Year of Push 1.12 Calm & Joyful

by | Mar 13, 2017 | Blog

Hey guys, if you’re new to these posts, listen to this podcast episode to get the scoop on what changes I’m making in my life and you can start back at my first daily post here.

This week is going to look a little different because I’m fasting and adjusting my workouts accordingly. If you want to understand what my fast is and why I’m doing it, listen to episodes 300 and 307 of the Primal Potential Podcast. Things will return to the normal nutrition & fitness push next week. 

Fasting Day 2!

I wasn’t hungry at all last night. I went to bed around 9pm feeling exhausted (from lack of sleep over the weekend) but not at all hungry. Yay!

I’m flying to North Carolina this afternoon to spend the rest of my fasting week with my girl Ella from On Air with Ella but I’m starting out with some work & a workout.

The entire purpose of this fast is healing & rest for my body so I didn’t set my alarm. I naturally woke up a couple minutes after 5a and got up & into my normal routine of meditation, gratitude & journaling.

I’m not at all hungry so far this am, which I’m grateful for. I can’t say I’m too surprised – I ate a lot this weekend. :-/

I worked for a couple hours, had a cup of coffee and then got ready for my workout.

Yup, even though I’m fasting I’m headed to the gym. This will be my only legit workout of the fast but I’ll definitely get some movement each day.

Since it’s early in the fast, I know I have more than enough fuel in my system to support this workout without making me feel like crap.

After a 30-minute warm-up I did a 12 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible in 12 minutes)

300 meter row

12 dumbbell push presses (25# dumbbells)

16 dumbbell step back lunges

My energy was good and my body felt strong through the workout. In fact, in hindsight, I could have rowed a little harder. Good to know.

After the workout I noticed a text message from Delta that my flight was delayed by several hours. With the delay, I’d miss my connection to North Carolina. Since there’s some bad weather coming to the area, I figured my best bet was to head to the airport and try to get on a standby flight.

Long story short, I spent several hours trying to figure out what flights I could get on & when, surrounded by frustrated travelers.

It’s perfectly appropriate, as early this morning I posted “Calm & joyful” as my daily choice of disposition to Facebook & Instagram. I’ll tell you what- that choice (calm & joyful) is everything.

First of all, getting stressed or frustrated wouldn’t get me on a flight any faster.

Second, it would cause a stress hormone response that would increase both my hunger and my cravings.

This isn’t just true of traveling – it’s true for fasting, work, relationships & everything else. Getting flustered and reacting with agitation and frustration makes the situation worse. Emotion doesn’t solve problems and it often makes them worse.

Calm & joyful – something I always have a chance to practice and always win when I do! I really think it’s a learned superpower and I’m in training. 

Calm is also a great tool in handling hunger while fasting or temptations at any time! No need to panic or get dramatic. Just practice perspective, take a few deep breaths, smile and move along.

I channeled my inner Zen (this is why I knew Zen Mind, Beginners Mind was a good re-read this week!) and smiled at everyone I met.

Once I got booked on a first flight, I grabbed a cup of coffee. 24 hours into the fast the hunger comes in waves, but it’s minor and they don’t last long.

I had a layover in New York. I was feeling a little hungry but I wanted to talk to a gate agent about my next flight first.

Around 2pm I was able to find a little shop with Kevita kombucha (one of the very low sugar flavors) and I grabbed a bottle & some water.

I’ve got a little bit of a headache but it’s probably more about caffeine than the fast. I’m intentionally drinking significantly less coffee than I usually do.

I definitely notice my attention going to some of these hunger pangs and it would be easy to create stress by following those thoughts and fueling them with my focus. Instead, I take a deep breath and intentionally slow down and bring my attention to the present moment. It’s a game changer. Simple but powerful strategy.

Breathing & attention in the present moment. Everything is fine. I am fine. Everything is wonderful. I am wonderful.

It’s certainly not been an easy day – I’ve been in NYC for many  hours and I still don’t know when I’ll be getting out. There’s another maintenance issue and if not for this fast, I’m sure the temptation to eat out of boredom would be high!

Interestingly, the hardest moment of the day was getting a harsh, misinformed email.  I don’t share that out of a desire for sympathy (at all) but because we all have those moments in our days & weeks which trigger intense emotion.

For me, the desire for food in those moments is usually the desire to escape. I don’t want to feel the hurt & frustration and food is a distraction.

However, I’m able to ask myself, “how would eating make me feel afterwards?” and the answer is almost always “worse”. At best it’s “not any better”.

I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that everything is learning & growing opportunity and got back to business.

Calm & joyful. Calm & joyful. So glad those were my chosen words this morning! Even to this woman who clearly doesn’t understand me: calm & joyful.

Calm because I’m always doing my best. Calm because I know what’s true. Joyful because I have the opportunity to help others and share my experiences in the most authentic way I can.

Calm & joyful.

Calm went out the window & joyful flew in when I caught up with ELA! We stopped in a parking lot to do a quick FB live inside our fasting group and then she took me to a freakin’ grocery store! Not cool! We loaded up on water & kombucha.

Hunger is low. Energy is high. I’m curious to see how we feel tomorrow…

Super happy to be safely in NC with my sweet friend and I’m gonna talk her into letting me go to bed early.

 

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