I have decided that I am going to start a 30 day challenge to kick start my healthy lifestyle. All you hear about lately is life changing fad diets, which in the best case scenario, you may lose a couple pounds. Unless you have a healthy lifestyle, as soon as you stop that fad diet, the weight you lost will come back.

The 30 day challenge I have created allows for some quick, easy and healthy changes that will become part of your everyday routine. Changing your lifestyle is not easy, but the small steps in this challenge will allow you to make changes for the better. Small steps can lead to big changes.

I challenge you to try these small lifestyle changes with me. Keep in mind, this is not a challenge to lose a massive amount of weight quickly, but rather to create a healthy lifestyle. If you stick with this challenge and turn it into your everyday routine, you will lose weight, and most importantly, feel better.Remember that success is not a big step in the future, success is a small step taken right now.

I will be updating along the way and will share my struggles, successes, and ideas with you throughout it all.

Contact me and let me know how your challenge is going and what changes you are making for the better  – good luck and lots of love!

Week 1 Update: Realizations

This week brought about a lot of realizations – how little water I really drank, how much soda I consumed, and how difficult it is to stay positive. I thought I drank a lot of water, but in reality I was not even close to what I should be. Also, I do not buy soda, but this week made me recognize all the lunch meetings, quick sips here and there, the mixed drinks…all of that adds up and adds up quickly.

One of the most awkward things was making myself look in the mirror and say something positive. It seems so simple, but it feels abnormal to speak to yourself in the mirror. Once I got over the unusual feeling, it was a great way to start the day. I know this is an easy challenge to forget, but try your best to complete this challenge every day.

I did miss a few days with doing the squat part of the challenge being so hectic at work, the squats completely slipped my mind, but I did my best to make up for them when I got home.

One trick I did learn this week was to buy a pill organizer. This allowed me to fill in all my vitamins for the week and keep it right by my sink which reminded me to take them every day. If not, lets be honest, I do not think about vitamins at 5 in the morning getting ready for work. You can purchase one at any of the big chain stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc.).

This week I am planning on working out at least 4 times instead of 3. Also, I received a great tip from a reader and will try fruit infused water this next week to help push that 1 gallon of water! Thanks for all of your input and Good Luck with your own challenge! Stay strong everyone and keep pushing through.

Week 2 Update: Progress

This week has been a crazy one! With the holidays it is always hard to stay away from the sodas and junk food while  keeping your routine intact. The trick is to keep your final goal in mind and surround yourself with those who will support your efforts. If you have people in your life that pressure you to go against your own personal goals, have a discussion with them about why you have this goal and why their support is important to you. If after this conversation they do not support you, move on. True friends will support your goals and help you, not bring you down.

This past week I am seeing progress. I have lost a few pounds, which is great considering that this is extremely hard for me to do. More importantly, I am feeling better! I have been fortunate to have clear skin, for the most part, but I always tend to have those one or two problem areas that always pop up. They are gone! My skin is clear and softer than it was before I started the challenge.

Also, I have not craved coffee in the morning and I am surprisingly awake. My headaches have gone away and my digestion is more regular. I always thought I drank enough water before, but until this challenge I did not realize how much more water my body actually needed!

Thank you again to my amazing readers and their tips & tricks! Thank you to Theresa who pushed me to try the fruit infused water, it has been a life changer! We are halfway there – KEEP GOING!!

Week 3: Homestretch

The challenge is almost complete – only 6 days left!  Being more positive to myself, drinking a gallon of water a day, working out at least 3 times a week – it has all become second hand nature for me and I am loving it!!

I am writing this post from the airport waiting to board and head to LA then Vegas. This will definitely be the hardest part of the challenge coming up. Although I will be in Vegas, I have decided that I am going to push through to the finish line. No soda, no pasta, no chips….this is going to be interesting! I will keep you updated! Wish me luck!!

DAY 30: Challenge Accomplished

The challenge is done! This challenge has opened my eyes in so many ways. It pushed me in the right direction to a healthy lifestyle and made me realize all those little things I did that were only hurting me on my journey.

I plan to continue this challenge as my lifestyle, minus all of the squatting if I am being honest. It is not always easy to work out for three days, drink a gallon a day, or to say no to those delicious chips in the middle of the table, but you have to remind yourself how amazing you feel when you stay on course.

I hope you had fun during this challenge and learned a lot about yourself and ways to improve your health. I hope you take some of these habits, if not all, with you in the future. Thanks for doing the challenge with me and keep pushing to your own goals.