I joined two challenges this month: The No Graze Days challenge hosted by Heather and the Quit Now Challenge hosted by Chile.
1. No Graze Days - I promised to be more mindful when eating and to meditate once a day. The last time I meditated was hmm…over two weeks ago. And today when I was eating lunch (brown rice, egg curry and daal) and reading blogs I felt guilty. But I must like the guilt because I didn’t stop. But…I was mindful that I was not being mindful.
2. Quit Now Challenge - After last month’s dining out spree I promised Chile that I would eat all meals at home except for four. And to date I’ve eaten one meal at a restaurant (a vegan pizza at Gianna’s Grill - so yum!).
Chile’s challenge is a lot easier because when things are going well I like to cook. A moderate amount of stress also keeps me busy in the kitchen. Alot of stress makes me want to sleep all the time. But its Heather’s challenge that is really giving me trouble. I have trouble being mindful and eating when I’m eating alone. I was really mindful when eating lunch last week and for some reason it made me depressed.I was just sitting there focusing on chewing and enjoying my salad (I also dislike salads alot…must be an indian thing) which wasn’t bad, but it made me quite moody. Most of the time I eat in front of the computer when I’m by myself. I don’t have a problem with over eating or not enjoying my meals. The thing is, I thought I was okay being by myself, but clearly I dislike myself as a dining companion.
As for meditation? Usually my husband invites me to meditate with him and we sit for several minutes with a kitchen timer and either stare at the wall or face the wall with our eyes closed. But for some reason I have not made meditation a priority. So I usually don’t meditate. I do zone out when I’m riding the bus, but since its not conscious I guess I shouldn’t count that.
One thing though. I didn’t drink any coffee from last Thursday through Sunday and on Monday I was ready to collapse the minute I reached work. I bought a very large cup of coffee and then had some sort of heart palpitation which stressed me out. So I forced myself to do a breathing meditation for five minutes focusing on my heart beat. And it made me feel alot better.
Oh my god!!! I don’t really like salads either. I think it IS an Indian thing. We don’t grow up eating our vegetables that way.
I am very picky about salads, and will only eat certain select kinds that are few and far between.
Isn’t it weird how there is a strange aspect of you that you think is just you, but then it turns out to be cultural? I don’t have many Desi friends so I am always thinking I am soooo unique because of x, y, or z and then it turns out that I’m not unique and it’s just an Indian thing.
Comment by arduous — July 8, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Just last night I was thinking about whether I was culturally an Indian or not, this salad thing makes me feel better about having a strong dislike for those hindi song and dance movies.
Comment by Beany — July 9, 2008 @ 8:37 am
Beany,
Maybe the best way to go about the No Graze Day Challenge is to break it up into smaller pieces. Let me explain. For me, it’s important that I not graze EVERY day. Because I have digestive issues, eating too much makes me sick - I had a bad day Monday, grazed all afternoon and had to spend Tuesday in bed because I was in so much pain. It’ll probably even be a few more days before I feel decent again and that’s IF I don’t graze again. But for most people, they can take smaller steps.
Rather than trying to be mindful every minute of every day, pick one day a week - a weekend day if it’s easier. Concentrate on being mindful just that one day in all that you eat. Do that for awhile. Then add on another day. Really, this is a lifelong journey. We don’t have to make it happen all at once.
Hang in there! I’m struggling right along with you…
Comment by Heather @ SGF — July 9, 2008 @ 8:58 am
I only like the song and dance parts of Hindi movies. The rest is to melodramatic for me, and too long!!
With DVDs you can just select the songs, so I just watch those and then I’m done with the movie.
Comment by arduous — July 9, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
Heather: I’ve designated Sunday as a mindful day. Your tip on breaking the challenge into pieces is useful to me since I’m an all or nothing type of person.
Arduous: Just watching the song and dance routines tires me out.
Comment by Beany — July 10, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
arduous & beany, you reminded me of something that I’d forgotten about that happened when we were in India…my body was feeling all whacked out and I’d gotten sick a few times, but I just wanted any food that wasn’t rice-based more than anything. my husbands cousin offered to order from subway for me because they have salads on the menu. I almost kissed her! She decided to join me and ordered one too. When they arrived, she headed straight for the microwave to heat hers up! It was so funny. Then I looked at what was in my salad…it was the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles that they put on the sandwiches. They just took a big pile of sandwich toppings, mixed them in a bowl together, threw some sauce on and called it a salad. I couldn’t do anything but laugh at that point…and I still was happy to have it anyway!
Comment by melissa — July 10, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Maybe the salad thing is Indian cuz I’m not Indian and I loooove my salads. Usually I’m just too lazy to make them and now that I’m only eating local lettuce, they’re a winter/spring treat only. And, kinda funny, but I like the song and dance stuff.
Beany, I’m glad you’re doing so well on my challenge. Wow…I just noticed that Bike Lane badge…I want that as a sticker on my bike!
Comment by Chile — July 10, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
Oh my God, Melissa, that’s HILARIOUS.
My mother will not let us anywhere NEAR a salad when we’re in India. All vegetables must be cooked or else she is convinced we will fall sick!! But I guess it’s working because I can’t remember the last time I was stomach sick in India….
Comment by arduous — July 10, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
That is hilarious melissa!
I was thinking about how I ate raw veggies growing up and it was usually in the form of raita. So next time you’re in India ask for a raita but ask for raita without the yogurt. I’m sure that will lead to some interesting discussions.
Chile: That website is the idea I had ages ago but was too afraid of launching it as a website because I was afraid (death threats, gun shots, etc).
Comment by Beany — July 11, 2008 @ 8:36 am