30 Day Challenge – Week 3

This is the fourth in a series. Read the initial post, Week 1 Progress, and Week 2 Progress.

A set-back is defined as a reversal in your progress. This past week I experienced a bit of a set back, that I wrote about in my post on The Challenge of Slowing Down. I hurt my back, came down with strep and inflamed vocal chords, and was ordered to go home and rest my voice. Then came the fibromyalgia flare. And then word that one of my cousins, who is just a few years older than me, died unexpectedly. Talk about some stress on the body.

This is what happens when you ignore the little voices in your head telling you to take it easy. Take a day off. Get some rest. If I had rested sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have developed strep and lost my voice, maybe I wouldn’t have gone into full fibro flare mode.

“Temporary set backs are overshadowed by persistence.” ~Quentin L. Cook

Week 3 Results

Although I experienced some set backs with my health and my energy levels, I was still able to keep up with the other habits I am trying to reinforce: daily gratitude and daily logging of my food.

Overall results:

• Workouts: Yoga 6 out of 7 days – a few days were some very gentle, restorative yoga for my back, but I did it.
• Weight: I have lost 0.2 lbs this week. (Overall weight loss so far: 4 lbs.) My body has been inflamed and trying to heal, requiring more fuel to recover. I am surprised I even lost anything.
• Food: Logged everything, including tea in honey, cough drops, etc. in MyFitnessPal.
• Gratitude: 7 out of 7 days
• Sleep: Well this is still my biggest struggle and my biggest fail. One night I couldn’t sleep because of back pain. Several nights I was up with post-nasal drip and a sore throat.

Developing Habits

 

 

 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” ~Aristotle

 

 

 

They say it takes 21 days to develop a new habit, so I have hit that mark. Developing habits takes time, consistency, determination, and persistence. You’re more apt to continue with those habits if:

• You tell others about what you are trying to do
• You don’t make excuses
• You develop affirmations
• You reward yourself

I rewarded myself this week by allowing my body time to heal.

Do you have some bad habits or issues you would like to work on? Consider challenging yourself for 7, 14, or even 30 days!