Continuous Improvement...

...is not just for the workplace anymore.

My current state of mindfulness (or lack thereof) is in shambles.  I confess to the crime.  Lock me up, please!  Am I frustrated?  Sure.  Will I haul myself back up and into the healthy lifestyle of which I dream so longingly?  Yeah.  Eventually ~er~ I mean soon!  I'm at my weakest during those few hours after work and before bedtime.  Or as it's been lately, couchtime.  I'm in a rut.  How do I get out of it?  No really, how?  I have some ideas and maybe with hubby's never ending support (I'm lucky that way) I'll get back on track. 

A friend of mine described a challenge or hers perfectly (you know who you are, and I am thankful for your insight!!) " and I found myself saying simultaneously "A-HAH!" and "Why didn't I recognize that in myself before?!" She wrote (and I'm paraphrasing) "When I exercise, I eat more because I feel I earned it. I exercised!!!" I know, right?? Why is it so easy to sabotage ourselves like that? Is there some kind of hardwired defensive mechanism involved? I can't imagine what that would be, but it would be a great excuse. Sure!  What can I always use more of?  Excuses.  Of course.

So in the name of "Continuous Improvement", to decrease the number of nonconformances, decrease the number of opportunities for failure and increase profits & success and simplify, I'm embracing the philosophy with the aim to make each week just a little better than the previous one.  Are you with me?  I sure hope so. I don't think I can do this alone.

My short term goals for improvement include:

• Vitamins/supplements: I take various herbs and vitamins twice a day. Last week I missed 5 doses. This week I'm doing better (final report this weekend).
• Exercise: Last week: twice on the treadmill. This week: three times on the 'mill and one really good power walk outside. In the cold. In the arctic-level cold. In the mind-numbingly, frost-bitingly cold. Three times on the 'mill.
• Food journal: Last week: Didn't do it. Not a single food entry, not a single point counted. And now that this week is almost over, I can say I made no improvement in that regard. So this will carry over to next week where I won't count points, but just by virtue of documenting my food choices, I will regain some level of control and reestablish the habit of journaling. oof.

I guess I'll call this an update.  Thanks again for tagging along and next entry will include some more pix.  But here's a nice one, just because.

I took this somewhere along the section of the Appalachian Trail known as "The 100 Mile Wilderness".  Can you just feel the peace?  Yup.  Me too.