earthing

A month ago I announced in this space that I signed up for "Noom". Now I would love to say that the pounds are melting away and that I'll be a skinny bitch by the Fourth of July. But that ain't happening.

It's me, not them. Mostly. Frankly I would have quit after three days if I hadn't paid for it. Who knows, something might actually stick. Eventually. Perhaps if I wasn't doing it in secret, or had buddy, it might be different. But probably not. I am my own worse enemy.  Why can't I be like Lizzo and love my fast-assed self?

Noom claims to use psychology to change behaviors and therefore you lose weight. To that end, there are course materials which you read everyday. I think I'm about halfway thru the program and I haven't learned anything that I didn't read before somewhere. I hate the interface. It's all hashtags and acronyms and cute cartoons. It's the same experience I've had with self-help books: it's going in one eye and out the other. I can't remember anything two minutes after I read it because I just don't give a damn. That's a huge problem when it is quiz time. I've failed many a quiz. 

During the course portion the are often breaks in the readings where you fill in answers to prompts on that days subject. I just type x's in them and move on. I am not doing any work. Maybe if I did I'd be more successful. I just don't care and that's very wrong. I'm supposed to share them with my group. Not happening. Ever. 

However, I have started posted in the group to the coaches prompts. She posts a very broad question twice a week, or so. Usually on Friday she does something for the weekend. This week it's about Earthing. What the hell is earthing you might ask? Basically it is grounding. Spending 20-30 minutes every day barefoot and walking in the grass or the sand or the mud or a creek ... you get the idea. Reconnecting with the earth. In addition to psych and behavior modification Noom is also into meditation and mindfulness. Earthing fits right in.

I've finally made a connection with Noom. Bare feet. I love bare feet. I love walking in the grass, mud, creek and wherever else I can. I don't think it connects me to the earth or reduces my stress or any of that other ancient, yet  new age stuff. Now when someone yells at me to put on shoes I can tell them no, I'm earthing. 

Last Sunday I saw the above in the Sunday paper. I immediately sent Angel's daughter a text. Do you want to go? She said yes. On Sunday Angel, the teen, and I are going to the wacky ice cream place in P'burg for Angel's birthday. This is the true me. See creative food and want to go. Later I realized that I won't be able to eat anything but I can't wait to go. I'll take videos of them enjoying themselves.  

I've been doing Noom about six weeks and have yet to lose a pound. The first couple of weeks I gained weight. As much as four pounds. This is the first week I have fallen under my start weight. All the psycho-babble new age psychology aside I'm eating less than 1500 calories a day and logging my food. That's a  minimum of half as much as before. I've stopped grazing. I've cut back dramatically on soda (have not eliminated) and cutback on simple carbs too. Schools out and my sister is better. I have minimal stress. I think I should be losing a little weight. Maybe if I did my attitude would change.