2024 Resolution — How Things Are Going (Month Five!)

We’re now 5 months into 2024, and I’m 5 months into my decision for the 12 months of not consuming sugar. I can hardly imagine 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 similar time, I received previous the arduous half a very long time in the past. It was actually simply these first couple of weeks of the 12 months that had been tough. As soon as I received 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 issue. There have been about two separate events over the past 5 months once I’ve been actually tempted. A kind of occasions was an emotional response. Consuming has at all times been an emotional consolation for me, and there was one time once 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 individuals 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 received by way of 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 a whole lot of fruit, as I’m nonetheless making an attempt to maintain my internet carbs comparatively low, however one piece of fruit a day appears cheap. I additionally nonetheless take pleasure in my tea daily (sweetened with stevia), which I’ll by no means hand over. It’s my favourite beverage, and it goes a great distance in 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 ebook referred to as The Salt Repair that makes the case that moderately 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. Effectively, 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 consuming just one a day, as a result of if I had my approach, I’d drink nothing however bubby grapefruit LMNT all day lengthy each single day. 😀 Anyway, for those who’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 look ahead to 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 on the whole within the final month. So let me share with y’all of the factor that has had the largest impression on my wellbeing this final month.

I observe a number of medical doctors and well being/wellness/health individuals on Instagram. (I nonetheless haven’t been capable of finding the lymphatic specialist who I observe, however I’m maintaining a watch out for her for these of you who requested.) Anyway, a type of individuals 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 take a look at her longer interviews that she doesn’t with individuals 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 way of 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 (possibly later), I’d begrudgingly roll off the 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 finished, I used to be exhausted, and would typically go to sleep in my recliner as quickly as I used to be finished consuming.

Then round 3:00 or 4:00, I’d begin working, however I’d wrestle to remain centered. I’d typically take a “break” to scroll Instagram, solely to appreciate 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 many others.), 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 strategies 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 absorb the morning solar (even on overcast mornings) for no less than 20 minutes. After which I am going inside and get Matt located for the morning, make some breakfast, after which get my day began. After which at sundown daily, I flip off all the 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 hardly ever wears his glasses, so these are the ones I bought for Matt (affiliate hyperlink). And let me inform you, this stuff make a large 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 laptop (with the brightness turned down), and by 10:45, we’re able to get to sleep.

These modifications haven’t simply been a matter of shifting my schedule a few hours earlier within the day. If that had been the one distinction, I don’t know that it will be definitely 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 centered all day lengthy. By the tip of the day on Saturday, I spotted that I had gone all afternoon and night with out taking a look at my cellphone even as soon as. I used to be simply so centered on engaged on my mission that scrolling Instagram hadn’t even crossed my thoughts.

Since I began doing this, Matt has seen an enormous distinction in me. On about three totally different events, he’s mentioned, “I’m simply so impressed with you latterly! You will have a lot vitality, and also you’re getting a lot extra finished as of late!” I advised 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 look ahead to 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 look ahead to getting my day began after that. I want I may specific to you ways radically totally different and uncharacteristic that is for me. For so long as I can keep 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 effectively on my approach in 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 at all times struggled to sleep effectively 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 can have a big impact on his well being as effectively.

So with all of that, you would possibly suppose that I’ve seen an actual distinction on the dimensions this previous month, proper? Effectively, no. 😀 I’ll be very trustworthy with you. With all of the stuff I’ve realized and put into follow — every part from The Salt Repair, LMNT, early morning solar, shutting down with sundown, and many others. — I really feel like what I’ve actually realized is methods to take pleasure in just about any meals I wish to eat with out gaining weight. 😀 That’s probably not the lesson I wished to study, and but, that’s the way it has labored out. And that might be a terrific lesson to study and put into follow if I had already misplaced all the burden I have to lose, and was simply trying to preserve. However I nonetheless have about 75 kilos to lose, so I’m approach untimely in placing this newfound information and freedom into follow.

The underside line is that I received 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 Might. I loved the truth that I didn’t have to actually watch what I ate, and the dimensions stayed the identical. I didn’t must 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 all types of essential issues in our our bodies. And since a type of hormones is insulin, I’m capable of be somewhat extra relaxed with my consuming with out seeing the quantity on the dimensions go up.

However this month, I actually need to get again into the swing of issues. I have to get again into “weight reduction” mode in order that I can attain my purpose. I have to be far more conscientious about what I’m consuming, and far more diligent and disciplined in understanding. That’s the one approach I’m ever going to succeed in my purpose. So right here’s to a way more disciplined June! (June can be my birthday month. My birthday isn’t till the tip 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 depart y’all with this January 2024 vs. Might 2024 comparability.

Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and enhance 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 the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.