THE VALUE OF A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

 I think that in order to lose weight successfully you need quality sleep.  How could anyone ever feel motivated to exercise or plan meals when one is drained from lack of sleep? 

One of my strategies is to ensure that my sleep improves.  It's been disturbed frequently in the last months by my cat wanting attention at 4 in the morning and by the sound of birds who are way too chirpy before 5am. 

So earplugs are being employed and the cat is being confined to his own comfy room downstairs.

Next...learn to relax.  Ah yes.

I know I'm not alone when I confess to not being able to sit still for meditation.  I just can't.  Empty my mind?  Are you kidding?!?!

However, when I doodle I'm transported and I do get to let go.  It's very relaxing for me.  My breathing becomes deeper, my shoulders drop and I just enjoy making silly marks and using colored pencils and markers.  Yep!  Just like when I was a little kid.

Sometimes, like here on this page, I'll add a strip of paper that appeals to me.  I just glue it down with white glue or Mod Podge.  (Helps with doodling block.)  I leave the rest of the page for doodling.  Sometimes I add words.  Most times it's just foolishness.

I got myself a small 5 x 7 spiral bound sketchbook and I doodle in it before bedtime or if I need to unwind.  I love it especially before bed.  I'm cleansed of all worries, I don't dwell on my list of things to do that I didn't get done, and all the what ifs that I can't control anyway.  I've left all that negative chatter behind as I doodled.  Sound simplistic?  Well it is. But for me, it works!

I love waking from a good night's sleep.  It makes me feel strong and I can face anything!  Try doodling.  You don't need artistic abilities to just make marks at random on a piece of paper for a 1/2 hour.

I've also begun writing Morning Pages.  3 pages of just writing.  Writing anything that comes into my head even if all I can write is "I have nothing to say" over and over until I start to unblock. This is a morning ritual that was developed by Julia Cameron who wrote "The Artist's Way - A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity".  A great book even if you're not an artist.

As for my low carb meal plans for the day....
I'm only preparing breakfast, a snack and lunch today.  Tonight I'm at a BBQ where I can't control what's being offered up but I can control what I choose to eat.  Likely there will be meat and leafy greens.  I'll be fine.  Skip the wine for a change and just enjoy the people I meet.