Tag: Routine

I’m Losing!

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, Diet, Food, Health, Inspirational, Life, Musings, Nutrition2 Comments

A few days ago, I weighed myself. If I were to count when my weight was the heaviest, that would’ve been a couple of years ago, I have lost 20 lbs! All having to do with eating healthy fats, high protein (good organic, grass-fed and finished red meat, chicken, salmon, etc.), and low carbs.

I allow myself up to 4 slices of bread a day. I learned what that equals when my doctor had me on my hypoglycemic diet in my early twenties. I allow myself an extra slice of bread a day though. It works for me. Back then, this diet was a strict one allowing only 3 slices of bread a day for three years.

A slice of bread is equal to a 1/2 cup of rice, 1/2 cup of noodles/pasta, 1/2 cup of potatoes, same measurements for peas, carrots, and certain beans like pinto beans.

I could eat all the nuts I wanted. At that time, I didn’t like nuts, so it wasn’t really a big deal to me. lol But now, I eat a bit of them with my organic, whole milk Greek plain yogurt with added organic fresh blueberries. I eat 2-3 fruits a day on average, just like I used to do on that strict diet, except it allowed 3 fruits a day. And the only sugar I have other than the fruit is a 1/2 tsp of raw local honey when I sometimes have tea or coffee.

I cut out 100% fruit juice back in 2019 because I was having some stomach issues, and my doctor suggested I eliminate the juice from my diet. Didn’t think I could or had the will power to do this because I was a juiceaholic throughout my childhood and beginning twenties. Was a sugarholic too.

But I only eat desserts on special occasions, the last one being I allowed myself a small slice of cheese cake and three bites of key lime pie while on vacation back in July. Haven’t had any desserts since then and am happy I don’t crave it! Thinking the fruit is filling the void!

For veggies (which is my hardest thing to consume for me all my life lol) I like to have Greek salads and other salads. Broccoli, sour kraut, and some cabbage dishes.

I’ve heard that a woman’s taste buds change during menopause, and for me, it has. I now love fresh medium sized cut mushrooms in my sauces I’ve been cooking.

Anyway, I’ve noticed a difference when walking. My body feels lighter, and it’s easier to stand up straight (part of the latter’s reason is my chiropractic adjustment last week lol).

I’m now at a weight I haven’t seen since I was in my early to mid twenties, before becoming pregnant with Niko, my firstborn! This may be TMI, but I’m happy to have gone down two sizes in the bust area. Never thought I’d be back to my regular size when I was in my twenties. Never thought this would ever happen! So thrilled! My back feels a bit of relief too. 🙂

Wow. What an accomplishment. And I feel quite good. I also do a bit of walking on my treadmill at least three times a week. I’d like to do four days a week, and sometimes I do. But at least I stretch every day.

It looks like I may actually have to buy some clothes that fit me better now. In a time of menopause when a woman on average gains ten pounds that are hard to get rid of, I’ve accomplished this and then some! Amazing times for me. 🙏🙌🥹

Changing Your Writing Routine

On By dotluvs2writeIn blogging, Fiction Writing, Musings, Past Life Activities, Playwriting, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

women's fingers on keyboard

Two years ago, I wrote a post about writing your story down on paper or via keyboard and Word document.

When I started writing again in 2014, pencil and paper were my number one tools in writing my stories, and all would start from a stream of consciousness.

Truly, that method was used to write my published short story, Summer Memories, my play, Falling Up Stairs, that was performed on a small stage in January 2018, and the starting chapters of my debut novel, Passage of Promise, released May 1 for print copy and May 4 for ebook. Although with the latter, I took extensive notes midway and throughout during many rewrites, revisions, added and deleted chapters.

Since 2018, I don’t know why, but my method of writing changed.

In creating my novella, Mourning Dove, and my novel, What She Didn’t Know, I took notes on both, most extensively on What She Didn’t Know.

Before each chapter, I’d write down my ideas about what the scenes would be, which, in turn, helped encourage me to get the words typed on the computer screen.

A few days ago, I listened to an excellent video lesson from fellow blogger and writing coach, Kate Johnston. She actually talked about the importance of at least having some notes on your plot, characters, and having a good idea of how your novel would end.

Having evolved and grown as a writer (as we do every day) since picking up this true passion of mine from my pre-teen years, I’d done exactly that without realizing it was the better approach for me!

I found this method of jotting down my main character(s) and plot made it more structured and cleared my mind of jumbled thoughts, as well as stream-of-conscious ideas that wouldn’t always get me through the entirety of my book.

The exception was the couple I mentioned earlier in this post.

So, I’ve transferred from stream-of-consciousness, pen and paper story writing to pen and paper for notes to prepare my next story and directly typing on my computer’s Word document.  Whatever would come into my head, the ideas would be centered around the guidelines regarding the character(s) and plot that I’d scribbled in my notebook.

Therefore, I’ve discovered you can change how you prepare and create your writing routine, and in my case, it was for the best.

What is your preferred way of writing? Stream-of-conscious/whatever comes to mind, write it down and go from there, or making an outline or notes on your characters and plot before starting to write your story? Have you tried to do the opposite? Did it work for you?

Happy writing!

 

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Pick up your copy of Passage of Promise  via Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Me with PofP final print copy April 27 2020