100 Days of Jenn – Summer Challenge 2023

 

What is 100 Days of Jenn – Summer Challenge 2023?  To see what I can accomplish in the next 100 days!

The first half of the year is almost over!  It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day is this weekend. Time is flying by.  It got me to thinking about my goals.  Not so much for weight loss, but everything.  Feeling better, getting more rest, moving more, stretching, getting my water in, etc.  I’ve been pretty much maintaining my weight this year – which is better than gaining – but I do need to prioritize DAILY what I want my future to look like.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it!” 

How many of us dream of doing something, or wanted to try something and we sit on the couch hoping those dreams come true?  No action = No change!  It got me to thinking of what could I accomplish in the next 100 days?

100 days seems like a long time, but it really isn’t!  August 31st would be the end of 100 days starting today.  That’s pretty much the summer to take each day – do the best I can – and those days will add up to getting closer to my goals.

What are my goals?

• Consistent movement – walking – swimming – weight training
• Concentrate on water – something I struggle with – filling my water bottle first thing and drink that throughout the day
• Get rid of things I don’t need.  Clothes I don’t wear, broken down boxes in my basement that need to be recycled, pantry items that may be expired
• Less food waste.  I’m just cooking dinner for my husband and I and even though I’ve been doing that for a while, I tend to make more than we need and 80% of the time the leftovers get tossed.
• Concentrate on more vegetables in my life.  Farmers markets are my jam and I’m so excited they are starting back up again!  I also am starting my garden this weekend growing vegetables which will help too.
• Journal.  I do great at journaling a few days, then I stop. If I want to last the whole 100 days, I would love a record of my days to see where I did great and other days when it’s not so great!

What do I need to succeed?

• Include my family for accountability.  I know a lot of people have a goal, but keep it to themselves in case they don’t accompish it.  I know that I give up on myself before a goal is met, so having people in my corner will help!
• I have time!  One excuse I make is I don’t have time (or don’t make the time) to move my body.  That’s nonsense!  I have tons of opportunity to make it happen.
• Small steps = moving towards my goal.  Sometimes I feel like if I can’t work out for an hour at a time, then why bother?  There are a ton of videos on YouTube that are 10-15 minutes long.  Do that a few times a day and that’s better than nothing!
• Attend weekly Weight Watcher meetings.  This is another key to my success.  Checking in with my WW coach (follow her on Instagram -she’s amazing and has kept off 200 pounds for a decade!)

It’s not about perfection!

Doing this challenge isn’t me working out 2 hours a day, spending hours meal prepping, and consuming my whole life.  That’s too restrictive and if I did that the whole 100 days, I would most certainly not enjoy it and by the end be burnt out.

To me, it’s being more intentional with every day.  Eating healthy makes me feel GREAT!  So why wouldn’t I want to do that?  It also will help with my high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which someday I would love not to be on medication for.

In my early 20’s I smoked cigarettes.  My parents and sister also did.  My mom’s company offered a smoking cessation course called Smoke Enders.  I’m sure the course is different today, but 30 years ago the course was on cassette tapes and you had a workbook. One of the things I still remember to this day is to think about the QUALITY of your life vs. QUANTITY.  That applies to a healthy lifestyle too.  I want to be able to enjoy vacations, having energy to do the things I want for a long time.  (By the way – we all quit smoking after 6 weeks – and my parents smoked cigarettes for decades!).

Not every day is going to go as planned, and giving myself grace during this 100 days is going to be key for me to keep going.  Focusing on healthy habits daily will result in weight loss/feeling better.

What incentives should I have along the way?

After 30 days I was thinking of rewarding myself with gifts – any ideas?  Leave them in the comments.

• New workout outfit
• Getting my nails done
• New makeup
• New stickers for my journal
• Buy myself flowers
• Get a new book

I’m excited for the next 100 days!!  I will post progress here and on Instagram  –

My favorite YouTube workouts!

• Grow with Jo!

Grow with Jo workouts are so fun!  She’s down to earth – lots of different fitness levels, great music.

• Donovan Green Fitness

Donovan has tons of chair workouts.  Yes, that’s right – you don’t even have to stand!  And many are 10 – 15 minutes long – some with hand weights and believe it or not these are challenging!

• Caroline Girvan

Caroline is an amazing person.  She’s created a series of workouts – most of them using weights – that are super challenging, but not impossible.  A few years ago I finished her EPIC HEAT program and it was awesome.

• Mad Fit

Maddie has LOTS of different videos for any level – and lots of different times too – from short to long – she also has great healthy recipes 

• Chloe Ting

A few summers ago – I did her 10 minute arm exercises – which is just using your arms only – I encourage you to check it out – it’s so hard and you are just using your arms!  (here’s the link)

I would love for you to add your favorite at home workouts in the comments.

Let’s do this!

I encourage you to join me!  We can cheer each other on!

Also – if you are looking for some healthy recipes to add to your rotation – here is a link to my Recipe index! You can search for chicken, soups, breakfast, breads, etc.