ignore everybody

(painting by David Robinson, entitled "Angel")

Hugh McLeod wrote a book about creativity in which he suggested that we ignore everybody in order to be our fullest creative selves.

I think that's great advice in many ways.

It is also great advice for me in this mindful eating and moving quest. I'm listening to myself, and not to experts or government studies that tell me exactly what we have all known for 30 years. I'm listening to myself, and not to celebrities or infomercials or statistics.

What happens when you listen to yourself, to what your body tells you when you eat sugar, to what your body tells you about caffeine or twizzlers or fast food?

My acupuncturist asks me questions about my body's reactions to certain foods and I can never answer because I don't pay attention. What happens when we do pay attention, when we know how our body is feeling, and patterns in those feelings?

I think I will learn a lot from my body this year just by listening to it.

- - - - - - - -

1-16-11

Yoga: a.m./p.m. yoga at home

Gym: Tess and John are both sick, so I didn't get to the gym today. Opted for Plan B, which was yoga at home.

Food:

Breakfast - 7-grain Kashi nuggets with strawberries, mango juice with Green Vibrance

Snack - almonds

Lunch - I can't remember! Tess was sick today - I think I must have just grazed while taking care of her.

Snack - apple with peanut butter

Dinner - pasta with marinara sauce, 1 piece of garlic bread

Snack - hot peppermint tea

My plan for tomorrow: I'm going away on a retreat tomorrow, taking my tennis shoes with me. I'm planning on a 20 minute walk tomorrow when I get there. If for some reason that doesn't work out, I'm also taking my yoga DVD and pilates DVD and will do one of those. I also looked up yoga classes in the town where I'll be, and will see if one will fit the retreat schedule.

Comments

[janet Smith]

We are always told we aren't good enough to be more, do more, achieve exceptional status - it's no wonder there is a tendency to look outside ourselves, after all we are not enough. But we are enough - already - brilliant imperfections. When we honor that we know what to do and what to eat.

[Clara]

Beautiful painting by David! Sending good thoughts for good health to John and Tess,

Clara

[gwyn]

Love David's painting! I find the abundance of nutrition advice out there as confounding as the too many choices on the grocery shelves. Listening to my body is foreign to me, but I am trying to. I had hot whole grain cereal and sliced banana with cinnamon for lunch in spite of the greens I thought I should consume. The greens will be there for dinner.
Healthy love to all of you!

[Sue]

You go girl! Have you tried almond milk on your kashi? It's a favorite of mine, and reduces your dairy. Good luck! Keep Calm, and Carry On.

[keishua]

I this this blog is great idea. I have noticed my late night snacking has gotten a little out of hand. Glad to know someone else is on the journey.

[Jan]

I hope you're able to be back here soon. It's so much easier (enjoyable, comforting...) to stay motivated with a "buddy."

[Pym]

More of this, please.

[Anne]

I want to put in a word for taking a good nutrition class, or working with a licensed nutritionist. Understanding exactly how food "works" with my body has helped me to make better decisions at the grocery store, and provides the motivation to stay on track without feeling at all deprived. Early results: losing 20 lbs., but even better benefits are the consistently better energy, mood, mental focus, skin clarity, etc. It's so great to put all of the talk in the media and govt. guidelines in perspective. With quality of aging at stake, it helps to know more about how what I eat now will affect my body, brain and health in the future. Real food and solid information - definitely a great investment in self care!