by Paige Clark
Day 8. It’s hard to believe that there are only two precious days left of my very first iGnite Re-boot! It has been a great experience so far and I’m already looking forward to incorporating what I’ve learned into my post-reboot life.
After getting a little over 8 glorious hours of sleep, I started my day with hot lemon water and apple cider vinegar while reading my devotional in the peaceful quiet of morning. (Note: Don’t let this fool you. While I earnestly wish that this were how I started each day, most of the time my mornings look nothing like this. Thanks to the Reboot I have been afforded the opportunity to refocus my time and choices and I’ve taken full advantage!
I’ve been so thankful for this time to focus on being intentional with each choice that I make throughout the day. From what I eat and drink and how much time I spend outdoors, to the way that I use my time just before bed and the number of hours I sleep each night — it has been an enlightening experiment!
Breakfast: A parfait of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries & a hard-boiled egg white
I’ll be honest and say that the first five days of the Re-boot did not really affect me. I didn’t feel any different than I typically do during a normal week and I did not know what to make of it. To be fair, my perfectionist personality lends itself to a rather disciplined lifestyle. Given that my regular eating habits and exercise routine tend to fall within the boundaries of the Re-boot already, my primary goal for participating was to learn how different foods affect the way that I feel. I have to confess that I’ve basically failed at this goal.
A delicious snack of almonds/walnuts and a peach while digging through work emails
I have been blessed/cursed with the ability to be completely content eating the same foods repeatedly and it has been more difficult than anticipated for me to branch out. I’m not opposed to trying new things, but I also know what I like and I am not very creative when it comes to food. Plus, I don’t cook. However, rather than beating myself up over not achieving my original goal, I have allowed myself to adapt my focus to varying the way that I eat rather than what I eat. More specifically, I have found that eating more frequently throughout the day and incorporating more protein into each meal has resulted in significant change for me. I still haven’t completely figured this out, but I am enjoying the challenge!
(Late) lunch: Spinach and kale salad with chicken, avocado, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, and a dollop of hummus. Not pictured: an apple.
Most noticeably, I have been finding myself eating at odd hours. I ate lunch at 2:30pm today. That would have never happened pre-Reboot. My only answer for this is that eating more protein throughout the day keeps me fuller longer and that I am learning to nourish my body with wholesome foods when I am hungry rather than when the clock tells me it’s mealtime.
During the opening luncheon, I quickly identified adequate sleep as the Reboot component that would be the most difficult for me to accomplish, so I really shouldn’t be surprised that this has presented itself as another key to my Reboot experience.
Highlight of the day: Spending the evening under the trees at beautiful Pease Park for Metabolic Circuit Training with Kathleen and an amazing group of iGnite women!
During the first half of the Reboot, I found myself struggling to fit in the minimum 7 hours of sleep per night and I was waking up exhausted. I love sleep, but I will admit that it is the first thing that I sacrifice when it comes to free time. I will find things to do around the house until late in the evening or wake up extra early to fit in a run before heading to the office without giving it a second thought. But sleep. Sleep is key. I slept for over 10 hours on Saturday and I woke up feeling like a new person. Since then, all of the other components of the Reboot seem to have been given new life and I have been feeling great! Prioritizing sleep is definitely going to be my number one take-away from this experience.
Post-workout dinner: Quinoa, black beans, and avocado with a side of green beans and asparagus. Another reason that I am thankful for the Reboot is that it has introduced me to quinoa. I know. Where have I been, right? Quinoa has basically been the extent of my branching out, but it just might be my new favorite food!
Time for bed and Day 9 ahead!
the iGnite blog 
What amazing observations you’ve had Paige! I love what you have learned from the Re-boot. I love experimenting with our bodies, as the Re-boot allows us too, and I love that you’ve been able to sleep more. Sleep is the key for me and it sounds like it’s one of yours too! Thank you for sharing, Paige and yay Day 9 of our Re-boot journey.
I love this, Paige! You, like Chelsea, are so real, honest and relatable in our writings. I enjoyed reading your observations. SLEEP IS THE BEST!