How 2025 is Going So Far

First, I just wanted to say that this blog is not going to be like a magazine. I plan on talking a lot about my goals and progress.

Second, the reason why I AM writing some article-like posts, is because those are areas I have spent a lot of time growing in, and I believe I know how to help others.

Okay, here we go. For anyone who doesn't know (most of you) I am starting a challenge this year. Two challenges, actually. I am doing the Daniel fast for 6 weeks (I started on January 1st), and starting tomorrow (January 6th) I will be doing a challenge hosted and created by Lauren Polinskey called the "Make it Happen Girl" challenge. It is a 6 week program that focuses on walking, water, and calorie deficit. Lauren has lost over 97 pounds by focusing on walking, drinking adequate water, and reducing her calories/bad carbs, etc. She also did intermittent fasting and graduated to workouts at the gym once she lost the bulk of the weight.

Lauren's system of habit stacking sounds genius. It is something I am excited to try. There is a Facebook group (exclusive and private, and you have to pay to join) where girls can win prizes and money to participate and encourage each other over the 6 weeks. There are over 1,000 participants. I love Lauren because she is a real person who does not gatekeep information. She is not sassy, competitive, or cocky. She is sweet, inclusive, and informative. She is here to help people and it shows. On top of all that, she LOVES Jesus and is not afraid to say it. This is my first time ever being in something like this and I am so excited.

So far I have been eating a clean "diet." I don't like how eating healthy is called a diet. However, it's not a weird diet or a crash diet. And if I make a mistake, I am not condemned and I won't quit. Some nights I have been so hungry that I have had a handful of cheerios before bed. No shame.

We got rid of all dairy, pasta, and processed food out of our house and gave it to my best friend's family. It makes it easier because it sucks to waste food and watch it expire.

I miss some things for sure, but I am excited to have a clear head. I have been cooking more. I don't like cooking at all. In fact, I am very lazy with food. I would rather grab a babybel from the fridge, a pepperoni stick and a box of crackers and sit on the couch and call that lunch. I have been finding myself cutting fresh food, cooking it, and looking up nutrient contents. I love that I am not forcing myself to do it. I'm not making rules for myself. I am not telling myself I HAVE to cook, or take pictures for the internet. As soon as I do that to myself, I stop. I over schedule and over plan, and then I do not follow through.

I am sticking to eating healthy because I am serious about my health. Not just my physical health, but my mental health, and the example I am setting for the kids in my life. I do not want to be lazy with how I take care of myself, and I want my nieces and nephews to be surrounded by healthy adults. And if I want that for them, then I better be that for them.

When I became a young adult, I started to look around at the adults in my life and I was able to pinpoint what was healthy for me to be around growing up and what wasn't. My brother (who chose to pass away in 2018) saw the habits of some adults in our life and actually adapted to that lifestyle and behaviour. I'm not only talking about addiction- but attitudes, greediness, laziness, and contradicting behaviours. I also adapted to many of these attributes, but I knew they were wrong. I am not better than my brother, but I am saying it is easy to mirror what you have watched. Its easy to say "I saw this happen by an adult that I love so its fine if I do it too."

I am excited to unlearn behaviours, learn new ones, and be a role model for the kids in my life.

It's not that being obese is the worst thing for a kid to witness, but imagine watching an adult improve their life and their well-being. How awesome for a kid to see someone work hard and accomplish their goals! Better than watching them suffer, complain, stay stuck, and feel insecure.

There is no excuse to carry around this extra weight. There are reasons why I have it, and it is difficult to lose based on the trauma and cortisol levels, but if others can do it, there is no reason why I can't.

So you may see a lot of eggs on my page. I have been enjoying these egg scrambles, and when I like something I tend to stick with it for a while.

I hope that all my updates this year are consistent with my vision of my future, and that when you read these you feel inspired in the goals you want to reach too. We are all in this life thing together. Whether its weight, finances, school, parenting, buying a house, etc., 2025 can be the year you actually get up and put your thoughts into actions. Otherwise you will be in the same place 12 months from now. And I am so sick of doing that. Aren't you?

Til next time,

Cher

Coconut oil, red bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, ham, and farm fresh eggs!