stinking thinking

Today I want to write about a topic that has come up several times to me this week: negative thinking, or what some like to say in this program "stinking thinking".

Sometimes these are inward thoughts like "I'm not good enough" or "what is wrong with me?"

I have noticed for myself, they tend to be thoughts about what is happening to me or other people around me. My friend is getting a divorce, a friends spouse died, I tried doing _____ and failed, my marriage sucks, my kids are bad, I feel so tired, I have too much to do, etc, etc, etc.

It's a chain reaction. Sometimes I see it, sometimes it takes someone saying something to me for me to see it, but it happens too often, too easily and too quickly. I can be full of hope and joy, and the next thing I know all I feel is despair and anger!

The last week or two, I've been struggling a bit. Not binging so much, just overeating, but I know that is very dangerous for me, and I am trying to refocus on God and the POSITIVE. I have been praying for God to reveal to me what is bringing me down, making me want to eat lately, and I realized after hearing it over and over again this week that I'm on a negative thinking binge!

The Lord gave me a great abstinent day yesterday, and it's renewed me. He put my kids to bed for a nap today as well so I could write. And then I read what finally blasted my mind wide open in a share today and I see why I've been on this roller coaster.

What is the remedy for negative thinking?

This is what I have found that works for me:
- reading positive quotes
- reading my bible
- writing a journal about my goals, focusing on ones you have achieved
- volunteering my time to serve a friend or stranger
- cleaning something
- writing a list of gratitudes
- calling someone who has helped me and telling them thank you

I'm sure there are more, feel free to add to my list! I will be adding more over time I'm 'positive' about that!

I'm done feeling sorry for myself today.

No Mayo Tuna Salad Sandwich (for 160 calories!)

If you're like me, you hate lunchtime because you have to eat something but never know what to make.  You don't want to cook some elaborate meal because you'll be doing it for dinner, so you just want something filling, simple, and fast.

This tuna sandwich has become a go-to for me.  And since I made a resolution this year to quit eating most processed foods, this includes mayo (which happens to be a trigger food for me anyway), I've found a nice alternative: yogurt.

Now most people think of yogurt as being sweet and probably be gross for a mayo replacement, but hear me out.  Plain, WHOLE MILK, yogurt is absolutely divine, GOOD FOR YOU, and low calorie.  I refuse to use plain NONFAT yogurt because it tastes terrible, and I'm not going to eat something that tastes terrible, even in the name of weight loss and health.  There is nothing wrong with eating a little fat in your diet!  It fills you up so you're not looking for more to eat later!

I haven't had anyone else try this, so PLEASE DO!  I think its very good, and would love if someone else tried it and agreed with me.  :D

Ingredients (I never really measure, I eyeball, so these are approximates):

• Plain whole milk yogurt, about 1 tbsp
• 1 single serving packet of tuna (2.5 oz)
• Zesty Garlic and Herb Seasoning Blend (aka Mrs. Dash rip-off), 1 tsp
• Dried Dill Weed, 1/4 tsp
• McCormick Salad Seasoning (oops bad shot in the photo), 1 tsp

Directions:

This is the easy part.

Put it all in a bowl and stir it.  Ta da!

I put it on a slimwich/ sandwich thin (appx 90-100 calories per bun), add pickles, lettuce, and mustard.  YUM.

that's about 160 calories for a sandwich, folks!  And will fill you up (or it does for me) until dinner.  Pair it with a salad or a peice of fruit and you got yourself lunch!