Day Ten: The Launch of The Body & Soul Challenge

I've been having a bit of trouble with this project already. It's hard for me to commit to taking care of myself, in between all of the other things I want/need to accomplish. So when I found Body & Soul magazine's challenge recently, I knew it was just what I needed. Today is Day 1 of the Challenge for me. Some of it I've already incorporated, so today will be fairly easy for me. Here is today's challenge:

1. Cut back on caffeine. I ditched coffee weeks ago, and made the switch to herbal tea or warm apple juice with cinnamon. Surprisinly enough, I've noted no ill effects from caffeine withdrawal.

2. Cut back on sugar. I'm a sugar freak, so this is going to be tough. Thankfully, I LOVE fruit, so the plan is to substitute when I get the craving.

3. Drink 6-8 glasses a day of room temperature water. I loathe cold water, so I was glad to see it notes room temperature water. This shouldn't be too hard.

4. Abstain from alcohol. I'm ready to be done with this, too, as we'll start TTC again next month, and I want my eggs to be in as good a shape as possible.

5. Stock up on groceries for the eating plan. The eating plan includes oatmeal, fruit, almonds, veggies, hummus, and whole grains. I have most of this in stock already (LOADS of veggies courtesy of the leftovers of the veggie platter from a couple of days ago!).

6. Spend 20 minutes writing an honest assessment of your diet. I am supposed to answer a list of questions about my diet, as well. Here goes.

The problem with my diet is that I often fail to eat. It's not like I plan not to eat, but I'll get busy or distracted with something, and realize that it's 4:00pm and I still haven't had lunch. I don't actually even get hungry very often. And by this, I mean that I literally don't feel the sensation of being hungry. The only time I really feel hungry is the morning after I've eaten a huge dinner, oddly enough. If I've gone a REALLY long time without eating, I'll get tired and grouchy, which is usually a reminder that I need to eat.

The questions:

1. What are the healthiest--and least health--aspects of your diet?

When I remember to eat, it's usually good stuff. I genuinely enjoy fish and fruits and veggies. Of course, I also am a candy freak, so I eat way too much sugar. And when a craving hits, because I'm thin, I don't feel the need to limit myself. So, say I'm craving Pringles. I lust for them, really, and their salty goodness. I prefer the light version, not because they are light, but because I think they taste better. But light Pringles really aren't light at all, on sodium and fat, etc. Particularly when you eat the ENTIRE can in one sitting, as I am prone to do. My solution to this problem is that I simply don't buy them at all, and distract my craving by replacing them with something that is slightly salty, but more healthy.

2. Do you have any particular weaknesses?

Um, see above. Pringles, cheese, chocolate--I don't have any self-control.

3. What, if anything, would you like to change about your food choices?

I'd like to regularly maintain an eating schedule of whole grains and veggies, and cut back on high fat and high sodium foods. They are tempting, but not very healthy. The problem for me is not caloric, as it is for most people. The problem for me is making sure I eat regularly.

That was only eight minutes, but I don't have anything more to say about my diet, really. I'm off to make myself some oatmeal.

Day Nine: The Nap

Today, I spent the afternoon. . .napping. I can't even tell you the last time I took a good long nap. I slept for hours, and it felt GREAT.

Day Eight: The Platter

Before today, I had no large platters. Whenever I would cook something large, it posed something of a dilemma. It was one of those minor annoyances that I just kind of put up with, and never found the time to address, since it only periodically caused a problem. Until today. . .I had offered to bring a veggie tray to an event today, and was going to cobble together something to use, but decided to finally "treat" myself to a platter. Grand total? $16. Seriously, sometimes I need to just get out there and do it. But then, that's what this blog is all about, because I never do that.


The platter, complete with veggies and buttermilk herb dip made from scratch.

Day Seven: Hung Out With The Girls

Chinese food and chatting. . .what could be better?

I'm hoping to rectify the camera situation soon, so this project will hopefully become a little more exciting.

Day Six: Busted!

Sigh. I took care of a lot of other people today, but not me. Well, you can't win every day!

Day Five: Red Wine and Sea Scallops

I haven't been drinking, and I've given up coffee, as I prepare to TTC again. But tonight, I broke my own rules, and had two glasses of a great malbec, and a delicious dinner of scallops over a gourmet macaroni and cheese. Sounds a little weird, but it was really delicious.

And after all, I still need to gain a little weight. . .

Day Four: Little Things

I went to a great bakery and picked up a really fantastic sandwich made on artisanal bread, and then I ordered a book I've wanted from a local bookstore. Their prices are very similar to Amaz.on, and I can feel good about supporting the local community.

Day Three: Board Meeting

For a long time, I've felt completely wrapped up in my own universe of work and TTC. I've been wanting to do something to give back to the community, so I recently volunteered for a local charity. They've asked me to consider being on their board of directors. Tonight, I went to a board meeting. I'm really excited about being involved with the group, but not as sure about being on the board. It was a little dull, to be honest, but that was partially because I didn't know what they were talking about sometimes. But it's a really great, positive group of people, and they are doing really good work. That is SO what I need in my life right now.

Day Two: Reading, Cooking, Lounging Around

Today I:

Took a bath using my favorite bath oils.


Read a book (Malcol.m Glad.well's Blink, which is completely fascinating).


Made marinara from scratch, and had a little afternoon wine while I did it.

My digital appears dead, and I had to take photos with my cameraphone.

Day One: Purchased Supplies

To say that I'm disorganized would be an understatement. I currently have mail overflowing from various bins and boxes around what would be my desk, if I could ever find it underneath all of the junk. Today, I went and purchased three large plastic filing boxes that can hold hanging files, and hanging files to go in them. Nice Bonus: the filing boxes were marked down from $16 to $9 each, and hanging files were $2.33 each for a box of 25 if you bought three boxes, as opposed to $4.97 for one (duh--that's a no-brainer!).

The disorganization makes me feel depressed and out of control. Little by little, I hope to wrestle control back from the black hole that is my "home office."

The Mission

Over the last couple of years, my life has sort of spiraled out of control, and the things that are important to me seem to be slipping away. Work, work, work, expectations, expectations, expectations. . .they've crowded me out of myself. While reading Calliope's blog recently, she announced the launch of a project that I just love, and invited others to play along on their own project. I've been thinking and thinking about what my project could be. . .and then it hit me that what I really needed to work on was myself. There are a million things that I need to do to take care of me.

This blog is going to chronicle my effort over the next year to do something for myself every day. By posting it here every day, I hope to ensure that I take care of me. It's not going to be all about massages and aromatherapy (although there will hopefully be some of that, too). . .it's going to be about little things like reading books, and bigger things like making sure I take all of my vacation time.

The journey starts tomorrow.