MY 30-DAY CHALLENGE
* NOTE: This post and series may be triggering for some who suffer from body image issues or eating disorders, so please do what’s best for yourself before moving on and reading the below!
Right now, in the world we’re living in, it’s been kinda hard to take care of yourself. For a lot of us, we can’t turn on the news or use social media without seeing something to cause some type of stress, anxiety or depression. And the fact is, if you aren’t able to take care of yourself – how are you supposed to take care of the people you love and the world around you?
Today, (Monday, June 8th), I begin a 30 day journey to reclaim my health. A 30-day challenge. Physically, mentally and spiritually.
WHY? Because I want to, because I have to, because I need to. For the next 30 days I’m going to be unapologetically obsessed with taking care of myself.
It’s not going to be an easy 30 days, in fact, depending on how well I do (or don’t do!) I may extend it out to 45, 60 or even, 90 days! Thing is, I need to hold myself accountable because I know that otherwise, I probably won’t follow through. And so you, loyal PYM followers, are going to be my accountability partners.
So, let me introduce myself. Hi! I’m Emily. I’m a 30-something digital marketing account manager in the music and entertainment industry living in Ann Arbor, Mich. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University and have hopes to earn my MBA from the University of Michigan. I love football, spring, writing, Instagram, chocolate cupcakes, my cat Toby, bonfires, my precious nieces + nephews, God, and country music.
And here’s my plan for the next 30 days.
+ Get in some type of workout every single day. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to be doing super strenuous workouts daily – some days will likely be “active recovery,” such as a walk outside or some yoga.
+ Eat mindfully while still keeping myself under a specific calorie goal. I’ll allow myself one “cheat meal” per week + one dessert per week (not necessarily the same day). Food should be enjoyed but to get myself into a place where I’m HEALTHY I do need to be mindful of what I’m putting into my mouth.
+ My overarching goal is to lose 50-ish lbs. Obviously, that is not going to happen in 30 days. That would be unhealthy. A “healthy” weight loss, according to some experts, is no more than 2 lbs per week. So, my goal over the next 30 days is to lose 5 – 10 lbs.
+ Weigh myself daily. For some, this may be triggering, but for me, I need the data. I need to know what is and isn’t working for me so I can adjust and conquer!
+ Take weekly measurements. The scale doesn’t tell the whole story, so it’s important to REALLY get ALL the data. Just because I’ve only lost one pound, doesn’t mean I’m not slimming down – muscle takes up less space than fat, so I may be slimming down but muscle is replacing fat so the scale isn’t really moving.
+ ACCOUNTABILITY. I’ll be using social media and weekly journaling – hello, welcome to my journal – as my accountability. I’m committing to ONE post here on PYM every week, but maybe if I feel the need to write more, I might send something else Alyssa’s way. [PS: Follow me on Instagram: @emilymariev]
+ Find a balance. Working in social media (and music!) it’s sometimes very hard to find a work-life balance.
+ Bible Study. I haven’t chosen a Bible study yet, but that’s also because I haven’t found the right one for ME. My goal over the next week is to find the perfect Bible study for myself and then immerse myself into until I complete it.
And that’s that. Welcome to my next 30 days, happy to have you along for the ride.
xx E