Last 90 Days Eve

Well, here it is upon us! 

Tomorrow starts the #last90days challenge!!!!

What exactly is this #last90days challenge??  It is a challenge put out by Rachel and Dave Hollis and The Hollis Co. that is supposed to change your life.  It challenges you to adopt Rachels "5 to Thrive" mindset every day in order to be living your best life! 

The "5 to Thrive" is as follows:

1. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day. (i.e. – 200lbs = 100oz of water)
2. Choose Gratitude every day and write it down.  Write down 5 things you are grateful or thankful for every day.
3. Give up one kind of food that you shouldn't be eating (or drinking).  Some examples are alcohol, candy, ice cream, chips, pop, etc.  If it is something you are using as a negative coping mechanism, it shouldn't be part of your life.  And, there are NO cheat days because you are making a promise to yourself to NOT indulge in that one thing for at least 30 of the 90 days.
4. Be active for 30 minutes EVERY DAY!  Does that mean that you have to do a HIIT workout every day?  NO! Of course not.  But it does mean that you need to choose to be active each and every day of the week.  It can be as simple as going for a walk, but it is IMPORTANT that you move every day!
5. Wake up 1 hour earlier than usual.  Take that time for yourself.  Whether it be doing your devotions and having a cup of coffee before your kids wake up, or if it is getting up and doing a workout before you need to have your shower... but wake up early, so that you can have some time to start your day well. 

Frankly, I am nervous!  And excited!!  I'm NERVOUSITED!

This morning I was listening to the Start Today Morning Show, as per usual, and Dave Hollis was getting everyone pumped up for the Last 90 Days!  He had lots of GREAT things to say, but there were things that I didn't even think about. 

He gave us 5 things to think about or to get prepared BEFORE the challenge starts, (*listed below) and the biggest one that stuck out to me… the one I didn't know the answer to…

What is my "Why"?

I have to have a compelling enough WHY to help me get through some of the more difficult parts of the challenge.  On Saturday, when I don't necessarily want to get up and do my 30 minutes of movement.  During thanksgiving and there is pop, and juice, and all sorts of delicious foods and I really don't want to drink all that water, or do the 30 minutes of movement... How am I going to convince myself that I NEED to follow through?

I am an externally motivated person.  I have said that.  I will show up for other people, because I NEED them to know that they can count on me.  HOWEVER... This challenge is for ME!  I NEED to do this for myself.  I need to show up for myself.  I need to prove to myself that I CAN do all these things.  I don't just want these things for myself... I need them!  I want to show my children what it means to make healthy choices... I would like to lose weight so I feel better at the end of each day... but I NEED to prove to myself that I can do this!  

Someone said, "You should make a bet with someone, so that you have that motivation."  But I don't want to have to make that bet in order to finish this challenge.  I need to finish this challenge to prove to myself that I can.  Do I want people to notice the changes in me?  Yes!!!  Do I want people to cheer me on?  You betcha!  Do I want people to tell me they are proud of me because I am sticking with it??  Definitely!!!  But those things can't be my "why".

My "why" is so that I can honestly say that I was able to show up for myself!  God entrusted me with this life, this body, this family, and I need to do my very best to take care of what God gave me.  God did NOT give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of POWER, LOVE and SELF-DISCIPLINE! (2 Tim 1:7)  That is my why!

So... my 5 to Thrive is:

1. Five Contigo water bottles of water (with lemon or lime in it for flavor) every day.

2. Choosing Gratitude every day!

3. Giving up Ice Cream for 30 of the 90 days with NO cheat days

4. Exercising for 30 minutes every day.  I am starting with a squat and pushup challenge with my hubby.

5. Getting out of bed at 6:30am so I can do my devotions with a cup of coffee in the morning before I have to start my day.  I am also doing the "Start Today Journal" practice every day, and have my 10 dreams, and my 1 goal.  I will happily share my dreams and goals with you, if you ask... but all of them lead to me living my best life starting now, and going into the future!

So... I would encourage you to look at the things in your life, things you want to change, and look at how you can take steps to make those things better.  There are a lot of things in life that you CANNOT change, but there are even more that you can!  I am, with the help and strength of Christ, making changes in my life that are going to make my life the best life I can possibly live.  I am going to chase my dreams, do the things that I love, live loudly and love fiercely... and I hope that you will join me on the ride! 

*The 5 things that Dave Hollis said to have in place BEFORE you start the #last90days challenge.

1. KNOW you can do it.  It is not an "I think I can, I think I can," kind of thing.  It is an "I know I am, I know I am" kind of thing.

2. Make a PLAN!  When are you going to do your work outs each day?  How are you going to accomplish drinking all that water?  What time are you going to wake up?  What things do you have in place when your triggers say that you can't keep going?

3. Have the people in your immediate circle of influence know what you are doing, and know where they stand with your choices.  If they aren't going to support you in what you are doing, just be aware of that, or don't spend as much time with those people.

4. Have accountability set up with other people who are doing the challenge.  There are some Facebook groups as part of the challenge, but also have people in your life who will do the challenge with you!

5. KNOW YOUR "WHY"!  WHY are you doing this, and how is that going to get you through the tough times??