Perfect Wednesday night? Arrange oversized cup of tea, Creme Egg and Chunky Munky ice cream bowl on coffee table. Stir in nastiness, drama and food in the form of My Kitchen Rules. Serve with a side of Pinterest.
Ahhhhh.
As I tuck into my Chunky Munky, I reflect on the month just past.
2013 is the year of the happiness project. Gretchen Rubin’s book, the Happiness Project, has been at the top of the New York Times Best Seller for 100+ weeks.
Everyone is reading it, learning it from it and trying to implement it – myself included.
Now don’t get me wrong – I am not by any means an unhappy person. However, I do feel like there is a lot I take for granted, and can improve on.
After getting back from holidays, I spent January mapping out my happiness plan for the year. February was about making the effort to do treat my body they way it deserves.
Resolutions included:
Exercise everyday.
If you implement one new thing in your life, I would recommend this be it. An early morning stroll/run sets you up for the rest of the day, and makes you feel just fabulous! I managed this every day bar three – and also had my first swimming lessons!
Eat three healthy and fulfilling meals. No snacking.
It’s so much easier not to eat crap when you only eat three meals a day. All this stuff about snacking to increase metabolism is one thing, but if you want to lose fat, stick to three good meals, and you will be amazed at the difference!
No foods with added sugar.
Sugar.
Salted caramel ice cream, Lindt Mint chocolate, cupcakes, cupcakes and cupcakes.
I was loathe to say goodbye to you for one whole month.
But I did it. 28 days later, I hadn’t consumed a single bite of added-sugar derived foods.
By the end, I thought I’d be curled up in the foetal position, convulsing.
But you know what? I didn’t miss it. In fact, it felt great not being dependant on that sugar induced dopamine rush, and although I love the taste, I’d be hard pressed between going for a run and a block of chocolate.
The reason being of course, is that sugar is completely addictive. The more you eat, the more your body craves it, and it releases “reward” hormones which tell you that you need more, more and more!
It may sound obvious, but after a month, my body had quit a lifetime addiction – something most of us have been consuming since we were babies!
It is such an empowering feeling to walk down the confectionary aisle and not feel a combination of longing and guilt. It feels great to actually look forward to exercise, and to enjoy a cup of tea without a dipping biscuit.
This month has shown me just what human beings are capable of .. and that you can change 28 years of habit in one month.
My willpower took a battering in February, but when a good friend texted me today to say she was giving up carb snacking, I felt so happy and proud to have inspired someone!
So please, please be inspired – it is so worth it! … and don’t begrudge me my Creme Egg!
