Sue’s 7 Day Eat Healthy For Life Challenge
When I heard that my blogger friend Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond was inviting people to join her in her 7-day Eat Healthy for Life Challenge, I knew immediately that I would join in the fun. This challenge, in the supportive environment that Sue provides, is just what I need at the moment, to kick start my own Stay Healthy in Isolation challenge. I should say, my intended Stay Healthy in Isolation challenge. I had such big plans, but unfortunately, they are still plans, not reality.
When it came time to start my challenge, I really didn’t feel like it. Ive done many 12 week challenges and I usually have no problem following their guidelines. They usually give me fantastic focus, but this time the focus was missing, so I didn’t even get started. I gave myself permission to take time out for a short time, before attempting to start something that would take my absolute focus as I gave it my all.
When I first realised that I needed to self isolate, and so would have more spare time available, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to spend more time concentrating on my health and wellness. I knew that, without focus and without being intentional, the days would just run into each other, and I was likely to turn into a blob very quickly. So far I was right! To date my efforts haven’t been at all startling, or even worthy of a blog post.I haven’t exactly turned into a blob, but I’m on that road, and it wouldn’t take too long, if I keep going the way I am now. I’m very sure of that, and I find that thought terrifying.
I have been in self isolation for just two weeks and already I’m feeling very blah. Don’t get me wrong. I love my life in lockdown but in living a more relaxed life, my standards have definitely dropped. I’ve still been exercising, but usually a shortened version of what I would usually do. And as for healthy eating, at our house over the past two weeks, it has been more like unhealthy eating. Not completely unhealthy, but nowhere near as healthy as usual. My No Chocolate Challenge was put on hold over Easter, as there is no way I could say no to Easter eggs. To take a break from no chocolate’ was my intention all along. It’s now two weeks after Easter, and I haven’t got back to the no chocolate challenge yet, so it’s now time. Not to mention the Easter buns! We have been having them for breakfast every day! It’s time for that behaviour to stop and now. I’ve given myself a severe lecture.
I posted here about how the corona virus had been affecting me at work. Since isolating, all I have wanted to do is relax and be nurtured. I haven’t wanted to speak to outsiders at all. It was almost as if I needed time out to recover and de-stress from work and from hearing about the corona virus. Part of that recovery and de-stressing was turning to comfort food, which mostly is very high carb food. Some may see this as an excuse, and in the past I would have seen it that way myself. But at the moment, it’s the way I’ve been feeling, and I’ve been trying not to make myself wrong over it. But it can’t go on forever.
I now feel as though I’m lacking energy, and am very keen to get back to a healthy eating plan. I’m not planning a diet or weight loss plan, just a plan of healthy eating, which is sustainable long term, and which doesn’t have me feeling as though I’m missing out on anything. This is why Sue’s 7 day challenge called to me. It will be a great way to kick off my own little challenge.
My Plan
Well, that really depends on what Sue has in store for us in her challenge. But there are a few things in my mind already that I plan to do:
- No chocolate – get back to my No Chocolate Challenge
- Three meals and 2 snacks daily
- Follow my regular goal focused exercise plan – no shortcuts
- Walk Oscar every day
- Cycle three times during the week
- Early morning sessions in the gym
- Publish a daily update post during Sue’s 7 day challenge
- Journal and track each day
- Reset goals
- Relax
I’d love to hear if your approach to healthy eating and exercise has changed since the corona virus has challenged us? Have you been feeling like turning to comfort food more than usual? Are you planning in joining Sue’s challenge? I enjoy it when we have a conversation and love to reply to your comments.
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Even though my life hasn’t changed a lot, my diet has definitely slipped – as have my habits. Why is it that you need to work hard at good habits but the not so good ones are always waiting for a chink of light to show themselves again. Sigh. After working hard to drop 10kgs (and still have another 15 to go) I’ve put on over a kilo in a month and that is cause for some serious re-setting. If anyone is going to inspire, it’s Sue.
Good luck with resetting Jo. I agree that it is so easy to slip into old habits. Comfort foods seem to call me when times are stressed. Thanks again for popping in
Hi Jennifer, You seem to have great self-awareness of your strengths and weaknesses so I’m sure you’ll succeed with your healthy eating plan. It’s good to have friends like Sue to support and motivate you to complete the challenge. All the best to get your healthy eating habits back. #lifethisweek
Thanks Natalie, I think its the many years of weight struggles that help me focus most of the time.
I definitely feel better when we have a big selection of veggies at home! Days when it runs out and I need to go back to the shops are more slump days.
I agree Vanessa. I.ve just soent a few minutes planning meals for the week and vegies feature heavily, especially greens. Seems to be what I’m craving
Hi Jennifer – sometimes I think we just need to be kind to ourselves and listen to what our mind and soul are trying to tell us. For you it was to slow down, quiet down, fuel up, treat yourself a little, and just step off the treadmill of life for a while.
When you’re a driven person it’s hard to let go of all the demands you place on yourself, but when you do, you realize how much you needed it. I’m glad you’re ready to jump back into things again. I’m not at all, I’m just taking things quietly and not putting any expectations on myself at all – it’s how I’m not letting this lockdown palaver get to me.
Hi Leanne, I agree that once you start to slow down, you start to appreciate a slower life. I’m very surprised at how much I’m loving not working at the moment. Not feeling quite ready to jump back into life full on yet
Oh Jennifer I think I’m in the exact same mind-frame as you. I’ve been comfort eating, carb heavier food than normal, exercising daily but in bursts, one day I’ll ride 30km, the next I’ll sit and read all day….it’s not good but I don’t want to punish myself even further. It’s a hard time in lots of ways especially with cooler days and lots of cups of tea. Anyway I’ve joined Sue’s challenge too, so I’ll see how I go, I definitely know better than how I’ve been behaving! Good luck to you and take care x #lifethisweek
Deb I really feel that in these difficult times, we need to be kind to ourselves. I usually support a ‘no excuses’ mindset but I really don’t think that’s appropriate at the moment
Oh the times we are living in are, as they say, unprecedented and I think you do what you need to do, initially to overcome the stressors and move on. But, that said, when the body is letting you know things are not as you would like them it’s time for gentle and kind words….
I have dieted a million times and lost and gained the same weight and more…I knew what it was about, and my eating was often nothing to do with hunger of the physical kind.
My blog posts outline this in detail.
For now, for me, I remain a careful eater for my continued good health in cancer recovery but I also ensure I am not neglecting my care of my soul and if that means a cuppa with some home made goodies then that is what I do!
Thanks for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is 17/51 Life Stories#1 27.4.2020. Hope to see you there too. Denyse.
I agree Denyse. We need our treats. Life is too short to live without them