I have been working M O D and falling and getting up, dusting myself off and taking another step. It is a process and there is progress. 5 days of water exercises this last week, an hour at a time. It really does increase one’s energy. I get a gold star for the exercise:)

However, I did a binge yesterday. Scary stuff. Within one hour I had devoured a day’s worth of food for a normal weight person. 8 cookies/biscuits, 1 x tin corned beef, Ryvita x 6 with cheese, cream cheese, rose petal jam, marmite, chocolates x 3, beef pie with puff pastry. It is no wonder I blew up like a zeppelin! Farting my way to bed I had the worst sleep in an age. Really! Not good.

Knowing what I do about protein helping to rid me of carb cravings (because of yesterday’s binge!)this morning I made a big bowl of scrambled eggs with garlic chives and chopped up bacon. I got rid of a lot of fat in the pan after frying the bacon and then added beaten eggs and snipped chives.

The day started with water and a fresh organic mango in season off my tree. Oh so delectable. (Remember, I am doing M O D, My Own Diet, so I make the rules and nothing is forbidden, everything is allowed.)

I waited half an hour before eating the eggs and bacon. Water is my drink of choice today, with some rooibos (full of anti-oxidants)/ginger (great digestive) tea later. For the rest of the day I will go very slow on carbs. My new sign/post it/note that I am going to leave lying around everywhere is…

STOP AND THINK BEFORE YOU EAT OR DRINK

Just the word STOP! might do it too…

On to coping mechanisms. There are whole lists to be found on the Internet. The ones I picked were the following:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help
I am so glad I did and I am so grateful for my support team

Write in your Journal
Here I am writing

Tell one person how you feel
This is hard sometimes. I am not fond of talking on the telephone and often there is no-one around. It helps to write

Paint a picture
I already feel guilty that I am doing so much writing and no painting. My excuse is that all my acrylics are on the farm and I haven’t worked in oils here for a while… and it’s raining periodically so not good to paint with oils in the wet…and I am busy packing boxes…all excuses of course

Take a long hot bath
Mmmmmmm…

Hug someone (someone safe)
I love hugging, especially when you are allowed to melt into the person you are hugging…and they hug back:)

Doodle
A doodle meditation appeals to me

Spend time with your pet
Feeling guilty again…she needs the exercise as much as I do

Read a book
At night in bed

Take a nap
Since I have been exercising I do not feel the need as often

Take a deep breath, count to 10
Feather breathing – deep breath to the bottom of your lungs, pause for a beat, then slowly and softly breathe out for as many counts as it takes. I just counted 21. It is apparently a magnificent way to alkalise your body and recently I read that it really does help to lose weight. (I am breathing v-e-r-y deeply!)

Listen to your own deep breathing
Especially if you are lying in the bath with your ears under the water

Count 1 to 10 and back again
Never tried this one

Say something good about yourself
I am GORGEOUS!

Meditate, use Relaxation
Even five minutes is good

Hold and/or tell your favourite stuffed animal or doll your feelings
My darling gave me the most beautiful soft white bear (BB – Baby Bear) and she listens very intently

Change your environment…leave the room
On my way to organise some packing, deep breathing as I go

Tear up paper
I could use this one for my papier mache sculpture projects

Change negative voices to positive
Oh yes!

Play an instrument
My guitar needs new strings, for a long time already. Excuse?

Colour in a colouring book
This one sounds like fun. Especially for an artist who is balking at painting right now!

Touch a familiar object that you carry with you
I like this one too, especially if the stone is smooth and cool in my hand. (Try a crystal/pebble/worry beads)

Yell
Sing loudly?

Dance to music
Especially on a rebounder/mini trampoline. This is reputed to be one of the best exercises of all, as it works the whole body and the cells. Doc said no trampolining for now because of the crumbling knee (hence the Water Babes in the pool) but I am looking forward to getting back on again

More later…