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Day 118: Staying Engaged with Food Journaling and Reflecting on Progress

The image shows a female rottweiler looking up at a sky filled with colorful fireworks celebrating Victoria Day. The dog has a sleek, muscular build with a shiny black coat and distinct tan markings on her face, chest, and paws. She is sitting on a grassy hill under a clear night sky. The fireworks are bursting in various colors, illuminating the scene with vibrant hues. The dog's eyes are wide with wonder, reflecting the bright lights above. The atmosphere is festive and joyful, capturing the spirit of Victoria Day celebrations.

Hey everyone! Today’s lesson focused on the importance of staying checked in with our food journals. It's all about engaging with the process and gaining awareness to help us move forward, even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable.

Staying Engaged with Food Journaling

Here are some key reflections from today’s lesson:

Awareness and Behavior

How does recording my intake influence my behavior? I have focused a bit more on what I am making to eat during this process.

Am I altering my choices because I know I'll be writing them down? I am making sure that all of my meals are PN plates - so yes being aware of my food choices helps me make more mindful decisions.

Journal as a Tool

Am I using the journal as a helpful device or letting it dictate my actions? It's a bit of both. I am adding extra veggies/fruits for sure. I'm trying to see the journal as a tool for reflection rather than a source of judgment.

Resistance

Do I find myself resisting the process? Yes. I really don't like food journaling. Am I tempted to put off recording or "forget" less-than-perfect choices? I think that I have captured all of my meals outside of two all week - including snacks and only because I was driving for one of them and forgot the other one while I was out for lunch. I do agree though, as they noted, recognizing this resistance is the first step in overcoming it.

Habits and Tendencies

What do I observe about my eating habits? It is really easy to grab food that is available vs making it from scratch so I have been aiming to have more cut up veggies on hand. Am I routine-based or novelty-based? Routine based. Where and how do I eat? I am mostly eating sitting down alone or with other people at the dining room table vs on the couch or at my desk vs before I started this program. Understanding these patterns can help me make more informed choices.

Active Recovery and Lunch Outing

Today was an active recovery day. I only had time to take the dog for a few walks, which always leaves me feeling like I’m cheating on some level, even though it’s enough. These walks are essential for my mental and physical well-being, even if they don't feel like intense workouts and of course having a dog helps even on times I might want to skip going for a walk too.

I also went out for lunch with my mum and sister. While it wasn’t a perfect PN plate, it was pretty close. I focused on the menu descriptions and opted for a steak, tomato, and spinach sandwich with a side salad instead of creamy sauces and deep fried meals that I would have gotten before. This mindful choice made the meal enjoyable and aligned with my goals.

Fireworks Disruption

Last night was terrible with fireworks, even worse than the night before. Hopefully, that’s the end of it because my dog was extremely unsettled, constantly wanting to go in and out of the house to ensure there were no threats. The noise kept us both up, making it a challenging night and I am getting used to having a good sleep.

Preparing for the Week Ahead

As I review my food journal, I’m thinking about what changes I can make to improve in the upcoming week. Planning and preparing for my lessons, habits, and workouts is crucial for success. Taking time to set goals and outline my schedule helps me stay on track and focused. I really find that ordering a few times a week for fresh produce is helping and have started prepping extra veggies for the next day as I cut them up to grab from the fridge has been helping a lot.

Looking Forward to Gardening

The weather looks perfect for getting the rest of my garden sorted out this week. I’m excited to continue making progress in my outdoor space. Gardening provides a sense of accomplishment and a peaceful way to stay active.

Unexpected Surprise

I was once again surprised by my period today, which added an unexpected element to the day, I wonder if this is also maybe a bit of perimenopause and not just PCOS as a lot of my friends are talking about their cycles coming randomly too lately. Despite the surprise, I managed to stay on track with my activities and self-care.

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Location: Canada

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