Plan A, B and C

"The problem is not that there are problems.

The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem."

-- Theodore Rubin

Problems are a part of life; the trick for me is not to turn them into excuses. I’ve been trying to make a Plan A, B and C so when something doesn’t work out the way I wanted then I have something to fall back on.

I’ve found that this is a good practice for me because it helps me to not worry about an outcome if I know there is another chance for it to happen. I’m very easily discouraged and that emotion turned inward becomes rage. I’m trying to be very wary when my emotions start heading towards anger. When I find I’m upset for no reason I go back to taking cherry blossom essence and really try to pinpoint the root cause of this shift in emotions.

For instance, my last post had me up on Thursday night irate at myself that it was suddenly Friday and I had no pictures or prose of any sort. But instead of just skipping it and being mad at myself I used other pictures and jotted down a few things that were important to me and I had a post.

Voila! The anger never got a chance and I stopped it before it could voice another negative opinion on the subject.

I’ve been on a plateau in WW for a month now. Plateaus can try you to the point of insanity if you let them. I had to try Plan A, B, C, and even D before my scale started to move again. I know that I’ve been losing inches and fat is turning to muscle but I wanted to see that magic number change at WI.

The big thing was each plan took a week to implement. This is a life-change after all and I’m not in it for band-aids or quick-fixes. I’m in it for life. The easiest thing for me to change was to "eat more veggies". I really enjoy food that is in season and there are so many things you can put in a salad that I really look forward to mine each day.

The hardest thing for me to find time to fit in is working out. Because of our house situation, I can’t do the things I used to do. PROBLEM: It would be rude to work out in the morning right over the BIL and kid's heads and that was my optimum time to work out. PROBLEM: I can’t set up my machine because that room is now my BIL’s family room more or less.

PLAN A: So I’ve been walking. I walk around the block. On the weekends we go to the park and get a much longer walk as a family. My DH has to get at least 5,000 steps a day or he gets cranky. So it works great as a motivator.

PLAN B: On days it rains I plan to use the Wii Fit. There is a walking program in there and it is fun. Biking is harder because you have to steer too. So there is always the Wii.

PLAN C: Create a new exercise room. This would take money and planning and if things continue the way they are…might happen in the next few years. But in a pinch, I can take my little stair stepper which is crammed into the corner and use it. It has a nice burn after about 20 minutes and your legs feel like jello when you are done. Also, I can work out at lunch for 20 minutes and bring a bar on those days.

The point is I have options. And I’ve been fitting walking in rain or shine for the last month and I have finally come off that plateau! I have one more pound to convert to muscle until the Wii will be happy and sing accolades of my BMI being spot on.

On the knitting front, I’ve been concentrating on finishing the Community Lapghan. I just finished the 7th square and I’m starting on the 8th. I think this should be done trim and all by the end of this month and I’m very pleased with how it is coming out.

I’ve been doing a lot of work with crystals lately. Here are my rose quartz elemental representations. They have a loving, compassionate vibration and I couldn’t be happier with them. The water crystal has the most beautiful rainbow window in it. It could be an angel…I have to work with her more to find out.

And here is something to make our booth more appealing…cheese for the mice of course! I tried knitting the holes in the fabric but it didn’t felt so well. DH cut the cheese with all the different holes and I adore this little felt slice!

So all in all, things are progressing…life is ever-changing and I’m just trying to keep up with it…but that is okay.

*hugs to all of you*
Ruinwen
:)