Well, happy 2013 to all of y'all! Regardless of how you rang in the new year (I stayed home and did nonsense like this), I hope it was a great night. Now, we're roaring into 2013, and with that comes the near-inevitable practices of resolution-setting and goal-planning. Health, fitness, and weight-loss goals are often at the top of the list, and it's apparent by the number of people who start flocking to the gym around this time of year.
I'll admit it - health and wellness goals are at the top of my list too, especially since 2012 was such an unhealthy year for me on a whole. What you WON'T catch me doing this year though, is setting a strict number ("I will lose/gain _____) or setting foot in the gym. Let me explain.
If you've seen a full-body pic of me or met me in person, you know that losing weight is not one of my wellness goals. I've been called everything from scrawny (maaga, as my Jamaican family calls it), skinny, slim, to slim/curvy. I've come to terms with what my body is and isn't capable of at this time in my life. I know that while King Magazine probably won't be knocking on my door anytime soon, I am still capable of sculpting a toned body with some muscles and curves - think the Brandy/Kelly Rowland aesthetic. I'd be lying if I said that the way I look isn't important, but what has matched or surpassed that importance is the fact that I just generally want to be healthier.
I want to improve my cardio. I want to improve my upper body strength. I want to improve my flexibility. I want to be able to do more with my body, and push it to the max every now and then without feeling like I'm about to throw up a lung. I want to run a marathon, I want to feel the runner's high, and I want the mental and emotional benefits of an active lifestyle. I do want to have some mini-mes and mini-HomieLoverFriends soon, so I want my body to be ready for that journey too. If there was ever a time to get in tip-top shape, I know that that time is now.
My goal is not to attach a hard and fast number to my health goals, but to instead work towards imbedding physical activity and healthy eating seamlessly into my life. I am working on creating a habit of health, until it becomes second nature to me. That's my goal. So, how am I going about achieving it? Definitely NOT in the gym!
As I've written before, I am not a gym rat. I get bored and unmotivated very easily in a gym. Thanks to The Daily HIIT, I have a way to bust my booty and stay challenged right in my own living room. And thanks to the #great48 challenge, I have an accountability team! The Daily HIIT is an awesome site that provides daily high intensity interval training workouts. No longer than 12 minutes long, and with offered modifications for different fitness levels, The Daily HIIT makes it nearly impossible for you to say "I don't have time." The site is very user-friendly, and I find that I actually look forward to the next day's workout. I've never been excited for a workout. Lol!
The #great48 is a fitness challenge created by @deactivatedfatgirl and @its_iriel on Instagram. This challenge began on December 31st and runs until February 16th, with amazing prizes up for grabs for the biggest transformation. I joined the challenge simply to be accountable in my health goals. Having to post photos on Instagram and engage in update conversations really forces me to stay on top of this and push through, because I know so many others are doing the same. It is a very self-directed challenge, but participants are great at sharing recipes, workout tips, and other information to motivate each other. Do I think I'll have an amazing before/after transformation photo by mid-February? Probably not, but my goal is to have regular workouts become a regular part of my life by then. That, I think I can do.
The Dec. 31st deadline has passed, but you can still follow #great48. If you're looking for motivation or great tips and references for health and fitness questions, check the #great48 hashtag on Instagram. Don't forget to check out The Daily HIIT if you're allergic to the gym like me, but still want to be challenged in your workouts. If you're looking for an accountability partner, I'll be dat! Hit me up in the comments or send me an email, and let me know!
Is health and wellness goals among your plans for 2013? If you're going strong now, but fear you might fade out, let me know! We're in this together!