It's Monday, and I'm talkin' maintaining...

Good morning, and I hope  your wheels are already spinning, since I feel that I've already worked a full day this morning, and it's not even 11 AM. When I think back to what works in my lifestyle, weight management and otherwise, I always return to routine. It sounds very preachy & organized, both of which I AM NOT! You should know that I hate structure. I loathe it. I don't exercise at the same time every day, I don't pay bills on the same days every month, I don't make appointments on the same days and I most definitely don't clean on the same days each week (or year, as the case may be, LOL). However, after years of failing at keeping the right foods in the house, or having the cable company leave messages on my voicemail about the bill being late (seriously, they call when you are 25 dollars and 3 minutes late....ugh, annoying), I have reformed my ways. Still loathing structure, I prefer to call what I do "working routines!" That is so much more adult than imposing STRUCTURE. The mere word bores the crap out of me and makes me want to run for the mall, with my cell phone in hand scheduling a ladies lunch! So about routines.... before I implemented my routines, I had to decide what was falling by the wayside. Here is my list (make yours concurrently if you want to play along...SCCCOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTT......this means you too, k?)...

1) Hubby's dry cleaning/shirts pickup and drop off.

2) Food Shopping (meal planning subsequently was floundering, as was lunch-making for the kids)

3) Paying Bills (the consequences of not being organized are perfectly clear on this one)

4) WORK! (clients emailing me asking why they haven't received their proofs, or my boss asking my why five charts were on my desk back in those days when I was always a patient note behind....b/c it was all in my head....just needed to write itself in the chart).

5) Volunteer Work (same problems as work)

6) Dog Training (inability to retain any degree of structure enabled my crazy Camilla & rule-abiding Cletus to run wild, and not be able to predict their potty schedule, or their eating schedule. I was okay with feeding schedules since they eat dinner when we eat dinner, but still the potty issues were overwhelming).

That is enough discussion of my past and somewhat present shortcomings. Other than these, I'm perfect (LOL, yea right). So what did I do about my lack of structure? Implemented some foolproof routines that provided the structure (boooo) I needed with the flexibility of being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted to do it. I picked a specific day (earlier in the week rather than later) and decided to combine the school drop-off with picking up dry cleaning (and dropping it off). Once I had that firmly in place, I found a back entrance from my dry cleaner to Shop Rite! Then I began combining drop-off with dry cleaner with food shopping. Hitting the Shop Rite early in the morning enabled me to be in and out in no time, even with a full shop. I purchase my cold cuts for the boy child's lunch once per week, so I have to be there when the traffic is minimal b/c nothing doubles your shopping time like waiting in the deli line with #64 and they're calling #31. Checkout lines are pretty short at that hour anyway, so I can be in and out in anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes (depending on what I need). On the way home I hit the post office if my Lobster Pot orders are ready to go out (which most of the time they're not). After unloading car and grocery bags, I always start laundry. Then I feel like I have DONE something, but had to use literally 0% of my brain power, b/c I'm on auto pilot with these routines. By the time I'm ready to multitask (laundry, blogging, picking up and making bed, dog maintenance), I have achieved enough where I can look back and label this morning "NOT A FAILURE" which is really all we can ever ask for.

I still have not been able to routine my way into exercise. Sometimes I run at 10 am, sometimes 4 pm, and any other time...but I know since that is something I like to do mos of the time, I know I will fit it in around my "must-do" routines.

While at the Shop Right, I learned something about my patients, which I really did not know. A woman that I was in grocery sync with (doing same aisles at same time), was talking on the cell phone, selecting groceries and eating at the same time (age 40-ish). I'm not quite sure what she was munching on, and I didn't want to be rude to stare....but truthfully it doesn't matter. I noticed that she was moderately overweight (not obese, just overweight). It really caused me to take pause to think WHY is she eating in the grocery store? Why do people eat in their cars? Why do they grab things on the go? Because they do not think. They allow themselves the freedom to take a bit of this when they want to, or a lot of that when they're hungry, thinking they cannot implement the structure they need to keep themselves at a healthy and flattering weight. I think it is just this lack of structure or routine that allows TOO much freedom, and results in behaviors inconsistent with a healthy lifestyle. I understand there are exceptions but my guess is that if you are eating as you walk around the supermarket, or driving to the dry cleaners, you are not structuring your day in a way that will allow you to lose weight. Making time to eat (it takes me literally less than 5 minutes to make/eat lunch because I have a routine) is paramount, as is making time to shop and have things at the ready when you are hungry. I know I've blogged about personal rules before (no eating sugar, or no eating at Costco sample carts...etc), but without them, even most slim people would be overweight. Making the choice to eat that chicken pot pie sample at Costco sets you up for a lifestyle that is not optimal. Establishing workable routines for yourself, or structure, will give you the guidelines that you need to lose weight and maintain that loss. Pushing your cart down the aisle knowing you eat at 10:30 am instead of whenever the mood hits, and having that constant, will result in a healthier diet. Often times those foods you are bypassing (easy to grab, carry or snack on) are processed, and laden with ingredients that your body doesn't want or need. The take-home point??? Stop eating in the car. Stop eating in the store. Stop taking samples and consuming things that aren't even part of a meal. You can then begin to establish personal rules that will most definitely result in a healthier body weight than you have had in recent times. Speaking of routine...it is now time to break out the sardines and cottage cheese for the, like 200th consecutive day (I'm not 100% on every day, but at least 95% of my days are structured in this way). It's a comfort to know that I am always stocked, always prepared for meals and never find myself in the can goods aisle snacking on soy crisps or oreos. As a result, I am fitter, happier & have more time for crochet....which I will be posting patterns tomorrow since I ran out of time today. Have a fabulous Monday and enjoy every moment. xoxo

Comments

[Em]

You are so right!! I have a no eating policy in my car. Nobody eats in my car. My kids call me the Rambo of no eating in the car. That being said, I will allow the ocassional altoid or stick of gum. :) But, no eating on the run!

[Aanika]

I love the idea of people having a "flattering weight". Perfectly said.

I agree with you about not eating while out and about. I find it hard working at home these days, with the kitchen just steps away beckoning me. It is much easier for me to avoid "munching moments" while I am out of the house because I have that rule already ingrained in my mind. It's all about sticking to your personal rules.

And Em, my kids (3 & 5) haven't figured out yet that I am a tough mom with the no eating in the car rule. Thank goodness. They take their water bottles with them - that's it. There is the occasional exception when we stop somewhere and someone gives them pretzels or a cookie to leave with. Otherwise, NIMC (not in my car).

[Barbie]

I just love hearing these rules u guys have. I don't feel so hard-ass after all! :) People sometimes aren't consciously eating - they just walk through life without really understanding what the result is when eating the samples of sliders, mac and cheese or beef pockets at the Costco. Em, lol about the occasional altoid. Aanika, you have your hands full with 3 and 5. That is a tough time to plan, keep routines & focus on you...at least it was when my kids were little. I admire anyone who even tries!! Bravo.

[boop]

wonderful picture of jumping girl!!

now I don't feel so bad about missed bills etc.

[Scott]

Structure is always a good thing, it's the pre thinking that allows us to accomplish more, get what we want, and not feel as stressed. I am always at my happiest when i have a to do list and I know exactly what i will be eating for the next 3 days.