We’re now 5 months into 2024, and I’m 5 months into my decision for the yr of not consuming sugar. I can hardly consider that I’ve made it this far with out sugar. (I explained what I mean by “no sugar” in this post.) Going 5 months with out consuming sugar is kind of the feat for me, however on the identical time, I bought previous the laborious half a very long time in the past. It was actually simply these first couple of weeks of the yr that have been tough. As soon as I bought previous these cravings, and into my new regular, giving up the sugar hasn’t been tough in any respect.
That’s to not say that I haven’t had moments of problem. There have been about two separate events over the past 5 months after I’ve been actually tempted. A kind of occasions was an emotional response. Consuming has all the time been an emotional consolation for me, and there was one time after I was feeling actually confused and wished so badly to bury my face in cake, or cookies, or ice cream, or one thing sugar-filled. And one other time, it was just because folks introduced an abundance of sugary treats to our Wednesday night time gathering, they usually simply all regarded and smelled so good. However each occasions, I bought by it with out giving in, and I used to be so grateful and amazed at my newfound self-control.
Simply because I’m not consuming sugary treats, that doesn’t meant that I’m not consuming something candy in any respect. As I shared final month, I’ve added some fruit again into my weight-reduction plan. I don’t eat plenty of fruit, as I’m nonetheless attempting to maintain my internet carbs comparatively low, however one piece of fruit a day appears affordable. I additionally nonetheless take pleasure in my tea each day (sweetened with stevia), which I’ll by no means hand over. It’s my favourite beverage, and it goes a great distance in the direction of assembly that want for one thing candy.
Additionally, a few months in the past, I shared with y’all about my new favorite electrolyte drink called LMNT (in addition to a e book known as The Salt Repair that makes the case that slightly than getting an excessive amount of salt, most of us are getting too little salt). If you missed that post, you can read about it here in my two month update. Properly, since then, LMNT has come out with a brand new bubbly model of their electrolyte drink, and oh my gosh, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! The grapefruit is my favourite taste, and I can’t get sufficient of it. I’ve to make use of a lot self management to maintain to ingesting just one a day, as a result of if I had my means, I’d drink nothing however bubby grapefruit LMNT all day lengthy each single day. 😀 Anyway, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a scrumptious electrolyte drink with out all of the sugar and pointless components, check out LMNT. I like each sorts — the packets and the brand new bubbly drink — however the brand new bubbly drink actually helps to fulfill my candy tooth in addition to any soda cravings. It’s the afternoon deal with that I stay up for each single day.
I really feel like each month, along with sharing my progress on my 2024 decision, I additionally take this time to share with y’all what I’ve realized about well being and wellness typically within the final month. So let me share with y’all of the factor that has had the most important affect on my wellbeing this final month.
I observe a number of docs and well being/wellness/health folks on Instagram. (I nonetheless haven’t been capable of finding the lymphatic specialist who I observe, however I’m holding a watch out for her for these of you who requested.) Anyway, a type of folks I observe is Dr. Tyna Moore. Till a few weeks in the past, I solely adopted her on Instagram and had by no means taken a have a look at her longer interviews that she doesn’t with folks on YouTube. However about two or three weeks in the past, I got here throughout one interview that actually caught my eye, so I listened to it. After which I listened to it once more. After which I listened to it a 3rd time. It was all about how light affects our health and hormones.
For some time now, I’ve been struggling to get by my days. The alarm would go off within the morning at 7:50, and I’d hit snooze. Then snooze once more. And once more. And once more. After which someday round 8:40 (perhaps later), I’d begrudgingly roll away from bed, feeling exhausted and dreading having to get began on my day. I’d spend the morning doing issues I wanted to do — get Matt up and onto his Theracycle, write a weblog publish, get Matt off of his Theracycle and into his recliner, make lunch, and eat lunch. And by the point I had all of that achieved, I used to be exhausted, and would usually go to sleep in my recliner as quickly as I used to be achieved consuming.
Then round 3:00 or 4:00, I’d begin working, however I might battle to remain targeted. I’d usually take a “break” to scroll Instagram, solely to understand that 45 minutes had handed, and I had wasted all that point doing nothing however mindlessly scrolling. Then sooner or later round 9:00pm, I’d get a surge of vitality, and work till 11:00pm. Then I’d shut up for the night time (wash brushes, put away paint, put Cooper exterior for the final time, get Matt prepared for mattress, and so forth.), after which lastly crawl into mattress round midnight. We’d watch a present whereas I labored on the pc for about an hour-and-a-half, after which we’d lastly fall asleep round 1:30am. Then at 7:50am, the entire course of would begin over once more.
However after watching that video (three time), I made a decision to place a few of her options into motion, and let me inform you, it has been life altering! For the final two weeks, I’ve been waking up (with out an alarm!) at 7:00am. I stand up and go exterior, put my naked toes within the grass, face the solar, and simply take in the morning solar (even on overcast mornings) for no less than 20 minutes. After which I’m going inside and get Matt located for the morning, make some breakfast, after which get my day began. After which at sundown each day, I flip off the entire overhead lights in the home, and placed on blue blocking glasses.
Since I put on glasses, these are the ones I bought for myself (affiliate hyperlink). However Matt not often wears his glasses, so these are the ones I bought for Matt (affiliate hyperlink). And let me inform you, this stuff make a enormous distinction! Inside about half-hour of placing them on, I can really feel myself enjoyable, like my nervous system is simply being washed with calmness. After which I begin closing up for the night at 9:00, and I’m in mattress by 9:30. We nonetheless watch a present (we’ve turned down the brightness on the TV within the bed room), and I nonetheless work on my pc (with the brightness turned down), and by 10:45, we’re able to get to sleep.
These adjustments haven’t simply been a matter of shifting my schedule a few hours earlier within the day. If that have been the one distinction, I don’t know that it could be well worth the effort. However since I began doing this — up early within the morning, toes within the grass, getting early morning solar, overhead lights off at sundown, and blue blocking glasses on at sundown — I really feel a lot totally different. I’m sleeping a lot deeper at night time. I get up feeling rested and able to stand up and get my day began. I really feel energized and targeted all day lengthy. By the top of the day on Saturday, I noticed that I had gone all afternoon and night with out my cellphone even as soon as. I used to be simply so targeted on engaged on my undertaking that scrolling Instagram hadn’t even crossed my thoughts.
Since I began doing this, Matt has observed an enormous distinction in me. On about three totally different events, he’s stated, “I’m simply so impressed with you latterly! You’ve a lot vitality, and also you’re getting a lot extra achieved lately!” I informed him that I actually really feel supercharged. I don’t understand how else to elucidate it. Supercharged. That’s the one phrase that involves thoughts. I stay up for mornings (which has NEVER occurred to me prior to now) and having my 20 minutes within the solar with my toes within the grass, after which I stay up for getting my day began after that. I want I might categorical to you ways radically totally different and uncharacteristic that is for me. For so long as I can bear in mind, I’ve been an evening owl who hates mornings, and I’ve a sense that I’ve broken my well being an hormones consequently. However I believe I’m nicely on my means in the direction of rectifying that now.
Whereas Matt has not been going exterior with me within the mornings (though we’re altering that as of this morning), the blue blocking glasses and turning off the bed room lights at sundown has made an enormous distinction for him! He has all the time struggled to sleep nicely at night time. He both struggled to go to sleep, or struggled to remain asleep. However about two days into this new regular for us, he began falling asleep very simply, and sleeping deeply all night time. I’ve a sense that this may have a huge effect on his well being as nicely.
So with all of that, you would possibly suppose that I’ve seen an actual distinction on the dimensions this previous month, proper? Properly, no. 😀 I’ll be very sincere with you. With all of the stuff I’ve realized and put into observe — every thing from The Salt Repair, LMNT, early morning solar, shutting down with sundown, and so forth. — I really feel like what I’ve actually realized is methods to take pleasure in just about any meals I need to eat with out gaining weight. 😀 That’s probably not the lesson I wished to be taught, and but, that’s the way it has labored out. And that might be a terrific lesson to be taught and put into observe if I had already misplaced all the load I have to lose, and was simply seeking to preserve. However I nonetheless have about 75 kilos to lose, so I’m means untimely in placing this newfound data and freedom into observe.
The underside line is that I bought lazy over the past month. I did lose 1.5 kilos over the month, for an general weight lack of 27 kilos since January 1st. However I actually wasn’t disciplined in any respect through the month of Could. I loved the truth that I didn’t have to essentially watch what I ate, and the dimensions stayed the identical. I didn’t need to train, and the dimensions stayed the identical. And I believe it’s as a result of I’m getting my circadian rhythm again on observe, and that’s serving to to stabilize all of these hormones that do every kind of necessary issues in our our bodies. And since a type of hormones is insulin, I’m capable of be a bit extra relaxed with my consuming with out seeing the quantity on the dimensions go up.
However this month, I really want to get again into the swing of issues. I have to get again into “weight reduction” mode in order that I can attain my aim. I must be far more conscientious about what I’m consuming, and far more diligent and disciplined in figuring out. That’s the one means I’m ever going to succeed in my aim. So right here’s to a way more disciplined June! (June can also be my birthday month. My birthday isn’t till the top of the month, however I’m nonetheless undecided what I’m going to resolve about birthday cake. It’s my favourite sugary deal with!)
Anyway, I’ll go away y’all with this January 2024 vs. Could 2024 comparability.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and beautify the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
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