.

It's the "problem" I know like the back of my hand.  I don't like it, but it's somehow a comfortable place at the same time.

I made a conscious decision to stop doing this and it's going well.  When I put it all together, it worked ... worked amazingly well!  I realize I'm on an upswing right now (what goes up comes down) BUT I'll take it!  I'm making a lot of progress with my MINIMUM BASELINE of all these habits so my DOWN shouldn't be as low.


No Dessert Decision

I had a little panic attack after I announced NO DESSERTS FOREVER!  Every sweets looked like a precious gift for my mouth.  I had massive cravings.  Massive doubts.  Yet, every time I imagine the future having made the decision, it's perfectly clear and perfectly right.

What I'm noticing about this decision is that each time I chose to NOT eat dessert, it's like making a deposit in the bank.  It's getting easier.  The decision feels stronger and more stable.  It's not a temporary experiment, so these decisions build on each other.

Gretchen Rubin talks about this in her book too (timely reading).  Stacking coins each time you execute a healthy habit.  One coin means virtually nothing, but lots of coins is life changing.  The paradox is you must built to LOTS by doing ONE at a time which can feel insignificant.


Afternoon Routine

My newbie habit!  I tried it yesterday and it went well, but it's still new and interesting.  I need to see if it has sticking power.

I took 15 minutes and reviewed my goal list, did 5 minutes of meditation and finished a podcast.  I made dinner at dinner time and waited to eat until I sat down at the table.

It was Tuesday night and that's my PHB call, so the night already flows better.  Today will be a better test of a regular day.


Smoothie Choices

After a quick read/skim of Body Love book, I decided to try her smoothie formula.  It's the stuff I use already, but add collagen peptides (I'll save them for the smoothie instead of first thing in the morning), add fat and add fiber (chia seeds for example).  This is a hardier smoothie and an actual meal.

It's basically the formula that PHB uses - so I guess mine has some crow in it LOL.

I'm having a little food boredom and trying a different breakfast might be nice.  I have to see if it's too heavy.  Worth a try though.

I'm starting tomorrow since I have my gyn appointment this afternoon.  New food combination (with extra fiber) might create a situation for me at my appointment LOL.  Better play it safe - you're welcome doc!


Meditation

Good news to report on this.

First, it was cool to do my beach visualization meditation actually on a beach this weekend.  I closed my eyes on the beach chair and no one was the wiser.  Hubby was fast asleep on his chair.

I gave up the 21 day meditation.  I don't like it.  Deepak explains too much before the meditation starts - I want an intention, little explanation and get at it.  The one I use is from another 21 day meditation he did.  I'm open to trying it again since each cycle has a different theme and it's free.  I don't need to listen to the beach one anymore -- I do it in my head and set a timer on my phone.

Also, per my Accountability Partner's prompting, I'm piggy backing it onto my workout.  I have a yoga pillow and I sit on the floor.  No one bothers me.  I'm tired from the workout and sitting still feels good and it's easier to clear my thoughts.  Attaching a new habit to a well established habit.  Thanks Darcie!


Intention

Meditation and affirmations.  Dang, it works.  Focus on a specific intention and it manifests (or you manifest it by focusing on it).  Put the idea in your head and your brain searches for it.

I get excited to decide on my intention for the day.

On that note, I'll end with my INTENTION for today.  Later gators.

Energy and patience.