Project Renew: 10-Day Summary and Review

(Photo: Kelly Sue)

As you may have gathered, my 10-day experiment designed to reduce stress, and thereby relieve adrenal fatigue, was a success. Here are some of the data points for each of the 5 components I did for 10 days. I'm awarding "partial credit" for tasks that were partially completed.

The report card:

1. Affirmations (2 affirmations, 5x daily): 9 days / 10 days
2. Meditation (5 minutes daily): 8 days / 10 days
3. Evening gratitudes (5 daily shared with FitDad): 10 days/ 10 days
4. Avoid refined sugar: 4.5 days/10 days
5. Moderate exercise: 8 days / 10 days

The Good:
I'm especially pleased with the affirmations and evening gratitudes. I feel like those have made a difference in my attitude and life, with very minimal effort. Also surprising to me, was how well I did with the exercise. 

The Bad:
Meditation was a challenge, one I didn't particularly enjoy, which I suppose is the point. It was the one thing at the end of the day I always had to talk myself into squeezing in. I'd rather be "doing" almost anything than just sitting.

If there was any half-hearted effort, meditation was it. I couldn't fully embrace the sitting, focusing on a flame, or my breath, or any one thing for more than 30 seconds, to be honest. This is one of those things that I'm going to need to practice. 

Any ideas?

The Cupcake:
Not at all surprising, but still disappointing, was my effort to avoid refined sugar (including alcohol). I did make strides, though. Since having FitBoy, my sugar cravings have increased, probably because my metabolism is a little bit haywire and I'm not doing a great job of keeping energy (via calorie consumption) at a constant. I did turn down offers of sugar and candy that I normally would have eaten. 

On Fridays, I meet friends and their babies for a coffee date; a coffee date where there are cupcakes -- fresh, amazing cupcakes (chocolate chip and cream cheese chocolate frosting, anyone?) -- and I look forward to it all week. I don't drink flavored coffee during the week, so I do like an occasional flavored latte on the weekends. Or a glass of wine. Sure, these all add-up, but for me, it is about moderation, enjoyment and savoring the experience.

How do I feel?

Overall, I feel much better. Better = well-rested, at peace with unchanged situations, more grateful and healthier. More in control of my situation. I drink more water. And I've lost almost 4 pounds since the beginning of the experiment due to more balanced meals and less sugar, without compromising my milk supply.

Where do I go from here?

The cool thing about this project is that even though it had components of a self-help retreat, fitness bender and crash diet, is that it wasn't as extreme. I don't feel like I need a "cheat day" or a week to recover. In fact, one of my goals was to start some good habits. 

I'll definitely be keeping up on my evening gratitudes (or "My 5 Thankfuls," as FitDad and I have come to call them), along with the affirmations, and I may add one or two affirmations to the mix. Exercise is definitely staying, as is avoiding refined sugar. Meditation is, begrudgingly, still invited to the party. As my favorite yoga guru, says "Do your practice; all is coming." Indeed.

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Read more about Project Renew.