I can’t believe it’s Day 10 already! It seems to have gone really quickly. At the same time, I’m a little frustrated because I don’t feel as great as I thought I would. On previous challenges, by now I would be ticking along, feeling better in my skin, noticing good changes, but this time it just seems to be taking longer. And I don’t really know why.

So this morning I reminded myself that my body will take its own path and its own time. We can’t guarantee the outcome of any endeavor we take on, we can only focus on enjoying the journey. And truthfully, I am. I am liking eating foods that taste good and feel healthy. I am appreciating how it feels to be more centered and focused on the signals my body is sending. And I am still looking forward to where this all will take me.

And that’s really the point, isn’t it? Where we can always allow ourselves to get angry or upset about things not happening quickly enough, maybe the best journeys are the ones that take a little longer to unfold. This time, by making it a 45 day challenge instead of 30, I really feel like I am not in a hurry, that my intention is to be even more solidified in my good habits not so that I can revert to mistreating my body, but so that I can carry these habits even further. That’s the point.

It isn’t about a challenge or losing weight to fit in a dress or any kind of quick-fix. It’s about repairing this relationship with myself and food that continues to be distorted. I want to feel freedom and joy in this area of my life – because that is my nature and my desire. In order to do that, I need to heal. And in order to do THAT, I need time.

So while I may have said a swear word last night when evening rolled around and I was still feeling very far from where I want to be, today I am feeling more forgiving. Gentle. I’m allowing for all of the parts of me to be present and supported and encouraged by the choices that I’m making in each moment. We are such multi-faceted creatures that true healing needs to happen on many more levels than just food. Food is a good place to start, of course, because so much of even how we process things is connected to what we put in our bodies, but we also need to have space to grow and learn, patience for the time it takes to change, and love for the journey.

There is pleasure in the process and it’s worth seeking and exploring. What makes you smile? What makes you feel good inside and out? What entices your taste buds? What lights you up?

Shine bright. xo

So what did I eat today?

Breakfast – 3 eggs, zucchini, 1/4 avocado, kraut (no starchy carb today because I’m wondering if that’s keeping me from feeling great) / Cherries

Lunch – Chicken salad with cauliflower, spinach, snap peas, raisins, cashews, onion / Cherries

Early dinner – Chicken thigh, zoodle sauté, 1/4 avocado / Cherries

Movement

Yoga. It’s always a good idea.