One day at a time.  I've been making small changes here and there, but it's time to consolidate those efforts, be more consistent in my healthy practices and, above all, be more LOYAL to MYSELF.  I know that I ALWAYS rebel against restrictions (even when self-imposed) so, this time, I'm going to focus on making positive additions to my life.  Many of these (below) I've been adding into my life for a while, but I would like them to become more consistent habits.  Once I create a more grounding, stable routine based on my initial ideas for healthy additions, I'd like to add in a "goal of the week" to challenge myself!  

Happy/Healthy Additions: 

  1. Gym time: 20+ minutes at the gym, 5x/week; This SERIOUSLY impacts my mood, anxiety, energy levels, sleep quality, AND my momentum in continuing to make healthy decisions for the rest of the day. 
  2. Breakfast: Plain Greek Yogurt, Egg Whites (or similar) 5x/week; I'm not a big breakfast person - but this is something positive to start my day and will make me more likely to continue making happy/healthy decisions throughout the rest of the day.
  3. Wine-free Nights: 3x/week; Sometimes, it just feels right to have a quiet glass of wine with jazz playing and a good friend by your side at the end of a long, stressful day.  So - I won't say that this is off the table, but those calories certainly add up!  There are plenty of ways to destress each evening - and I'm enlisting my roommate to join in some of these with me!  
  4. Cooking/Preparing meals at home: 6 days/week; I have to remember: ordering take-out is a monetary drain, unhealthy and, honestly, not even very satisfying or good. I always feel bad, physically unwell, disappointed and unsatisfied after ordering take-out by myself.
  5. Brush Teeth After Dinner: (to avoid further late-night snacking), 4x/week; This (while seemingly the most simple goal) will be my challenge task - I never quite want to commit to being completely done with food each day.  It sounds crazy but brushing my teeth after dinner feels like a big committment - and potentially a restriction on whatever whim may pass over me later in the evening.  I hate restrictions.  So - I'm not saying that I'll completely give up late-night snacks (eventually I hope to...I'm a work in progress), but creating the automatic step of brushing my teeth after dinner may help me along this path!  If I slip up and snack after brushing my teeth - so what!  Its not like an extra 2 minutes to brush my teeth again is the end of the world.  Anyway - I'm hoping to use this as a physical and symbolic statement that allows me to tell myself - "You know what, I've had just the right amount of fuel today - and that makes me happy and proud of myself!" 
  6. Feel-better Work Snack: Drink water and/or have 1 Plain Rice Cake while kids at work have their snack, 4/5 opportunities. Those rock hard chocolate chip cookes are NOT good and there are really only so many cheez-its one can have before hanging it up. Again - like with take-out - I'm never left feeling good or satisfied after one of these snacks.

 

I'm not going into this thinking that today will be the first day of the rest of my life - I've thought that too many times.  Putting so much pressure on a single day is, apparently, too much for me...and leads to self-destruct mode. Small, gradual (negative) changes got me to where I am today, so small, gradual (positive) changes will eventually help me move toward my best self.  4%. I can do 4%.