Things are going very well. I'm losing weight consistently and feeling fantastic. Things are well, not perfect. If I had to identify two things I need to improve, it's the amount of sleep at night and the amount of water I consume each day. Improving both of these numbers will only benefit my health.
I feel like I'm experiencing some breakthroughs with my time management/sleep issues. First of all, it's important for me to note that fortunately, I'm not writing about sleep apnea symptoms at this time, it's all about quantity at this point. I seem to be resting very well during this part of my transformation. I say "this part" because I know from previous experience that I must constantly be aware of how I'm sleeping and breathing and how I feel upon waking and throughout the day. Unfortunately, sleep apnea symptoms can and often do come back, despite weight loss. Right now, I'm enjoying some freedom from it and I sincerely hope and pray it continues for a very long time.
Breakthroughs-- yes. Here's the thing: In regard to the issue of constantly going to bed way too late, I was focusing on the wrong thing. I was focusing on trying to fix the end result instead of focusing on the elements leading to that result. It was frustrating because my focus was "I've got to get to bed earlier and by golly I'm gonna do it!" But then, without changing the elements throughout my day, I would repeat the same thing over and over--even reaching a point I wouldn't complain about it anymore within these writings; trying hard not to mention the issue. My attitude was a no-nonsense, slightly harsh one: If I'm going to continue doing it, then I might as well shut up about it already!!
Yesterday and today--no nap. And I was just fine. I made it through quite well and I'm about to hit the publish button on this one and hit the pillow. The proper focus--and it's something that was probably very obvious to you, was needed earlier in the day. The choices I make at the intersection of my work day and the rest of my day/evening, are the critical ones in need of focus. And it's all about attitude and perspective. I've challenged myself yesterday and today and I've come out on top of it. That feels really good!
This redirection of focus reminds me of the overwhelming feeling some of us have experienced when we're faced with a large weight loss challenge. If our focus is on the "I must lose weight--I've got to lose almost 300 pounds or 200, or 40"--it can seem overwhelming--but if we reel that in and point our focus on the smaller elements--the one day, one choice at a time approach, pretty soon we realize we're actually doing it--the smaller focus on the supporting elements needing our attention make this big, sometimes overwhelming challenge, totally doable. We don't have to figure out the big thing all at once. We figure out the small things and suddenly the big thing changes into something we can handle.
I had a long work day today that took the lions share of my afternoon and then a recording session this evening for a voice-over project. I made sure to enjoy dinner before the session and get a good two mile walk in immediately after.
I've had a meatless day. I don't know how often I do this because I honestly haven't paid much attention. It stuck out to me today because I was debating on adding some sirloin tip steak atop my pasta, then I added the calories, eventually deciding it wasn't needed. Interesting.
This focus on time management is important to me for a variety of reasons. I have two big projects on the horizon, an audio meditations project and book number two--plus I have the very strong desire to get focused on a YouTube series with my girlfriend, Heather. Proper time management is going to become even more critical, quickly.
My Tweets today:
Coffee with sugar free chocolate creamer and Pyure Brand Organic Stevia. 30CX2=60cal pic.twitter.com/BfoQKSjoA9
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 1, 2014
Swiss omelet. 2 whole eggs & 2 egg whites, slice of thin swiss, 1/2 Honeycrisp apple, red grapes (179g). 417 cal. pic.twitter.com/mEuO8dBMd2
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 1, 2014
Bean & cheese tostadas w/lettuce & sour cream. Blue corn organic tortilla chips w/guac on a bed of lettuce. 590 cal. pic.twitter.com/WPanSiQGvL
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 1, 2014
Gluten free penne pasta w/sugar free marinara, sautéed asparagus w/olive oil, baked sweet potato medallions. 535 cal. pic.twitter.com/uV6S0T41l0
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 1, 2014
Ready, set, go! Brisk walk starts now. Gonna sweat. May not do 5k, but at least 2 miles.
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 2, 2014
Red seedless grapes. So sweet, incredibly delicious and a wonderful #lastfoodofday 142g 94 cal. pic.twitter.com/zV6txZqjoe
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 2, 2014
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
