I've often posted about how challenging certain parts of my life have been. Often times just the word is enough to elicit a groan from me. However, last year, I decided to take part in a challenge I saw on Facebook and I am so glad I did.
I was on Facebook and saw a 30 day challenge: No cookies, candy, ice cream, chips, white bread, soda, fast food, juice, potatoes or fried foods. Initially, I looked at the list and thought, no way. A whole 30 days without any of those things, I can't do that. In the past, I would have attempted for a day or two and then given in to my cravings but this time was different. I decided I was going to challenge myself. I would not indulge in any of the good foods prohibited.
At first, I struggled with what I could eat. The hardest to give up was not the junk food, it was the potatoes and white bread. I remember going to a BBQ and having to eat a burger with just lettuce because the only bread available was a regular hamburger bun. Or the time my grandmother made some of her delicious potato salad but I couldn't have any because I couldn't eat potatoes. Man...this was hard. But I persevered and made it the full 30 days. I was so proud of myself. I had set a goal and while it was a small one, I had accomplished it. This small success inspired me to keep going.
2019 was all about making small changes to improve my overall health and well being. In March, I started meeting with a trainer at work, once a week to get me to start moving. I plan on doing a post about that in the near future, so I wont go into to many details now. Ultimately, it made me a lot more active, which I am very proud of. I began walking on a daily basis and doing strength training. When the fall came, I couldn't enjoy my walks because it was too dark and I joined the gym. Not only did I join, but I actually go to the gym on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I was still making not so good choices with my food intake. I noticed toward the end of the year that I had grown too dependent on junk food and needed to make a change. Having successfully completed the 30 day challenge in August motivated me to start a new challenge in January. I then decided to do a different challenge every month in 2020.
2020 began with no junk food January. As I am doing 1 challenge a month, I thought it was fun to give the challenge a name that began with the first letter of the month. As I was successful in avoiding junk food in January, it led me right to no fast food/fried food February. Today is the last day of February and I am proud to say that with the exception of 2 fried eggs (I forgot they were fried because I ordered over easy) last week, I have stayed away from fried foods and fast foods this month.
This month, I also decided to do another challenge at the gym; the Sweat Heart Challenge. This was a list of exercises, including a whole workout for the month, created by the fitness staff. When I looked the list, my first thought was, you guessed it, nope. I probably wont be able to do it. But I immediately followed that thought with, I can't do it, if I don't at least tried. With the help of Barb, my amazing trainer, I was completed all 20 exercises on the list, including the workout for the month. Even though Barb modified the activities that I am physically incapable of completing, she still made it challenging enough. I committed to finishing the list and I cannot begin to explain how good it felt when I finished the last thing today. I couldn't believe that I had actually did it all.
These challenges are not about weight loss for me. Obviously, I want to lose weight but the challenges are about make small changes that lead to bigger changes. It is about focusing on one or two things instead of becoming overwhelmed and giving up on everything. I can commit to these one or two things and as I succeed, it motivates me to continue.
March starts tomorrow, well technically in less than 30 minutes, and this month's challenge is going to be one of my toughest: no meat. No meat for the entire month. No red meat, chicken or pork. I am so nervous about it because it is going to be drastically different to plan meals around something other than meat. I hope that by eliminating meat, it will force me to incorporate more veggies in my meals and also introduce seafood into my diet. I know it won't be easy but it will be worth it. Wish me luck!!
As always, thank you for reading and take care!!
I was on Facebook and saw a 30 day challenge: No cookies, candy, ice cream, chips, white bread, soda, fast food, juice, potatoes or fried foods. Initially, I looked at the list and thought, no way. A whole 30 days without any of those things, I can't do that. In the past, I would have attempted for a day or two and then given in to my cravings but this time was different. I decided I was going to challenge myself. I would not indulge in any of the good foods prohibited.
At first, I struggled with what I could eat. The hardest to give up was not the junk food, it was the potatoes and white bread. I remember going to a BBQ and having to eat a burger with just lettuce because the only bread available was a regular hamburger bun. Or the time my grandmother made some of her delicious potato salad but I couldn't have any because I couldn't eat potatoes. Man...this was hard. But I persevered and made it the full 30 days. I was so proud of myself. I had set a goal and while it was a small one, I had accomplished it. This small success inspired me to keep going.
2019 was all about making small changes to improve my overall health and well being. In March, I started meeting with a trainer at work, once a week to get me to start moving. I plan on doing a post about that in the near future, so I wont go into to many details now. Ultimately, it made me a lot more active, which I am very proud of. I began walking on a daily basis and doing strength training. When the fall came, I couldn't enjoy my walks because it was too dark and I joined the gym. Not only did I join, but I actually go to the gym on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I was still making not so good choices with my food intake. I noticed toward the end of the year that I had grown too dependent on junk food and needed to make a change. Having successfully completed the 30 day challenge in August motivated me to start a new challenge in January. I then decided to do a different challenge every month in 2020.
2020 began with no junk food January. As I am doing 1 challenge a month, I thought it was fun to give the challenge a name that began with the first letter of the month. As I was successful in avoiding junk food in January, it led me right to no fast food/fried food February. Today is the last day of February and I am proud to say that with the exception of 2 fried eggs (I forgot they were fried because I ordered over easy) last week, I have stayed away from fried foods and fast foods this month.
This month, I also decided to do another challenge at the gym; the Sweat Heart Challenge. This was a list of exercises, including a whole workout for the month, created by the fitness staff. When I looked the list, my first thought was, you guessed it, nope. I probably wont be able to do it. But I immediately followed that thought with, I can't do it, if I don't at least tried. With the help of Barb, my amazing trainer, I was completed all 20 exercises on the list, including the workout for the month. Even though Barb modified the activities that I am physically incapable of completing, she still made it challenging enough. I committed to finishing the list and I cannot begin to explain how good it felt when I finished the last thing today. I couldn't believe that I had actually did it all.
These challenges are not about weight loss for me. Obviously, I want to lose weight but the challenges are about make small changes that lead to bigger changes. It is about focusing on one or two things instead of becoming overwhelmed and giving up on everything. I can commit to these one or two things and as I succeed, it motivates me to continue.
March starts tomorrow, well technically in less than 30 minutes, and this month's challenge is going to be one of my toughest: no meat. No meat for the entire month. No red meat, chicken or pork. I am so nervous about it because it is going to be drastically different to plan meals around something other than meat. I hope that by eliminating meat, it will force me to incorporate more veggies in my meals and also introduce seafood into my diet. I know it won't be easy but it will be worth it. Wish me luck!!
As always, thank you for reading and take care!!
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