Consistency in Movement
Today's workout reaffirmed the value of consistency over intensity in my exercise routine. While my regimen of meditation and walking may seem modest, its regularity is where its true strength lies. I've noticed a significant improvement in my meditation practice, a skill I had only previously dabbled in during yoga classes.
This progression, coupled with my commitment to achieving 180 "zone minutes" on my Fitbit each week —a personal goal set apart from the program—highlights my dedication to enhancing my physical well-being.
A Deep Dive into Sensory Experience
The day's lesson introduced a unique exercise aimed at heightening our sensory awareness through a simple yet profound interaction with food. The task was to set a timer and aim to spend 15 minutes with a bowl of fruit, observing, smelling, and tasting with intentional mindfulness. Although the suggestion included raisins, which aren't to my liking, I opted for strawberries, a fruit I adore and readily available at home.
The Strawberry Experiment
The exercise transformed the act of eating strawberries into a meditative practice. Inspecting each berry, I was struck by their individuality and the nostalgic scent reminiscent of early summer strawberry picking. The initial tartness, which gradually gave way to sweetness as I chewed, underscored the dynamic nature of taste and how it evolves with mindful attention. Surprisingly, the recommended 15 chews per bite became an effortless rhythm rather than a count, leading me to savor just eight strawberries in nine minutes—a personal victory in mindful eating. Even though I didn't take the whole 15 minutes, I'm happy with the experiment - I'm sure that raisons would have taken a lot longer.
Expanding the Experiment
The lesson also suggested applying this mindful eating practice to less wholesome choices, like Doritos, to contrast the experience. Having recently curbed my habit of consuming family-sized bags of Doritos and purging them during my kitchen makeover that I did at the beginning of the year, I'm intrigued to see how this exercise will unfold with a smaller portion, intending to approach it with the same level of mindfulness. I will have to to go the convenience store and pick up a single bag to try it.
Reflecting on Weekly Progress
Fridays serve as a moment to pause and reflect on the week's journey, with coaches sharing insights, tips, and even recipes to enrich our experience. Today's highlight for me was a video on habit formation, emphasizing the importance of confidence in our ability to sustain new habits. The guideline to scale back if our confidence falls below a 9 out of 10 resonates with me, reinforcing the program's philosophy of gradual, sustainable change.
Today's recipe was Pasta Primavera. Who doesn't love pasta? I'm actually thrilled that they included a recipe for pasta because as much as the program says they don't give you a diet plan to follow or restrict foods seeing pasta or Doritos really helped me understand that was true.
Embracing the Journey
As I navigate this journey, the emphasis on slow, intentional change continues to be a guiding principle. Today's exercises in both physical activity and mindful eating have deepened my appreciation for the nuances of personal growth, reminding me that transformation is as much about the quality of our actions as it is about their frequency or intensity. I am actually feeling a lot of anxiety being let go around foods that I didn't know I needed after this lesson.
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