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Whole 30 Days 15-17 - Getting to What's Important

Well, I'm over halfway done with my Whole30 experiment and I'm feeling great!  I haven't posted as much the past few days because I honestly haven't had anything new to report - other than what I've been eating.  And it's been clean, I promise.  I did a big batch of pulled pork from Everyday Paleo that was delicious the other night, so I'll pass that on.

But yesterday, as I was walking through my office and past the vending machines in our office, I started to get cravings for chocolate.  I'm a confirmed chocoholic, no doubts about that.  And for the most part, it's been a very manageable thing just by having a few squares (3-4) of some kind of 88% or higher dark chocolate when I get those cravings - the stronger chocolate seems to kick the cravings in the butt more easily.  And eating more than that (of the ultra-dark stuff) gives me a headache, so I know that there's something in there that is making me respond poorly.

Before starting this Whole30, I'd been snacking from the vending machines, though.  I made the mistake of making the "first exception" and that was it - I think I was having 2-3 Hershey bars at a time sometimes and that's obviously not good.  My digestion was off and I was getting crankier and more irritable, occasionally waking up depressed even when I did get a good night's sleep (at least as far as number of hours goes).

And interestingly, I've noticed that the cravings happen during a specific part of the day - just after lunch, usually.  A bit of mindfulness in this regard has been a big help.

So what can I do with that information?  Well, in this case, I've figured out a time of day and a place that give me a problem - after lunch, in our work break room.  Don't go in there after lunch, it's simple.  Break that chain.

And the other thing I mentioned above is the idea of making the "first exception."  That's when you say to yourself when temptation is upon you "just one won't hurt."  Well, one will hurt - maybe not in an "I'm going to put on pounds" or even an "I'm going to get sick" way.  It's not about the physical effects, in this case.  It's totally about attitude and mental strength.  Making that first exception makes the second, and third, and fourth exceptions even easier, until that habit you've been trying to develop is toast and you're right back where you started.

That's one of the reasons I want to box the ears of people who tell us "everything in moderation."  That's a falsity, not just from the standpoint of physical health (glutens, phytates, and lectins are never good for us, for example) but from a standpoint of breaking down our willpower and goal-achievement.

Every time you tell yourself "just one won't hurt" you're breaking down your inner strength and your adherence to your "big why" - which is the massive reason that is driving you to do what you do.  You're telling yourself that your goals, no matter what they are, are less important than a moment of pleasure with a Hershey bar or whatever temptation you are giving in to.  You are telling yourself "I am not as important as a Hershey bar."

So every time you are tempted, by anything at all, I want you to come right back with "I am more important than 'X'."  Because we all are.  And there's no need to break that down.

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