Making a complete lifestyle change in one day is nearly impossible. That's why I created the health challenge, "30 days To Change Your Ways." It's a great way to get results in a realistic amount of time. I love the idea of having a starting point to really help people say "Okay, this is the day I'm going to start making those baby step changes to reach my goals."
These suggestions are basic and easy to do. I've created a defined starting point in which to change your exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle habits to reach your goals. This is not rocket science but rather things that all of us struggle with. It's doable, it's free, it's only 30 days, so grab a friend and join us.
Below are the tasks that many of us did last week. It's never too late to start!
30 Days To Change Your Ways - Days 1-7
Day 1: Lifestyle - Day 1 should be a goal setting day, so here’s your Lifestyle challenge! Today you have to get a planner and write down your to-do list for the day. As you complete each task, cross it out.
Day 2: Fitness - Good Morning! We asked you to wake up 30 minutes earlier because it’s time to get moving! Go for a 20-minute brisk walk. Leave your house for 10 minutes and then walk back. Each day, add 1 minute, and by the end of the challenge you’ll be walking almost 50 minutes per day!
Day 3: Diet - From today forward we want you to measure out 70 ounces of water to drink per day! This should be spread evenly throughout your day, not all at once. If you are like many people who say they don't like the "taste" of water and need a little something to spice it up, we suggest flavoring your water with fresh fruits. You can soak fruit in your water the night before. Try it with lemons, limes, cucumbers, melon, strawberries, oranges, and mint. If you need a little added sweetener, try PureVia -- it's an all-natural, calorie-free sweetener.
Day 4: Lifestyle - Get your friends involved! Call or send out an email or Facebook blast asking your friends to join in and change their ways with you!
Day 5: Fitness - Stretch! Do the following stretches after your walk, holding each for 20-30 seconds:
1. rectus abdominus (core stretch)
2. child's pose - reach arms way out front (back stretch)
3. & 4. grab toe with arm, reach over and switch legs (hamstring, lat stretch)
5. runners lunge - try to touch forearms to the ground and switch legs (hamstring stretch)
6. runners lunge with a toe grab, or just stand up and grab quad (quad and hamstring stretch)
7. triceps stretch - goal is to bring your fingertips in between shoulder blades (triceps stretch)
8. hamstring hang - (hamstring, lower back stretch)
Day 6: Diet - Everyone has heard "Don't skip breakfast," so this is nothing new! The biggest challenge is if you are running out the door or you prefer just coffee. You never want to skip breakfast because it kick starts your metabolism for the day and provides the nutrients to keep you going. This truly is the most important meal of the day. If you are on the run or not sure what to prepare, The HoneyLine and Tone It Up have easy, healthy recipes.
Day 7: Lifestyle - Today you are packing or bringing a healthy snack to share with friends, co-workers, mommy groups, etc. Share with us what you brought and see if you can get the people in your life involved by having one person a day bring a healthy snack to share.
Good Luck, Gabby
