I'm back

thanx for hanging in there with me - its been quite a week or so. I don't mention it as an excuse but just so you'll know I'm following the Way to LIVEit in the same hectic and stressful and easy to loose focus on taking care of yourself world you R!

Sat 7/18 thru Tues 7/21 - I will list groups of what I ate and talk more about my movements and why I made certain choices.

Breakfasts: my cereal favorite (kashi Autumn Wheat + 1/2 slightly green banana + almonds + fresh blueberries in Silk, organic, unsweetened plain soy milk) except 2wice - I was out of almonds so I had my back up favorite (flax waffle toasted + 2 tbsps of Smart Choice Chunky Peanut butter + individual serving container of all natural no additive applesauce and I lay on the organic cinnamon) The other am I slept late had to get to a physical therapy appt. but didn't want to come out of there starving and be more tempted... So I grabbed a white peach, a palm full of sunflower seeds, and one of my neighbors homemade muffins ( lots of fiber and good stuff - yummy)

Meal #2: When I work this comes at about 4:00 - 4:30 PM - several times during this period I have been very late getting my 2nd meal in and that means I am starving by the time I get to eat. NOT GOOD! leads to less conscious choices.

I started back to work and so my eating times are very controlled. Not by me, but by T-mobile. I ate a granny smith apple with peanut butter and a V8 - I ate a Kashi bar, palm full of sunflower seeds and a V8 - I ate an individual pack of baby carrots, a nectarine & palm full of sunflower seeds. always a cup of green tea + glass of ice water.

Meal #3: When I work this comes about 7:30 - 8:00 PM. I ate a 3.5 oz can of tuna, water packed, white + a couple of handfuls of baby spinach, carrots, tiny tomatoes from my garden + a small palm full of dark chocolate chips and always a cup of green tea + glass of ice water. twice I had a 1/2 of tuna salad sandwich with tomato, onion & lettuce on whole wheat bread. Then had a piece of fruit and palm full of sunflower seeds. On Sunday, I had some black bean chips with 1/2 avacado, pico-de-gallo & a beer.

Meal # 4: This is the meal I don't always get to. My day starts too late and then if I'm late having Meal #2 blah blah blah! If I have it it is usually light but satisfying. A cup of green tea, one of my neighbors muffins, palm full of nuts/dark chocolate. A small yogurt with fresh blueberries and almonds, or chocolate chips in cottage cheese. You could say that I treat this meal sort of as desert. Another one is a banana baby - look for them in your freezer section. (1/2 of what tastes like a slightly green banana dipped in dark chocolate and frozen on a stick) and always a few veggies or my standby substitute a V8.

Meal # 5: I absolutely never get to this one and I think it would be better if I did. But that is the OLD guilt talking. The Way To LIVEit is all about whatever you choose is okay as long as you choose wisely and are more than not eating to fuel your body!!! If I had meal 5's they would likely be the desert course instead of #4 and #4 would be more like #2.

Movement during these 4 days: I have walked to work 2wice and to and from the grocery store 2wice and to and from my physical therapy appointment. In addition, done some gardening and house cleaning. At work, I am now at a "stand up" desk. So that is sooooo much better than sitting for 10 hrs and gives much opportunity to move about even while doing my job. I am going to have to curb the walking to and from work and physical therapy because the time of day I have to do it is TOO HOT! I nearly passed out yesterday! Not wise! Don't try it! I also am doing my exercises under the direction of my physical therapist 3-5 times a day. They are pretty sedate but am learning about my core muscles and am strengthening them. A very good thing for all of us to do!!!!

Tips:

#1: Walk instead of stand (even in place) - stand instead of sit - sit instead of lay - move whenever you get the opportunity!!! Repeat for my friends who enjoyed it so much: Wiggle in your seat or while driving. One my mom used to tell me to do is hold your stomach in (tighten those core muscles) when at all stop lights.

#2: In the car is also a great place to do your daily affirmations again. I sing: It's a beautiful morning... everything going my way or zippity do dah! You can't care about the other drivers.

#3: If you are on the way to work, an appt. etc. visualize it going your way!!! It works. List your "thank you's." Things you are thankful for, appreciate. Now many people I know and love view this exercise as thanking other's, even a higher power, etc. Anything that floats your boat is good. I take thank YOU's literally! List what you appreciate about yourself, your life, your body, your friends, on and on. Give yourself credit for manifesting these wonderful things and people, etc. etc. etc. into your life.