Resilience Training -- Protein and Rainwalking

I love walking in the rain but have not done it for some time, since my regular walking program fell apart oh, say, 8 years ago. So I was really happy when I managed to get up early this morning and it was raining but still quite warm. Somehow walking in the rain is more meditative, because it keeps you in the present. It also makes me aware of my posture; I've learned not to stoop against the rain but stand up into it. Neither way makes the rain stop falling on me, but walking normally without a hunch is much more comfortable. A little life lesson, courtesy of the rain.

I've had protein shakes for lunch the last few days. This is not something I thought I would ever do. Having schooled myself in nutrition for vegetarians, I have always felt quite sure that extra protein in the form of powders or bars was something no one would ever need. Of course, that was back when a typical lunch for me was brown rice and lentils with carrots. Now a typical lunch for me is "oops, it's 2 pm, I'm starving . . . I guess I'll just eat a little snack now, and then have another snack every 20 minutes until dinner . . . " Among the many flaws of this eating system is the effect is has on my blood sugar, especially if the snacks are crackers, rice cakes, even granola bars.

I got plain old Whole Foods 365 brand vanilla powder. I'd like to educate myself on the various kinds of protein, but . . . too much contradictory info. My nutritionist suggested just trying a variety -- rice, soy, whey, etc. I don't want to have it more than 2-3 lunches a week, but it is rather convenient when I'm in danger of going too long without food.

I think my project for today is cleaning in my office so that I can get my light box plugged in. The shift to shorter days suddenly seems abrupt, and I am feeling it!

But -- I can say that this month for the first time in many months my period was not heralded by a week of major breast tenderness, so I think some aspect of my RT program is having a positive effect on my hormones.