When life gets in the way...

I'm not really an every day blogger. I often write when I'm excited about something. And since this is a healthy lifestyle blog, my posts generally coincide with when I'm loving my healthy lifestyle.

When I don't post for long periods, then it usually means that I've fallen off the wagon or am struggling with my healthy lifestyle journey. It's almost as if real life...the life that is going on while I'm focused on my health...jumps up and says, "hey! right here...no time to focus on all that now."

It's been 14 days since I last exercised. I have been eating more and more processed foods. I have been overeating.

So what's going on?

Symptoms: anger, depression, boredom, stress, anxiety, feelings of exhaustion, alternating between feeling like I'm "starving" to not hungry at all, grasping, feeling like I just want to be alone and "in"...

So what is going on?

Rationalizations: I got a sinus infection, we had a death in the family (and it was surprising and will take time to accept and make peace with), work is hard and I'm feeling overwhelmed and under-supported...

Scripts: I'm not smart enough. I'm not professional enough. I'm not perfect. I can't do this. I'm never going to succeed. I have so much to do, I don't know how I'm ever going to get it all done. I'm a loser.

When those scripts are running through my head...they are very loud and very persistant. They lead to the symptoms I listed above.

Quieting those scripts or changing them seems impossible.

Flipping the script helps.

I'm a smart, professional who is capable of performing the assigned tasks. I am successful. I have a lot to do and will get it all done within the set deadline.

I need to repeat that a few times today. And tomorrow. And the next day. Until I feel motivated again.

In the mean time, I need to take a little time to do a detox. My midsummer detox will be from Thursday (tomorrow) thru Sunday evening.

Kim's Doable Detox (following various sources, mainly the Quantum Wellness Cleanse without all the unfermented soy):

• Clear diet of the following - alchol, caffeine, sugar, wheat, and dairy
• Consume lots of clean water, veggies, fruit, wheat free whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet, steel-cut oats), and clean sources of protein - all of this will be organic
• Some supplements
• Physically - dry brush, steam/sauna, walking, yoga (restorative and meditative), meditation

Want to participate? If you're in the neighborhood, perhaps we can do a yoga class or go for a walk together or even share a meal. If you're long distance, maybe we can offer each other encouragement through email or chat.

Slow Down, You Move too Fast...

...got to make this moment last...

Often, I think, we somehow get the notion that we have to lose weight and we have to lose it fast. We crunch the numbers and set impossible goals...like, "I want to lose 30 pounds in a month".

I think that we get to a point where we are upset with where we are, on the scale, and a feeling of desperation sets in...then we grasp at anything that will provide some relief.

I see this time and again on the weight loss blogs that I read. People resorting to stupid weight loss gimmicks and "quick fixes"...like the HCG diet, the Medifast diet, etc., all to lose 25 or 30 pounds so that they can then get the lapband or gastric bypass surgery.

I read this stuff and think, "slow down, man...slow down." They put all this energy into trying to lose weight fast enough to get surgery to lose weight even faster...and I think, why not channel that energy into simply eating clean and being active?

Because really, that's what usually leads to optimal health...and is what real beauty is all about.

Slowing down has been key for me...it keeps me consistent. Yeah, I have times where I "fall off the wagon"...for example, these last two weeks have been a bear for me. We have experienced death in the family and, subsequently, I picked up a sinus infection somehow...I haven't exercised in about 10 days. But, rather than let this snowball into months of reclining on the sofa, I'm going to start back today (with a yoga class tonight and a nice walk through the neighborhood this weekend).

While I have indulged in a few not so healthy foods (re: highly processed!), I haven't completely given up on my healthy eating plan.

There's simply no need to panic and become reactionary. This is a process. I accept and love myself right where I am in this moment. I can extend the same compassion I feel for others to myself. I see that I'm starting to feel better and while I don't feel like I need to go on a 5 mile walk, I can get back to my yoga practice and walks in a gentle way. I am on my way to health!

Craving

I am trying to sit with a craving today.

It is so hard. I keep wanting to go eat a whole bag of chips with some french onion dip.

I am not hungry. I don't think that I'm thirsty. Though maybe I should drink a big glass of water just to be sure that what I'm feeling isn't thirst.

So sitting with the craving...

And drinking some water.

If it doesn't go away after the water, then I'm going for a walk.

Okay...edited to add: It's about an hour and a half later and I feel much better. I ended up drinking two glasses of water. As I was drinking the first glass I realized that I had a bit of a headache. It went away on my second glass.

I am actually proud of myself for sitting with this craving and not automatically just thinking, "Nothing is going to change. I'm going to give in to this craving and eat now...just this once. I'll be better tomorrow."

Instead, I flipped the script...and I said, "I'm going to sit with this uncomfortable feeling. What can I learn here?" I made a mini plan to drink water. Then, if that didn't work, I was going to go for a walk as a distraction (even if today is my rest day).

I'm so glad I am sitting here typing this instead of numbing out with a bag of chips!