The Kat Files

It is Monday, yet again, and today is my first update since starting my June challenge. I know…I know…I wrote in my last post that I would write more about these goals and how I planned on working on them. Well, I was a busy bee and ran out of time. However, the good news is I worked on several of my goals which I will share with you now, dear reader.

[Time Track the entire month. Eliminate scrolling mindlessly on social media.] I successfully tracked my time for the entire first week of this month. I documented 8 hours and 28 minutes of specifically playng on my phone and scrolling on social media. Wowzer! Funnily enough (or not funny enough), my scrolling usage would be higher if I included phone time while doing other activities (eating, watching tv, riding in my car, etc.). That is A LOT of wasted time.

[Keep a food journal for the entire month. Primary focus is to cut out added sugar and sugary processed foods.] Admittedly, this goal is the TOUGHEST one on my list because I am addicted to sugar. Keeping the food journal is not too bad since I am primarily focusing on sugar. I am recording the food and beverages that I am eating and drinking, their sugar content as well as their added sugar content.

According to the American Heart Association, consuming no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day is the recomendation for women and kids over the age of 2. For men, consuming no more than 36 grams (9 teaspoons) of added sugar is the recommendation per day. I am thrilled to report that I was below my recommended daily allowance of added sugar EVERY single day with Sunday being my highest consumption at 15.7 grams of added sugar. It was NOT an easy week. Going cold turkey and cutting back significantly on added sugar did make me Miss Crankypants around Thursday.

[Try to cook at least 2 recipes that are high protein/low carb or no carb.] My son Barry and I made a cottage cheese wrap for dinner on Wednesday evening. I will do a separate post about this adventure. So, one recipe down and one to go.

[Add running intervals to walking routine at least 3 days per week.] I did running intervals as part of my walk on Monday morning, and I felt terrific. Then, I did it again on Wednesday morning after my Lower Body Foundations workout, and I felt slight pain in the inner part of both knees by the end of my walk. UGH! I am frustrated with myself. I should NOT have worked out beforehand, especially since it was a lower body workout. I doubled up because I had reading and productivity sprints on my channel Wednesday afternoon. I should have waited until Thursday to do my running intervals. In addition to poor planning, I was not impressed with the instructor of the lower body workout. It was my first workout with him as the instructor, and he went too fast and kept losing count. I am on Block 5 of BODI For Beginners, so I know to go at my own pace. Since my knees were still bothering me on Saturday morning, I decided to skip my 3rd day of running intervals for week one. I thought for sure by this morning I would be able to try again, but sadly I am still nursing my knees and will forgo running intervals this week as well. I am bummed out.

[Complete gut protocol (Spa728).] I am doing well with taking my daily gut protocol which I am recording in my food journal. I add 1 scoop of Carboxy to an 8 ounce glass of water which I drink on an empty stomach after I complete my morning workout. I take 1 capsule of Refresh with breakfast. In the evenings, every other day, I take one capsule of Renew with dinner. Then, sometime between 7:00 and 8:00, I drink an 8 ounce glass of water with 1 scoop of Intestinal Restore.

[Complete BODI For Beginners Only Block 5.] I completed Week 1. ✔

[Get a massage.] I have not gotten my massage, yet. However, I plan to call Paris Parker tomorrow to schedule my appointment. I am hoping the massage therapist will have an opening on Friday, 19 June.

[Declutter/Organize Scrapbook Room to prep for annual scrapbooking event this month with friends.] I decluttered about an hour in my scrapbook room on Tuesday and about a half hour on Sunday. I am disappointed that this task was not completed last week because I wanted to start prepping this week. Maybe, I should have used the time I scrolled on social media on decluttering my scrapbook room instead.

[Work on establishing a consistent Wake-Up time.] I am struggling with this goal. Ideally, I would love to get up by 5:30 AM, take care of my dogs, put on my workout clothes, and exercise at 6:00 AM. Except for Wednesday night when I went to sleep at 11:10 PM, I have been going to bed on time. I do not sleep well in general, and I wish I could figure that out as well.

[Find a primary care physician that aligns with my healthcare goals. Started this process in May.] I had a thought this past week that instead of finding a primary care physician, I would switch gears and look for an endocrinologist. If there is something wrong with my thyroid, I would need to see an endocrinologist, so I might as well get established with one now. Endocrinologists also treat conditions related to cortisol and hormone function, both of which I also need to address.

Well, dear reader, that is a brief update on how I am doing so far with my June challenge. I do plan to write more in depth about a few of these goals as the month progresses. With the exception of injuring my knees, I am pleased with the first week of my challenge. I do enjoy tracking my progress and looking over the data. I am learning more about myself, and it is inspiring me to want do better going forward. Happiness!

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe