I’m managing to hold the line at 205 pounds despite monkey mind bobbing and weaving all over the place. I’m feeling pretty good about holding steady. I mean, better than springing back up to 210! I have to face the fact that 205 pounds has always been a difficult set point for me to breach. That’s where I sputtered out on both The Zone Diet and Lindora. Only The Plant Paradox has been able to break me below 205, which it did pre-covid when I managed to get as low as 196. I aim for a repeat plus another 12 pounds and am prepared for this to take a significant amount of time.
Zero+ ; Lucky ; M: 157 ; C: 119 ; P/U: 75 ; W: 4.5 mi
Health R.O.S.
- Weight: 205.1
- BMI: 27.8
- Fat %: 21.1
- Water %: 57.5
Monkey Mind Runs Amuck
This morning, I focused my meditation practice on the mindfulness of breathing. This is a deceivingly simple practice. All you need to do is count your breaths. When a thought arrives, say Drinkie for example, you say hello, shake it’s hand, and send it on its way. The whole idea is to not allow yourself to get ‘hooked’ by any thought. Sounds easy. In practice, monkey mind can make it very difficult to stay on task.
While it’s tempting for me to believe I have graduated from meditation basics, any wise student who hopes to master a discipline knows that to truly master the basics requires constant practice and lifelong commitment. You must do it over and over if you ever hope to do it right.
It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.
– John Wooden
The fact is that my Monkey Mind is almost stubbornly active even 157 days into daily meditation. Thus, I feel compelled to return to the basics of meditation and revisit the 31 Day Introduction to Guided Meditation in my Lojong App. To quote John Wooden again:
We will begin by learning how to tie our shoes.
– John Wooden
Poor Dejected Drinkie
While Monkey Mind may still be giving me a run for my money, my old pal Drinkie has continued his slide into silence. He’s still present, but he’s more kinda hangin’ around the periphery of my mind. He’s become like a forlorn past relation, keeping his distance and looking dejected. Conquering my pot addiction with meditation was my first master stroke and Drinkie knows he’s next.
Make each day your masterpiece.
– John Wooden
Of course, I’m not fooled. I’m not about to let this headfake cause me to lower my guard for a moment. But there’s something in Drinkie’s change of posture that has me considering if there exists an authenticity to it. It’s the most remissive he’s been in decades. He’s either given up or is regrouping. I tend to think the latter. So, I must cast a wary eye his way until his intentions are fully revealed.
Onto Day 98
