It's Just 21 Days...

Do you have any idea what you can accomplish in 21 Days?  I have found myself to be far more effective at my goals if I plan in short bursts, and 21 Days is perfect. I planned and committed to 5 habits, for 21 days.  

I guess you're probably wondering how much of a difference just 21 days of  5 habits can make?  Well, I was surprised by the difference in my body, my mind and my overall spirit in just 21 Days.  But, let me also tell you, that once you've done these things for 21 days, it's very easy to do it for another 21, and another 21.... you get the idea.

Here are my 5 changes:

1.  I committed to eating clean.  The first thing that you absolutely must do is rid your pantry, refrigerator and freezer of "unhealthy", "processed" or "high fat" foods.  I filled up an entire trash can the first time I did this- I had a lot of chemo craving junk food in my pantry.  It actually felt good to toss all of the crap...  But I was seriously amazed by the amount of junk I had in there.  And when I actually looked at the labels on some of that stuff, I was shocked that I had actually purchased those items with the intention of putting them into my body.

The second thing you absolutely must do is fill your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer with "clean" food.  My freezer was filled with about 60% meat, 20% bread, 10% ice cream, and 10% pre-packaged, high sodium junk.  Now it's about 20% lean meat, and 80% frozen fruits and vegetables.

If you only have healthy food around you, you'll be a lot more successful at eating clean.  Plan ahead, stock your kitchen with healthy, clean foods that you love to eat!

2. I committed to drinking water, and I mean a ton of water.  The more water you can drink in a day the better you're going to feel.   

Drinking water increases energy and relieves fatigue, promotes weight loss, flushes toxins,  improves the complexion, maintains regularity, boosts the immune system, prevents cramps and sprains, puts you in a good mood... and wait for it... saves you money.  (Water is a lot cheaper than those sugary, calorie intense drinks that you're always grabbing.)

Some tips to help you be successful at drinking enough water:  have a water bottle that you love.  Keep it filled.  Find ways to challenge yourself, get a water drinking buddy, be accountable.  

If you're not overly fond of plain water, there are a lot of ways to spice it up!  I drank at least 5 gallons of water infused with cucumber, mint, and lemon, but you can add all kinds of fruits and herbs to water to make it not taste like water.  

3. I committed to working out every day.  Find an activity that will get your heart rate pumping for at least 30 minutes every day.  For the last month, I have been walking, at a pretty good clip while waiting to be released from surgical restrictions.  Prior to that, I was working out with the BeachBody 21 day fix.  I really loved that there was a different workout for each day of the week.  The workouts were 30 minutes long, easy to follow, challenging, and a lot of fun.  I'm looking forward to starting Piyo in the next couple of days.

Think about the kinds of activities that you like to do when selecting your 30 minutes of exercise.  Don't set yourself up for failure.  If you're not really fond of running, don't commit to running 30 minutes a day.  Find your "fun" workout, if it's something that you really enjoy, it will be easier to stick to and you'll be more successful.  

I am a strong believer in the positive effects of strengthening your body.  When I took the challenge, I was thrilled with the results.  Not only did I loose 12 pounds (I have since lost another 10), but as my body strength increased, my moods just kept getting better and better.

4. I committed to drinking Shakeology every day.  I start every morning off with Shakeology and a combination of fruits and vegetables in a smoothie.

To be honest, prior to the end of May, I didn't know anything about Shakeology (or really Beachbody for that matter).  I had just finished 18 weeks of intense chemo therapy and I felt like I was 90 years old.  I had to do something, something had to change.  

I had exactly 2 weeks from the time I found out about Shakeology until I was scheduled for a double mastectomy. I was determined that I was going to feel like a human again by the time I went for surgery, and I did.  I am now a little over 2 1/2 months out of finishing my chemo therapy, and I can honestly say that I have more energy, and feel healthier than I did prior to being diagnosed with cancer.  My surgical team could not get over how quickly my body has healed not only from the surgery, but from the chemo.  I attribute my fantastic results not only to my clean eating habits, but Shakeology.

5.  I committed to 15 minutes a day of personal development, every day.  I read motivational or inspirational books.  I researched ways to keep myself healthy.  I talked to people who were encouraging and positive. But, I did something every day that gave me a feeling of empowerment. 

Find something that motivates or inspires you, and engage in it for at least 15 minutes a day.  There's no right or wrong answer to this part of the challenge.

My first 21 Day Challenge started as the Beachbody 21 Day Fix.  But, it transpired into so much more than that.  I stuck with the eating habits and plan long after the initial challenge was over, and obviously the other habits stuck with me as well.