That Time I Gave Up Coffee

In honor of National Coffee Day (who makes this stuff up?) I am going to share my experience giving up coffee. It was recent, just a few months ago so I remember it well.
My new eating plan does not include coffee. What is my new plan you ask? Portion control and no sugar or carbs. Also no soda, even diet soda. And for a short time no coffee.

At this spot in the middle of my life I recognized that if I did not take control of my  weight now when would I ever do it? I have needed to lose the baby weight from my youngest child for all of her 14 years.

I started in the middle of May 2016 and did not drink coffee again until 2 months later in the middle of July. Was it hard? Kind of. I was not a huge coffee drinker but I do love the taste of it. I remember when my middle child, my son who was a terrible sleeper, was a baby I would go to bed at night looking so forward to my cup of coffee the next morning. Now that the baby days with him are 18 years in the rear view mirror my hankering for coffee is not quite so intense.

So I did it. I gave up coffee for 2 months and have pretty much given up sugar and carbs as well. The results have been fantastic. My head is clearer, you hear that a lot from people who have gone carb free/sugar free/ gluten free but until you experience it it's hard to imagine.
Because my head is clearer and I have lost weight my energy is up and my need for that cup of energy boosting coffee is down. 1 cup a day or less some days is my average.

I am sure that National Coffee Day is all about marketing and getting people to drink more coffee but as with anything for real life and good health moderation in all things is key.

Now if I could give up partying like a rock star every weekend. Just kidding, I wish ...

So that's my coffee story. If you are a coffee drinker enjoy all that free stuff out there today and  thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more from My Middleton Chronicles ... I'm on a roll with this blogging thing.

Wendy

Miracle Morning and Microblog Monday - That's a Mouthful!

"If I'd known then what I know now ..." Do you ever think about that and how things would have been different?

For me I think I could have avoided tons of anxiety had I known back during certain points in my life what I know now.  Hindsight tells me that things truly have a way of working themselves out. Maybe that's a charmed way of thinking and a big rude awakening is on it's way, I hope not.

One of the great things about the Miracle Morning is that it gets me in the right mindset to take on the day. My playlist for the exercise portion of the morning is the 'Happy' channel on Pandora. It's great for working out, cleaning and anytime you want something up beat on to keep you going.

As the Miracle Morning attempts continued this past week I found their Facebook group.
It's a huge group and it's inspiring to see that so many people are working on the same thing I am.

Stay tuned for more of My Middleton Chronicles and keep me honest in my challenge attempts. I'm in the home stretch with this one.

Wendy

The Legend of the Mix Tape

The Goldbergs on ABC is, IMO, one of the best shows out there right now. The episode where Adam, the main character, makes his girlfriend a mix tape to express his love for her is touching and just so classic.

Lucky me, I was the recipient of a mix tape from the love of my life. When it was presented to me I didn't yet know he was the love of my life but I do now. 1995 seems like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.

In 1995 I was a single mom juggling work, my little one and trying to have a little fun here and there. Enter Sean English. We met in a bar, I gave him my work phone number (that's what you did in those days, what if he was a stalker? I didn't want him to have my home number!).
The day he called I was not at work and he thought I was blowing him off. It was a nice surprise to get back to work and have a message from him.

After a few dates he came to pick me up at work and take me to lunch. He brought with him the mix tape. And some flowers, but what I most remember is the mix tape.

Song list:

Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays

Close To Me - The Cure

Dreams - The Cranberries

Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty

Possession - Sarah Mclachlan

What's The Matter Here - 10,000 Maniacs

She's Got A Way - Billy Joel

Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Take It Easy On Yourself - Eion Woods

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

Happy Anniversary!

Here's my song for you - https://youtu.be/4BQMkg5T9U8

 June 14th 1997

2016

Our 3

Can a Planner Bring the Change You are Seeking? If it's the Right One It Can!

Isn't it pretty?

I am a lucky mom. I have been wanting a Passion Planner for a while now and just had not pulled the trigger on buying one for myself. When my thoughtful daughter asked what I wanted for Mother's Day I quickly replied that the ONLY thing I really wanted was the limited edition, teal blue, large, undated Passion Planner.
Because this planner I coveted is from a young company that got started via a Kickstarter campaign it took some time for it to arrive (just got it yesterday) and was in a hand addressed Fedex package.
I knew it was a young company but did not realize how young.  As a limited edition it is also hand numbered inside.
I got 2376 / 15000

Not your usual planner

The difference between this planner and others I have used in the past, both paper and online, is that it has built in goal setting, project planning and room for both personal and professional undertakings.  There is also space to journal. There are so many things we all want to fit in to an hour, a day, a month, a year and a lifetime and this cool little book can help you with that. It is extremely positive. There is a place next to each weeks calendar to write down "Good Things That Happened". 

Are you someone who has a hard time prioritizing? Each weeks scheduler has space for your personal to-do list and your work to-do list. It further breaks the to-do's down by Top Priority, Priority and Errands with check boxes next to each. 

I've got some big professional goals and the goal of working on a healthier me. 

What are you working on these days? Do you have tools you love? I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

All my best, Wendy

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." - Benjamin Franklin