Well, so much for that round of 4 in row! Still struggling, but keepin' on keepin' on. Let's see what today brings along with the sun.

Holly

round 2 post 1

Oof, I'm struggling. Struggling to keep a calm heart in the middle of taxes and stress and having a cold. I want to eat a triple burger and fries and drift off into carb overloaded napland.

I know it could be so much worse. I know that if I back up and take a look I would see that I am generating this stress and that these matters are pretty small. Can I trust the universe that all will be well? I'll do my calm-heart meditation for the day and try to keep my perspective. What do I know? Breathing in, I know I'm breathing in. Breathing out, I know I'm breathing out. That's a start.

Present moment, wonderful moment.

Holly

Post number 4, I'm afraid, will be another weak attempt at an entry. It's late! I'm tired. Good day -- and no migraines since Monday. Whoa. Good choices: calm heart meditation and deep breaths throughout the day. I'm also going to count as a good choice fully enjoying two churros -- one filled with chocolatey goodness. Calories yes, but so worth it. Especially with my tea.

Will keep on for 4 more -- ideally using my full ass rather than just half.

Be well,

Holly

Post numero threeo

I am too tired to write much right now -- a day spent with family, draining but with duties fulfilled and comfort given and received. Some good choices in the day -- my five minute calm heart meditation, lots of deep breaths and some stretching, and generally trying to stay mindful of my food choices.

More tomorrow!
Holly

Post number two

What do I want? What do I want? That was the theme for last night's Weight Watcher's meeting: having "want" power. This tied in nicely with a study that I just read on NPR about will power and motivation. A group of kids had to sit with a marshmallow or a cookie in front of them. The researcher told them that if they didn't eat it in the time he/she was out of the room, they could have two of the treat instead of the one. Some kids didn't last a second. Others tried to distract themselves by looking around, etc. The strategy that worked best was going all cognitive on that treat. The researcher suggested that the kids could imagine the treat as something else -- like the marshmallow is really a cloud. Or think about the consequences of eating the treat immediately vs. the long-term outcome.

This is good. In the meeting we talked about immediate pleasure (one marshmallow) vs. our long-term goal to lose weight (er, two marshmallows doesn't quite work here, but you get it, right?). What do we want? It's our choice. It's my choice.

Happy choosing all!

Holly

How is it April 2009? (And why did I first type March 2009?) How am I still in the same spot in life? Okay, not the same. It's different, but still similar. I guess it might not matter how I stayed here. Okay, not stayed, but kept circling back around. But there is progress: my circles are widening -- or narrowing? either way, it's progress. In the spring I get the urge to write. So here I am. Should I do another 4-day Challenge? Yep, let's do. Here we go again, me and I! Here we go again faux reader and you!