Clear your mind of can’t. -Samuel Johnson
Hitting the first week mark of the 100 day JOLT challenge, and we are still going strong. It feels good to have set a goal, and even better to have shared it with you all. Putting it out there makes it real for me, and makes me accountable. That’s a good thing. I will tell you below what we are doing. Please note, we are in no way experts in any of this, just a husband and wife who want to fit into their summer clothes and feel good.
Eating: We are counting calories and limiting our carbohydrates ( not eliminating, just limiting). We are looking for healthier choices of non processed foods, and we are watching our intake. We have pretty much eliminated processed sugar. The first few days were tough, but once that sugar was gone, I started to feel better. And, my appetite stabilized. It’s funny, as we are not following a specific and regimented diet….we are just doing the things you know you need to do.
Exercise: we have recommitted to exercise 5-6 days per week. That exercise can come in any form we choose, provided we get our target caloric burn. I have also decided that I would like to try to get my 10,000 steps per day. I wear a bodybugg, a device that I put on my arm to measure my calorie burn. I connect it to my computer and upload the information, and enter what I ate, and it shows me my caloric balance. For me to lose two pounds a week, I need to have a deficit of 1000 calories per day, as there are roughly 3500 calories in a pound. I love the instant feedback of a bodybugg, as it tells you if you are doing it or not. We have both weighed ourselves and measured.
We walk, both on the treadmill and outside. I have started to do the Tracey Anderson Mat workout, and I love it. It looks like it should be easy, and it is not. But the workout flows nicely and goes fast. I am trying to do that every second or third day.
Emotions: And here’s the important one. We all know what we need to eat and how we should be moving through our life. But our thinking, this is where it gets tricky. You see, half the time, we don’t even realize what we are saying to ourself as we look in the mirror. We are not fully aware of the self talk that is happening each moment of the day.
I have had a long relationship with my weight. I also understand that part of this weight is related to the emotions of losing Stephen. I have allowed it to both comfort me, and perhaps keep others at arm’s length. But it is time to let it go. Recently, I was getting ready for a speaking engagement, and as I stood in the mirror, I was focused on my midsection. Let’s just be honest folks. I do not have washboard abs. I looked at this section of my body, tugged at my shirt, checked to see how my jacket would conceal it, interrogated my husband about it. (poor guy just can’t win in that line of questioning)
And then I realized. I am going to talk to a room full of people about positive thinking, gratitude and hope. And here I am, only seeing my waistline and the size of my arse in my bathroom mirror. Does that make sense?
It doesn’t.
So, I am going to change it. You might think I am talking about change by losing weight. No, the first step in change for me is reminding myself that I am beautiful before I lose an ounce. I am okay. I am deserving.
Positive thoughts produce positive results.
I have labeled this year,
The Year of Ready
I am ready to step out, and not only write but speak. I am ready to let go of the things that bind me, and I am ready to push beyond my limits. I am ready to see my beautiful, imperfect self and love it. But I am also ready to give it a fighting chance. To give myself some love. It’s time to take the next step.
So, each day, I am meditating. I am becoming aware of my thoughts, refocusing them on the positive and keeping my promise to me.
So, if you are joining us on the 100 day JOLT, or if you are working through your own challenges, remember this. The first step is believing in yourself, and recognizing the power and beauty that sits within you, always, without chaging one darn thing. Just the way you are….
If you have decided to join us on our 100 day JOLT, feel free to email me. We would love to share your successes with the group, or maybe you have some helpful tips for others.
Have a great week JOLT’ers,
Kelly
