Annyshay the Hobbit flees from the Black Riders

[annyshay]

Main Quest - Establish a Craving-Control Habit

 

In more nerdy terms, I'm hoping to learn how to run from the black riders that plague my quests (black riders = cravings)!  Previously, I focused on what and how much I eat.  This has not sustainably changed my choices around food.  I want to shift my focus to my habits around food and cravings.  Writing has always been a powerful tool for me to explore my life.  My words are more meaningful to me than numbers and naked data. Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish in terms of daily goals (hopefully establishing new habits).

 

Notice - I will pay attention to the cravings, triggers, and coping strategies I use.  I am using Eating the Moment to help direct my experiments.

 

Record - I will record my observations in the Recovery Record app after each meal and whenever I notice something important related to my eating.

 

Journal - I will spend at least 5 minutes every night reviewing my day and my eating habits in writing.

 

Say Grace before each meal (life goal).

 

Deepen my yoga and meditation practices (side goal).

 

For each goal >90% accomplished, I will choose one of my "big rewards list" (ie, fancy sports bra, digital scanner, new fitness equipment, etc) at the end of the challenge.

 

Extras - quiet time, studying, mindfulness, creating, cleaning, focused movement, decluttering

- for greater than 25 activities per week, only counted once per day, I will randomly roll one of my "weekly rewards" at the end of each weekly wrap up.

 

Glad to continue in fellowship with all the Rebels!  Let's do this.

[annyshay]

Annyshay picks herself off the ground.  She brushes the dirt and leaves from her knees and hairy hobbit feet.  Nearby, Merry pulls a broken carrot from under his bottom.  Sam quickly collects the veggies that had been shoved into his arms prior to their tumble.  Pippin giggles as he pulls himself away from a dangerously close pile of dung.  Annyshay notices that her fingers are searching in her pocket only when they come in contact with the Ring.  Leaves are caught suddenly in a chill breeze.  "Get off the road!" escapes her lips before she's aware that anything is wrong.  Crouched behind a tree with her cousins and gardener, she cringes as she hears heavy, metallic footsteps and aggressive sniffing coming near.  Holding the Ring, she turns to peek through the branches.  A black, travel-worn cloak drifts around a pointed metal boot.  Shivers run up her spine as the Ring calls to her.  Sam grabs her hand, and she looks away from this new threat.

 

[LadyGrey]

I am also trying to work on mindful eating habits and trying to break from emotional eating and so I'm very interested in the book you mentioned. I'll have to check that out.

Good Luck!

[Lara]

It looks like a very nice challenge

I wish you the best on all your goals!

[annyshay]

I am also trying to work on mindful eating habits and trying to break from emotional eating and so I'm very interested in the book you mentioned. I'll have to check that out.

Good Luck!

Thanks, it's got lots of practical ideas for food experiments.  My science brain loves it.

 

It looks like a very nice challenge

I wish you the best on all your goals!

Thanks!  Are you challenging or battle logging or not yet sure?

[annyshay]

So, I already started my challenge to have it line up with Lent (2/18-4/4).    Here's what I've already accomplished!

 

Week 0 Day 1

 

Notice - actively engaged in noticing my cravings and making mindful choices about them

Record - logged all three meals, added a few things on cravings that I noticed

Journal - long long journal entries in my paper journal, distilled above

Say Grace - 0/3 - remembered halfway through the meals.

Deepen Practice - definitely yes.  Went to sooooooo many classes (moderate yoga, metta meditation, yoga dance, breath body bliss, and gentle yoga).

 

Extras - mindfulness, creating, focused movement (3/25)

 

Week 0 Day 2

 

Notice - yup, reading the book has been giving me soooooo many ideas, planning to start hunger-driven eating day as soon as I leave the retreat

Record - logged all three meals and cravings

Journal - retreats are really good for journaling

Say Grace - 3/3

Deepen Practice - I've totally got DOMs from yoga...    Went to fewer classes to wrap up my retreat today (gentle yoga, water flow, and finding the gifts - more thinking).

 

Extras - studying, mindfulness, creating, focused movement (10/25)

 

I'm really really glad that I went on the retreat and found these books.  So hopeful for this Lent season!  How goes your challenge prep, rebels?

[elsfaire]

Another challenge- hooray! Looking forward to seeing more of your writing!

[Lara]

Thanks!  Are you challenging or battle logging or not yet sure?

 

Not yet sure. I'll wait to see how I feel in a couple of days.

I see you couldn't wait to start!!!

[shaar]

I love the fact that you're being actively mindful about what you put into your body, and paying attention to whether it serves you or not.  So easy to overlook in the day to day craziness, but so important!!  

[Nusuth]

Notice - I will pay attention to the cravings, triggers, and coping strategies I use.  I am using Eating the Moment to help direct my experiments.

 

I got two results from google, a book & site ; It is the book you use ?

 

Say Grace before each meal (life goal).

 

this can actually be a very powerfull springboard to a mindfull meal ; never thought of it.   I guess I would feel silly doing so preparing to eat junk food & thus the more gratefull when it's proper food.

 

 

Ow and hello !   all the best with your challenge !

[annyshay]

Another challenge- hooray! Looking forward to seeing more of your writing!

Thanks.     Glad you're here.

 

Not yet sure. I'll wait to see how I feel in a couple of days.

I see you couldn't wait to start!!!

New challenges are so shiny, why wait? 

 

I love the fact that you're being actively mindful about what you put into your body, and paying attention to whether it serves you or not.  So easy to overlook in the day to day craziness, but so important!!  

Thanks, here's hoping it becomes a very positive habit.

 

I got two results from google, a book & site ; It is the book you use ?

 

 

this can actually be a very powerfull springboard to a mindfull meal ; never thought of it.   I guess I would feel silly doing so preparing to eat junk food & thus the more gratefull when it's proper food.

 

 

Ow and hello !   all the best with your challenge !

Borrowed the kindle version of this from the library.  Now I may poke around the website and see if there's helpful stuff or not...  Thanks and welcome!

[Chanda]

What a great idea for learning about your craving triggers!

 

I look forward to seeing how you go... Great first couple of days already!!!  

[Stonie]

I love the theme! (LOTR Fan girl since forever...)

 

And I love the idea of your challenge. With being in maintenance mode now (and working an active job) i've gotten pretty slack with what kinds of food I eat, especially when I have to eat as I run through the kitchen at work at 100mph! I'd like to see what I achieved if I stopped a moment to think about what to eat... which I am getting better at, but sometimes those pancakes just look too tempting, you know? Next challenge, maybe

[annyshay]

I love the theme! (LOTR Fan girl since forever...)

 

And I love the idea of your challenge. With being in maintenance mode now (and working an active job) i've gotten pretty slack with what kinds of food I eat, especially when I have to eat as I run through the kitchen at work at 100mph! I'd like to see what I achieved if I stopped a moment to think about what to eat... which I am getting better at, but sometimes those pancakes just look too tempting, you know? Next challenge, maybe

I'm finding that chocolate and chai lattes are the current culprits, but I totally feel you!  Welcome!

 

What a great idea for learning about your craving triggers!

 

I look forward to seeing how you go... Great first couple of days already!!!  

Thanks, I just couldn't wait for the fun to begin.

[annyshay]

Week 0 Day 3

 

Notice - current trends - I want sweet things at the end of a meal, when I've completed something (food as reward, so engrained, or when I've made myself go into the great outdoors (was -18F today)

Record - logged all three meals and cravings

Journal - wrote about hunger and cravings while I was at tea with roommate last night

Say Grace - 2/3 - it's hard for me to remember at the beginning of a meal, for this goal, I may just look for progress toward the habit, not percentage

Deepen Practice - sun salutations in the morning were more slow and aligned with my breath, meditation in the crowded tea shop was a lovely way to see my thoughts and let them go

 

Extras - quiet time, studying, mindfulness, cleaning, decluttering, focused movement (16/25)

 

Really enjoying the tail end of my vacation and the chance to establish my habits a bit before I take them into my daily life.  Have an excellent weekend, rebels!

[KB Girl]

This is a great idea to change habits! I'm curious to see how it works for you. 

[annyshay]

Week 0 Day 4

Went to Nerd fest at a friend's house. We (6 peeps) spent five hours playing a Game of Thrones strategy game, an hour of heads up, and then another hour or so of settlers of catan. I was not mindful of my eating during this time, as I was very focused on stealthy world domination. Not really upset with myself, which is progress. Had a ton of nerdy fun... And beer!

Notice - didn't really pay attention during nerd fest

Record - did keep my recording habits up

Journal - yup, wrote about the day on paper last night and here

Say Grace - 0/3, eeeeps, apparently this was a good choice to work on

Deeper Practice - did the new Kripalu moderate yoga program at home and had a ton of fun, meditated with that and in the car prior to nerd fest

Extras - quiet time, studying, creating, focused movement, mindfulness, cleaning (22/25)

[elsfaire]

Nerd Fest sounds like a lot of fun. A bit like our Monday night gaming group, but with the ability to do longer games. Glad to hear that you have a positive attitude about everything, even those things that might need a bit more focus next time.

[annyshay]

Nerd Fest sounds like a lot of fun. A bit like our Monday night gaming group, but with the ability to do longer games. Glad to hear that you have a positive attitude about everything, even those things that might need a bit more focus next time.

You know, I think the positive attitude is a huge difference... Hopefully I can roll forward with that. You guys help so much with the support!

[annyshay]

Week 0 Day 5

Notice - yup

Record - success

Journal - much thinking and wrapping up my first week of experiments in hunger vs cravings, will post soon

Say Grace - 3/3

Deepen Practice - good sun salutations, meditation

Extras - quiet time, studying, focused movement, mindfulness (26/25)

Success! Wrap up later.

[annyshay]

Week 0 Wrap Up

Notice - only missed on nerd fest day

Record - all systems go

Journal - writing a lot up in my paper journal, need to summarize some of my insights here for all y'all

Say Grace - 53% - lots of room to improve!

Deepen Practice - so far so good, a lot more present during my practices

Extras - 26/25 success! Rolled a 3 = book browsing or library time!

[annyshay]

Week 1 Day 1

Notice - yup, was being mindful of my cravings and decided to just follow them (wooops)

Record - three times, cravings

Journal - yup

Say Grace - 3/3

Deepen Practice - not my most mindful day, but did sun salutations

Extras - quiet time, studying (2/25)

Not the most ringing start to a challenge, but sometimes I just need a day to play video games and yesterday was it. Here's to day two!

[elsfaire]

Awareness of when you need those days off is so valuable. Giving yourself days off occasionally is priceless.

[annyshay]

Week 0 Journal Highlights

This first week, I've been exploring the differences between hunger and craving. On Mardi Gras (last Tueday), I ate along with my cravings. This led to overeating and a long sneaky binge on fudge. Even though I had chosen to follow my cravings ahead of time for science, I felt guilty as if I needed to justify my behavior. Thursday into Friday, I only ate when I was hungry. I did not overeat or binge, but I was obsessively worried about self-evaluating if I was "hungry enough" to eat. My meals were all pushed back, which meant that I couldn't share with my roommate, but we're still roughly every 4-5 hours. Being hungry also made it harder to focus on cooking well, since I was in a hurry to eat.

Lessons Learned

- taking a breath before I eat helps me remeber to say grace which leads to a more mindful meal

- gaming, alcohol, and other flow states make mindful eating a challenge

- I enjoy mindful meals much more!

- my mouth waters and tummy grumbles when I get hungry

- eating only when hungry stresses me out

- lots of my cravings are actually habits - walking through the kitchen, returning from chores, and the end of meals are big triggers

[annyshay]

Week 1 Day 2

Notice - paying attention

Record - yup, keeping up with all my recording

Journal - helpful way to wind down the day with a focus on my goals and current state

Say Grace - 2/3 (hard to remember when I'm not at home!)

Deepen Practice - lovely slow sun salutations and long meditation this afternoon with deeeeeeep breaths

Extras - quiet time, studying, meditation (5/25)