quiet

I'm not really surprised I got sick a couple of days in to my new routine. That's just my luck. It's been really hard to avoid things like broccoli and cheese soup with a huge chunk of thick, crusty bread - all I want to do is curl up in bed and eat soup all day. Not to mention it's rather difficult to motivate yourself to exercise when you can only half-breathe out of one nostril. Rather than throw out the routine all-together and pick it up once this cold passes, I've been running on a half-routine. Still eating healthier, but allowing myself to give in to a cookie every once in a while.

My biggest challenge, so far, has been portion control. Rather than just eating until I am full, I am forcing myself to make a conscious decision as to when I am finished eating. It's weird sitting down to a meal and not feeling totally stuffed. Well, it's weird, yet it's nice. I can eat a meal and not feel like I need to lay down for a couple hours afterwards while my body digests the ball of pasta rolling around in my stomach.

At first I still felt hungry after my designated portion. I've found, however, that if I give myself 20 minutes and then decide whether I'd like to eat something else. Most of the time, I am not.

I've also started writing everything down that I eat. It helps to give you a more visceral image of what you are putting into your body every day. This little freeware is awesome. Just another little way to give myself a better idea as to just exactly what I am eating every day.