Finding Gratitude
Lack of Focus, Feeling Overwhelmed
I lost some “spunk” last week. I stuck with the Challenge goals, but did them without mindfulness or positivity. I had some setbacks with work, which were very mentally distracting. I weighed myself and found that I had not lost any weight at all – not even ounces! Feeling down and unsuccessful, I was not in control. I was hungry yet felt bloated.
Mother’s Day Weekend: Free Day Lesson
I decided that Saturday, when we were going out for brunch for Mother’s Day, would be my Free Day. We went to a place called Requin, where they offer a “Bottomless Brunch.” I was so excited to have everything I wasn’t “allowed” to have, I tried just about everything on the menu. I had two small mimosas, one with grapefruit juice and one with pineapple juice. The dishes were all “small plates” so we shared eggs with mushrooms, broiche French toast with berries, Croque Monsieur sandwich, fresh yogurt with fruit and more! We ended with a cookie plate – snickerdoodles and chocolate chip. It was heavenly!
After brunch, we popped into MOMs (My Organic Market) which was next door to the restaurant. I picked up some coconut aminos, a soy free soy sauce substitute. I also found some “chunks of energy” and picked up a container of the “Chia Chia” flavor. I have made similar snacks using dates and nuts, but it was way more convenient to buy them while I was at the store! I tried one and they are good! These will be a good treat on a day when I am craving sweets.
I should have made just that brunch meal my “day off.” We went to a party in the afternoon and, knowing I could eat whatever I wanted, I found myself distracted and on the lookout for TWC-prohibited snacks. I didn’t over indulge, but was not being mindful. It got worse at home later in the day, when the leftover pita chips I had avoided the previous weekend were calling my name and I ate them without even enjoying them. I think for future Challenges, I will not make the “Free Day” a whole free day, but will try to apply it to one meal/event and not write off the day.
Back on Track
Mother’s Day was delightful. I prepared a healthy plate after a Tabata interval and core workout at the gym. I had hard boiled eggs, avocado, sliced baby cucumber and strawberries. As I was preparing my plate, in walked my son, who is in college in Boston – a surprise, as I wasn’t expecting him home until Wednesday! This treat brightened my day and helped me put what is important into perspective. It also made the first day of the new week’s lifestyle challenge, Gratitude, really easy!
I took some time to prepare a meal for Monday – chicken meatballs with coconut curry over cauliflower rice. I have been watching some of the great things Jennifer Bourn has been preparing for her Whole30 meals on her Facebook page and blog, Inspired Imperfection, and this one looked like a good one to try.
I have been doing a lot of introspection over the past several days. I have a lot of negative emotions stirring up around the national news, some family stress and insecurities about my business practices. These feel like a heavy blanket draped over me sometimes, and I need to remind myself to pull the blanket off and look at the sunlight in order to move forward and be grateful. This week’s Gratitude lifestyle practice will be a good motivator to be positive!
