Strategy is Key (Denise)

Panda Log:  05.05.2016

Denise

It's been 11 days since I started on this new journey. I'm happy to say that I've eaten a clean diet. I struggled a bit with a migraine hitting me in the early AM yesterday. I was lethargic  and really didn't want to monitor my eating or think about why I wanted to eat or think about anything for that matter. I managed to keep it all together, stay on track and get through the day with the help of a nap.. These last eleven days has been all about strategy. Every time I thought about food, I asked myself “why”?. Am I tired, stressed, tense, something else or just hungry. What I found is that I wanted to eat in excess when I was excited or overly happy. This is the first time that I've realized this about myself. When I'm excited or super happy the first thing I think of is good food and happy hour! I don’t want to deny myself anything!! Now I know that I have to watch  myself extra carefully when I'm in an extra great mood! This is going to be a challenge for at least four reasons over the next six months. 1. Celebrating 30 years of marriage to my awesome husband Kevin while we are away at the beach for a few days. 2. Excitedly awaiting the arrival of our grandson in mid June, our daughter and son-in-laws second child together. 3. My parents are visiting in July for three months, and will be helping us redo our backyard for a very special event. Which brings me to… 4. Holding and celebrating my son and his bride-to-be’s wedding in our backyard in October.

Strategy number two, find a new potty break at work. Im a rural mail carrier at USPS. I have had the same mail route for 9 years and the same potty breaks which both hold temptations for me. The first stop is the bakery, their bathroom is always so clean, and the pastries are always staring me right in the face. Then there is the Turkey Hill, which has Dirty Chips that end up in my belly 3 out of 6 stops. On the second day of this new journey I  see a porter potty on my route that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, or it just never registered to use it. It's at the end of a street at a softball field on a little hill. I checked it out and saw that there was a cleaning schedule on the door and it didn't smell. Vala, my new stop for 10 days now!

 Due to a back injury I didn't exercise for the first four days. Last Friday I lifted weights and then walked to my chiropractor, 1.2 miles one way, only to find that they didn't open for another hour, great walk though.  I've decided that we officially live in a walking community, weather permitting. In 3 miles or less for a round trip walk I can go to the grocery store, Target, two or my favorite restaurants, Walmart and a  bar. My husband is not as excited about this as I am because I will be wheeling around my black grocery cart that I purchased last year and he will be embarrassed, so, win win.

My goals for the next week:
1.   Keep check on eating only when my body needs fueled and not out of emotions. I've lost 5 lbs. so far! 🎉
2.   Continue to walk, weight lift and ride bikes. I joined a Wednesday night bike club with my husband.
3.   Eat healthy. ✔ My favorite addition to my diet is my daily smoothy. (Pic and recipe below)
4.   Being kind to myself. Baby steps. I can say that I've been enjoying this new journey and have been much more  patient with myself.

My newest friend in my kitchen. I LOVE my Pampered Chef spiralizer. I've been able to avoid pasta due to this gem and love the texture and taste of zucchini with any kind of sauce.

My daily smoothie. It gets me through my energy lows and feeds my sweet tooth.

1 banana

1-2 t. Cinnamon

½ C. Low fat yogurt

1 t. Honey

1 cup cashew milk (25 calories a cup!!!)

1 t. Maca powder or matcha powder

6-7 ice cubes.

One week down, a lifetime to go.

Peace,

Panda