May 6th, 2014 My Obsession
I'm certainly still working on finding a balance with time management. You may have noticed my regular postings, not only on this blog but on twitter and MyFitnessPal--these are accountability tools I've given top priority. And I'm happy to report they're working wonderfully. Is it too much? Obsessive? Perhaps. And that's perfectly fine. It's fine because it's doing wonderful things for me.
I spend a good amount of time alone and I like my time and space, I do. But being alone too much is tricky when you're in recovery. By maintaining a blog writing schedule, facebook and a twitter feed, I instantly don't feel alone at all. And I sincerely thank you for your support.
I'm getting better sleep, although I woke up again this morning with cramping from swallowing air. I still feel more rested than I have in a very long time.
Now that I have my priorities and my accountability tools firmly in place, it's time to rearrange some things for better time management. I must get to bed earlier and still make sure I take the time to exercise and write. I'm making a huge commitment to myself. But I believe it's worth every bit of effort I'm exerting.
I'm cutting this blog entry short because it's 10:30pm and I really must hit the pillow. I'll do it under budget and after just completing a solid 1.7 mile walk.
I enjoyed a wonderful support group call tonight. We had special guest speaker Phil Werdell M.A., the director of the Acorn Food Addiction Institute. You can discover their amazing website at www.foodaddiction.com I asked him a question about how I've dramatically increased my accountability tools of late and if this was my recovery, or just recovery, and if he could see anything needing concern in that way. And although I may not be articulating the intent of my question well, what he shared was wonderful. During his recovery process, it was suggested that he was now addicted to going to meetings, and he agreed. And it was good.
I just might be addicted to writing this blog and sharing this journey. I could perhaps call it my obsession.
And that's awesome for me.
For food pictures and calorie counts visit my twitter feed: www.twitter.com/seanaanderson
For the companion exercise and food diary (if you have MyFitnessPal) friend me on MyFitnessPal--username: SeanAAnderson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seananderson505
Thank you for reading,
Strength,
Sean
Showing posts with label HALT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HALT. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
April 29th, 2014 Staying Connected
April 29th, 2014 Staying Connected
When I look back at the fundamentals that kept me going strong while losing weight, I must recognize the power of sitting down and writing things out. And when I look at where things started to get bumpy, it was when I stopped writing consistently. And even after this short time of daily blog postings, I can tell a major difference in how I feel. My focus has sharpened, my attitude and resolve is in an optimal place and I'm getting back my confidence. My challenge to me is to explore other ways in which I can add to this positive effect. Reaching out more to others, being supportive, increasing the time I spend in meditation and prayer---all of these can only strengthen my stride and they're once again assigned a very high priority.
This feeling of renewal and strength doesn't mean it's easy. It's about being better prepared to handle the challenges as they come. Sometimes a giant ice cream shake seems like the perfect move. Putting some space, just a little, between the thought and the action--long enough to identify the what and why of the situation, is often all that's needed to correct the skid. If it doesn't quite work--reach out to someone and share the experience and feeling. It's very powerful. Expose it, shine a light--and discuss it with someone who gets it. As a food addict, I'll tell you this: I've had times where I've felt driven to the fat and sugar. Have you felt this too? When, despite the consequences--despite what you know is true, that a binge isn't going to fix anything and in fact make it all worse, you're driven like a moth to a flame? That's when it's really scary. The isolation that often accompanies such a leap is a dark, depressing place. And the only way out is to get connected, not only with your spiritual side, but also with people who understand what you're experiencing. And stay connected. Because you're not alone. We're never alone. If we isolate, then we're still not alone, but it sure feels that way. I'm staying connected.
Today's schedule was a little challenging for me because I wasn't feeling rested, yet I had important appointments keeping me from a nap allowing split shift. Remember HALT? (Don't get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired) Yeah, I was getting too tired, too quickly and finally, a little after 2pm, I had to take a break for a refresher nap. I was back at 4pm as planned and finished what I needed to finish by 4:40pm.
I prepared a wonderful dinner tonight (menu on MyFitnessPal and the picture is on my Twitter feed) and then I settled in for a good conference call with the weekly support group.
It's 9:15 and I've decided to post today's blog and hit the pillow early. I've been battling exhaustion like crazy today, so I'll give myself a pass on the walk tonight. Tomorrow I'll get a look at the results of my sleep monitoring. It's the next step in figuring out an immediate solution to my sleep issues. The long term solution is on me--it's getting the extra weight off and getting truly fit, and even then it may not be 100%, but there's a great chance it will be if it's coupled with effective therapy.
I'd love you to follow me on Twitter: @SeanAAnderson and Friend me on MyFitnessPal: SeanAAnderson
Thank you for reading and for your support,
Strength,
Sean
When I look back at the fundamentals that kept me going strong while losing weight, I must recognize the power of sitting down and writing things out. And when I look at where things started to get bumpy, it was when I stopped writing consistently. And even after this short time of daily blog postings, I can tell a major difference in how I feel. My focus has sharpened, my attitude and resolve is in an optimal place and I'm getting back my confidence. My challenge to me is to explore other ways in which I can add to this positive effect. Reaching out more to others, being supportive, increasing the time I spend in meditation and prayer---all of these can only strengthen my stride and they're once again assigned a very high priority.
This feeling of renewal and strength doesn't mean it's easy. It's about being better prepared to handle the challenges as they come. Sometimes a giant ice cream shake seems like the perfect move. Putting some space, just a little, between the thought and the action--long enough to identify the what and why of the situation, is often all that's needed to correct the skid. If it doesn't quite work--reach out to someone and share the experience and feeling. It's very powerful. Expose it, shine a light--and discuss it with someone who gets it. As a food addict, I'll tell you this: I've had times where I've felt driven to the fat and sugar. Have you felt this too? When, despite the consequences--despite what you know is true, that a binge isn't going to fix anything and in fact make it all worse, you're driven like a moth to a flame? That's when it's really scary. The isolation that often accompanies such a leap is a dark, depressing place. And the only way out is to get connected, not only with your spiritual side, but also with people who understand what you're experiencing. And stay connected. Because you're not alone. We're never alone. If we isolate, then we're still not alone, but it sure feels that way. I'm staying connected.
Today's schedule was a little challenging for me because I wasn't feeling rested, yet I had important appointments keeping me from a nap allowing split shift. Remember HALT? (Don't get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired) Yeah, I was getting too tired, too quickly and finally, a little after 2pm, I had to take a break for a refresher nap. I was back at 4pm as planned and finished what I needed to finish by 4:40pm.
I prepared a wonderful dinner tonight (menu on MyFitnessPal and the picture is on my Twitter feed) and then I settled in for a good conference call with the weekly support group.
It's 9:15 and I've decided to post today's blog and hit the pillow early. I've been battling exhaustion like crazy today, so I'll give myself a pass on the walk tonight. Tomorrow I'll get a look at the results of my sleep monitoring. It's the next step in figuring out an immediate solution to my sleep issues. The long term solution is on me--it's getting the extra weight off and getting truly fit, and even then it may not be 100%, but there's a great chance it will be if it's coupled with effective therapy.
I'd love you to follow me on Twitter: @SeanAAnderson and Friend me on MyFitnessPal: SeanAAnderson
Thank you for reading and for your support,
Strength,
Sean
Friday, April 25, 2014
April 25th, 2014 Worth Isn't Defined By A Number or Size
April 25th, 2014 Worth Isn't Defined By A Number or Size
Sometimes it's very important to HALT and assess what you're feeling and how it's affecting your resolve. H.A.L.T. is an acronym used in recovery circles. It stands for don't get too HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY or TIRED. The challenge, whatever it might be, is amplified whenever any of those things are present. I applied this acronym minutes ago as I drove home after an unusually long day. I'm hungry and tired. I'm not too hungry, really, but I am fairly exhausted. I had an errant thought of maybe I could get something small to eat on the way home. I mean, I am a little hungry but mostly tired. My calorie budget was depleted by 7pm today. Grabbing something, anything--no matter how small, would be sacrificing the integrity of my calorie budget. What I'm doing is too important to flippantly violate my calorie budget. Because I'm a tiny bit hungry? Really?? Or is it being slightly hungry coupled with being tired enough to be considered physically and mentally impaired? Yeah, it's that. I had to HALT and assess the situation...and after taking a minute I decided I needed to get home, write a quick blog post documenting my Friday and fall in bed.
The lean sirloin steak I prepared yesterday has now officially made it through three meals. I prepared a very nice steak and cheese omelet wrap in a Joseph's Pita this morning. It was delicious! I had a Fiber One bar mid-morning. Lunch was chicken and cheese crunchy tacos. I enjoyed an apple and a 50 calorie iced coffee for a snack. For dinner I grabbed a bean burrito with salsa instead of cheese and a crunchy beef taco with salsa instead of cheese. One thing this menu screams is: I need to do some grocery shopping! And that's certainly on my agenda for Saturday.
I had a remote broadcast this evening and I'll have five more hours of remote broadcasts tomorrow. Doing these public appearances requires some mental preparation on my part and I'm not referring to advertising content or anything to do with broadcasting. I'm talking about seeing so many people.
The first thing I will do in the morning is remind myself that my worth isn't determined by the number on the scale or the size of my clothes. I was a wonderful human at 505 and at 230 and I'm just as lovely where I am today. It's important for me to remind myself that this isn't a quest in gaining any kind of acceptance or favor from anyone. This is a quest to be healthier, to feel better about me, to take extraordinary care---simply because I'm worth it...I deserve to feel great.
When I'm out in public, I'm often plagued with an overwhelming panic over what others are thinking about the weight I've regained. And it's a mental place that isn't good for me to dwell. My broadcast day starts tomorrow morning at the YMCA and I know there's a better than average chance I'll see people whom I haven't since weighing in around 230. I talk and write about letting these self-inflicted poisonous thoughts go and how vitally important it is---and it is, yet I still struggle with guilt and shame. My profession doesn't allow me to stay hidden in the studio for too long. Doing what I'll be doing tomorrow has been a part of my job for 26 years and you know what's interesting? Never before have I felt this way about public appearances, not even at my heaviest. I was always just me and being me was just fine. And it still is fine. The ONLY thing making it difficult is me and the products of my imagination affected by experience, expectation and an image I've created and enjoyed.
You know what helps alleviate this mental/emotional stuff? Doing the right things. Making the good choices. And knowing I'm headed in a wonderful direction once again.
Thank you for reading,
Goodnight,
Strength,
and Good Choices,
Sean
Sometimes it's very important to HALT and assess what you're feeling and how it's affecting your resolve. H.A.L.T. is an acronym used in recovery circles. It stands for don't get too HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY or TIRED. The challenge, whatever it might be, is amplified whenever any of those things are present. I applied this acronym minutes ago as I drove home after an unusually long day. I'm hungry and tired. I'm not too hungry, really, but I am fairly exhausted. I had an errant thought of maybe I could get something small to eat on the way home. I mean, I am a little hungry but mostly tired. My calorie budget was depleted by 7pm today. Grabbing something, anything--no matter how small, would be sacrificing the integrity of my calorie budget. What I'm doing is too important to flippantly violate my calorie budget. Because I'm a tiny bit hungry? Really?? Or is it being slightly hungry coupled with being tired enough to be considered physically and mentally impaired? Yeah, it's that. I had to HALT and assess the situation...and after taking a minute I decided I needed to get home, write a quick blog post documenting my Friday and fall in bed.
The lean sirloin steak I prepared yesterday has now officially made it through three meals. I prepared a very nice steak and cheese omelet wrap in a Joseph's Pita this morning. It was delicious! I had a Fiber One bar mid-morning. Lunch was chicken and cheese crunchy tacos. I enjoyed an apple and a 50 calorie iced coffee for a snack. For dinner I grabbed a bean burrito with salsa instead of cheese and a crunchy beef taco with salsa instead of cheese. One thing this menu screams is: I need to do some grocery shopping! And that's certainly on my agenda for Saturday.
I had a remote broadcast this evening and I'll have five more hours of remote broadcasts tomorrow. Doing these public appearances requires some mental preparation on my part and I'm not referring to advertising content or anything to do with broadcasting. I'm talking about seeing so many people.
The first thing I will do in the morning is remind myself that my worth isn't determined by the number on the scale or the size of my clothes. I was a wonderful human at 505 and at 230 and I'm just as lovely where I am today. It's important for me to remind myself that this isn't a quest in gaining any kind of acceptance or favor from anyone. This is a quest to be healthier, to feel better about me, to take extraordinary care---simply because I'm worth it...I deserve to feel great.
When I'm out in public, I'm often plagued with an overwhelming panic over what others are thinking about the weight I've regained. And it's a mental place that isn't good for me to dwell. My broadcast day starts tomorrow morning at the YMCA and I know there's a better than average chance I'll see people whom I haven't since weighing in around 230. I talk and write about letting these self-inflicted poisonous thoughts go and how vitally important it is---and it is, yet I still struggle with guilt and shame. My profession doesn't allow me to stay hidden in the studio for too long. Doing what I'll be doing tomorrow has been a part of my job for 26 years and you know what's interesting? Never before have I felt this way about public appearances, not even at my heaviest. I was always just me and being me was just fine. And it still is fine. The ONLY thing making it difficult is me and the products of my imagination affected by experience, expectation and an image I've created and enjoyed.
You know what helps alleviate this mental/emotional stuff? Doing the right things. Making the good choices. And knowing I'm headed in a wonderful direction once again.
Thank you for reading,
Goodnight,
Strength,
and Good Choices,
Sean
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