I've heard it said a thousand times: "It takes 21 days to establish a new habit." So by today, this whole new life of mine should be habitual.
Well, not exactly. Turns out recent studies have shown that it actually takes 66 days to form a habit; 8 months if it's a complicated habit (pretty sure this reformed diet counts as a complicated habit). This explains my confusion and frustration that I still crave sweets and my favorite junk foods occasionally. I'm told this is actually very normal at this point. Quitting something cold-turkey creates this last-ditch effort by the brain to resort to old habits. Fortunately for me, reading up on the W30 website has me all sorts of prepared for this. I might grumble when I do it, but I'm getting pretty good at turning down stuff that I would normally eat.
The other thing I've learned about establishing new habits is that there are three major checkpoints along the way: 30 days, 90 days, and 365 days. So in theory, if I can get through those checkpoints, by this time next year these healthy habits will be cemented. With every checkpoint, I'm getting closer to becoming my best self, and that is something to look forward to.
I skipped lunch today. Truthfully, I slept through lunch today. Baby E was up for a couple of hours last night and still woke up fairly early (toddler logic confuses me). By the time lunchtime came around, I preferred sleep to food (another first for me) while my tired toddler slept. When I woke up to her baby babblings, it was just after 4pm; far too late for lunch. I grabbed a Lara bar to get me through until dinner and left the house to run some errands.
BIG mistake.
Suddenly my plan for salmon tonight seemed unappetizing in comparison to the smells and sights of prepared dinners and baked goods as I wandered the aisles of Costco. My determination to make it to Day 30 kept my gaze straight ahead through the store and into the check out lanes. I was getting hangry; something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Fear not, Friends; dinner was made and it was delicious. I was back to normal in no time. No more skipping meals for me.
What I ate:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with leftover chicken and potatoes. I feel that I should mention here that I find the combination of eggs and chicken in the same recipe really. . . awkward. It's probably all in my head, but I'll likely not do that again.
Lunch: Well. . . you know. . .
Dinner: Roasted salmon in a tomato mayo sauce and sauteed fingerling potatoes.
Sorry for my lack of pictures. Like I said, by dinner I was hangry. Photography was the last thing on my mind. HA!
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