Monday, July 18, 2011

8 Week Healthy Habit Challenge - Week One

It can be difficult trying to adjust to a healthier lifestyle. When it comes to changing their habits, most people use an all-or-nothing approach and become overwhelmed, which usually leads to failure. Our eating patterns have been established over years, conforming to schedules, cravings, and traditions. Because it takes time and commitment to develop healthier habits, this challenge will be broken into eight sections, going slowly to ensure success. Each week we will focus on changing one habit, introduce a healthy food for you to incorporate into your diet, and offer one fitness tip to help you become more active.
Each person participating in this challenge is at a different level in his or her journey to becoming healthier. In order for each individual to know what they need to change, their current eating pattern needs to be assessed. Therefore, the first week’s challenge is to find our where you are at, so you will know where you are going.

Challenge One:
Keep a food diary for 3 days. Write down every single item that you put into your mouth. The more accurate it is, the more you will learn about your eating pattern. Include all food, water, drinks, added salt, added sugar, candies, gum, condiments, sports drinks, alcohol, and even the “just a taste or nibble”.
On a sheet of paper, make seven columns with the titles, Meal/Snack, Time, Description, Amount, Location, Hunger Level, and Mood.
§     In the first column, record whether it was a meal or snack (include beverages).
§     In the second column, record the time you ate.
§     In the third column, write a brief description of the food (was it broiled, fried, breaded, did it have condiments, etc.)
§     In the fourth column, record the amount you ate (2 chicken legs, 2 cups potato chips) tip: you may want to invest in an inexpensive food scale to learn portion sizes
§     In the fifth column, record your location (kitchen table, at desk, in car)
§     In sixth column, record your hunger lever on a scale of 1-5 (5 = starving)
§     In the final column, record your mood (were you happy, angry, bored)

After you have recorded your diary, decide what your worst habit is. Do you eat at your desk? Do you skip meals? Maybe you drink to many sodas or snack late at night. Are you an emotional eater? Whatever your worst habit is, that is the one you want to focus on for the rest of the week.
For example, if you normally do not eat breakfast, at least twice within the remainder of the week, make sure you do. Have whole wheat toast w/Natural Peanut Butter, or a Yogurt with berries. At the very least, drink 8oz. of skim milk.
If you drink a soda or other sugary drink every day, begin replacing the soda with an unsweetened beverage, such as unsweetened tea, or water.
If you are eating a lot of fast food, start packing your lunch and snacks.
If you are snacking late at night, choose fruit instead of chips.
If you have to eat at your desk, turn the computer off and focus entirely on your meal.
 If you find that, you are eating because you are bored or sad, find a distraction instead – call a friend or take a walk.
If you are eating off your child’s unfinished plate, mix the food together and make it look unappealing.

Next, pick a yellow-orange food to incorporate it into your menu this week. Try something new to you. Add one yellow food to a meal each day. Foods with a yellow hue contain the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin, which appears to reduce the risk for some cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.
Such foods are yellow bell peppers, butternut squash, honeydew melon, apricots, tangerines, oranges, papaya or peaches.


Now, MOVE IT!
Begin walking for 30 minutes, five times this week, at a moderate intensity. If you find this difficult, begin with 15 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
If you are more advanced, add an interval day into your training: example: on a treadmill, run as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then recover at a slower pace for 90 seconds. Repeat 5 times. You can find some other HIIT challenges in the cardio section of the blog.



That is week one, focus on finding your worst habit, and changing that one pattern. Try one new food, and begin your exercise program with walking. You are on your way to a healthier lifestyle!

9 comments:

Dana B said...

This is great, totally do-able for a busy mom like me! I'm going to make up a spreadsheet for the food diary. Thanks!

getfitchick said...

Great! Let me know if you have any questions!

jillconyers said...

Your gradual approach is ideal for so many! It's less overwhelming and a better chance for success.

As much as I already put into healthy eating and weekly menus I was able to come up with 1 not-so-good habit and 1 new food. I'll blog more about my participation later this week.

Simplegirl said...

Great. I've started, but this will help me get through and do it well.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

this is great! I never knew how to make one and what the point of it was. thank you!

Katrina said...

I would suggest keeping it for the whole week because for a lot of people there eating habits and patterns can be totally different on the weekend and this can perhaps be where the problem is for some people, to not realise that you graze more on a weekend and eat a whole lot more junk food because it's just there??

Patricia said...

I will start the challenge and like the idea of the yellow fruit in each meal, thanks!

Unknown said...

I'm in! I'll use spark people.com for the food tracking part.