MY 68 Day Challenge; Whole30 Day 1

You cannot improve in one area of your life without it having a positive trickle effect into other areas.

Testing the waters before “go” day we omitted cream in our coffee about a week ago.  This seemed a little more challenging than other sacrifices.  No rich creamy coffee goodness.  No grande non-fat latte frothing in  the green cup.

To pull a quote from The Whole 30 by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig

Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard, Losing a parent is hard.  Drinking your coffee black is. not. hard.  You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse…

Truthfully, it is a little hard.  We create these morning rituals to start our day happy, invigorated, and fulfilled.  Black coffee just isn’t as rich and delectable and yummy.  There is a  positive trickle effect to drinking it black …less coffee.  1-2 cups instead of 2-3 cups.

We can do this.
What is the 68 Day Challenge?  Check it out on Facebook:  68 Day Challenge

My 68 Day Challenge; The Whole30

To successfully achieve a goal you should spend 80% of your time in planning to ensure that the 20% you spend executing can be done with excellence.  Planning on successfully completing the Whole30 program I started my planning by reading the book It Starts With Food.

After reading this book, with an open mind, I believe that adjusting your diet for 30 days can make you feel better, sleep better, think better, and perform better.  If you want to lose weight, that is an added benefit.

It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected WaysIt Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas Hartwig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is absolutely fascinating.
To those who gave it very skeptical reviews, I ask . . .why did you buy this book in the first place? Did you not read the description first?
I will be gifting this book frequently.

View all my reviews

I’m doing the Whole30 as part of a great program sponsored by my employer The 68 Day Challenge.  It’s open to the public.  Check it out!

My Whole30 Challenge

The top reason I have stayed with the same employer for over 20 years (dating myself) is that it is so great to work for a company with tremendous opportunity that encourages you to grow as a person.  Several years ago they made it even more fun to do so with the 68 Day Challenge.  Check it out here on Facebook:  The 68 Day Challenge.

W9 Manifesto-for-FB-Cover NEWThe challenge I am taking on this year – the Whole30 Program.  30 days of cleaner eating for better health.  No grains, beans, dairy, added sugar, and alcohol for 30 days.  What is  attractive about this program?
First, anyone can do just about anything for only 30 days.  Next, I love this philosophy that eating healthy is easy, it’s the psychology that gets in the way.

So, the challenge is 68 days and the program is only 30.  No worries.  This isn’t a program to jump right into.  The first few steps that I am working on now:

  1. emptying my pantry of temptation
  2. reading It Starts with Food
  3. meal planning –  for family members on the plan and those not on the plan
  4. schedule planning  

This last one, schedule planning, has actually been the hardest part so far.  Why make this program more difficult by trying to do it when there is extra temptation and will power busters?  We’ve (I’m lucky that my husband agreed to go along on this journey) moved our start date from February 23rd (the day after my husbands birthday)  to January 4th (let’s stop talking and get started) to January 8th (really, you have 2 business dinners this week).

Sofa to 1/2 Marathon in 65 Days Part 6

Oh no!  I’m late for this post.  What to do when you don’t have a schedule – wing it.
-run your favorite distance
-run your fastest mile
-run your furthest distance
-run your favorite course
-cross train
-do anything just don’t skip a day because one will turn into two, then three and then you’re back on the sofa


This week: (days 33-39)
Monday – off
Tuesday – 2 miles
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – off
Friday – 4 miles 
Saturday – 2 miles
Sunday – 10 miles (don’t worry if you walk most of this.  Try to run as much as you can)


A peek ahead to next week: (days 40-46)

Monday – off
Tuesday – 2 miles
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – off
Friday – 4 miles 
Saturday – 2 miles
Sunday – 8 miles (don’t worry if you walk most of this.  Try to run as much as you can)

Sofa to 1/2 Marathon in 65 Days Part 4


You can do this!  Starting is the hardest part, but I promise it gets easier.

If you miss a day the best thing to do is forgive yourself and get back on track.  It’s OK to miss a few.  Just don’t miss most.  If you are sitting at work and you skipped your morning run try to get in a brisk walk on a break.  Find a hallway or a staircase and get your heart pumping.  You don’t need to break a sweat to be doing something great for your body.  Just get moving.

If 5 days of running is too monotonous for you, then mix it up with a Freakin Fabulous Friday.  Get in 30 minutes of your favorite exercise. Swim, bike, lift, go to a group fitness class.  Here’s what Runner’s World says about adding cross training to your routine

“It builds strength and flexibility in muscles that running doesn’t utilize. It prevents injury by correcting muscular imbalances. And the variety prevents boredom and burnout.”


This week: (days 19-25)
Monday – off
Tuesday – 2 miles
Wednesday – 3 miles
Thursday – off
Friday – 3 miles
Saturday – 2 miles
Sunday – 7 miles (don’t worry if you walk most of this.  Try to run as much as you can)

A peek ahead to next week: (days 26-32))
Monday – off
Tuesday – 2 miles
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – off
Friday – 3 miles 
Saturday – 2 miles
Sunday – 8 miles (don’t worry if you walk most of this.  Try to run as much as you can)

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