day 5- Power of Community!

My friend Cami is here to visit me for a few days.
She is the creator of 29gifts.org and I love being with her.
We met many years ago. She came to take a yoga class I was teaching.
She became a client of mine and then a part of my women's groups and
I think we were destined to be friends as we are now.

Having her here deepens my belief that community is so important.
I mean she just cleaned my whole kitchen as I went up to put Violet to bed.
TEAM WORK.

But what I am really talking about is support.
If you are on the Sugar Free Challenge are you experiencing a sense of
community as you reach for each meal or snack?

Does the presence of others doing the same thing motivate you or scare you?

In the past I might have gotten scared.
I might have felt pressure. Having to do it right. Feeling like I might have failed if I didn't do it right.
Thats where the SHOULDS come in.
I should be able to do it if others are doing it.

I AM SO GLAD THAT HAS CHANGED!

Now I can truthfully say that it motivates me.
I notice a power. It's like I am a boat moving along the river ....with ease.

Today when I was making breakfast I thought about all of you.
I made eggs WITH the leftover spinach scambled in.

Now I might have done that without the community support but I also
know that I might have gotten lazy and not wanted to grab the spinach out of the fridge
and just had the eggs.

At lunch I ate a salmon burger with sorghum mixed with fennel seeds, almond and raisons.
Never had sorghum before. Someone had brought it to me as a new years gift.
It was delicious. And Violet loved it too!
Again I knew I was making salmon burgers but it was going to take 45
minutes to make the sorghum. I could of passed it up.
Having all of you motivated me to want to have a "complete"meal.

Then it was mid afternoon.
OK admit it. I wanted SOMETHING SWEET.
I used my tools.
I slowed down.
I stopped
THIRST
I had some water with vitamin C powder in it.

A few minutes later
Notice I am wandering around the kitchen
TOOLS
STOP AGAIN
Still not satisfied
Thinking, what would I have grabbed if I wasnt on the Challenge.
That purplexed me. I didn't know. Probably crackers, which I realized is NOT what I wanted
but its quick.....and mindless.
I was glad I was observing more carefully.

I saw some blueberry kefir. Checked the ingredients
YEAH
Sweetened with agave and that is on the OK list for me.
Poured some in a bowl, added some plain yogurt as well with a chopped apple, some almonds and goji berries
DELICIOUS!

At dinner time I noticed something else.
I noticed the thought
I SHOULD EAT A "REAL MEAL"
I kept pulling out food from the fridge and then putting it back in.
Nothing was sounding good.
Well sushi sounded good but I really didnt want that either, it just sounded good.

Then I really checked in
WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT DARSHANA

Steamed veggies
That's it
So I steamed some broccoli, sweet potato and kale. Mixed it with a cucumber and some avocado.
Mixed some tahini and miso with water and presto
STEAMED SALAD WITH TAHINI /MISO DRESSING
Perfect

I am satisfied

So whats all this got to do with community.

I know that I am well trained and at steering my own ship (me) back on course with out the community but I have those little voices in my head too. The ones that want me to eat foods that dont serve me and indulge

When there is community I know my actions not only serve me but help others to create healthy lives as well.

We all motivate each other.
If you notice you get scared or rebellious or withdraw or overeat or....
be kind to yourself and stay in the game.

With mindfulness, love and on going GOOD support it will change!!