This Week: Simply Filling

Oh joy and fun in the world of healthy living...or, as the case may be the world of healthy hoping.  Living? Not so healthy.  Reading over my posts of the last week leaves me noting: A) I have a lot of work stress right now; and B) it is affecting my health.  Who knew stress could be bad for you?  Oh, that's right - everyone.

What to do when life gets overwhelming?  Well, first, if you can find a moment, it is probably worthwhile to consider if the stressor itself can be removed, and it sometimes can.  Even if it is your job or your mother in law or your neighbors or things you think you have little or no control over.  My favorite anecdote about this is a friend whose neighbor threatened her because she removed the (illegal) lawn chairs saving "his" space on a public street in the winter time.  The forecast snow hadn't even come that day!  Anyway, loooong story short, she moved to a house with a garage.  Pretty drastic, but the point is, you do have the power to take a stand or remove yourself from situations, if you deem it necessary.

In my case, the stress of my job is cyclical because it is project oriented.  New project is assigned, I've got a schedule for delivery weeks or months in the future, and life is good.  Suddenly, its weeks or months later and I've been assigned three other projects all due on the same day, and panic begins to take over.  That's been me, and, it turns out, my "goal of the day" project doesn't work as well when I'm in this mode.

I guess, if I'm in a lets-make-lemonade-from-these-lemons kinda mood, its one of the joys of healthy living that doing the same old thing doesn't work every old time.  At least it isn't boring!

So, my new strategy (for this week) is to use the simply filling option of Weight Watchers.  For those unfamiliar, its a strategy by which one eats only when hungry, and only specific foods.  A food not on the list is tracked, and you are allowed only 49 points-worth for the week.  The first time I tried this, it was a complete and utter failure.  I cheated.  I decided low fat cheese was basically the same as non-fat; I could eat brown rice in mass quantities; and wheat chex were pretty darn close to plain shredded wheat so they were allowed.

I gained four pounds and learned that "no substitutions" applies to this plan.  I've tried it successfully since that first time, with the correct ingredients.  First thing to do:  shop.  Second thing:  Pack.  Last (hopefully):  Fagettabatit.  (That's "Forget About It" with a Brooklyn accent. Or Boston.  I'm not picky.  And I'm from neither place.)  What I mean by it is, focus on the three projects that are due on Friday, and hope that I've set myself up for mostly mindless success.

I'll try to check in with a post or two...but you may not hear from me till Saturday.

Yesterday: Refresh After Eating; Today: Walk

Yesterday's goal was to clean my palette in some way after eating a meal or snack.  Throughout the day, I did this in a few different ways, but each time the intent was to tell my brain that I should be done.  I'm told most people have hormones that do this, but mine appear to be rather soft spoken. Much louder hormones shout out, "Is that all you got, Beeatch??  Gimme some more SUGA, honey!"  and that sort of thing.

I am pleased to say that I managed to stifle these pesky hormones with giant glasses of water, pieces of gum, a layer of toothpaste, and a hot cup of mint tea.  Woo hoo!  And, what's more, I am sure 9 out of 10 dentists recommend this method!

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Today I head back to work and I have a laundry list of things to do.  I think my trouble spot, once again, will be getting some activity during the day, so my goal is to walk at lunch time.  I'm not going to be too specific about this - any amount will do - because, frankly, I'm  not sure I will remember.  So, even if I forget at exactly noon, I will go, as soon as I remember.

I hope.

Yesterday: Schedule It; Today: Refresh After Eating

Yesterday's goal was to create a schedule for my day, including meals.  This tactic has worked well for me in the past, because I tend to fill free time with food.  I eat, not because I am hungry, but because I have nothing better to do.  Making a schedule, even if I do not stick to the timing minute by minute or hour by hour helps me to remember all the other things I could be doing with my time.  When this tactic really works, I even get a few things off my to-do list or spend time enjoying myself with a hobby. 

So, how did it go yesterday?  OK.  I made my schedule, did the things on it, including meal time.  In this sense I was successful.  But the underlying goal, to remain within allowable limits for caloric consumption (aka, to not eat like a pig)?  Eh.  I did mostly ok, but I ate too much at lunchtime.  I had my sandwich and salad, and afterwards I looked around and said, "Now what else can I eat?"  Then, I answered myself.  I had a bowl of cereal.  With this addition, I was very close to my allotted points for the day, at only half past noon, and I struggled to avoid going completely over the top after returning from the grocery store.

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Sometimes I find it is good to look back on the challenges of yesterday in order to formulate a goal for today.  For, today is a pseudo-weekend, the much loved Monday holiday!  Yay to free time and staying in my pj's all day; nay to binging on snickerdoodles while watching multiple documentaries on Netflix.

I plan to avoid the "What can I eat next" question with a big glass of water and a stick of gum (if needed).  Initially, I decided on just the piece of gum (or a brush of the teeth), but the thought of eating an egg and toast followed closely with minty-fresh chewing gum grosses me out.  Maybe the glass of water will be enough, but I'm armed and ready, if the need for further distraction arises.