So many have asked what challenge it is that I am doing. A snippet of what it is: It's through 1st Phorm using the app Transphormation. My wonderful friend talked me into it (to be honest, it didn't take much talking because she's a pretty great human and I know that if she wants to do something, it's going to be pretty amazing)...so we are partners in this challenge filled with a ton of people from all walks of life. Our Advisor's name is Claire Thomas whom I've only "known" for a hot second, but loving her. I'm not an expert on any of it, but am actively learning about it all. There is a monetary award, but that isn't the reason my friend and I are doing it, we both needed a kick in the butt to get motivated and thought this would be a great way to bond together and also get better nutritionally, physically and mentally. I'm super excited about this and can't wait to see where it takes us both.
Day 1
Okay, I’m not a morning person. I’ve tried countless times to be, with no luck, but because I tend to not give up on anything, I’m giving it another go! Last night I set the alarm for 6:00am, but like mornings do, it came in a hurry, so I hit the snooze button...tossed and turned, bargained, procrastinated and attempted to tell myself, "Meh, I tried"...25 minutes later, I successfully rolled out of bed!!
Spoiler alert: the sun is not out nor any sign of it at that time. I took a shower and went downstairs to do a quick workout and promised my doggos we’d go for a walk when I was done. Well I did my workout, looked outside at 7:11am and to my dismay, the sun was still nowhere to be found. So it had me begging the question, when does the sun actually come out? Typically it’s greeting me with open arms and today, I’m waiting for it like an Amazon package I just ordered. Anyways, today’s morning attempt was that of an oatmeal raisin cookie; I was excited to get it but a little sad it wasn’t chocolate chip. Might I add that Marley and Buddy were equally disappointed as that meant their walk would need to be delayed until later.
I have found that Day 1 is usually the easiest, as well as week 1, then the weekend hits and it's "Hasta la vista, baby" (said in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice). That's why this challenge and blog are going to be so important, at least to me, because I am trying to break this habit. I heard a quote on a podcast I listened to last Friday and it just stuck with me:
"The temptation does not stop, but what does change, is the way that you respond to it."
I am working on breaking my continual cycle of responding to the temptation in the same way. As good old Albert Einstein said:
"The Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results."
I am not going to lie, I was probably the purest example of this. So going forward I decided that I need to do things differently. According to The 5am Miracle Podcast with Jeff Sanders: 10 years on one Diet, he gives wonderful tips to sticking to a healthy lifestyle long term:
Commit to learning about food
Commit to an ambitious fitness goal (short and long term)
Let go of perfection when it comes to food
Find your why
This can't be a diet, it needs to be a lifestyle change
When I heard him explaining each of these and he explained in depth what each one of them meant to him, everyone of them resonated with me. I knew that these were the things I needed to keep in mind when trying to break the merry go round I was on.
Day 1 was pretty great. Food is a big dictator in my life and I want to learn how to love it in a healthy way. I am a big lover of everyone with an addictive personality and I have been taught some pretty tough lessons (some that took me many times to learn) about those that I love, food unfortunately is another one of those lessons...I think I am ready to learn it...I've been fighting it for a very long time.
I want to close by saying that if I stayed exactly the way that I am for the rest of my life, I would be incredibly okay with that, but I also know that my unhealthy habits will not be something that puts me on this Earth for the long haul. So some could look at me deciding to change as an indication that I am not happy with who I am, when in fact, I am finally loving myself enough to give me what I deserve. Does that mean I won't be eating cookies any more or splurging on a soda, absolutely not, but for the first time in my life, I am going to learn moderation.
Happy Monday everyone!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this, as I've said before, we all have a story to tell, we just have to be brave enough to share it. I can't wait to hear yours!
Be Kind. Be Love. Be You.
Love to you all;
Shea
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