Oh No! I cheated - 7-Day Principle Still Applies

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No, no, I will not be eating chocolate for the next 7 days … though there’s a part of me … never mind, let’s not go there! On Sunday night the decision was taken to follow a principle learned recently – whatever I do today, will continue for the next 7 days. Whatever I do not get done today, likewise, will continue to not be done for the next 7 days. It’s a form of self-discipline and works by acknowledging that it is often the case that a behavior is not only for today, or just this once, too often it continues into the next day and the next, even if our intention was only to eat that one chocolate today, or miss that one exercise class today. Let me get on with it. Oh No! I cheated – 7-Day Principle Still Applies

Monday Morning

I leapt out of bed almost in fear that the snooze button would hit itself. Fed the furries, ran my bath, prayed, exercised (not enough to make the average person sweat, but challenging enough), bathed, dressed, packed for work and was out the door in quick time. Not rushed, waking up at the right time allowed me to prepare for the day at a reasonable pace. The week started on the right foot. Planning to be in the office 2 hours early was in motion. What did I forget to factor into the equation – the traffic lights that are out on the main road between my home and the office! I arrived 1 hour and 15 minutes early. No problem, I reassured myself, 1 hour 15 minutes it is then! I lose 45 minutes every day for 7 days. Hmm, not happy, but what can one do.

The remainder of Monday was comfortably busy, energized from the organized start to the day and eager to get everything on the schedule ticked as done. The end of the day arrived and there were tasks left unticked, no problem either, they must roll over to the next day – this is the work I am paid to do, cannot exactly impose a 7-Day Principle on that!

One Blog In The Bag

One blog in the bag, I completed another one and a half for the day. The plan was to be a full blog ahead. Also no problem, this is pipeline work, the remaining half blog would be completed on in the evening at home.

Home was a welcoming sight with my furbabies all clamoring for food and love (yes, get the priorities right!). Our neighbourhood feral, Toby, was lounging around at my gate – I am his dealer you see, he visits for cat nip every night without fail! Toby is the classic addict, he rushes to greet and then turns on me if I take too long to give him his fix. He is a deceivingly beautiful and slight boy, but anyone who has handled a feral knows just how much harm Toby can inflict! The sky was still bright, evidence of a storm brewing was visible but in the distance. Then CRACK! CLAP! The LOUDEST crack of lightening and clap of thunder I have ever heard! My addict disappeared before I could ease his craving, my furbabies levitated and scarpered and I almost had heart failure! Seriously, I have not experienced a storm arriving unannounced that way before! I was nervous to shut the door or approach the windows, it felt like it was coming into my home! Turns out that one of the neighbouring units was hit, no major damage fortunately, just tripped everything in her home. So I am not exaggerating, the storm was literally on top of us!

My Ginger Ninja, Munchkin, is petrified of storms, he was yowling the place down. The only way to comfort him is to cuddle up with him under the duvet. The storm ensued – cracking and clapping and crashing and banging! Frankly I was grateful to be cuddled up in bed too. The storm was terrifying! It continued for a good 40 minutes.

No sooner was Munchkin settled under the duvet cover, and here comes young Tin-Tin, my “bullet-proof” feline. This young man is afraid of nothing! He decides it’s play time, amidst the storm! Having established that he is not deaf, he responds to a range of clicks, and calls and whistles, we know he is just far too brave for his own good. And far too bluming naughty too! With no one to play with, Tin-Tin decides its time to antagonize me. I swear he knew I didn’t want to leave poor terrified Munchie unattended to and was at his mercy. What does Tin-Tin do? He attacks the fabric base of my bed, and drags himself along the base of the bed, clawing as he goes. I tell him off. Remember, he is “bullet-proof”, my voice sure doesn’t scare him! He takes a little jog down the passage after my reprimand, and returns to claw the length of the base of the bed another three times!! I finally chase him by waving a pillow around threateningly. Munchie yowling again, the storm at its peak, I return my attention to the little Ginger Ninja and get him to calm down to a panic. Just as Munchie is calm, unbeknown to him or me, little “bullet-proof” Tin-Tin has snuck back into the bedroom and is lying in wait on the side of the bed for Munchie’s tail to move under the covers! Hooligan, I am telling you, this young Tin-Tin is a complete hooligan! He has a sense of humour that is for certain.

Storm settles, I bound out the door to wish Tobie’s human mum for her birthday (Her gift was a beautiful jar of Gin & Tonic marshmallows – they smelled divine, just like G&T! No, I did not indulge. Plus a ladies pamper pack of special body treatment products). I also took catnip for Tobie's fix, I ain't sleeping with the window open and that little addict on the loose with withdrawals!

Dashed home to complete the second half of the blog. Exhaustion set in, I accomplished only a quarter – meaning three quarters of the blog in total, and had no option but to retire for the night.

Tuesday

Was a repeat of Monday in the morning – just brilliant to start the day feeling so well organized! Realizing, that I had set the precedent on Monday, departure time for work remained the same, and again, I arrived 1 hour and 15 early. Participated in the WA community, commenting on blogs, leaving comments and feedback on websites, catching up on messages from yesterday. All went swimmingly well. Somehow though, the day managed to run away with me. I signed up for a few more affiliate programs, did a bit of research on some sites I am interested in, and before I knew it, lunchtime had arrived! No work done – none to write home about – only my business during office hours!

One meeting was scheduled for 2pm, I managed to get stuck into some work before that. The important stuff like tax payments which have a serious deadline on them. Was reluctant to have this meeting as the service provider is coming back yet again to apparently rectify a situation that has been going on since October last year. He never arrived!

You know how it is when you do not want to get too involved in something because your meeting may still start in the next 15 minutes? Yes, that kind of distraction took place until 2.20pm, when I finally decided to complete the blog regardless of whether I was going to be interrupted or not. Said blog completed, posted to my site, and social media. I did some training (thank you, Marion Black – great Pretty Link training right there!). Fixed up as many links on my site as time allowed for. Before I knew it, my boss was in the office (highly unusual for 4pm in the afternoon) and required my attention. Sorry second blog and three quarters, you’ll have to wait until tonight!

Here I am at 9pm writing the 21-Day Challenge blog – today is day 14 – three quarters of the way there! Hmm, there’s a theme, three quarters, interesting!

Once this is completed, I shall be writing the three quarters of the next blog, as was done on Monday – applying the 7-day principle to the letter!

Tonight, I am struggling to sit at my desk on my Pilates ball as I work, why? My legs are jolly jolly sore. I have told them off sternly – “for goodness sake, it was only 20 squats!” Anyone would think I’d run a marathon with the way the feel right now. Not to mention my abs and arms – yes, the pain of exercise, even though it was only a little, is real!

Wednesday morning’s routine is set to be a repeat of yesterday and today – only with these aching muscles, exercise is going to be interesting.

Now it’s time to get onto the three quarters of the next blog. Thank you for reading my fabulous WA colleagues. Signing off for the night ….

Oh No! I cheated – 7-Day Principle Still Applies

Ah hahaha! No I did not forget, I haven’t share how I cheated, this may be a bit disappointing. Tonight, I ate … wait for it …. banana ice cream! What a challenge the next 6 days will be, I have to eat banana ice cream every single day – good thing its only frozen banana’s “joojed” up with the blender stick! Still in detox, 19 Jan to 5 February so far – the end date is 19 February. Also still fasting until Sunday – the Daniel fast which is fruit and veggies only. Today is a day of prayer and fasting, petitioning for physical healing. Zimbabwe, my homeland, is in my prayers every day too.


That’s enough chatter from me now, I am sure you’re disappointed in my lack of a real cheat – it kept you til then end though. Haha!

Blessings as always

Louise

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Recent Comments

28

I loved reading your stories with all the details😊. Marita

Thank you, Marita.
I really appreciate your feedback, there are times when i worry that I may be relating in too much detail, especially when it is not WA specific.
Blessings
Louise

You could be an awesome book author, btw.

Marita

Louise, Louise!!!
It's not really cheating, you had very busy days,
we all need a little sweetness from time to time.
The sugar does it very well!!
It just has to stay from time to time and with the will
you have, it's not going to be difficult to get you back on
track.

Big cheers!!
Ingrid

Haha! No, it's not cheating at all Ingrid. I am allowed fruit and veg this week - the headline was just a teaser :-)

The ice cream is made purely of banana which has been frozen and then blended. No naughty stuff in there, hehe. It's delicious, if you haven't had it before, give it a try. It's awesome with cocoa or coffee in it too! That would be cheating for me this week though.

I am still on track, though it is getting a bit tougher now, maybe it's just today.

As always, you are such a sweetheart :-)
Blessings
Louise

After reading, I have nothing much to comment except, such lovely and cute furbabies! 👍😉

Thank you Terand :-)
Blessings always
Louise

Thank you and same to you, Louise! 👌👍😉

Hi Louise,
I'm tired after reading all of that! LOL!
Those furbabies can keep you on your toes just like our human children and grandchildren!! ;)

Have a great day,
Donna

Hi Donna
They sure can - my lively, gregarious, gorgeous (and high maintenance) daughter moved out a few months ago so, much as I do miss her, I am quite enjoying the peace and quiet of my little "empty nest". The felines seem to feel the need to fill the void with their antics! Haha!
Blessings
Louise

Frozen banana sounds good. I like grapes frozen too.

The weather you described was ours about an hour ago.

Hi Mickey
Frozen banana is delicious when blended into an icecream texture - one of my favourites! When I am not fasting, I also pop cocoa into it, choc banana.
Oooh, frozen grapes sound yum - I'll be trying that. Just don't give them to children, a little girl I knew, only 5 years old died choking on a room temperature grape. They must be sliced up for little people. Sorry if you already knew that - I feel obliged to share this wherever I can, could make a difference to a little one's life.
I also love frozen berries :-)
Thank you for sharing
Blessings
Louise

PS Wow, those storms can be terrifying! Hope it has blown over now.

Thanks for sharing that info. Yes, storm passed over real fast.

Interesting as always, Louise.

Your description of how you have to juggle between your babies sounds a lot like me with my daughters. 😁

Thank you, Fran.
I raised one daughter on my own and as I described to Donna above, she is a livewire of note - highly creative, highly talented and a "drama queen" of note. So I understand the complexities of raising kids. I miss her, but quite enjoy the peace :-)
The furbabies do make up for her absence, sometimes in bucket loads! haha!
Blessings
Louise
PS I see the 21 Day Challenge has been halted, I would still like to complete it though - only 7 days left for me.

Of course, Louise. I'm still writing too. It's been halted to avoid disappointments.

My sister is also a single mother and has done an exceptional job as I believe you have, I have the utmost respect for people who raise children on their own.

In our case, me and my wife are not 'single' but away from all family and against the world in most matters, hehe.

Enjoy your peace, I will try to enjoy my chaos while it lasts so I can later enjoy peace without regrets.

P.S. Everybody Back slides a little, ..... : )

😂😂😂

-You Cheated! and you will burn in hell!...Banana ice cream Is Satan!

Hahaha I feel cheated at the mention of ice cream what's an article bt wait I need to grab some vanilla banana ice cream see you after I finish. Thank for sharing

Hi Fidelis
Enjoy your vanilla banana ice cream :-) I will stick to my real frozen banana ice cream and wait until 19 January for the dairy version :-)
Blessings
Louise

Know you are not a cheater. Just a slight slip in judgement.

Barry/Barney44

Haha! Yeah, it's one thing to cheat on a detox but during a fast, Nah, not then. :-)
Blessings
Louise

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