The further we get into this program, the more they want to push us. This is a good thing, for many reasons, including pushing us outside those comfort zones, but sometimes it is fun too. Dr. Holly has made it her mission to push us out of our comfort zone. To do this, each week she gives us another challenge to get uncomfortable.
Challenge #1: No TV for a Week
This one was a tough pill for most of us in the class, for one reason or another. So this one definitely pushed us outside those boundaries of comfort. TV is something that most of us have built into our routine in so many ways, wake up and watch the news, or the Weather Channel in our house, or you have movie night with your kids, or the big games on TV. So many of us struggled with the no TV challenge, but we made it through and some even felt they learned something about how to maybe manage their time differently.
We still like our TV though.
I spent time working on my blog, adding things to our Amazon wish list, things we need out here, things for Gob. I cant say I had this epiphany and I don't watch TV anymore, but I can say that I incorporate other things in to the mix now, including exercise.
Challenge #2: Candy Baby
We came in to class and saw the table covered with candy and chips. We were not sure what to make of this. Was she going to let us eat a treat, was she testing to see if anyone tried to take a snack in class? Class started as normal, catching up on the week before, how was it to go with no TV for a week, what were our struggles or what were our wins.
Still nothing about the candy on the table, just let us all keep wondering what was going on with the candy! Finally near the end of class, she asked us to pick out our favorite treats on the table, several people only picked up a couple of things and Dr. Holly said "not enough", we had to have at least 7 or 8 pieces. Then she passed out little Ziploc bags and told us to fill them up. John, the only guy in our group, grabbed a couple bags of chips and lots of pieces of candy, way too much for our little bags.
Then she tells us this baggie of candy and snacks will be our baby for the week. We will take this baby with us everywhere we go. If we go to the store, if we go to the gym, while we are at work, everywhere.
So I took this very seriously and fashioned myself a baby carrier.
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Buckled her in on the way to work.
I decided that a good way to have fun with this would be to decorate her, so I gave her some hair and a little face.
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I know it looks a little creepy, but cute in an odd way.
This also doubled as a deterrent from eating any of the treats, I wouldn't want to ruin all my hard work. Truthfully I did not have much urge to eat any, it was a little surprising. Many people came back to class and said the same thing, there was not much urge to eat the candy, the only struggle was remembering to take the baby everywhere you go.
My baby went into the mountains and on quite the adventure. We went to Breckenridge, stayed in a hotel, hiked several different trails on the way out and on the way back, all with my Candy Baby Mei along for the ride.
Here is a video with Baby Mei in my backpack as we walk along one of the trails we like in Breckenridge.
Its hard to tell what I am saying and I honestly don't remember, but I do know I turn and say "Hi Dr. Holly"
Challenge #3: Chopsticks
So this was another challenge during the same week we had the candy baby. One of our group missed class that night because she was traveling in China for business. They told us when anyone missed class, the rest of us would have to make up for it.
So in honor of Regina, our challenge was to eat all of our meals for the week with chopsticks.
Not soups or yogurt type things, but anything else we had to use chopsticks, Dr. Holly even brought some to class or each of us. I don't really have any problem using chopsticks, but some of the others were not happy. They had never used them before and weren't sure they would be able to pull it off.
We had to send a picture of us using our chopsticks during the week and sent it to Dr. Holly and to Regina, the woman traveling in China.
Here is my picture....
Challenge #4: Make a big change in our environment
We talked in class about how important our environment is to our success in this program and in life. If you have unhealthy foods around you and they are a temptation, what can you do to change that? If you struggle working out at home, what can you do to make it easier?
This one was a competition, whoever came up with the biggest change in their environment would win a 6 Pack, this awesome cooler that is perfect for our program.
I decided I wanted to make my home environment more fitness friendly.
I bought some bands to work on my strength at home, I bought an exercise ball and I have a sponge ball. I mentioned this in my last post about getting physical. This is how all of that started. I wanted that 6 pack!
My band station.
Several different weights and styles and my sponge ball that helps with my lower back and core.
I put images of exercises I can do with the bands and the balls, as well as inspirational images to remind me why I am doing this.
Like below, me and my love.
This way when I do watch TV, the images will be there staring at me telling me to get up and do my thing. One of them literally says "Get up and use the ball"
Adam actually helped me cut out some of these images...such a good, supportive hubby!
We also cleaned off the table to make it less cluttered and I put some inspirational sayings on the wall. Anytime I sit there I have some extra motivation.
I put these sayings up all over the house, in the bathroom in the kitchen, on the fridge, even above the sink.
Of course that is the other big man in my life, Gob! That is also a sign that says Be the person your dog thinks you are, in Finnish.
But wait that's not all!
Challenge #5: Kitchen Audit
In this same week we had to do a kitchen audit, take inventory of our kitchen, clean out things you don't use, organize what you do use and make sure those are front and center. Make sure the fridge and pantry are full of ingredients that are SOS friendly. It also helps to make your kitchen work better for you.
Like I do quite a bit of baking and measuring now, so it helps to have my measuring cups and baking things within easy reach. The whole point is to reinforce the idea that your environment makes or breaks your success. If your kitchen is a mess and unorganized and you don't know what foods you have and what you need, it will be that much harder to be successful and follow the program.
So hear is our fridge after the audit, it was already in pretty good shape with ingredients, I just organized and designated zones for certain items. This helps me know what goes where and when things are getting low. It also helps me plan my meals day to day, knowing what I have makes this a much faster process.
Here is the freezer too, that is Ezekiel bread in the orange package. Phase II friendly and its actually really good...check it out.
This is the pantry, pretty decent size and it is much more organized, with the same concept of designating zones for certain things.
OK on to the next week
Challenge #6: Veggies
This week we came in to the classroom and the table was covered with all kinds of vegetables. Asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, rutabaga, leeks, twelve in all. One for each of us, and they all had a number by them. Just like the last time, class went on as usual and we waited to see what was in store for us and the veggies. I think we all knew what would happen, and some were dreading what veggie we would end up with. So finally she pulled out a bowl of numbers and we all picked one, and we got the vegetable with the matching number. I got leeks, and was not upset.
I have had them before and know how to prepare them. The idea was to challenge us to use a new veggie or find a way to make something good with a veggie you may think you don't like.
There is a second part to this challenge. Whatever we make we have to share with three other people, and not family or anyone else in our group.
I came home and told Adam, he was excited too, he started getting ideas right away on what to make.
The pics that follow show the process of making a chicken and leek soup.
Fresh leeks
Peeled and cut down
Chopped and soaking to get them really clean.
Onion, carrot and green bell pepper, boiled herbed chicken in the background ready to be shredded.
Here Adam is shredding the chicken, such a good chef.
He is a big part of my success on this program too, super supportive and always ready and willing to help in any way he can.
Getting ready to put it all in together, homemade chicken stock.
I added some ginger, lemongrass, lime juice for a slightly Asian twist to it.
I think it turned out pretty good.
I decided to take my soup to work with me and hope that they liked it.
This is me, Lorena, Kim and Teri, they all enjoyed it and finished their cup. Thanks to them for being good sports and taking a photo with me.
We had yet another challenge in the same week.
Challenge #7: Autopilot
This week we had to come up with a plan to put one routine into practice that makes it easier to make decisions on autopilot. Mine was preparing my foods in advance.
I made a video of me prepping my baby carrots and ricotta cheese for the week, this allows me quick items to grab and go, or make my lunch for the day quickly. When you eat six times a day, four of which are at work, you have to plan ahead and know what your meals are through the day. I actually like this part very much, it helps to make food less of a comfort or filler, but more a part of life, its just what I do.
Here is the video for your pleasure.
Most of us really like these challenges, we may grumble our way through it sometimes, but in the end we learn something from it. In the grand scheme of things, I have learned a lot about myself. I know I am stronger than I thought, and if you know me that is saying something.
It is still a difficult process and I may describe things here in a rosy light sometimes, but I don't want to diminish the impact of what I am going through. I have many things to figure out about myself and this has kick-started a major period of reflection and I am so grateful for that. Moving to Colorado is part of that too, while I am sad to leave family and friends behind, out here I am able to have a fresh start so to speak, clear my head and buckle down, all those cliche things.
They are all true.
I am trying to make big changes and it is a process, sometimes its a hard process, but worth it.
