Another Try .. with Rewards?

I made up my mind yesterday that today I was going to make a real effort to change things up.  What makes us so resistant to the idea of maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle balanced with some exercise?  I know I fall back into very bad habits at the drop of a hat.  Or an overly busy schedule.

I drank my lovely Pink Drink, Plexus Slim, in the morning.
I had a protein packed breakfast, drank my morning requirement of water.
I hit the gym for my lunch hour, couldn't decide what to set as a goal -- until I finished.

• Achievement:  1 mile @ 19:36mins using a level 3.0.
• Goal:  1 mile @ 15 mins at the same level.

I've debated back and forth as to what time frame I should allow myself to reach this goal. Definitely more than 2 weeks (given that I'm old and overweight!) so August 1?  Sept 1?   A little bit every day until I get there!

Lunch was a Power-C drink by Naked (230 calories of nothing but juiced fruits, loads of Vitamin C) and a turkey cheese wrap, and more water.  By 2pm, I was dragging a little.  I didn't want to have another Pink Drink (at least, not on the first day!) so I had a 12 oz Diet Coke and made it through the rest of the day.  Dinner was a Chicken Caesar Salad and 2 cups of Broccoli & cauliflower mix.  When I got done, my numbers were pretty good - except the fiber intake.  So maybe my snack will have to be some high fiber toast?  We'll see how the evening progresses.

At the end of it all, am I feeling deprived?  Well.  Not from true hunger, but perhaps from being depraved .... errrr.... deprived of the things I consider tasty, even though I know that they're not always good for me! 

Maybe a reward system should be a part of the new regimen.  A Hershey's miniature at the end of the day for reaching certain goals:

• 1 - If my mile is reached under today's achievement
• 1 - If my caloric intake is less than 1500
• 1 - If my fiber intake reaches the 25 gram mark
• 1 - If my water intake reaches 100 oz

That might make things ... interesting!  It's not easy to be under 1500 calories and still be taking in enough fiber!  That could make it challenging.  And drinking that much water ..... makes me chuckle because my step counter would increase because of every trip to the bathroom!  hahaha 

A big reward will need to be considered for reaching the Mile Goal
And of course, something else needed as the weight is burned off.

In the past, I enjoyed treating myself to a
Green Tea Frappaccino at Starbux. 

This may take a a little thought,
but at least it's a start. 
Again.

Who I Am - Tribute

Today was Alex's funeral.  Funerals are never easy on those of us left behind.  This one seemed even more difficult for me.  I knew that Alex had a very strained relationship with his family.  And I think he considered those of us he worked with as his family.  It made me very happy to note that nearly 100 of his co-workers were there, to honor him, to support him.  Or maybe it was to show the family who judged him that we all knew and accepted him as he was.

Alex, you brought light and laughter into our lives.  Even those days when things weren't going so well, there was always some kind of silver lining (.... even if it was just the simple thrill of the sound of breaking glass when we threw out the trash to work out a few of the frustrations!!)  You made it a point to greet everyone who crossed your path.  You stopped into my office when you started your shift even if only to shoot the breeze for a moment or two.   There will always be unanswered questions, and some may have a moment or two of self doubt, thinking "If only ......"  But we cared, and truly wish you'd reached out just one more time.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Who I Am

by Alex T.

I am not my name

nor my face or body.

I am not my past nor my future.

I am not who you think I am

or who you would like me to be.

I am not a world of hate and prejudice,

their iron eyes branding my skin.

I am not the world and the world is not me.

I am a writer.

I am my words.

I am who I say I am.

Whyyy, Alex?

It's very troubling when someone from your "work family" dies.  It's even more tragic when it's suicide.  We were struck with this tragedy in my BigBox Store this past week.   

A young man who I personally thought of as an "old soul" died Thursday, and the hardest part is the unanswered questions we all have:  "Did I miss something?"  "Is there something I could have done to help?" 

From DoSomething:  "In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds and 2nd for 24 to 35-year-olds. On average, 1 person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes. Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people."

Alex was a young man who had ideals of climbing up the retail ladder, and held many positions in my store.  At the start of each shift, he would stop in my office to chat, mostly about work things but we shared other things as well.  He was young, ambitious and likable.   And I feel as if I didn't have a clue.  Granted, we weren't exceptionally close; our age range reduced the number of topics we had in common.  Our last conversation was about the new iPhone and iWatch he'd just purchased.  



The unanswerable question is "Whyyy, Alex?"

He will be missed in my store, 
and even more, missed by me.
Alex was intelligent and hard working - 
he would have had a great future ahead of him.



National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
Available 24 hours everyday