The human brain is an amazing masterwork, able to think and reason, create incredible things … and lie.
Yes, lie.
To ourselves, that is.
Not the little white ones, but bald-faced, nose-growing lies.
These past few weeks, I’ve been taking part in a 30 Day Healthy Challenge run by my friend Kristen under the auspices of her business, InterPlay Health.
I’m on my second round, having learned the first time through that Pinocchio has nothing on me.
It’s been quite an eye-opener (and I recommend that you give it or a similar type challenge a try).
I have been rather smug about how healthy I live — not over the top, but healthy. I was sure of it.
After all, I am a Jazzercise instructor. I don’t eat fast food. I always have a glass of water on hand, and I certainly get my share of fruit and veggies.
Healthy Challenge? No problem.
One my one, the days set the record straight:
Oh sure, I always have a glass of water on hand. I just don’t drink that much of it.
Veggies? Well, no, not actually getting the recommended servings each day.
Protein? Fell short of that recommendation, too.
One of the challenges this week? Track your steps each day with a pedometer and see if you can reach the recommended 10,000 steps daily.
That’s cake for a fitness instructor, right? Well, not so much.
That’s right — even on days when I taught class, I didn’t reach 10,000 steps.
In fact, today is the first day all week that I mastered it. And that was thanks to going to Jazzercise, running a bunch of errands, cleaning the house and then taking a walk around the neighborhood.
I’m so giddy with excitement, I’m going to celebrate with a big bowl of ice cream.
Pushing on a Rope 
I find the lies I convince mysel of to be equal parts frightening and impressive. Seriously. I am the classic “carry water but don’t really drink it” kind of girl as well. For me, these types of challenges are life changing. If I have a specific perios f time when I’m supposed to be “perfect” I can totally do it. For the rest of my life? heck no. But if I get a good solid foundation of “no cheat days” for 30-60 days I have a much better handle of my off days. Wether it’s diet, exercise, quiet time, whatever- that’s how I work best.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Vicky
(I’m the girl from The Pursuit of Normal;)
Posted by lablover22 | April 2, 2013, 1:35 amVicky: Sounds like you’ve got a good plan going. Everything in moderation, one step at a time. Kristen will have another healthy challenge soon — come join us.
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | April 2, 2013, 7:24 amOhhh, that is so hard to do everything that is recommended in a day. And 10,000 steps is a lot. Kudos to you for getting it in on at least one day.
Posted by heidi | March 31, 2013, 8:22 pmI’m determined to do it regularly! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back again!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | March 31, 2013, 8:24 pmVacuuming adds extra steps, doesn’t it? (forward and back, forward and back) And laundry, too? Come on, don’t I deserve ice cream, too?
Posted by Jackie | March 31, 2013, 5:41 amOf course you do!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | March 31, 2013, 7:32 am