Filling the void

And so it begins. Third morning of the diet and I'm struggling not to think about food. A wretched night sleep probably hasn't helped matters, and now all I want is something sugary and stodgy to satisfy the soul.

What I have instead is this. 

Yes it is a glass of water

It doesn't look particularly special and that is because it is not anything special. But this glass of water, just like the many others that I'll consume in the coming months serves an important function. I'm not a nutritionist so won't pretend to know exactly how the human body works, but it stands to reason that if I am consume less food, and my body starts using up reserve sources of energy, I will become dehydrated. Topping up on fluids will help me to stop feeling quite so empty and also comes with a couple of additional benefits.

Firstly, I get to leave my desk, walk to the water dispenser and walk back. Repeated enough times in a day, this is a little piece of additional exercise that I may not otherwise be getting. I'm under no illusion that this is enough to get fit, but I've found in the past that to build up a mental aptitude for exercise I need to get my body awake from its slumber. Lots of little things add up, so make several trips to a tap rather than filling up a bottle and leaving that on your desk.

Secondly, and this may make you smile, increased water input results in increased waste export. Simply put, if I'm drinking this stuff regularly, I'm going to have to make more trips to the loo. More comfort breaks means more walking backwards and forwards. More activity, more energy used. Rocket science this is not, but subtle little changes to your typical daily activities all add up.

Other little things that can be done include using a toilet on the floor above or below.  Just imagine that, adding a flight of steps every time you have to go for a wee. Do that 4/5 times a day, 5 days a week, 50 odd weeks a year and that is a lot of activity. In isolation it sounds silly and trivial, but when tallied up, that is quite a workout! Parking in the far end of your office car park rather than the first available spot increases your walk to and from the car in the morning. If there is a choice between using an automatic door or a manual one, opt for the less lazy option. All you are doing is walking through a door, but symbolically you are making a choice. I will open a door for myself, I won't take the easy path.

These are subtle little things and individually do not amount to much. But collectively they help to build a shift in mentality that will help me to stay motivated. If you look at those Nintendo brain training games for example, they are all about repetition of activity to stimulate the mind. Well, my little bag of tricks is there to support my motivations and build up a mentality to succeed. Getting into good habits is important for successful dieting. Every cup of water I consume, every trip to the toilet, every time I open a door, will help me towards my goal. For me this isn't just about cutting out cake or going to the gym once in a while. It is a daily commitment to a healthier lifestyle and even some very minute amendments to daily routine will help me to achieve this.

My glass is now empty. Time to refill and drink to my future success!