How do you respond to expectations? Is there a difference if it's the expectation of someone else or your own? I stumbled upon this concept a decade ago, and it has revolutionized my approach for myself. I respond very well to external expectations. If I've told you I will do something for you, it WILL be done. If I'm doing it for myself? Eh-- Ahem. I had to learn how to create some kind of external accountability if I wanted to get anything done for myself. For example, I walk my dog every morning. It's really good for HIM. And I get my walk as well. If it were just for me, I would have stopped a long time ago. It sounds a bit silly, but it has worked wonders for me. I simply set up my plan to work for me. Do you find you're more motivated when doing something for others and less likely to be motivated if it's only for you? Does knowing that about yourself give you an idea of how to manage your goals?

Yesterday was a long day with long travel. I didn’t arrive home until 04:00 this morning and got to sleep about 04:45. I have only slept for about 5-6 hours but decided to get up to be able to get back into a rhythm tonight. Days like today are always more of a challenge and there will be a pull to eat higher carb foods. Understanding that this happens when we are tired or stressed, helps us to make better choices. For me personally I might have a more lax day and get back to it tomorrow. Some people will stay on plan on holidays so there is no getting back to it. I like to be less strict. Some holidays are just off plan. What do you do on holidays?

I have the most amazing butcher.... he knows me so well. Thick yellow fat as often as he can. He has been so good to me over the years. My dilemma is what do I buy him as a thank you gift? He doesn't drink alcohol. He has everything available that I would have bought any other person.

For much of this trip, I wasn't in charge of the food. Initially, I stressed over it -- There were a few times when my choices were very different from what I normally eat, yet it was all part of the experience, and stress was robbing me of the experience. Thankfully, this group helped me realize it was better to be grateful for friends as we shared a meal, whatever that meal was. And then, I noticed the trousers I wore on the plane over were looser. Hmmm. Now, back in my normal routine, it all seems to have balanced out. Granted, I was a little hungrier for a couple of days after enjoying more of the whole experience than I normally would. Then things settled back down. Hmmmm. I've been keto for over a decade. I'm adapted to it, so it seems a few unusual meals don't destroy my lifestyle. That's not permission to stray regularly, but it does seem it hasn't created a crisis, which is good information. It frees me from worrying about "the perfect plan." Granted, I'm also a moderator, so I know it has to be different for abstainers. Have you noticed diversions from your normal plan working for or against you?

There’s a great verse in a Chris Stapleton song called Starting Over. The verse goes “But nobody wins, afraid of losing And the hard roads are the ones worth choosing Someday we'll look back and smile And know it was worth every mile” Nobody wins who’s afraid of losing! Ain’t that the truth! Fear robs us of the chance at succeeding! If you don’t risk the option of failing then you don’t have the option of succeeding! I also love the line “the hard roads are the ones worth choosing”! The epitaph on Capt Matthew Webb’s grave (the first man to swim the English Channel in 1875) reads “Nothing great is easy”. At the start of any journey there can be fear and trepidation. Having a mindset that accepts and embraces the fear in order to succeed and knowing that there’s a reward in the effort to achieve hard one things is a worthy endeavour! I hope that makes sense! I keep hearing that song and that line always gets me thinking so I thought I’d share it with you all ☺️