I'm so happy to present another wonderful blog post from Noor Ashouri, my fabulous nutrition student intern. We've been chatting about this idea for a while and she has written a brilliant blog post. Please take a second to share your summer chanllenges with us at the end! Have a healthy day. - Jenna
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Summer is coming up so it’s appropriate I tell you how to get bikini ready or how to lose 5 pounds in 5 days. I should probably be covering this page with pictures of models who we should try to look like. I should probably warn you there are only a few weeks left till summer so you better hurry up on a “get skinny” plan.
I, however, will be doing none of this.
The reality is we can gaze at pictures in magazines and wonder what we have to do to resemble this. We could do everything right and still not look like these pictures. We could set a goal of an ideal weight, do everything right, and still not reach this ideal weight. Our bodies are all different and an image or a number doesn’t define how healthy or successful we are.
It’s almost summer: a season to challenge yourself. This summer, challenge yourself in small ways. It’s small changes that eventually amount to a feel of success. Maybe this means using the treadmill that currently acts as your coat rack. Maybe this means reading the book that sits untouched on your nightstand. I’ll give you a few ideas and share my summer goals. For me, I always feel like anything deemed an accomplishment has to look good on a resume. This summer is about kicking down that mindset and trying new things just because I want to.
I’m a fan of to-do lists. Things have a tendency to get done when I take the time to physically write it and the list is staring at me. Plus, there’s no more exhilarating feeling than crossing something off a list (except for maybe making omelets).
Write three things I am thankful for every week (with minimal repetition)
The key here is “minimal repetition.” It would be easy to write Mom, Dad, and the invention of the chocolate chip cookie every week but I don’t know how beneficial this would be. Picking three different things to be thankful for every week is an opportunity to reflect and focus on the positive.
Vary up workouts
I admire anyone who can be persistent in going to the gym. I, however, am not one of these fortunate souls. I am always looking for new ways to be active. This summer I will try each of the following at least once: sunrise yoga, salsa, kickboxing, and paddleboarding. Doing each activity once gets it crossed off the list, twice and I’ll feel like an overachiever.
Getting more comfortable in the kitchen
I’ve dabbled in the kitchen here and there, but I haven’t been very consistent. I made my first omelet no less than a month ago. Summer is the perfect time to commit to making something once a week. The only rule I’m going to instill is it can’t be banana bread every week (although there are enough variations of banana bread to keep me going all summer).
Eating more vegetables
I’m fully aware of how I sound like a 5 year old when I say I just don’t like vegetables very much. Lo and behold, I have found a few ways in which I could possibly enjoy them. I’m going to give these hidden honey bars with sweet potato and zucchini a try. I’ll also give these crunchy veggie bites packed with vegetables a go. So while I will probably never be eating raw broccoli, I’m hopeful there is still a way to get me to eat my veggies.
Take weekends off
I know this doesn’t sound like much of a challenge but as someone who insists on being productive every second of the day, it’s difficult to slow myself down. Not everything I do has to be a resume-boosting activity and occasionally, it’s ok to wake up at noon, not check my email first thing in the morning, and not get out of my pajamas all day.
Time to get your list going! Remember to think small. What are some of your summer challenges and goals? We’d love to hear from you!
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