The Art of Journaling


I think it is easy to find the journal a pain in the you know what when you don't *use* it. Or when you don't want to *see* what it says. But when it becomes a tool, and you like the information, then it comes alive. Let me give you a specific example. Yesterday I was prowling around feeling grumpy. And I was thinking about sweet things, LOL. I wrote in my journal, *I have no idea what is going on*..then this little voice says, *Oh, count back 4 days and see what you find, woman!*. Well, four days ago I made the decision to cut butter out of my diet. Butter raises BE. 4 day effect = craving and grumpy. I was just laughing at myself.

Now, I like to think of myself as pretty skilled with my food. But without my journal, I would be just plain stupid because I do not and cannot remember the kinds of details that tell me what is really going on. I would like to think I do, but I do not. I miss the details where the data is.

So here is the thing...if some one comes in and YELLS, 'I HATE MY JOURNAL'!!!!!!!, my response is *Oh, don't be silly, don't bother with it. We are such drama puppies. That is part of being sugar sensitive. But....(smile) if you want what we have, do what we do.

If you want to stay wrapped in fuzz and depression and drama, then you can do that too. And I do not mean this judgmentally at all. I say this to myself. If I get sloppy with my food plan, and I do from time to time, then my life gets sloppy. It took a long time to accept the direct correlation. I didn't want it to be that way. I wanted it to be *stress* or getting older or the time of the year. But it is not, It is the quality of my food plan...which means food, timing, JOURNAL.

Many people ask what kind of journal, what do I write, how much do I write, what if I just put fine a hundred times, what if I lose it, what if someone reads it and a thousand other questions. It really is very simple. We made up a journal for you that works really well. If you don't like that one, get one that suits you. Use a simple note book. Write enough to know the story. This is for you, not for perfection. Give yourself data. If you put *fine* in for your feelings a hundred times, use the feelings list in Your Body Speaks to teach yourself new words for *fine.* If you lose it, get another. If someone reads it, shrug and keep writing. This is not a personal, intimate discussion where you bare your soul, it is a log to teach you to make connections about how you feel and how you do your program. You don't know yet how they correspond. Journal, journal carefully, and find out. If you want what we have, do what we do.

(c) Kathleen DesMaisons 2006 All Rights Reserved