A lot is going on behind the scenes here so I apologize for not writing more, or keeping you in the loop.
Iโve been in testing mode (again!) ๐ with some intriguing results โ and otherwise trying to get through the dailies around here. ๐
Letโs catch up a little, because I think what Iโve been going through the last few weeks might make good โfood for thoughtโ for you tooโฆ then I can get back to my usual updates and daily food diaries. ๐
This all started on my birthday a couple of weeks agoโฆ
If you watch this video youโll see that I got out all of my journals and planners and fun stuff to map out some ambitious goals for the year:
My favorite is the Jumpstart Your Goals In 90 Days motivation & success planner!
My birthday was a tough day truth be known, although you canโt really tell it in that video. I try to make the best of even hard daysโฆ
So on my birthday I decided to spend some time focusing on ME and on what I want out of life, plus changing things I DONโT like or want anymore, and mapping out some big ambitious goals for the next year of my life.
Planning out your goals and creating a plan to create positive changes is FUN and exciting!
Until itโs NOT, lol.
I donโt know about you, but not long after I get all excited about something and start mapping out the plan for how to make it happenโฆ I get completely OVERWHELMED.
When I get overwhelmed, I feel discouraged and then I shut down โ and feel defeated before I ever even really start.
It took me a good WEEK to work through all of those mixed feelings of excitement and anticipation and overwhelm and discouragement, back and forth, up and down. ๐
Thatโs human nature.
We resist change.
Our mind will run on auto-pilot if we let it, with days passing into weeks then into months, doing the same things over and over out of habit.
Try to make any little change and BOOM โ resistance!
The thing is: wishing you would change, or that you were doing the things you really want to be doing, or being the person you really WANT to be โ that doesnโt feel good.
You beat yourself up, end the day with regrets (again), wonder why you canโt do better or be as motivated as this person or that one, etc.
Or at least thatโs how it feels to me.
It makes me feel bad about myself.
Or when getting from where you are now to where you want to be feels like a LONG HAUL and a lot of work I get overwhelmed and discouraged โ and totally deflate.
But when you take action, ANY action, that feels SO good!
I reflected on all of this over that entire week, taking note of my feelings and reactions, and kinda letting it all play out while I decided what to do.
The one thing that really stood out to me in my journaling was REGRETS.
Iโve had plenty of regrets over the years, lots โ like anyone else Iโm sure. But I decided it was time to let go of those.
Whatโs done is done, but every single day I live in nowโฆ I can choose NOT to have any regrets about how I live it.โฃ So thatโs where I decided to startโฆ
Every single day, Iโm going to do whatever it is I would regret NOT doing.โฃ
Some days thatโs a 30 minute break in the sunshine because I keep looking out the window watching the day pass me by, or a walk in a light rain because it feels amazing on a hot evening! Or a cuddle with my great dane where I curl up on his doggy bed with him and just BE together, because heโs getting old, or a visit with my father โ because how many more will I get? โคโฃ
Last Monday I grabbed my float and headed to the river to just ENJOY THE SUNSHINE for a couple of hours, for example.
Iโd worked all weekend, worked that morning, and had to work late that night. I knew I was going to REGRET missing a gorgeous sunny summer afternoon, so I dropped everything and just went!
That felt SO GREAT!
Do something today for YOU, something that makes you smile like you have a secret. ๐
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Yes thereโs laundry & dishes to do, closets to clean out, home repairs to tend to, emails to answer yada yada yadaโฆ but you have to make time for yourself too.
You just HAVE to.โฃ
Whether itโs BIG goals like writing a book or getting in amazing shape, or itโs just the goal of being happier and healthier, itโs the little things that make the biggest difference: the consistent daily actions.
I mean, weโve all gone to the gym and done a really great sweaty workout, then look in the mirror all disappointed we didnโt instantly โget in shapeโ after that ONE hard workout. Am I right? ๐คฃ
I know it would be nice if we could change everything, fix everything or make everything RIGHT โ right now. But thatโs unrealistic.
You only have so many hours in a day, and most of us have those pretty darn full already, so itโs easy to just give up before you get started.
I decided my solution is:
DO THE LITTLE THINGS.
Every single meal is a decision. I donโt have to make any big promises or change my whole life, I just have to decide what Iโm going eat right now.
When I feel discouraged about my flabby arms, I stop and do a set of 20 Tricep Dips.
If I start feeling bad about not calling this friend or answering that email โ I stop and just DO IT. If I feel guilty about not visiting my dad lately, I figure out whenโs the next time I can go and MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Itโs a simple shift that makes you no longer feel like a victim of bad choices and regrets, and makes you feel IN CONTROL instead.
Iโve been doing this now for the last week and it feels AMAZING!
I realize that a short walk for 10 or 15 minutes is not going to get me in super amazing shape anytime soon. But I can really FEEL that incline on the way back, plus I feel SO good for just DOING SOMETHING, for taking action instead of sitting around wishing I would start walking again โ or that I had the time to go out for a half day hike or even a 2 mile walk.
Iโm also back to my quick home workout, just simple body weight exercises that take all of 10 minutes. Is it an intense workout, an hour at the gym, or lifting weights like that super fit chick on Instagram? No โ but itโs what I can do, and Iโm DOING IT, and I donโt fall asleep regretting I didnโt exercise yet AGAIN that day.
Doing nothing makes me feel like a failure, and makes me feel disappointed in myself.
Doing something, even the little things, makes me feel GOOD about myself โ and gives me a sense of accomplishment that motivates me to do MORE.
The exercise Iโve been doing lately is helping, I can feel the difference!
Being consistent with little things is WAY better than consistently doing NOTHING.
Daily positive choices & actions really add up too. Itโs not what you do once that changes your life or brings you great results. Itโs what you do DAILY that creates your life.
So the question is:
What am I doing daily to make my life better/worse?
Then start doing less of the worse, and more of the bettering. ๐
Life is always going to be busy and crazy and chaotic and full of unexpected distractions and things that derail me and all that stuff. Thatโs LIFE.
It feels SO good to have just one little source of satisfaction and control in an otherwise whirlwind of days that turn into weeks and months.
All that time goes by (and fast!), but I feel SO good knowing that just taking 10 minutes to work on my arms or abs WILL make a difference. Not only does it make me feel better about myself TODAY, it will add up over time.
Where if I do nothing, three months from now my arms will still jiggle and make me self conscious, and Iโll just regret having done NOTHING about it.
Um, hello last three months! Been there already. And the three months before that, and the three months before that too. ๐
We all know what it feels like NOT to do something, right?
We all know what it feels like to REGRET not doing the things.
What I want to know is: What will it feel like if I just do what I can, and do it consistently, and keep going?
Thatโs exactly how I lost my weight eating low carb, by the way.
I struggled SO much for SO long getting my head straight about it, until one day I just decided to go 90 FULL DAYS eating 20 net carbs max โ no matter how I felt, no matter where I was, no matter what the scales said even. Just 90 days.
That one little 3 month commitment totally changed my weight loss journey โ and my life. Being in ketosis that long consistently killed my cravings and my desire to binge, made me feel IN CONTROL, and helped me change my (toxic) relationship with food.
I just took it one day at a time. Not the whole 90 days at once, just one day at a time โ one meal at a time, actually. Thatโs all you really have to do!
Here are current photos of me taken day before yesterday:
I shared that photo on Facebook here along with my current stats: height, weight, size, goals, etc.
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I have SO much more I want to share with you!
Itโs been a crazy month, and next week Iโm headed off for KetoCon (yay!!) โ but Iโve been doing some VERY interesting testing lately and cannot wait to share the results with you, along with what Iโm eating lately and what Iโm not eating (and why).
Iโve been posting updates daily on both Instagram and Facebook, which is a great place to keep up and join in on the discussions โ and will also be a great way to keep up with my daily happenings during the KetoCon trip. ๐
Iโd really like to talk openly in upcoming posts about things like exogenous ketones (and why I DO NOT recommend using them), ketone levels and what those might mean for you, calories and why thatโs more complicated than just a number, etc, etc, etc.
But mostly, Iโd love to hear what YOU most want to learn more about or hear from me. Or any questions you haveโฆ
As for my daily food diaries, those will be back soon. Iโve been eating VERY simple lately and very few foods as I continue recovering from my gut health issues that started last winter โ which is another topic Iโd love to discuss with you more tooโฆ
How are things going with you?
And heyโฆ
Do something today that makes YOU smile!
This note wasnโt perfect, but it was on MY list of things I would regret if I didnโt get it done. ๐ Because I miss you, and it keeps bugging me that I havenโt had the time to write here as much as usual lately.
So forgive my rambling, but on top of both a walk AND a home workout today, I can now fall asleep without regretting yet another day went by without sharing an overdue update with you. ๐
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. If youโre participating in the Low Carb Challenge the Week 11 Weigh-In is in our private group. Iโm going to do something a little different for the next challengeโฆ so stay tuned for details! ๐
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Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
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I donโt get it, I really donโtโฆ when you do these posts its divine intervention for me. You do them EXACTLY when I need them, because Iโve been in a deep hole and tried clawing my way out and quit because it seemed easier to do nothing.
I admire and respect you so much Lynn. This is the only place I see you now because I gave up Instagram because I kept feeling defeated by other peoples success and didnโt want to focus on my failure.
Bless you over and over.
Thank you for sharing, you hit the nail on the head with each word. I often wonder how people who say they live without regrets. For me life always gets in the way from raising a family and meeting everyone elseโs needs I too often regret not doing certain things I want to do. But your update helped me understand it all so much better, thank you.
Really looking forward to these updates you describe. I also have been dropping a few things (even though theyโre โKetoโ), and moving towards simplicity. My motto is 8-Ingredients-Or-Less. I donโt even look at recipes with a plethora of ingredients. Life is too short. Iโve also been correcting gut flora for the past year. Doing SO.MUCH.BETTER.
Great, now youโve cost me $80 at Amazon!!! Haha! But I know the power of writing things down (Iโm a big to-do list maker). Hoping that seeing it written down will get me motivated to get off my big butt and get started! Thanks for the insight.