The Spring Clean Your Health Challenge

image credit ellevalentine on flickr

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling the need to really do something about shaking off the winter ‘blahs’, and get myself psyched up and ready for spring and summer!

I know the traditional time to try a new diet and/or exercise regimen is starting New Year’s Day, but, uffda, I was dragging this winter, so much so that I think I only had the energy to consider making a dietary resolution for about 3.2 seconds before decided that one more brownie was a much better idea. And exercise? Right about that time (New Year’s), I was attempting to get back into the rhythm of my Tae Kwon Do class a couple times a week (after having taken almost a year off to have a baby), and that lasted all of about 2 weeks. I just didn’t have it in me.

This winter was hard, y’all. I mean, I live in Minnesota, so every winter is hard, but every spring I’m pretty sure the winter I just survived was the hardest one yet. It’s probably the “in recent memory” thing that makes each one the hardest, but whatever it is, this winter was hard.

No sun. Cold. Not eating as well as I should. No sun. Cold. Too much sitting. No Sun. Too much convenience food. Have I mentioned the lack of sun?

Uffda.

Those nagging shoulder, back, and neck aches. That persistent sinus pressure. The foggy head. The increasing joint pain. The anxiety. The insomnia. The blahs. The crabbiness. The lack of energy.

So. Many. Reasons. To get up and start doing something about the way I feel.

I got to thinking about how spring cleaning is a thing for our homes, and well, then I also got to thinking about how this year I need to spring clean my health.

I’m just so sick and tired of being sick and tired.

And then I got to thinking about how much better it is to embark on an adventure like this with a friend or two (or three or a hundred, the more the merrier!)

And so I decided to just throw it out there and invite you all along for the ride!

Here’s my vision –

The Spring Clean Your Health Challenge –

30, 60, or 90 days (take it one 30 at a time) of better eating and exercising.
You decide the best goals for you.
Just pledge to do your best to stick with it for 30 days.

I’ve heard it said that research has shown that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Maybe I’m a slow learner, but I think sticking to something for 30 days is a lot more effective. It’s a bigger challenge, for sure, and maybe that’s part of what makes it more effective. If you make it that long, you really don’t want to just throw away that progress, right?

Personally, I’m going to be attempting my second Whole30. I’ve also listed out a few additional goals for myself, including drinking enough water each day, and getting some exercise each week.

That’s it. Starting with 30 days.

Then trying for 60, with my ultimate goal of 90 days of clean eating and getting regular exercise.

If those fast learners can develop a new habit in 21 days, surely I ought to have some pretty ingrained clean eating habits by the end of 30, 60, or 90 days, right?! (That’s my goal, and I’m really hoping that by putting this out there for all the world, also known as 10s of you, to see, that it will give me the little bit of added pressure that I will need to get through it!)

The challenge starts Sunday, March 20th, the first day of spring.

I’ll be starting on Sunday the 20th, but if you don’t want to start something like this on a Sunday, that’s totally fine! Just pick a day and start, with your goal being to make it 30 days. No cheats. That’s the goal. But if you have an oops, that’s okay! Just get back on the bike and try again!

No cheats?! What?!

Okay, here’s the thing with the no cheating rule, at least the way I’m looking at it – if you, like me, are wanting to see real and lasting change in your health (physical, mental, spiritual, all of the above), so many people will tell you that 30 days with NO CHEATING is the way to go.

So that’s our goal.

And it will be hard.

But that’s where the group effort comes in. Grab a friend in real life, or pop on into our little Facebook group, and share the journey with someone. I promise you it will make it more doable. You will be encouraged as you see someone else struggling but pushing on. Trust me. Really.

I never would’ve made it through my first Whole30 if it wasn’t for the group I was in at the time. The recipe ideas were great. The “you can do this” pep talks were amazingly real, raw, and effective.

I’m excited for that camaraderie again!

And here’s the other thing with the no cheating rule – if you slip up, do NOT GIVE UP! Give yourself a stern talking to, no shaming, but push yourself to do hard things, they’re almost always worth it, and get back with the program. Keep going. This is your health we’re talking about. This is a better life we’re aiming for.

You are worth the effort!

I have some great printables in the works for keeping track of our goals for our 30 days, including some fun water tracking stickers for your planners, some meal planning and grocery list pages, and a few others that I might pull together at the last minute. #funfunfun
(I’ll come back and link them here after I get them uploaded and posted! Somebody remind me if I forget!)

What should you do to prepare?

Good question! We’ve got about a week to work with. Here’s what I suggest –

• Grab a copy of {affiliate link warning} It Starts With Food for Kindle (you can use the Kindle App on a phone or other device if you don’t have a Kindle) and for an extra $1.99 add in the Audible audio version. With the awesome whisper-sync technology, you can read along as the authors read you their book. I’m loving it this way. Some days I’m in the mood to skim or speed read, some days I’m in the mood to just listen, and some days I do both at the same time. Audio books y themselves are often just as much, if not more, than the book itself, but when you buy the Kindle book, you get the option to add the audio for a mere $1.99. Get it. Listen in your car, or while you’re doing laundry. (You know I’m all about multi-tasking!)
• Start stalking Pinterest boards for Whole30 approved recipes.
• Plan your first week of meals. Don’t forget snacks.
• I highly recommend Well Fed and Well Fed 2 for recipes and just plain great advice on how to manage eating clean and living life at the same time. Great meal-prepping-for-the-week advice, as well as many tried and true recipes.
• Start your grocery list.
• Pick out your exercise program (if you’re setting an exercise goal as well)
• Buy some cute yoga pants or capris.
• Maybe some new tennis shoes (sometimes it helps.)
• Find a friend to do it with you!!
• Join our Facebook group! (I’ll be cheering you on!! And probably crying for support…!)
• Spend some time doing a little soul-searching, thinking about what it is you are wanting to accomplish and how hard you are willing to work for it.
• Set reasonable goals for yourself, something that is doable, but will stretch you. This should be a challenge.
• Pray for direction.

Are you ready? Let’s do this!