My NY2012 HealthyFab Action Plan!

I'm super excited to start the New Year! The new year is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to hit the reset button on some of the goals you weren't able to meet in the prior year. In 2012, I'm aiming for achievable and actionable goals with a roadmap to guide me. By sharing it here, my hope is that you'll be motivated to set your own realistic goals as well.

Above you'll see my road map to reach the ultimate New Year resolution-->losing weight. You'll see that I put an achievable and actionable number to my ultimate mission. And to reach this ultimate goal, I've outlined the steps I can do to make it happen. Here's the breakdown of each, including the reason/purpose:

Train and complete the Warrior Dash in May: When I first heard that this was an obstacle course that involved "fire jumping", I said absolutely not! But I was super intrigued by feeling of accomplishment I would achieve if I finished it. To say that I leaped over fire, climbed a wall of rope, and crawled through mud would be amazing! Imagine the stories I could share during happy hours? It's also a chance to bond with new friends who have an interest in being physically fit as well. And I figure that training for the marathon could only help me get slimmer in the process, so it was a win-win all around. Since I'm doing it with a bunch of friends and I'll have to pay to do this, I'll be less likely to quit.

Become a strong BodyAttack instructor: Once upon a time, I was trained to teach BodyAttack. It's one of the hardest aerobic classes I've ever taken in my life. I soon took a timeout from teaching this class because it was so hard to keep up with physically. I think I'm the only BodyAttack instructor in the history of group fitness to gain weight after becoming trained. Well, now that I've gained all my 68 lbs back (previously lost via WeightWatchers), I needed that motivation to get back on track. What better way than to put myself in front of 20+ people every week, pushing them to their max? I want to be that role model who can motivate someone emotionally and physically and in order to do that; I need to get my body in check. Having people count on me will definitely keep me disciplined in the long-run.

Increase my water intake: I know there are a lot of studies out there that say you don't need to drink a lot of water to lose weight, but my body says differently. Perhaps by drinking more water I'm less likely to drink calorie/sugar induced drinks like wine and diet soda, thus making my weight loss even more successful. Drinking a lot of water also makes my skin healthier and my energy higher. I have a huge jug that I carry around with me and that seems to do the trick. And with the two action steps mentioned above, I'll surely be able to stick to this goal in the long-run as well.

Cook well-balanced meals: I'm a frequent visitor of the frozen food aisle and the fastfood driveway. Even if I think I'm making healthy choices, I'm eating foods with a lot of sodium and I'm less likely to have a well-balanced meal that includes fruits and veggies. When I cook at home, I'm more likely to add important food groups to my plate because I have more control of what I eat. Over the past month, I've taken the time to look closely in the grocery store to find "wholesome" foods with the easy cooking ability. I also invested in a George Foreman Grill which has really increased my protein intake (95% lean white Turkey Burgers are the best!). I figure now that I'm almost hitting 30, I should know how to cook a few things besides scrambled eggs. Plus, it saves me money and I'm all about that!

Instead of being so general and drastic as "going to the gym every day for 3 hours and eating only carrot sticks," I've included steps that I already have planned in the coming months (i.e., Warrior Dash, BodyAttack) and things that I can form into lifelong habits (i.e., water, cooking). After reading many articles about New Year’s resolutions, I've learned that many people quit within the first month because they try to do something that isn't their norm or something that they can stick with for the long haul. For example, in 2011 I made the goal of working out in the morning before work at least 3 times a week. Week after week, month after month, I would try for a few days and then slowly give in to the tempting bed that pulled me away from the gym. I've finally learned that as much as I'd like to be, I'm not an early AM workout person. When I planned workouts that were after work or at a more decent time in the day, I was more likely to stick with it.

Bottom Line: Hopefully my show-and-tell will encourage you to create your NY2012 HealthyFab Action Plan. Maybe you want to lose weight, become a runner/jogger, or become less-stressed. Whatever it is, make sure it's something you can incorporate into your everyday life.

Staying Healthy in a Bad Job Environment



Anne Hatheway in a Devil Wears Prada



I recently read an article providing advice on what to do when you loathe your job. I instantly thought of my many 20something (and beyond) friends who currently in the "I wish I had a better job, but I don't want to seem ungrateful because I know it could be worse" boat. Many 20somethings are still looking for a job or in a job that makes it hard to get out of bed every day.  It's hard to find a job because we don't have "enough expierence" or we're doing a lot of the grunt work because we're at the bottom of the barrel. Both situations can cause a lot of stress in your life which can lead to unhealthy habits/behaviors. One part of the article I read gave great advice about keeping yourself healthy in your body and in you're mind. This is something that we can control despite whatever situation we are in. Here are a few tips that might work for you.

Staying healthy while looking for a job

• Use your extra time during the day to work out. This is a great time to explore new fitness classes and/or work outs (hiking, perhaps). You'll reap the benefits of physical activity including mental alertness, confidence, and a positive attitude.
• Enjoy the luxury of getting a full 8 hours of sleep. You never know when you might have to pull late nights or super early morning, so now is the time to reap the full benefits of a good night's rest.
• Find healthy recipes that you haven't had time to try out before. Not only will you save money by cooking at home, but you'll also save calories.
• Don't turn to alcohol and poor food choices to fill the void you might be feeling. Of course there are many health factors in mind--but you don't want to feel like crap or not be able to fit into your suit in the event you're called into a sudden interview for your dream job.

Staying healthy while in a job you don't like

• It's easy to lose the motivation and energy to workout after a draining day in the office. I highly suggest getting your work out before you get ready for the work day. That way, you're getting a nice dose of endorphins and you won't have to worry about losing your motivation on your way home.
• Take your vitamins! Lately, I've been a huge fan of vitamins. Since I've been taking them on a daily basis, I have more energy, I'm more focused, and I'm more calm. All of these things help reduce the possibility of stress.
• Don't let your local McDonald's or Subway be your daily kitchen. Just as you can lose motivation to work out, a long day at the office can take away your energy to cook a well-balanced meal. If you really don't have time to cook, try to make healthy options. Grilled, not crispy. A 6-inch instead of a foot long.
• Create inner peace through meditation or therapy. Almost every Sunday, I take a BodyFlow class in the morning. I love it because it allows me to stretch out all my tired muscles and then we end with a 15 minute meditation session. By the end of class, I feel all my anxious nerves melt away and I'm not as frazzled about the upcoming work week. I'm also a huge supporter of seeing a therapist. If you're really struggling with your job and can't find a new one as soon as you'd like, talking to someone who can listen and provide constructive advice is a great idea.

Bottom Line:  Don't let any job situation--postive, negative, or in between--mess with your health. Keep yourself a priority, which means keeping up with all of your doctor appointments, work outs, and healthy diet.