Secrets of Success

Summer time farmer's markets!

A great way to eat healthy, and enjoy good foods is to take advantage of the summer time farmer's markets! Check your local papers/ towns for times and dates where locals sell their fresh, organic, healthy goods! It's can be a fun event for the family; help support local farmers, and help your community; and if you have never tasted a locally grown tomato; your salads and taste buds have been missing out! A good opportunity to try something new, and cost many goods are cost effective!

Win Win Win

We have a single-stream recycling pick-up every two weeks - that means all cardboard, pasteboard, plastics (not bags, but bottles, milk jugs, etc), unbroken glass jars/bottles, aluminum & steel cans (we have a list!) can all be collected and put into the bin. Then it is weighed and we get "Recycle Bank Points" for it. WIN!

So...when I walk, I bring along bags and pick up recyclable items and carry them home. Sometimes it's extra "weight" (think strength training along with cardio, right?) - WIN!

POWER IN NUMBERS!!

I recently went on my FB and sent out a message looking for people to exercise with for five days a week after my work-out buddy and i developed conflicting schedules. To my surprise so many people were looking for the same thing. I find myself wanting to do even more so now I am exercising at home on my bike watching an hour long t.v. show first thing in the morning before I leave with a friend to where ever. Its great I'm able to be more motivated and its creating a lil club of our own!!

Freecycling

If you have or create a yahoo email account, from the main homepage under the 'Groups' you can search for "Freecycle" and a group should come up in your area. If you join, it's a community of people who are willing to donate their belongings to others rather than throwing it away (saving a trip to landfills) and in return, you do the same.

Supportive Gratitude

It is wonderful to have people who are supportive and encouraging. Make a commitment to express your gratitude to those who are supportive. Say "thank you." Make a healthy meal and share it with those who are encouraging you. And pass the encouragement along. Share favorite recipes and workout dvds with those who are supporting you and need your support as well.

Prayer Works

My first thought after thinking I should ask people to pray for me to stay motivated was "no way!" After all, what are my weight loss struggles compared to hunger, cancer, poverty? Then I thought about how obesity is a serious health problem and I gave myself permission to ask. I'm convinced that prayer keeps me going out when I'd rather stay home and pig out. Not only do I have LOTS of people holding me accountable, I believe God honors my desire to do my best for the body he's given me.

Exercise & Recycling

1. Park further out at the grocery market and walk if you can.
2. Get the recycling bags from the shop (Krogers gives you a percentage off the cost - some shops) when you use them, also easier to carry and use as weights when taking them home to unload.
3. Remember to recycle your water bottles and cans and save the environment along with your other products when trash time comes around. GO GREEN!

Make The Gym A Friendly Place.

I work out late at night, and see the same other late-night exercisers at my gym over and over. It seems to be the norm, at ALL the fitness centers I've gone to, to NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT when one is exercising, and definitely to NOT TALK to other exercisers...like we're each in our own private bubble. But since there's such a small, regular group at Snap in the late hours, I've started saying HI to people, and smiling. Let's POP that antisocial bubble, and generate some community and support!

Being musical

Playing an instrument burns calories for all us musicians out there! I joined a community band and play in it weekly and track the rehearsals in the fitness tracker as an exercise. It doesn't feel like I'm working hard because it's something I enjoy doing :).

Pick up one piece of trash per day for a beautiful community

Do you love your town? Does it make you a little sad when you look around and see that other people have littered carelessly? Just pick up one piece of trash every day and you will make a difference in your community. Maybe others will see you do it and they will start doing it too!

Reach Out

I was always reluctant to talk to others about my goals or join a community. I thought "I don't need that." But when I risked talking about my struggles I found not only warmth, acceptance and encouragment, but really GOOD ideas from people who've been there themselves and KNOW. Risk asking for

Volunteer

I don't get "paid" to volunteer but I get quite a few "perks".
I get a "free" lunch (yes I know-no such thing as a "free lunch") when I volunteer at the hospital. I received a membership to the historical society because I volunteer there. Plus there's the volunteer recognition lunches, etc. each year.

Post the good with the bad

Don't forget to post when something works or when a suggestion or member's outreach helped. Challenges and calls for help are important but remember to share the good news too.
It helps you acknowledge your success while honoring those who helped you

Spark Team Check-ins

I am motivated by encouragement from others, in addition to just feeling good about myself. I try to check in with my most active Spark Team when I'm feeling like I need a kick in the butt to stay on goal, or even if I'm feeling good and want praise. Community has helped me immensely!