Final yr, I shared fairly a couple of private updates all year long, however whereas I used to be superb at posting month-to-month updates in the course of the first a part of the yr, I type of slacked off in the course of the second half of the yr. So for these of you who’ve been asking for updates, let me get you caught up.
A Yr With out Sugar? Nearly!
As most of you recognize, I made a private decision initially of 2024 to go an entire yr with out consuming sugar aside from six free days. So how did I do?
Effectively, I did higher than I assumed I’d, however inferior to I needed to do. The actual fact is that I did nice for many of the yr, and I got here so near engaging in my aim. However for some cause, when December rolled round, all bets have been off.
You’ll have observed in photos of our lounge and my studio that I preserve Starbursts round. I like having candy treats for visitors (and so they do get pleasure from them, which I like to see!), and I like Starbursts significantly as a result of they’re fairly and colourful within the bowl. I preserve a bowl on the espresso desk in the lounge…
And I preserve a bowl on the nook of my desk within the studio…
For many of the yr, I used to be in a position to stroll proper by the bowl with none temptation in any respect. In my thoughts, they have been extra of a colourful little ornament than a deal with for me to get pleasure from. So I had every kind of self-control for eleven months.
However for some cause, as soon as December hit, all bets have been off. It began off with me permitting one or two Starbursts a day, considering to myself, “It’s advantageous! I’ve self-control now!” Then that elevated to 5 a day. The following factor I knew, I used to be grabbing Starbursts each time I’d stroll previous the bowl. And earlier than I knew it, I had plowed by means of half of a three-pound bag of Starbursts all on my own in a matter of about 2.5 weeks.
I don’t know why I began doing that. I went the entire yr with Starbursts within the sweet bowl, and I by no means touched them. They have been for visitors solely. However December introduced the “it’s the vacations” mindset, and I let my guard down. After which a couple of days earlier than Christmas, that “it’s the vacations” mindset that I used to justify the Starbursts consumption additionally advised me that it was okay to bask in different sweets. So I utterly blew it in December. I made it eleven months, and misplaced all management over the last month.
It’s advantageous, although. I’m nonetheless very pleased with myself. Not less than I made it for eleven months, and I discovered that I actually might have an entire lot of self-control and dedication with regards to sugar. Earlier than final yr, I felt helpless and uncontrolled when it got here to sugar. I felt prefer it was an impossibility for me to say no to dessert when it was obtainable, or to go up candy treats within the checkout line on the grocery retailer. However saying no to these issues for eleven months made me notice that I actually am in management. And I can say that since Christmas, I’ve regained most of that management again. I did have a couple of bits of carrot cake that my brother purchased and shared with us throughout lunch on Wednesday, however for essentially the most half, I’m again to saying no to sugary treats.
I gained’t be making the identical decision for 2025, however I do plan to maintain the candy treats to a minumum this yr, and I really feel like my very strict 2024 has proven me that I can proceed on with out a lot sugar in my weight-reduction plan with out feeling like I’m lacking out. However this yr, I gained’t attempt to restrict myself to solely six “cheat” days for the entire yr. I’ll enable myself to have the cake on birthdays and particular events, whereas aiming to maintain my regular each day weight-reduction plan sugar-free.
I really feel like I can and can try this going ahead. About ten years in the past, my New Yr’s decision was to surrender Dr. Pepper for a yr. I went from consuming solely Dr. Pepper all day each day to having none for nearly a complete yr. However I by no means went again to that Dr. Pepper behavior. Ever since then, I’ll have the occasional small Dr. Pepper, but it surely’s probably not a part of my life anymore. And all it took was that one yr of strict no-Dr. Pepper to interrupt me of that behavior. I plan to have that very same outcome from my almost-year of no sugar.
My Weight Loss Progress
I ended the yr 20 kilos down from the place I began on January 1, 2024, and 30 kilos down from the place I used to be in the summertime of 2023. And identical to my no sugar decision, I’m each pleased with myself, and a little bit disillusioned in myself.
A twenty-pound loss (or a thirty-pound loss since mid-2023) is one thing to be pleased with. On the similar time, I really feel like I might have executed so significantly better had I actually caught with an train program. I ended doing my kettle bell exercises in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the summer time. After which as soon as I packed up our residence fitness center to have the ground and subfloor changed, and all of our fitness center gear received stashed within the nook of the sunroom, I critically don’t assume I labored out a single time for the remainder of the yr. I didn’t even a lot as go for a stroll or choose up a kettle bell.
So whereas I began off the yr robust with my exercises, that solely lasted about six months. Had I caught with that, I really feel like I might have made an entire lot extra progress on my well being targets throughout 2024. I’m pleased with my progress, however I’m additionally a little bit disillusioned that I didn’t keep dedicated.
However I’m not going to get too down on myself for it. Twenty kilos for the yr (and 30 kilos within the final 18 months) remains to be nice progress. I nonetheless have a protracted approach to go (about 70 extra kilos) to fulfill my final weight reduction and well being targets, however the starting of a brand new yr is a good time to get refocused and make a renewed plan.
To achieve that aim, I do have to discover a place to arrange my little treadmill, and I have to dig my kettle bells out of the nook of the sunroom and place them in an space the place I’ll see them and use them each day.
Castor Oil
Final yr, I began having critical hassle with my pores and skin, and I shared that castor oil had made an enormous distinction in my pores and skin. A lot of you’ve requested if I’m nonetheless utilizing it.
I’m not utilizing plain castor oil on my face (though it’s wonderful stuff, so I’d nonetheless extremely advocate it!), however I’m nonetheless utilizing the castor oil/tallow balm that my bonus sister makes. I exploit it virtually each day on my face and neck, and I discover it really works superbly beneath my make-up. However after I began having points that the castor oil/tallow balm wasn’t serving to, I went searching for one thing else, and that’s after I got here throughout this Rescue Balm. It has actually helped the issue areas on my face (round my chin space), so now my routine is to make use of the Restore Balm on my face at evening whereas I sleep, after which use the castor oil/tallow balm in the course of the day.
I’ve observed an enormous distinction in my pores and skin with this new routine. In the beginning of the yr, I used to be so discouraged with the dry, wrinkled pores and skin that I used to be seeing on my face. I do know that wrinkles include age, however I plan to struggle them till the day I die. 😀 My new routine has made an enormous distinction, and I’m nonetheless seeing these advantageous strains and wrinkles minimized with these merchandise. Here’s a image I took simply this morning, proper off the bed. No make-up, no filters, no retouching, no modifying.
I do nonetheless use castor oil straight out of the bottle after I use my castor oil pack on aches and pains. Castor oil is magic in a bottle, and I’ll all the time preserve some round. I’m simply not utilizing it straight out of the bottle on my face as a result of I like the combination of the castor oil with the tallow for my face.
I feel these are the entire updates y’all requested for, but when I missed one thing, let me know! I’m trying ahead to persevering with my well being and weight reduction journey this yr, and I’ll preserve y’all up to date alongside the best way.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You may be taught extra about me right here.
