If it's not in the plan...

I don't eat it.

Baby steps. That is what I am going to focus on right now. I used baby steps to help me with my really messy habits around the house - never putting stuff away, allowing laundry to pile up undone, never properly cleaning. And it actually helped. I'm not a neatnick now by any means. But things have improved dramatically. My kitchen sink is always cleaned. Dirty clothes are in the hamper, my closets are organized, and the litter box is always clean. How did I get that far? Baby steps to creating habits.

Cleaning the litter box is now a routine - it's always done in the AM when I leave for work, when I get home, and before bed. The only time it isn't done is if I am at the BFs place on the weekend, but it's so clean other times the cats don't seem to notice.

I have a hamper in the bathroom and my clothes go in there and not on the floor, the same with the bedroom. I pick out the clothes I'm going to wear at least the night before if not even farther in advanced. Which keeps my closet nicer because I'm not scrambling in the morning or before an event.

I even make my bed in the morning before I work out! I know, sounds very Type-A. But I'm not I swear "making the bed" means pulling the covers up to the pillow, that's it. I still have paper clutter and could do better with sorting my mail and generally being more organized and cleaner... but BABY STEPS.

So, I am going to set up a calendar with steps kind of like these that I used for my home. (I don't use the site anymore, it was too much for me). But for food with baby steps to my goals. I'll post it once it's done. I know that having a food plan and not deviating from it is going to be a goal, but it might be one I work up toward. Although it is my mantra for today. I figured out my food plan for today (1360 calories, might be a bit high, I'm estimating for 1 cup of leftover chinese that I already added extra veggies to) and since I didn't get to exercise this morning (had to come in early for work), plus it's my dance lesson day so I'll be running from work to dance to choir which should make this plan a little easier.

I have the beginning of my babysteps figured out. The first of which I borrowed from The Great American Detox Diet. (I'm not doing her actual diet, because she also takes out caffeine, and that just isn't going to happen). My very first goal is water. I turn to diet soda so often now when water is so much better for me. So, today at least my goal is 64 oz. I've had over 8 so far and that was with breakfast, so I'm off to a good start. So, my first habit is going to be not using the staff lounge in the morning to get coffee, but instead to fill my water bottle (32oz) at a drinking fountain instead. This habit is two fold - the staff lounge is where all the free goodies get placed, and two I'm more likely to drink the water when it's handy.