New Year's Resolutions or an Alternative Plan

Happy Day One!

Ah, yes... it's that time of year... NEW YEAR's RESOLUTIONS... to resolute or not to resolute!

According to Psychology Today,  an estimated 88-92 percent of new year's resolutions fail!  That's pretty striking when most new year's resolutions are usually a decision to stick with something we should be doing anyway... like eating healthy and exercising, growing intellectually or spiritually, paying off our debt, etc.

But I've heard rumblings of alternate plans for New Year's Resolutions so a failure isn't an option. I've also heard rumblings of flat out refusal to commit to a change for the better during the upcoming year.

I'm in full support of what you decide but can I try to encourage you in the direction of appreciating your worth and taking some steps toward positive change and growth?  Go ahead and stop right here, if you are satisfied with a life of simply converting oxygen to carbon dioxide.

Below are some alternate plans I presented for 2019.  Plans to help us know our value and live our lives to our fullest potential for ourselves and those around us. 

Seriously, no one likes hanging around O2 converters.  Just sayin'.

1.  Plan some positive goals but in smaller chunks of time this year.  Like for every season, there's a new goal or a new goal for each new month... Here's a seasonal example.

• Winter:  Start a gratitude journal
• Spring:  Start expressing your gratitude for others actually to them!
• Summer:  Start a photo journal of fun times with your family and friends.  I know we have busy schedules and this might be limited to a funny joke on the way to cheer camp, but do it anyway.
• Fall:  Go outside as much as possible.  If you have allergies, take your zyrtec and go play.  Chances are you are suffering inside, so you might as well enjoy the outside too!

Get creative with some goals related to how you want to change, ways to be creative, or just making time for you!  Self care is highly under utilized.

2. Focus on those you really value or find joy in being around and love on them intentionally this year.  We've all got those folks in our lives that have just been there forever... but you've outgrown them or interests have changed.  No longer are they an investment in your growth and life.  They are just making withdrawals that you cannot afford.  Make a list of those worth your valuable time investment.  Then find ways to spend time with them.  This doesn't need to be a huge investment of time to show your appreciation to these folks. (this includes your family)

• A monthly dinner outing (not the quick drive thru or fast meal before a game or church)  A time to celebrate each other and share a casual and delicious meal.  This doesn't have to be at a fancy place either.  Honey and I have great breakfast dates at the Huddle House!  
• A coffee or a lunch date (an hour of your life once a quarter or once a month)
• Taking a walk at break time with work friend.   

3.  Think about things you used to do and DO THEM this year!

•  Did you used to be really into art or photography?  Take a community class.  You can find help with the kids, if you have them and offer to help in return so your helper can take classes too.  Encourage them to do things they love!  
• Did you used to ballroom dance?  Go find a ballroom club and waltz away some extra stress and/or pounds
• Did you used to love to lift weights or jazzercise?  Join a gym!  A lot of clubs let you sign up for $1 in January for maybe a 3 month commitment after that.  Go for it!

4.  Focus on your health and wellness this year

Don't let your health (physical and mental) go.  You've only got one body to live in and you have loved ones that truly want to enjoy a long and full life with you.  

• See your doctor regularly so they can monitor changes to your baseline health.   
• take quality supplements
• eat whole, clean, and monitor your portions.
• cut out sugar and drive thru food as much as possible 
• drink lots of water
• MOVE! (I don't mean move to a new city {unless that is needed for your better health})
• Minimize stress and find ways to manage and cope with stress
• eliminate bad habits (excess drinking, smoking, laziness, complaining)
• Pray and/or meditate.  Make time to be still and quiet and really listen.  

These are just a few ideas to set yourself up for rocking 2020! 

Feel free to share some of your New Year's resolutions or alternative plans for 2020 in the comments.  

I'd love to cheer you on!

My Honest Review of Beachbody Clean Week

My Honest Review of Beachbody Clean Week!

Raise your hand if you have been approached "randomly" by anyone promoting their week long accountability group for health and nutrition?

via GIPHY

Okay... so we've all been PM'd.  BUT let me make a recommendation.  If you have a friend that is a Beachbody Coach or you have built an engaging relationship with one on social media, do yourself a favor and take them up on the offer.

That's right, JUST DO IT!


via GIPHY

In all seriousness though, I have been approached by numerous new followers that have randomly invited me into their accountability groups.  I really enjoy watching their journeys and their encouragement.  Right up my alley!.  When I have been invited to a challenge group or boot camp, I try to briefly explain that I have had complications from a mystery virus that has left me with lingering chronic fatigue (more than just a little tired) and periodic swollen glands and that a 7 day in a row fitness group is not an option, I sound like I'm making excuses even to myself.    Ha ha!

In Apirl of 2019, I noticed my swollen glands and fatigue levels were improving.  I was still doing at home exercising but had increased from 3 days a week to 4 or 5.  However; I wasn't really feeling any progress other that the workouts I was doing were feeling easier (I was getting a bit stronger).  But I knew I needed something else.

Perfect timing, my co-worker's beautiful wife Kelly posted on Facebook that she was going to do a 5 day accountability group for fitness and nutrition.  I knew she was a Beachbody coach and despite my pre-judgements, I clicked like and said "me!".

After sending that comment to join her group, I had regrets already.  "What am I thinking?"  "I can't do this!"  "I'm 50 and out of shape, trying, but out of shape." "Everyone will think I'm a joke!".

So here comes Clean Week.  I unfortunately didn't get off to a great start.  I was accidentally put in the wrong group so I didn't get the menu in advance so when I grocery shopped, I purchased the best I could gather we'd eat.  Basically what I normally make for meals.  Monday rolled around and I was not getting notifications or anything so I got up and did my usual workout and planned my healthy eating day as normal.  My coach was awesome and got me in the correct group and it was loaded with all sorts of awesome information, tips, encouragement and the dreaded check ins with sweaty selfies!!!!

Ugh, I hate selfies, let alone ones where I look worse than normal.  Ha ha.

Day 1 was a bust other than on nutrition and water.  But, at my haphazard check in, I was encouraged nonetheless by the group leaders and participants.

My awesome coach helped this Beachbody website challenged girl, find the Clean Week Program on Beachbody on Demand (BOD) so that I could do the workouts everyone else was doing.

Here's a preview:  Clean Week Overview

Being the bad rule follower that I am, I worked out of order on the workouts.  (insert snicker here).  I only cheat myself here guys.  Because my workouts mainly consisted of 20 minutes of pilates, callenetics for 30 minutes, the treadmill and elliptical once a week, I started with the Active Flex workout!  It was tough but good!  Just what I needed.

Day 2 check in was a bit more encouraging to myself!

Day 3 I did the Core Function Workout and although worked mostly on the modifications and took breaks, it was tough but good as well.  I felt good about my check in.

Day 4  OH MY GOODNESS, I could hardly move.  All I could say was, "lunges, squats, and sumo squats are evil!".  So I went off the wagon and went back to my easy pilates workout but could hardly do it.  But I was in an accountability group and had to do something!

Day 5  Thank goodness this is the last day!  I did the Strength workout (barely).  I was still pretty sore from the Core Function.  Check in was on target.

Day 5 I was surprised to find out the program was 7 days and we still had access to it on Beachbody  on Demand.  I took the time to do the Active Flex again as well as the Strength again (I never braved the Cardio workout).  I also reviewed the actual nutrition guide and saw that how I normally eat was pretty on target but I got lots of ideas for future meals and snacks.

Day 6 results?  Well, I just turned 50 this year and I have struggled with my weight since I was a kid so I didn't expect much.  I had been exercising regularly but not as much as I need to due to the virus junk so I realized how bad of condition I was in but I was totally inspired and motivated to move on and get stronger.  My goals are really improved health and strength.  If I can get into smaller pants later on, I'll be thrilled but if I begin to get stronger and feel better, that is success to me.  So tangible results:  I only measured my waist and weighed myself.  I gained 2 pounds BUT lost 1 inch on my waist!  My weight gain was mostly due to inflammation from the sore muscles and I started my period.

Day 7, I invested in myself and purchased BOD!

7 weeks later, the scale still hasn't moved but I've lost 2 inches in my waist, an inch in my hips, my hiney is still huge but it sits a little higher, and my arms lost 1/4 inch each.  I also lost that much on my thighs.  I can  also do Core Function without being unable to walk for 3 days.  I am just a bit sore the next day, so with the scatterings of workouts that I'm doing I am definitely getting stronger and my short attention span loves the variety of workouts that I have access to.  I believe my weight not changing is due to muscle gain and I hope that will soon turn into fat loss as I progress.  I'm up to 6 days a week of working out and joined a full time accountability group that continues to offer the check ins with sweaty selfies, tips, and encouragement.  I love it.  I'm actually enjoying exercise.  I also can't believe I just said that.

An additional note to follow up on my regrets: I am thinking now, "I want to continue to get stronger regardless of my age!"  "I did do this and continue to do this!"  "Everyone has encouraged me and it's been wonderful."

My honest review recap... Get started with a Clean Week or with a Beachbody coach right away!  Need a coach? Email here

For your entertainment, here a few of my sweaty selfies.