Surviving December - Dealing with "Things"

Going into December, I knew it was going to be a struggle to stay consistent. The Holiday season brings not only festive cheer but added ‘things’ going on. 

It’s not that I don’t love all of you, but I have a hard time balancing ‘things’. 

There are gatherings galore. Everyone wants to get together and spread holiday happiness. It’s not that I don’t want to see people, but I’m struggling with putting out my decorations. Which I did.

Score one for me.

I end up baking and cooking more for these events. At work I’m known for maybe two things. Other than my winning personality. 

Artichoke dip and Sugar Cookies. 

 

The artichoke dip is pure cholesterol. On top of cholesterol. With some artichokes for good measure. Thankfully, it’s also really easy to throw together.

The Sugar Cookies, I admit, are pretty solid. They also take more planning as I have to mix the dough, let it chill, and then find time to cut and bake them. 

On top of that, December is the end of the semester. Students are feeling stressed and need help with projects that they may have neglected to do earlier. 

No judgements. 

Add in dropping temperatures and snow. I like snow, it’s pretty. Everything inside is toasty and warm while outside is another story. I’m less inclined to go for a walk which, truthfully, is my go-to, oh snap I don’t feel like working out in the gym today, exercise. 

Lots of ‘things’. 

I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad or lament about my life. 

I’m telling you because I’m pretty sure we all have times when life is full of added ‘things’ and we have to figure out how to keep going regardless of those ‘things.’

And if you’re someone who never has outside ‘things’ going on, um… can I have your life? 

 

My strategy for dealing with December is adjusting my expectations. I tried to be realistic with what I could and could not accomplish. 

Last month was the 30-day challenge, and while someone suggested participating in another 30-day challenge this month, I decided that was a bad idea. This is not the time to load on added stress to do another thing. 

I set my goals – remember how I set weekly goals? – to what I’ll call my default. Activity for 30 minutes 5 times a week. Trying to hit my step goal. Sticking to my calorie limit. 

I’m also aware of the ‘things’ going on that impact me. I have less time. I get more stressed. I might not be able to hit my goals. This month, I’m okay with that. I accept that outside forces can impact my life and this month especially, I give myself leeway. 

I’m going to hang out with my friends and family. Some days I might not track what I eat. But not MOST days. Most days, I will stick to the plan. 

And if I don't make it to the gym or the pool (which I hear is kinda cold right now), it's okay. I can still walk. One year (or two?) I walked a mile to work every day and I decided that it was only when it got to single digits outside that it was truly too cold to walk. 

Basically, when ice crystals form on your eyelashes, its too cold.

I’m also choosing my treats (see Cake and Choices). That artichoke dip, yeah it’s good. But it’s not calling to me. I haven’t made the sugar cookies yet, but I’m positive I will eat one, or two, of those. 

Maybe THREE. 

Listen, I can eat all the cookies I want!

If I deny myself EVERYTHING I’ll be unhappy. That’s kind of unrealistic. But I also can’t eat all of the goodies that spring up. I have to choose. 

 

So out of all the things before me, which thing do I want the most? 

Sugar Cookies. Hands down.

In fact, this reminds me of something a wise man once told me. I’m going to leave you with his sage advice.  

“You can have anything you want, you just can’t have everything you want.”

#LevelUp – What I Learned from the 30 Day Challenge

I recently completed a 30 Day Challenge with my online Facebook group Coaching for Geeks.

If you don’t know what Coaching for Geeks is, go back and read last week’s entry. I’ll wait here.

Did you finish? 

Good.

Anyway, the group hosted a 30 Day #LevelUp Challenge, with the goal of leveling up, or advancing, a stat of your choice. And, for those non-geeks out there, a stat is defined as a skill of our choice. Some people chose to practice a language or promote a business. There was lot of choice.

There was even a prize – a SNES Mini (among other things).

I didn’t start what I’ll call my Wellness Adventure to win prizes. But I mean, if I can get prizes, I’m not going to complain.

Okay. Truthfully. I actually have a perfectly good, functional SNES from you know.. back in the day, that I barely use. So I’m not sure what I would do with a SNES Mini…. But I digress.

Moving On.

I choose working out or activity as my stat. I had to do some form of exercise for 30 minutes every day. This could be walking (which is my go-to if all else fails), swimming (30 minutes of laps), workout videos (I subscribe to Daily Burn and Les Mills), or using the Treadmill at work. Oh, and let’s not forget Wii Fit for 30 minutes, which is always good in a pinch.

I posted evidence to the group every day. Usually a screen shot from my FitBit app or a photo from the activity I did (picture of the treadmill display, for example). I also posted (almost) daily selfies to my Instagram and Facebook page.

In the end, I was one of 16 people (out of 37) who completed the event every single day. That’s actually a pretty impressive stat of 43% who completed the challenge. Not to mention those who completed at least half of the challenge – 81% according to my math.

I mean, I’m not big on math, so there’s that.

I think the real question though is, what did I learn?

For starters, I learned that I CAN, if I choose, fit some kind of exercise into my day, every day. 30 minutes isn’t that much and if I plan for it, I can accomplish it. It was even kinda fun sometimes trying to switch around what I was going to do (which video would I do today? Is today a walk day or a swim day?). I even had some challenging days, like Thanksgiving, in the middle of that madness. Even when faced with turkey and family, I managed to walk around the field near my mom’s for 30 minutes to stay active in the challenge.

I also learned that, as annoying as it might be for some, I liked posting the daily Instagram and Facebook posts. They gave me an opportunity to reflect on the day and how I accomplished my goals. It also was a great way for me to gauge how I was feeling, because a few days I was “not quite right.” 

The challenge also motivated me to stay active and I felt a bit of a letdown the week after the challenge as I set my weekly goals. I don’t have to push myself to be active every day – there’s no incentive. As much as I didn’t need the incentive when I started my wellness journey, it was a bit like throwing a proverbial carrot in the mix all the sudden. Now I have to readjust to no carrot again.

I DON’T LIKE CHANGE AND READJUSTMENT.

But I can do it.

As for changes - when you’ve been losing weight for a few months, it’s hard to identify what was special about one month specifically. I did, however, notice that I could go faster for longer on the treadmill. My goal will be to workup to walking two miles in 30 minutes on the treadmill. I’m really close – last time was 1.8 miles.

And if I lose much more weight I’m going to be out of clothes to wear, so that’s a thing.

Finally, I think the biggest question is, would I do it again?

My answer is yes, but not if it was an every month event. Because the #LevelUp Challenge was for a limited time and had a pre-determined ending, I felt motivated to complete it. If this became a monthly challenge – or I went out and found a new challenge every month to complete – I’d eventually get bored and stop participating. There’s something nice and manageable about this event being just one month.  

One and done.

For now.

Unless the next 30 day challenge.

Someday in the future.

Perhaps Nega Robin will make his return!