Healthy Habit of the Month XI.

You CAN. I know you can.

This post is the 11th installment of SeektobeMerry's "Healthy Habit of the Month" series. Sourced from my bff's at Weight Watchers, online articles and my own efforts to keep fit and trim, throughout 2013, I will attempt to integrate one new healthy habit into my life each month. Join me!

Can you believe that it's been 11 months!? With 10 new healthy habits behind us, how would you rate your progress? While I'd love to brag and say that I'm a fitter, trimmer, healthier me through and through, I'm gonna be honest with you all and say, "I'm getting there". Like so many other "life changes" I try to implement (shop less, clean up more, etc) I have bouts of success as well as periods of struggle (not failure, no one here fails!) Sometimes I'm nailing 7 or 8 of our habits feelin like a boss, and other times sweatpants Meri takes over and I'm a sedentary, veggie-less mess. These things take time... and persistence... commitment. Which is why this month's healthy habit isn't about adding more, but instead...

Healthy Habit of the Month #11: Double Down

This month we're going to get serious about our success by doubling down. Take a look at all of the healthy habits we've tried to implement this year (full recap below). Where were you the most successful? For me, I have stuck to a scheduled workout every week since setting that goal, so I'm going to double down and try to schedule TWO (whoa!) Maybe you were great at the monthly challenge? Go back for another, but this time include two activities like squats and crunches. If packing a snack is now part of your daily routine, maybe you bump it up a notch and also pack lunch? You get the idea. During this hectic time of year, it's easy to let healthy habits slide, so instead of trying to add another new thing to your routine, take your strong suit and make it even stronger!

Be sure to check out past "Healthy Habit of the Month" posts here: 

- Month 1: Adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal

- Month 2: Schedule a workout
- Month 3: Find an accountability buddy

- Month 4: Keep track (of your movement)

- Month 5: Challenge yourself

- Month 6: 1 Perfect Week
- Month 7: Sleep on it

- Month 8: Pack a Snack

- Month 9: Drink up!

- Month 10: Rise & Shine with lemon

Healthy Habit of the Month VI.

We GOT this!

This post is the sixth installment of SeektobeMerry's "Healthy Habit of the Month" series. Sourced from my bff's at Weight Watchers, online articles and my own efforts to keep fit and trim, throughout 2013, I will attempt to integrate one new healthy habit into my life each month. Join me!

Well here we are... the halfway point in our 12 month healthy habit journey! To recap what we've done so far: 

- Month 1: Adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal

- Month 2: Schedule a workout
- Month 3: Find an accountability buddy

- Month 4: Keep track (of your movement)

- Month 5: Challenge yourself

How are you all doing? I must confess, since this is a place of honesty and health-loving support, that I'm in a bit of a healthy habit funk. Though I generally feel more in shape, toned and active, the number on the scale is a constant reminder that no squat challenge or side of broccoli can undo weekend pizza binges and a love for sugary cocktails. I'm not proud of where I'm at, because while implementing these habits is certainly about well being and long term health, vanity - feeling good about how we look - is a factor as well. So what can we do to reinvigorate our quest...!?

Healthy Habit of the Month #6: Have 1 perfect week.
This month I am challenging myself (and you!) to have 1 perfectly "on plan" week, whatever "on plan" means to you. The way I see it, we all know what to do when it comes to what we put in our mouth and how often to exercise, it's sticking to it that's the problem. So instead of a big, long term goal, let's try for 7, consecutive perfect-as-possible days. We'll make time to workout and vow not to cheat at all when it comes to eating right, for just 1 week... we can all do anything for just 1 week right!? And at the end of that first week, hopefully we'll feel motivated to keep going. Hopefully we'll see that making the healthier decision isn't so terrible and that the end result, feeling good, will turn that 1 week into a new normal where "cheating" is the exception. Hopefully!!

Healthy Habit of the Month V.

Would you like to get a closer look Ryan!?

This post is the fifth installment of SeektobeMerry's "Healthy Habit of the Month" series. Sourced from my bff's at Weight Watchers, online articles and my own efforts to keep fit and trim, throughout 2013, I will attempt to integrate one new healthy habit into my life each month. Join me!

How are we doing my fit and healthy friends? Five months into our "Healthy Habit of the Month" series, I hope you're all still with me because I'm actually starting to feel a bit fitter and healthier! Last month's challenge to "Keep Track" has had a huge impact on my activity and sleep habits (just ask Dr. H who had to endure me walking in circles in our living room at 11:30 last night - had to reach that daily step goal!) and though my accountability buddy and I need to rekindle our relationship, I'm still nailing it with at least once weekly workouts and kicking it up a notch in the fruits and veggies department. Tiny changes are starting to make a big difference and it feels really good! So what are we up to this month you ask?

Healthy Habit of the Month #5: Challenge yourself.

Last night I finished my first ever 30-day fitness challenge. Over the past month I adhered to THIS totally do-able 30-day Squat Challenge and holy crap... RESULTS!! In taking on the challenge, I decided that instead of trying to totally revamp my workout routine or suddenly commit to an aggressive fitness plan, the squat challenge seemed achievable and easy to squeeze into my normal day (because it's totally normal to be doing a quick 25 squats in the bathroom stall at work, I swear!) All kidding aside, these 30-day challenges which are all OVER Pinterest are really worth a try because they're do-able and the results are tangible. You can do anything for just 30 days and with 4th of July weekend just over one month away, its the perfect time to go for those  stronger, slimmer thighs and a tighter, higher booty!

30-day Squat Challenge HERE

30-day Crunch Challenge HERE (on Pinterest HERE)

30-day Burpee Challenge HERE (and how to do a proper burpee HERE)

30-day Squat/Crunch/Plank Challenge HERE (this is my next one, whose with me!?)

30-day Pushup/Squat/Plank Challenge HERE

And for previous Healthy Habit of the Month posts, click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE!

Hump Day Distractions

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

...what do we do? We swim, swim, swim! All the way to Friday right!? Another weekly grind, another hearty serving of Hump Day Distractions for your clicking pleasure. PLUS, there's something new and totally freaking awesome coming to the blog tomorrow, so get excited and until then, distract yourself here: 

* THIS Mom totally rocks my socks off.

* 12 hours in ______. (everything you need to know)

* As if being an astronaut wasn't awesome enough, THIS dude is taking space travel to the next level of cool.

* Game on breakfast.

* For your favorite "Face Farmer" and his offspring (bookmarked for an eventual lil merry kiddo of course).

* Don't let your desk job drag your fitness routine down!

* If I ever have to leave NYC, at least I will know where to go.

* I am a size 7.5 and my birthday is in July. Who's buying?

* Thanks to Sis for sending this dance-tastic routine my way.

* Townhouse perfection.

* The world is such an incredibly beautiful place.

* This one has made the rounds, but just in case you missed it, these parents are my heroes.

* I'd like to think that Dr. H and I would handle THIS the exact same way (but we'd be singing Journey of course!)