Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week One

I don’t think its a secret that I love food. I love cheese and pasta and anything covered in butter. I have a huge appetite and I become visibly excited at the mention of take out. I am also not big on exercise. I don’t look forward to it, I don’t particularly enjoy it (although I do love the feeling of accomplishment that comes afterward) and I can be very easily persuaded into getting pizza instead. The only form of exercise I genuinely enjoy is hiking and while living in the Bay Area provides me with ample scenic hiking locations, it’s not exactly an activity I can make time for every day.

Because I’m 24, these shitty habits have yet to fully catch up to me but I can already tell my metabolism is slowing down and my days of fries for breakfast and considering shopping my cardio are coming to an end. Essentially, I need to get my shit together before I truly begin to feel like total trash.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not under the impression that I am extremely overweight. I do not hate my body. I think loving yourself and what you have is important to maintain a happy life. I don’t think I need to be a size zero to feel confident. I do, however, know that when I have taken my health seriously and stuck with a workout regimen I have felt more energetic, happier and overall just like my best self.

Obviously, I have some goals in terms of what I’d like my body to look like (can I please stop wearing down the inner thigh part of my jeans? Thanks) but this is mostly about just feeling better. I want to be stronger. I’ve always been a weak baby bird and it would nice to not have to worry about throwing my back out anytime I attempt to lift something over ten pounds.

I’ve heard that if you do something consistently for 30 days it will become a habit. So instead of going on a weird cleanse or taking a 3-week dance class where I humiliate myself, I want to try to make an actual lifestyle change. So for 30 days my goal is to eat cleaner, exercise regularly and overall just take better care of myself. I’m going to write weekly check-in posts for accountability and to show you all what I’m doing.

By the end of these 30 days, my hope is that I’m not only in better physical shape but that I’m ultimately feeling happier and more in control of my life. I know that the best version of myself is the version that feels healthy. That is my overall goal.

Check out my guidelines for the next 30 days below. And if you’d like to join me, comment this post so I can cheer you on!

EATING HABITS

Bye bye dairy

This is a hard one for me. I am a cheese’s number one fan. I love it by itself. On a cracker. On pasta. Sprinkled on a salad. Melted on some veggies. You name it, I want it. Cheese has always been there for me and I am sad to let it go.

Buuuuut, other than cheese I think this will be easier than I think. I already use non-dairy creamer for my coffee and love coconut milk. Plus, not only will cutting out cheese help with weight loss but it will also help with my allergies and arthritis.

My arthritis is in my left foot and doesn’t typically bother me since I’m on medication, however, inflammatory foods (hello dairy) tend to cause pain and discomfort. I also have terrible allergies (I’m very cute, I know) that only get worse when I consume too much dairy.

I also want to cut out dairy because my skin has been looking rough lately and I know its because of my diet. Not to brag, but my skincare routine is pretty legit so that can only mean those late night pizza orders are behind my recent breakouts. Sign.

Goodbye dairy, old friend. Hello healthier and hopefully more attractive version of myself.

Almost vegan

Not to sound like a total San Francisco douche, but I’m basically trying to go vegan here. But not completely. I’m a seafood lover and thankfully fish is pretty good for you so I don’t see myself giving that up. I do, however, plan on giving up most meats and eggs. I find that without even trying a lot of the meals I prepare for myself when I’m trying to eat cleaner are vegan anyway, so I might as well commit.

Except for fish. So, not vegan. Don’t judge me.

I guess the proper term is pescatarian. I don’t know, I might still eat some chicken sometimes. Fine! I’m not vegan! I’m sorry I tried to play it off like I was. Whatever.

My point here is that I’m kissing red meat goodbye and preparing 90% vegan meals.

No fatty foods

This one is super obvious but processed foods, fast food and anything high in fat and low in overall nutrition has got to go!

I am not a big sweets person, although I can definitely destroy a chocolate cake if need be. But where I do lose my resolve is when it comes to carbs. As you already know your girl is all about the pasta and bread. My cravings involve ordering my favorite cheesy crepe with a side of fries or a pizza with extra mozzarella and a side of ranch. But there is no room for that in my new lifestyle. At least not on the regular.

I think a once in awhile treat, like catching dinner with a friend or indulging in a slice of your mom’s apple pie, are totally justified and even necessary to maintain your sanity. Balance is important. But making these treats a part of your everyday life is what will hold you back from becoming a new and healthier you.

ACTUALLY EXERCISE

Morning walks

Because of my arthritis running isn’t really an option for me. I’ve definitely tried it in the past, with great results, except for my aching foot. Being a grandma in your 20’s is hard.

After a few days of running consistently, my foot will begin to ache and then I can’t really do much of anything. So instead I’m committing to going on morning walks at least five days a week. While I don’t live in one of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods that you see in the movies I do live in a pretty cute area that’s enjoyable to walk through.

I’ll grab my headphones, put on a podcast and walk 15-30 minutes depending on how much time I have. That way I’m starting my day with a bit of cardio and some fresh air.

Yoga

I’ve been going to the same yoga class off and on for years. You’re probably thinking “wow, she must be flexible”. Do not be fooled. I can’t even touch my toes. I’m the worst. I really only like my class because you basically get to take a nap at the end. I also enjoy checking out any of the ripped yoga dudes who are in front of me. Love a good defined back!

Other than being a pervert, I do love yoga because of the spiritual aspect as well as how much it helps relieve tension and pain in my back. Again, I am a 70-year-old woman living in a 20 something’s body.

My goal is to go to yoga at least twice a week. That may not seem like much but if you knew the motivation it requires of me to walk past all of the pupuserias and pizza joints to get there you’d understand what a feat it really it.

Investing in a personal trainer

If there is one thing I know about myself, its that I am not self-disciplined enough to really make big changes to my workout routine. And by big changes to my work out routine, I mean getting a work out routine.

I’ve always wanted a personal trainer because I do really well with accountability and I also think one of the reasons why I struggle with exercise is that I just don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

I am so not knowledgeable about what my body needs or what exercises will be the most effective or even how to do most exercises. I need help.

I went on Groupon and found a ton of great deals for personal trainers in my area. I didn’t want to commit to a high-end program without trying it first because I feel like it’s a fairly personal relationship since you’re communicating about your fitness goals and receiving encouragement and guidance from this person. I didn’t want to get stuck with someone I hate.

I’m currently in the market for someone with great reviews, lots of experience and who doesn’t seem overly intimidating.

SELF CARE

Dating detox

As a single woman in her twenties, I encounter a lot of not so romantic scenarios on dates. It’s just part of the game. Obviously, I also have good dates but those are sadly in the minority. While I am a pretty optimistic person and don’t let gross dudes get me down, it can still be a little discouraging at times.

I want to take some time to really clear my head and focus on myself without the distraction of potential connections. Even as a first date veteran, I still feel like the stress and nervousness that come with meeting someone new. I also feel the frustration of time wasted on someone who was so not worth my time. I’d like to take men out of the equation for a few weeks and really enjoy some time to myself. Time to spend with friends, with family and most of all time to really focus on being my best self.

So for now, I’m scaling back on the dating scene and making more time for me, my health and my happiness.

Creating the perfect environment

I’m a fairly tidy lady and am definitely someone who struggles creatively when my surroundings are cluttered or messy. I do a good job of keeping my dishes clean and putting things away throughout the day but when it comes to the big stuff like putting away four loads of laundry or cleaning out my fridge I’m not always perfect.

Putting laundry away is by far my least favorite chore. It takes forever but it feels so good once it’s done. It can easily remain in its bag for days and days without me noticing it until I need to find that one shirt that requires me to dump the entire bag all over the ground. Only then do I remember how lazy I’ve been and begin to consider getting my life together.

I made a cleaning chart with different tasks that can be completed every day so I can stay on top of it. I just feel happier waking up and walking into a clean apartment. I know that this will make a big difference in the motivation department.

Keeping up with daily routines

I live for my morning routine but admittedly struggle with keeping up my evening one. When I finish up work for the day I am done. I am so exhausted at that point that the thought of doing anything but slipping into my PJs and crawling into my bed is out of the question.

However, if I do immediately get into my bed I always find myself skipping some much-needed self-care time. I like to tidy up before bed, shower and do my skincare routine, give myself time to read and meditate, etc. If I get into bed just to “relax” before I do any of that, it just simply doesn’t happen.

I’m committing to making time for my morning and evening routines so I get the “me” time I need. It can be hard to find work-life balance when you work from home so that time is definitely a priority for me.

What kind of lifestyle changes are you trying to make? Tell me in the comments below!

Xoxo,

She