Holidays on Horizon. Hands! Who’s Up for a Health & Weight Loss Challenge?

Gorgeous snow dress found at FreyaArtAtelier.

Hello Thrivers!

As you know, I’m not a fan of “losing for Thanksgiving,” where after the guests go home we head for the rocky road. I’m certain that how we engage with food is the only way to say buh-bye to the endless yo-yo lifestyle (and when I say goodbye, I mean forever).

Also, if you haven’t yet read these two habit books, if I were a billionaire, I’d send each of you these books. They are absolutely awesome. The first is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Both books have spent forever on the top bestseller lists.

I am proposing a Holiday Health & Weight loss Challenge.

Take a look.

Pearl One

The conductor stands outside of the train and asks Hero Boy,

Conductor: “Well… you coming?”
Hero Boy: “Where?”
Conductor: “Why to the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!”

At that our hero shakes his head no, but as the train moves away something grips the boy inside and — realizing he’s about to miss something very interesting — he runs hard for the train that’s gaining speed, and jumps aboard just in time.

And now I am asking you, “well, you coming?”

We have 16 days to hop-scotch our way to Thanksgiving.

After Thanksgiving we have five more weeks (and two days) to hopscotch to Christmas. And then we have seven days after Christmas until New Year’s Day.

How would you like to wake up feeling on January 1?

Can you live now for the benefit of January one-you?

I’m getting slight chills as I type because this will be fun! I’ll be honest, I’m not in love with the word “challenge” because it indicates – to me at least – the idea of winners and losers. That’s not us.

I don’t want anyone left behind. I could have called this idea a “weight challenge,” because I know that’s what you most care about: the scale going down.

And I understand. I remember well the mornings of fury that came from stepping on a scale and seeing an abysmal number. Not a fun moment, not a fun rest of the day either.

So, when it comes to the scale, I won’t tell you what to do.

I’ll just tell you what I did. Initially (for the first two or three years) when I started losing in earnest, I put the scale away. In my heart I was going with the idea that shifting my habits would lead me to the pot of gold.

And, it did.

Think of it this way: you’ve weighed yourself in the morning for years. Leashing yourself to a morning weigh-in hasn’t been that effective, right?

But when we strengthen our food habits, the scale will follow.

How can it not? (A great journaling prompt btw.)

So our Late Summer/Fall Extravaganza-Challenge is about developing rock-solid habits that will enter our lives to be our forever allies.

If we have 16 days until Thanksgiving, I’m proposing that we plan to create two habits that matter to each of us (we’ll all be slightly different); and for the remaining month of November focusing on those two habits (see Pearl Two and Three for more info. on focusing).

Ask yourself: what would January one-me be thrilled about? The plan is to begin embedding — in our heart and souls — two strong new habits that will strengthen our weight and health plans for ourselves forever (we’ll continue these two new habits throughout September, but for now, focus on September first).

I deeply believe that losing quickly is the goofiest notion pushed by the diet industry. In the comments below, list which two habits you’d love to begin embedding by November 24.

Here are mine:

1. Habit one: I will roast veggies early in the day to eat as a tiny dinner at 6 p.m. each night.
2. Habit two: I will get back to eating my oatmeal bowl everyday (this habit had to be set aside when I started a liquid diet to heal my inner cheek that I bit. Braces-related.)

Climb aboard, you’re just in time. ♥

Pearl Two

Guideline suggestions for your two new habits. Both habits you choose need to be chunked down and do-able. We know from experience that attempting to create huge, sweeping change only lasts as long as we grit our teeth and willpower our way through a new habit.

Not a recipe for habit success.

Let’s plan to incorporate small habits — that are actually huge — that are reasonable, ones we can stick with once we hit the “messy middle” and want to stop (or “forget”). These are the types of habits I’m talking about:

• “I roast veggies and have them for my tiny dinner.”
• If I have a habit of eating sugar throughout the day, “I limit sugar to evenings only.
• If I’d like to eat tiny dinners, “I have a teensy meal by 6:30 p.m. and then stop eating.”
• If after dinner I raid the kitchen and feel awful the next morning, “I go to bed early with an excellent book and I print out — and use — the following for kicking a bad habit (here).
• I carry food in my cold tote bag every day and don’t eat fast food.
• I eat a small bowl of petite carrots each day.
• Notice how I use the present-tense? I don’t say: I plan to do X, or I wish I could do X, it’s “I eat a small bowl of petite carrots each day. You already have the skill, now you’re turning the skill into a habit (two totally different things). ♥

Pearl Three

A new month and a new topic for Pearl Three! This month is perfect for talking journaling. You know why? Because journaling is the best way I know how to stay committed to a long distance goal.

I say this often because I know it to be true: your brain is so much more awesome than you’ve given it credit for. When you face difficulty or want to create something spectacular for yourself, give the job to your brain. Your brain will take you where you want to go.

One of the ways we keep ourselves focused on the goal — to create amazing habits — is through the written word.

Here’s one key to establishing a habit: write out your goal 15 times each day. Like, I eat a bowl of petite carrots every day; I eat a bowl of petite carrots every day; I eat a bowl of petite carrots every day.

After you write your 15, then journal about your two habits: what’s hard about establishing my habit today? If I slip — because of course — how do I bring myself back in alignment with my habit-goals? What new cues do I need to bring my new habit to life? (Ex: one way is to leave a bowl of petite carrots wrapped in cellophane where you can see it in the fridge so you can’t “forget” to eat them.)

Speaking of forgetting, I’ll write an entire pearl on the topic, but for now ask yourself: how do I remember to engage with my habit on a daily basis (knowing that “forgetting” is how I allow myself to ease out of a new plan when it becomes difficult or boring)? ♥

Pearl Four

Food! You’ve got to be a coffee lover for this tip to work. Most mornings I make coffee in my large French press (sometimes I make the coffee the night before and leave it in the fridge). I add the coffee and ice cubes to the blender and then add a scoop of vanilla protein powder. I whir it up for at least a minute to make sure that nothing is lumpy because bleck-o.

Then I pour the drink over ice into my giant sippy cup (with a straw). And voila! I have a really tasty vanilla coffee. ♥

Pearl Five

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” — Anonymous ♥

Speaking of the “messy middle” I think I’m in it right now with kayaking. It’s a bit of a drive to get to the lake, and then last night the clouds were looking ominous, but we decided to go for it. It was wonderful for about fifteen minutes, and then it started to sprinkle (how amazing, I thought).

Then it rained harder giant raindrops splatting onto the lake; a gorgeous sight, nature in full splendor. And then, a rainbow appeared!! We were all so excited. It was funny to see the ducks gliding along — clearly not phased by the rain — and as if to say, “humans are so weird.”

But then it kept pouring and in a flash it wasn’t fun anymore. I paddled back to shore and drove home soaked to the bone.

While any activity will hit the “messy middle” learning how to navigate the terrain once the newness wears off is vital for our lives. Last night’s kayaking started magically, became chilly, but will forever go down as one of the best experiences ever.

Plan to create two habits you’d like to focus on for the rest of November. Share your habits in the comments below or write to me: Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com.

Let’s make it a productive fall together!!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

I’ve been asked if I could include something like Buy me a Coffee on the Inspired Eater. So if you feel up to sending a coffee, I am a devotee. You’ll find the coffee “button” to your right. And, as always, thank you so much for reading the Inspired Eater. ♥♥♥