6 Week Challenge Day 1

Subtitle - Metamorphosis Continuity 1 level 5 day 2

Ok, so I know it's been a month since I wrote anything on here, and it's not because I've been absent or not sticking to the plan or anything, just be cause... I'm lazy I guess! That's not a real excuse I know.

So I have so many things that I've been trying, in this effort to gain a healthier lifestyle, from new books to new recipes, new friends to old, I've been continuing my journey, honest! But one thing I notice is that I do a lot of reading on the subject of healthy living, whether it be people's comments on Facebook, shared recipes on health websites, blogs, e-books... you name it I'll read it. But then what's the point of reading all about it and KNOWING all about it if I don't use this information to my best advantage???

So last night I was reading (yes, again, reading) a blog of a fellow Facebooker, she's called Lamis (you can find her new blog here) and she's been having trouble making the grade too, wanting to de-bloat, and shift a few last pounds to give herself that body she desires in her head. So I commented on her blog, saying that I thought it was great what she was doing, to keep it up and that I would definitely follow her progress. I also commented that it might even inspire me to start my own challenge with myself, to give myself a kick up the backside, to put in place and use all this knowledge I have on myself. So, having slept on it, I have decided that is what I am going to do. It's not the first time I've set myself a challenge, I did a 21-day Eat Clean Challenge a few weeks ago, which shifted 4 pounds and got rid of the breakouts that I really shouldn't be getting at 40!!! And since then I've kept to my new weight (111-112 lbs) and kept up most of the habits of that 21 day challenge. These good habits include having ground flaxseed, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and wheatbran in my porridge every day, eating more protein and switching to wholegrain products instead of white pasta/rice/bread. The things I have not succeeded in keeping up are leaving the goddam chocolate alone (SO hard!!!) and trying to combine protein with complex carbs at every meal. I'm exercising enough I think for what I want to do, although even if I don't do cardio some days I do need to try to make the muscular structure work for sure, Tracy Anderson says that it's very important to keep going with that and I can see why.

So this new challenge will last until the end of November this time (about 5-6 weeks), which is quite long but I think to keep up good habits you need to practice them often. The challenge will involve:
- Eating Clean 95% of the time. I will allow myself 1 square of chocolate per day if I feel I need it and 1 other alternative (for example I can't find wholemeal wraps in the supermarket so I'm using 50-50 wheat & white ones). I will eat fruit after most meals to satisfy my sweet tooth and I will eat every 3 hours and include a good portion of protein at most meals.
- Exercising 5 times a week, with cardio at least 4 times. The cardio must be a full half hour.
- Noting my results on here at least once a week, more if news to report.


When I write it down like that it sounds very do-able, like it's not too different from what I'm doing now. But even now I'm about to post this I know I don't like to put pressure on myself by saying I'm definitely doing something, as I know I may panic that I can't do it and will just crumble in no time, so I'm going to need some good willpower and some good mates to help me keep on it. I also have to make myself accountable on here, if it's on paper it's real.

So, that's it for today, the challenge is on. Week 1 starts today. Wish me luck...

Janice.