There are days when I feel like a 29-year-old, and then there are days when my 43-year-old body says “nah girl.” Some of the aches and pains come naturally with getting older, I know. Some are a result of just not treating my body right, and lately I just haven’t been the healthiest me I can be. Every year I make a vow to eat healthier and exercise more. At my age, I know that watching what I eat is important in helping me feel my best. My problem is of course – DISCIPLINE. So this year, I decided to do something about that. I decided to sign up with the Whole Life Challenge to get started on my journey to a healthier me.
What is the Whole Life Challenge?
This comes directly from their website. “The Whole Life Challenge is a six-week online game that challenges you to create a happier, healthier life by making small changes to your daily habits.” Once registered, you are free to join a group or create your own. Players earn points by completing seven daily habits, mainly “nutrition, exercise, mobilization, sleep, hydration, lifestyle practices, and reflection.” There are three nutrition levels, Kickstart, Lifestyle and Performance. I’m currently doing the kickstart level which is the less demanding of the three.
Why did I chose this challenge?
Remember that ‘discipline’ thing I was talking about earlier? Well, I chose this challenge because it is community-based and very focused on team support. Having a support system not only holds me accountable, but keeps me motivated. The fact that I get to work on changing certain habits without having to disrupt my life is another huge plus. And the changes are so doable. The motivating emails; the weekly suggested practices; the satisfaction I feel after scoring full points on every habit; the fact that I am not judged or pressured when I don’t score full points, I appreciate all that. The best thing about this challenge is having guidance and knowing that I’m doing something wonderful for myself.
My weekly prep
So this has been my first weekend of prepping, and I’m so excited! Food shopping is definitely going to be different, but it felt so good to come home with fruits and veggies instead of the ice cream and carrot cake I usually get. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I can ever really get rid of my sweet tooth, but my body needs this sugar break – believe me.
Foods I love that I’m not allowed to eat:
- Cheese (I put cheese on everything, so this will definitely be a challenge).
- Candy and deserts
- Bread (no flour of any kind)
- Fries and chips (unless they’re baked)
- Popcorn
Everything else I can eat in moderation. And of course I have to be mindful of artificial ingredients. I’m also allowed to still have my one glass of wine a day (yay).
So here’s a small peek of my weekend prep:
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- Coffee is on the compliant list, but I’ve decided to try herbal tea for the next six weeks
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- Fried eggs on corn tortillas are great for breakfast. (I fried this in olive oil of course)
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- My first green smoothie this year. Spinach, strawberries, bananas and blueberries
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- Pinterest has the best ideas for all your healthy diet goals. I always find fantastic recipes here.
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- About to finish up this chicken and veggies mix in the oven (everything drizzled in olive oil)
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- My meal prep for the next week (so proud of myself). Chicken cutlets, basmati rice, corn, carrots and brussel sprouts
How I plan to master the seven habits and be healthier
- NUTRITION: Sticking to my chart and eating only compliant foods.
- EXERCISE: Doing at least 10 minutes of cardio every day.
- MOBILIZATION: 15 minutes of yoga every morning.
- SLEEP: At least 7 hours of sleep (lately I’ve been getting much less).
- HYDRATION: Drink 8 glasses of infused water a day.
- WELL-BEING: This week it’s mindful breathing.
- REFLECTION: At the end of each day, we get to write a brief reflection of how the day went.
I’m so excited about this six-week journey, and will be posting updates on a weekly basis focusing on some of the ups and downs. Trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle can be a challenge. It’s less about the kind of food you eat, and more about changing the habits that lead you to overindulge. The next challenge begins on April 14th. If you are looking for a way to adopt healthier habits I highly recommend it. Also, feel free to follow my Pinterest meal prep board, there are some fantastic ideas you can try for yourself. Happy pinning.
