2014: A Year of (FUN!) Challenges

Hi everyone! It’s been awhile. How are you doing? How is 2014 taking shape for you? I’ve been waiting for the perfect chance to tell you about an exciting new partnership* between Lilveggiepatch and ZonePerfect.

So what is this challenge, you ask? For the duration of 2014, ZonePerfect and I will be hitting you with inspiration to make 2014 great. This year will be an intense one for me personally (I’m in my last semester! graduating! studying for + taking my licensing exam! getting married!) and I’m looking forward to the extra motivation to keep my mind and body healthy.

Brien (it still feels strange not to call him “B”!) and I joined a new (to us) gym a few weeks ago, and while it’s not all that much more expensive than our last one, working out now feels more like a pleasure than a chore. The equipment is clean (you’d think that would be a given for a gym, but trust me on this one…), the lighting is cheerful, and there are fun classes like Spin and Yoga that we try to get to every week. As we were leaving Spin last week, still flushed and out of breath from our last mountain climbing interval, I turned to Brien and said, “I have a good feeling about this year. Let’s make it our healthiest ever.” I realize that may sound a bit corny, and Brien and I have always been pretty healthy in terms of eating well and staying in shape. But I meant it more in terms of overall health. 2014 has the potential to be a stressful one for us, with so many life changes occurring over a short period of time. But 2014 also has the potential to be a great one. Our lives are coming together even more fully (family! finances! future fur babies!) and we’re in a great position to really set the groundwork for a healthy life together. So while I wouldn’t call these “resolutions,” per say (because somehow using that word has the effect of making sure they’ll never happen, if you know what I mean), these are a few goals to make 2014 as rich and positive as I can.

1. Plan my meals in advance. I go through phases where I’m more successful with this, but as a full-time student who gets out of class at 9 PM three nights a week, this is crucial. And I will please, please, please remember to carry around an “emergency snack” (like a Simply Perfect bar) so I will not be overcome with hunger while I’m out and turn into a cranky mess. That’s real.
2. Plan my workouts in advance. Having a good idea of what I will do at the gym and when I will do it makes it that much more likely I’ll actually go. I am the queen of making excuses for why I should stay in bed or go to Happy Hour instead, but if there’s one thing I know about myself it’s that I always, always feel better after exercise. Endorphins are no joke!
3. Make friendship a priority. We’re all so busy, and it can be hard to coordinate with friends in the same neighborhood, much less a different borough. But now is the time in life that it’s especially important to set up a solid social foundation. This year, more than ever, I want to make time for my friends and let them know how important they are to me.
4. Spend time with family. Planning a wedding can put strain on families, and I want to make sure my parents know how important they are to me before, during, and after I celebrate my marriage.
5. Spend time with Brien. We keep a “date board” on our fridge with a running list of fun things to do, and I want to make sure we actually do them! Brien and I come from different familial and educational backgrounds, and that means things are always interesting and exciting. We love to make everything an adventure, whether it’s hiking in Greece or wine tasting in the Hudson Valley. He’s my partner in crime, and it’s my job to make sure he always knows that.
6. Be kind to myself. This is a big one. In the past, there have been times when I’ve been very critical of myself. So this year, I’m making an extra effort to step back and say, “Katie, would you treat your friend this way? Would you be hard on her and tell her she didn’t study enough, or go to the gym enough?” Health isn’t just about what you put into your body or how you move it.

As for the Blog Forward challenge with ZonePerfect, here’s a taste of what you can expect:

• challenges to keep your goals in sight
• giveaways, including ZonePerfect bars
• interviews with experts on how to maintain your goals and be successful in 2014
• healthy meal ideas
• workout inspiration

Now it’s YOUR turn. How will you shape your 2014? Have you made any goals or resolutions for the year?

*Although I’ve entered this program and received complimentary product and ZonePerfect promotional items, I am free to comment about ZonePerfect in a positive, neutral, or negative fashion.