I got a little break today. I did not need to wake at 5:30am since my youngest stayed the night at Grammy’s house. So I set it for 8am and did my 25 minute walk listening to Domestic Monastery again. We are on a strict no-buy season and only buying what we need and not what we want. So I will listen to this book til the challenge is over. I listened to many free audiobooks through a library app but I maxed out my 3 checkouts so I will really know this book by the end of this challenge. 😉

Before my walk I ate 2 cookies left out from the night before with guys poker. They tasted a little better than eating raspberry chapstick but the texture is satisfying. Some people (hubby included) avoid certain foods due to their texture but I will eat food because of the texture. Lucky charms for example. Hubby says they are gross because it is like eating packing peanuts and I am like, “I know! I that love.” Or Popcorners. I need a small bag because I will keep munching cause the taste and texture is so satisfying.

This unplanned eating helped me to see how I was just mindlessly consuming. Those chapstick cookies will not help me to be more vibrant. This made me think of social media which can often lead to mindlessly consuming as the addictive scrolling happens. It often does not lead to me becoming more vibrant but just numbs/pacifies kinda like eating raspberry chapstick cookies. I had to laugh because I know of at least 3 loved ones who like to eat chapstick. But in all seriousness I need to decide and be purposeful in what I consume. Does it benefit me?

The mindless munching this morning started me on not a good path. I later ate a pumpkin muffin I baked from my kids’ fav company. The top ingredient is not even flour but just straight up sugar. Then I needed to finish the sweet with some savory so I nuked a helping on leftover shepherd’s pie. Ok, Kimi time to slow my roll and log these food adventures. These 2 midmorning snacks is 55 grams of carbs, 40 grams over my snack allotment. Lunch is also only permitted 45 grams of carbs so their is cost to mindless munching. Time to pay attention the rest of the day but not in a restrictive way but seeing it what will bring vibrant life to this body. So lunch should be a salad with protein to balance out the surplus.

This experiment is good. My heart is drawn toward these self imposed challenges and experiments. I often want to encourage others through them but my own learning often comes as well.

Now it is 10pm on Day 4. I have already had thoughts again of ditching this challenge and wondering what good will it do. But building habits is good.

This daily habit of 25 minutes of movement is good.

The daily habit of taking a probiotic is good.

Listening to an uplifting book for 25 minutes is good.

Helping me drink water is good.

Being mindful with my eating is good even if I “mess” up.

Progress over perfection. I will celebrate the wins and keep moving forward.