Today: I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget, I remained refined sugar-free, I met my daily water goal, and I stayed well connected with good support.
I like analogies. I use 'em a lot.
I look at my daily plan like it's a fortress. The boundaries of my plan are the walls. My job each day is to defend the fort. I have help--I'll call them allies, whose support helps keep my defense strong.
A football team can have the best offense in the history of the game, but if the defense isn't strong, stress is created on offense and games are lost. The fundamental elements of my plan--the food, the physical activity, the logging, tracking--all of these are part of the offense. The defense is where I find my personal accountability and support measures, my daily positive visualizations, spiritual time, and making myself available in support of others. I've put together powerful offenses in the past that were completely void of a good defense. And those times didn't work well.
But life happens, right? And I'm historically an emotional/stress eater. One thing I had to accept: Life wasn't going to stop long enough for me to "get it together." I had to find a way to maintain consistency come what may. Because life keeps coming. And my time keeps going. So the time is now, regardless of circumstance.
For me, it takes compartmentalizing.
The Streams Must Not Cross!
The "Life Stream" is everything happening in our day to day lives. The Life Stream includes the ups and downs, the challenges, the victories, the disappointments, The hectic schedules, the family dynamics, the workplace dynamics, the bills, the stress, the joys, the blessings, the expected and the unexpected, the good, the bad...It's life.
The "Fundamental Elements Stream" contain the daily actions of my personal plan. I say "my" because our plans might be very different. Mine is customized to fit my personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and sensitivities.
The fundamental elements stream runs parallel, just below the life stream. The life stream is running in the foreground and the fundamental elements stream is running in the background--like a computer's anti-virus program.
If we allow life and all of the energy it takes to maneuver, to negatively affect our ability to maintain consistency in the daily elements of our extraordinary care, then it always will. The frustration of inconsistency will be a common theme if the life stream is allowed to dip down into the fundamental elements stream on a regular basis.
And if we get too carried away, making the fundamental elements all consuming, then we run the risk of it crossing up into our life stream. And that's when it isn't any fun and we dread what we're doing every day.
I do what I do because I know I'm never immune from relapse/regain. It's a daily practice that keeps me well. And taking care of this practice while living and enjoying life, is the goal.
This isn't DIEting. It's LIVing.
Today's Accountability Tweets:
2 cups water, 20 push-ups & 20 squats #morningdeal DONE✅✅✅ Coffee pass earned! :) pic.twitter.com/pUsDmwgjpG— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
3 tbs half & half in this first cup. Another 3 tbs half & half in the to-go cup refill, soon. 120 cal. pic.twitter.com/EOaq7jHs7e— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
Breakfast in MyFitnessPal. Not shown: 136g green seedless grapes. pic.twitter.com/5qkXBVaIU3— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
3 egg whites, 1 whole egg, and 1 slice muenster on toasted Ezekiel. 5.5oz Pink Lady apple, 117g strawberries & 136g green grapes. 551 cal. pic.twitter.com/cWMMkBHRkv— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
2 tbs half & half in this midmorning cup of dark roast. 40 cal. pic.twitter.com/o8mcSv4frP— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
Lunch in MyFitnessPal. Not shown: 5oz pineapple & 110g strawberries. pic.twitter.com/RAHiGdudLC— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
Tostadas w/183g fat free refried beans, 2 tbs salsa, 2 slices provolone, 30g lettuce & 30g sour cream. 5oz pineapple & 110g strwbrrs. 569cal pic.twitter.com/xsYl4sKfDS— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
Afternoon cup of coffee with 3 tbs half & half. 60 cal. pic.twitter.com/RVoAdfzmoP— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
2 cups water #watertracking 4.7oz Pink Lady apple & 106g banana. 160 cal. pic.twitter.com/sXLlMV4d8J— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 14, 2017
Dinner in MyFitnessPal... pic.twitter.com/LzCOPoyhi4— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
Spaghetti & Meatballs. 7oz 96% lean beef, 3oz whole grain pasta and 356g all-natural refined sugar-free tomato basil sauce. 721 cal. pic.twitter.com/R5DJJtqno0— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
I allow whole grain pasta in my food plan w/precise measurements & NO leftovers. My past with pasta involved giant pots full & extra plates.— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
Sometimes an extra action is needed. If I have guests: I don't mind preparing theirs separate from mine, to ensure measurement integrity.— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
Fast Fruit Run... pic.twitter.com/KcKhRxKG2H— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) August 15, 2017
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
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