Alcohol Free Is What We Want to Be! Thursday, April 11

New Challenge: CARING April 1 - May 31

“Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care" - Buddha

This challenge is about caring about and for yourself. So often we get caught up in taking care of everyone else that we don’t give ourselves the care we need. Or we give up caring about ourselves. A variety of reasons and for no reason, it just happens. The hard part is to recognize it and once you do, it is hard to explain because very few want to acknowledge it. You get kudos for taking care of others, not so much for taking of yourself. Not caring about yourself can leave an emptiness that you may try to fill with food and alcohol. The emptiness remains, just stuffed down. We want and need more for ourselves. So let’s begin!

Treat yourself the way you’d treat someone you love.

Love yourself first and the rest will follow.

Focus on health and well being

So how do you begin to care about yourself?

Eating fruits and vegetables sounds like a plan. So does drinking water!!

Walking up a flight of stairs without gasping for breath. Your heart will thank you.

If you don’t want to be AF then restrict the amount and limit the days you will allow yourself a drink. But remember if 10 is not enough, one is too many.

Start with baby steps. Making too many changes at once can be discouraging so start small. Have you been slacking on flossing
daily? Then start making it a ritual. Do you drink soda for energy? Start cutting back by one.

Treat yourself to something you enjoy. Buying the store brand face cream will sit on the counter. If you have a favorite, budget it in as a necessity….better than buying alcohol! Maybe getting a manicure or pedicure is important to you yet you deny it for yourself. Ask yourself why.

Make a list of indulgences that aren’t food or alcohol and start sprinkling them into your life.

Ask for what you need. Too many times we get into a funk and we don’t ask for help. You are loved and we want to help each other.

Curb all the justification. Sometimes you just have to do something because you want to do it. You don’t have to explain yourself!

Think of your successes….add three things that went well today to your daily journal. What?? you aren’t journaling? Journaling is caring!

LET THE CARING BEGIN!!

Out the door in 2024!

THE EIGHT GOOD HEALTH GUIDELINES
1. Eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day.
2. Choose whole-grain foods, such as brown rice and oats, whenever possible.
3. Include two servings of milk precuts – low fat (1%) or fat-free – each day.
4. Have some healthy oil (olive oil, canola, sunflower, safflower or flaxseed each day.
5. Ensure that you are getting enough protein by choosing at least a serving or two of meat, poultry, fish, eggs or dried beans each day. Many dairy products are also good sources of protein.
6. Limit added sugar and alcohol.
7. Drink at least 6 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
8. Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement each day.

NUTRITION ACCOUNTABILITY
Drink more water: 72 oz
One or more fruit daily: Y
One or more vegetable daily: Y
AF: (mostly alcohol free since August 16, 2006): 6457; ANIM: 1 (021221)
AIM: N
ANIM: N
Fitbit Goal/burned: 2170/2363
JUST JOURNAL!

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY

Move Accountability: 4, 13,400+ steps, 250 steps 8/8 hours, walked the nature trail, worked in yard, workout with weights, counter pushups, stretches
Sleep Accountability: 2, slept well, but awake early, 4.5+ hours, Fitbit score 70, stress management 74
Nutrition Accountability: 3, 23/23, 21 weeklies left, blue dot, grilled cheese
Happiness Accountability: 3, enjoyed the day, time outside, stitched, read before bed
Habit Accountability: 3, drinking more water than diet Coke
Check in Daily Accountability: 3, I'm here!
Time Management Accountability: 3, filled bird feeders, put out new hummingbird feeder, puttered in yard, stitched on Santa #3
What did you do for yourself today? Reading, couch time, time outside

Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or motivational quote: “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ―Dalai Lama XIV

Start weight, April 1: 168.8
April 8: 168
April 15:
April 22:
April 29:
May 6:
May 13:
May 20:
May 27:
End of Challenge, May 31:

2024 Goals:
11,000 steps each day: 98/101
At least 7 hours sleep: 50/101
Lift weights twice/week: Wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13:only once, 14
Blue dots: 91/101
Starting weight: 179.8
Get to the 160's: March 10, 2024
150s:

DH & I took the golf cart to the nature trail to walk yesterday morning. It was still overcast when we left, but we did get a bit of sun occasionally. When we got back I filled the bird feeders and looked at one of the raised beds that was falling apart. Moved about half the dirt out of it, relocated the big parsley plant, got DH to help put it back together. Then I did some weeding. I needed a shower and a change of clothes after playing in the dirt. I think I'll plant the tomatoes and peppers seedlings and plant some green beans, zinnias, cosmos, etc. as soon as it stops raining, maybe later today. There are no frosts in the forecast for the rest of the month, so it should be safe. I had some couch time, made broccoli soup for dinner, with grilled cheese sandwiches. After dinner I watched a Hallmark movie and stitched on Santa #3. I fell asleep fairly easily, but woke up around 4:30 and could not go back to sleep. I read until around 8, dozed a bit, then finally got up.

It was windy and rained hard overnight, may still be some light rain this morning. DH is missing, Dr. appointment? He thought he had one tomorrow, but maybe he was off on the day.


Cindy- Yay for being able to flush the toilets again. Glad you got to see the eclipse, definitely something not to miss.

Jan- WTG steps 11/11, PU, stretches, blue dot, AF, not throwing out much food this week, doing errands. Yay for a nice day, getting your eye exam and new glasses.

M-W Word of the Day
aegis Audio pronunciation


noun | EE-jus

What It Means

Aegis is a formal word that refers to the power to protect, control, or support something or someone. It is often used in the phrase under the aegis of.

// The issue will be decided under the aegis of an international organization.

Today is prep day. Liquids only. 2:00 starts the fun stuff. Procedure starts tomorrow at 10.

Hi friends! Back to work tomorrow. I did have a nice couple of days. When Tyler played travel baseball, we met Gina (a mom) . Such a nice woman with great parents. Her mom passed away. She was such a sweet lady. Her husband took us out for pizza one time. Her wake is 9-11:00 AM Monday. My boss said I can come in late.

Amy, do they have “regular “ hallmark movies or just Christmas ones?

Jan, have fun in the city! It’s supposed to be gorgeous! Are you staying the whole weekend?

Gg, good luck with the colonoscopy. I have to have one this summer—ugh!
Cindy, any news about DS?