Day 47: May 30, 2007, and Today's TIP

I haven't experienced a craving for several days now. Trust me, I'm not complaining. This is good news although I know it's not over yet. My gut feeling is this is the calm before the storm (so to speak).

My weight is holding steady. I'm paying a little more attention to what I'm eating and how much. I know my diet isn't perfect but I do try to eat "healthy" foods when I'm really hungry. Junk foods just add calories and are rarely filling.

I have more energy and can ride for extended periods of time now. The daily ride is not the "work" it used to be.

Today's TIP - PACE YOURSELF

"LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION" is a phrase that continues to run through my mind. Avoiding areas where smoking is permitted is a good start to eliminating the "physical" nicotine trigger, however, I am concerned about the circumstances that can trigger a "psychological" temptation.

Unless managed properly, situations can also lead you into temptation. Attending parties and drinking alcoholic beverages are beyond the scope of this writing. Where would you start? When you deliberately choose to alter your state of mind, it's anyone's guess what could happen next. No matter what your state of mind is, you are always responsible and accountable for your actions.

The key to avoiding elevated levels of stress is understanding what may be causing the stress in the first place. Of course your personal finances, health, and welfare are just a few of the broad categories known to create stress. What about relationships at home, relationships at work, effective time management?

I would suggest that some stresses can be avoided through effective time and resource management. It's clear that you don't have to do everything yourself. Part of reducing your stress levels is sharing your concerns with someone you trust and creating a plan. It's easier to manage your time when you have specific tasks to complete and you know how long it should take to complete them.

Set realistic goals and objectives to minimize any frustrations during execution of the task. It's only a race if you want it to be. Having a plan reduces stress, executing it successfully reduces the stress even more. After continued successes, you will discover that you are an effective planner. That's a skill that any one would want.