Self Love Project 2018 | Day 16

Today’s Affirmation

I breathe deeply, exercise regularly and feed my body nutritious foods.

Prayer of Deliverance

Last year I prayed to God to deliver me from sugar. What ya’ll don’t know is I developed a crazy sweet tooth while I’ve been breastfeeding. Albeit vegan sweets that I chose to devour, sugar is sugar. There was no weight increase, I might have developed a couple pimples here and there, but I just knew in my heart I needed to get rid of that habit.

The day I prayed for deliverance, I made a decision to cut it then and there. I already read every label (I’m sure my husband hates grocery shopping with me) and the amount of intensity I read labels now is high alert. I knew that in order for me to change the amount of sugar I consumed, I had to be intentional in my food choices.

I’m still breastfeeding (10 months strong!) and my cravings are still very real. Now, instead of having a freezer full of vegan ice cream ready for me to eat spoonfuls at a time or chocolate chip cookies tempting me on the counter top, I have tons of fresh fruit inviting me to snack on them. I inhale sweet potatoes like they are God’s gift to my pantry (they are) and I make açaí bowls regularly. I’m even going to try my hand at homemade granola sometime soon (wish me luck)!

Committing to Exercise

I shared in a previous post that my husband and I signed up for a gym that offers yoga 5/7 days in the week. Though I am unable to attend each class, I’ve committed myself to going twice a week, shared those commitments with my husband, and hold myself accountable by signing up for the class at least a day before it actually takes place. I seriously have gone in rain, sleet, hail, and snow because I said I would. And you wanna know what? It feels SO good one: going to the class and two: honoring my commitment.

Breathe Deeply for Clarity

Yoga is not just about the poses, but it also a way of life. I find myself breathing deeply, creating internal pauses to enjoy a moment, give gratitude, or even to give myself time to let negativity subside. I find that if I breathe before speaking I can find the right words or just continue to breathe and not say anything at all.

Be Intentional

The point of this is to say: be intentional about how you want to live your life. The healthy eating, the exercise, the positive thinking and staying in the moment – none of this comes by happenstance. All of these actions are intentional and they start with making a decision, acting on the decision, then being consistent with the actions (developing a habit).

So, I remind myself of this affirmation when I curse someone out, veto an activity that gets me moving, or reach for a slice of cake.

Simply put: do whatever you do in moderation, but remember the end goal.