What's in your Toolbox?

I have had some discoveries lately and thought it might help someone else. I am calling this ALL THE TOOLS IN THE TOOL BOX. I started I.F. in 2017 and bounced around from several different approaches until I finally found what works for me. I dabbled with weigh/no weigh, keto/kitchen sink, moderate fast/Alternate Day fast, Measuring/clothes size. ETC. (including the "Who cares! Eat it all! approach) This would always lead me into a hard struggle and questioning my ability to commit, have any success, including the "This works for everyone BuT me." mentality So.. I DRUG OUT EVERY SINGLE TOOL IN MY TOOLBOX and began to apply it every single day. (This list is not all my tools, but I didn't want this post to be too long! haha too late!)

1. EASY BUTTON - USE a Fasting App -- "Diet Struggle" - Every time I have been on a diet in the past I have always struggled with it - "Am I doing this right? What is permissible? Oh no, I have an event! What if I don't lose this time?"... It is a fight, struggle, wrestle, control, etc. As if my normal stress level of life wasn't enough, diets always put me on a new level of stress. NOW -- Intermittent Fasting gives me a break from that struggle. I set the timer and forget about it. I had to force myself to "write it/ log it/ forget it!" so I would relax and ... trust the process.
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3. THE SCALE - I bought an electronic scale with an app (Weight Guru). I step on the scale in the morning and it records my weight. It does NOT define ME. I can choose to look at it or not. But at least it is there and I will be honest with myself. I NEED this because I am the type of person who is quick to believe the negative about myself and always SURE I have "gained"... but I have found that this is NOT true. The more I use it the less afraid I have become, I have made peace with the fluctuations. This works for me.
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5. FOOD APP (Carb Manager App) -- The next tool I used temporarily was "keto" & "sweet free" (not even sweet snacks). Yes I know it is NOT for everyone but it was part of MY journey to find what works for me. I KNEW I had to get off of SUGAR because I was hiding and hoarding it like an addict. I had all the symptoms of metabolic resistance. This approached worked by cutting my cravings for sugar. Besides, I love cheese, olives, avocado, and that sort of stuff. I think it might be in my French Acadian DNA.
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7. JOURNAL / LOG (Nomatic) -- AND in my tool box, I got a new paper journal. By golly I was going to conquer this beast and quit playing around. I carried this in my purse and I wrote in it every single morning, afternoon, and before bed. In this electronic age I had forgotten how good it feels to write in a journal. This was a little bit of a hassle at first and I know it is not everyone's cup-o-tea, but again... I was determined to use every single tool I had!
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9. FASTING WINDOW / STYLE - This was a little tricky. What would fit my lifestyle? What could I do that would be consistent, manageable, and be stress free? In my journal I wrote down my plan for the week. I tried different approaches, windows, etc. until I found something that clicked and made me happy. It is a mix of everything - no routine for this gal. I literally looked forward to each daily approach. Each day is an adventure and a challenge. Besides, when I wanted to eat outside of my parameters, I would write first - log it. This gave me time to reign myself in.
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11. SOAK IN IT -- READ AND LISTEN! I listen to podcasts every week. I re-read sections of fasting books. I watch at least ONE inspiring I.F. video each week. I keep it in front of me, around me, and near me throughout the day. It is like the GLUE in my toolbox that helps hold everything together.

WILL THIS WORK FOR YOU? I dunno. Maybe. Maybe not. The POINT is for you to mix it up, try it out, experiment with what makes YOU happy!! There are so many approaches and we are all different. Do you like a steady routine or do you prefer to mix it up? I am a "mixer" and this FINALLY became a reality to me! I discovered how I operate best and how to make this work for me. I was free to experiment without condemning myself for not "doing it" like everyone else (... STAYING in the guidelines of a clean fast of course!!!). This became like a fun game to me! I know, right?!? To some this would be terribly tedious and not work for them, but for me it was like creating a teacher's "lesson plan" for the day.

if you have given up, or are struggling ask yourself, "What do I have in my toolbox?" Break out all the tools and build your house your way! You can be happy.

30 Day OMAD Challenge (One Meal a Day)

I had a long talk with myself, assisted by my wonderful sister.  She said, "If you are going to eat One Meal A Day, then you ought to make it a great one!"  She is so right.  I have been snacking and grabbing and feeling very dissatisfied, to the point of not caring about much of anything.  I didn't want to cook.  I didn't want to shop.  I certainly don't want to spend a part of my day deciding.

Why is food such an issue?!?  It affects so many of my choices - how I feel, how I act, and what I do.  Can you believe that?  So the ONLY way I can do this is by setting a goal and sticking to it... hopefully.

So here is my personal challenge.  Thirty days of OMAD - One Meal A Day. 

You can find all entries here:  https://30dayomad.blogspot.com/ 

DAY ONE:  Kobe Japanese Steakhouse

Imagine if you will tan colored stir-fired rice, tan colored calamari, tan colored stir-fried yellow squash, onions, and bean sprouts, with a side of tan tea.  Tan tan tan.  I should have taken a picture but it might not have turned out very good because of so much tan.  I could only eat half of it and was too rushed to box any up to take home.  As if I really wanted more tan-ness.

I wanted something sweet so on my way back to the office I drove through McDonald's for a tan cone.  Just seemed fitting.

There.... Day one is complete.  I will not have anything else until tomorrow's OMAD.  I must make better choices!!!

No.  Friends don't let friends eat tan.

NEXT Chapter. NEXT Phase. Next decade.

Observance and Annoyance:  I really really strongly dislike it when YouTube video's start out with, "It's been a while since my last video..." or "I apologize for taking so long to post a new video..." OR, "I am SO sorry that it has been SO long since my last video because my life has been SO busy and SO crazy..."  No.  Stop that.  Just say what you gotta say.  I am looking for content and information about a particular subject.  NOT looking for excuses, problems, issues, etc.  UGH!

It is what it is.

I blog when I feel like it.  I don't think it gets read so it really doesn't matter.  I blog what I want when I want and again, it doesn't really matter.

Information:  Just started "Optavia" diet.  It used to be called Medifast, but they made a lot of changes and re-marketed it.  I am doing the "5-and-1 Plan" - Five "products" called fuelings, every 3 hours, and one "Lean and Green" meal a day.  It is a little more detailed than that, but it is the basic idea.  I like it.

Why did I switch from Weigh-Down?  Because... Control.  Since I have trouble controlling "me", I need to control the food.  And guess what?  It does NOT change my relationship with my God.  He does love me unconditionally. :D

Have I lost weight?  Well, I discovered that my latest binge was directly related to the passing of my father.  I did the same exact thing after my mother passed away.

I "ate" my grief.  I mean, I ... "A T E !!"... my grief.  Good to say that one week on Optavia and I have lost 6 pounds of grief.

I also moved.  I live on Galveston Bay now.  It does something to my heart to see the water every single day.

Turning 60 has been interesting. The journey continues.

You are Brave and Smart and Capable

Through God and God alone.

This is often a hard concept because I am so used to driving myself and getting nowhere. 

It takes a strong act of will to stop and consider the map.  

Here is my current route:

The Food:  Just enough and no more, within the bounds of hunger and fullness.

This is not easy.  It is MUCH easier to manipulate the food! However, just changing the food does not change my heart and my desires.  A change of heart is needed for long term success.

The Scale:  Once a week with a nod.

I will approach the scale like I approach my food - just enough and no more.  I am "fasting" the scale 6 days a week and weighing on the 7th day.  Once, and no more.

The Time:  Now THIS is how I get my nourishment.

TIME

I am spending my time in the Bible, in prayer, in listening to worship music, and in watching the video teachings of Gwen Shamblin on the Weigh Down Workshop website.  I am soaking it in.  I am focusing everything within me towards the main thing - My God and My Savior.

NO more foolishness and useless actions that do not produce change in my life.

Week One choosing whatever I want to eat - Down FOUR pounds.

I am hungering and thirsting for more of God.

I am longing to make my life count.

I am desiring more energy.

I am focused.

Want more information?  Weigh Down Workshop

WEIGH DOWN - BACK TO THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS BLOG

What a weekend.  Started with my sister asking me, "Whatever happened to..."

AND ... There we were, sitting in the middle of a weekend full of meetings to inspire us.  We were surrounded by happy, energetic people with big smiles.

At one point my sister made the comment that they (the WDW staff) were all so full of energy, to which I replied, "It's because they are all thin!" haha

I have been watching the low carb community doing the "next big thing" which is intermittent fasting.  I considered it.  Here I was at the beginning of a new year thinking, "What next?"  Then I thought, "If I just do 'what next' will anything really change?"  I could just see another year of struggling to lose, then gaining some back, then struggling to get it off again.

Why Weigh Down Workshop?

On the physiological side:

-- I will eat less food.  Hmmm... sort of like intermittent fasting.
-- I will only eat when I am hungry... what a concept.
-- I will rate my choices and eat my favorites... which is basically what I did eating low carb/high fat.

On the spiritual side:

-- I will be thankful... for every bite, for every success, and for God's redeeming love.
-- I will be obedient.
-- I will draw closer to God.
-- I will focus on changing all of me from the inside out instead of changing the outside (food) hoping for an internal change!

Did you get that last one???  We change the food hoping that it will change the inside of us - habits, emotions, etc.  It cannot do that.  Eating from ONLY one food group cannot change your heart.  If you have regular bouts of sadness or depression, that cannot be changed by a steak or a carrot.  It is a matter of the heart.  (Although to some a juicy Rib Eye Steak can come pretty close!)

I MUST change my heart.  I must change my attitude about food and how I approach it.  AND when I change my heart and desires, the rest is a natural blessing.

By the way, there are a LOT of negative things about the founder.  Oh surprise, shock and awe!!  What spiritual leader has never had negative comments or misunderstandings?  Get in line with Joel Osteen, Billy Graham, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Kathryn Kuhlman, Oral Roberts, etc .. Need I go on??  I have been around long enough to see the same "ado" happen to ALL of these ministries.

The most important thing, for me, is the MESSAGE not just the messenger.  I am all in.

Fluidity of Life

Change Change Change -- always changing.

Sister moved across town.  Great view from her parking garage.

I am happy for her, but going to miss having her one block over.  Life is always changing, but that is not a bad thing.  I am always amazed at how God provides exactly what we need at just the right moment.

Puppy to Dog -- growing up.

Her first  photo:

My first ever puppy, inside dog, cuddler -- Ginger.

She's great, except when she is chewing.  Puppies really do chew EVERYTHING.  

Finally found a chew bone and toy that she loves better than my feet and hands.

And finally ... the diet.

My weight is up a little because my attitude was down.

Now my attitude is up a lot, so I fully expect my weight to go down.

I am very blessed and grateful.

I am very happy and thankful.

Sometimes what I think I need or want is NOT beneficial for me.

This time last year I thought I wanted something that was not in God's plan for me.

I was pursing a direction that was toxic and obviously (now) upside down.

Everyday I thank God for keeping me safe and protecting me from harm.

Great to be awake and alive and back to the things that REALLY make me happy.

Blessed.

The Gods of the Copybook Headings - Rudyard Kipling

FAVORITE POEM (The "copybook headings" to which the title refers were proverbs or maxims, extolling virtues such as honesty or fair dealing that were printed at the top of the pages of 19th-century British students' special notebook pages, called copybooks. The school-children had to write them by hand repeatedly down the page.)

The Gods of the Copybook Headings - Rudyard Kipling

As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,
I Make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market-Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.

We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.

We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market-Place.
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.

With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings.
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Heading said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew,
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four —
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

* * * * *

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man —
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began —
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire —
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!