Ok, I don’t know how many out there are listening, but I’d like to issue a challenge… no, a journey! I want to call it a journey because that sounds far more uplifting than a challenge. Challenge kind of evokes the thought of pain right out of the gate, whereas a journey brings feelings of anticipation. When I began reflecting on this past year, I realized that if I had stuck with eating LFRV last December, I would have made it a whole year by this point. The time passed anyway, and here I am wishing I had kept going. Of course, I don’t know that I was mentally and spiritually ready because I’ve been on quite the journey this last year despite not being 100% raw. Well, now I think I’m ready, so, I started my own 365 raw journey the day after Christmas. This is day four for me (which I will post about later), but it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, someone else needs a bit of accountability for 2013 so that they aren’t looking back thinking “if only”.
No, I don’t want you to jump into LFRV unless you’re ready. We can get all hopped up excited, but if it isn’t a true conviction, we’ll lose steam quickly. Now that you’re breathing a sigh of relief, let’s get to it. Some of you may have thought immediately about what you’d like to do for a challenge in 2013. Maybe you’re thinking 30, 60, or 90 days of raw, maybe it’s 90 days of tracking your food and exercise, maybe it’s to start walking four days a week, maybe it’s P90X, maybe it’s giving up soda (or tartar sauce – still thinking about Freaky Eaters… so sad), maybe it’s even more specific than these… whatever it is, you are welcome to join in! I’m not going to tell you how or what to do. You decide the changes you want to make, commit to making them, and then report here in the comments on any of my challenge related posts.
Ok, so others of you may be thinking, “gee, I just want to get healthier this year.” Perhaps you have difficulty getting any more specific than that. Maybe you’re just tired of starting a new diet every year only to fizzle a few weeks (or days) in. Well, maybe you could do My “12-Step Journey”. This version of the journey will be designed to gradually help you become a healthier person in the next year. I’m not promising massive amounts of weight-loss, I’m just offering a recipe to help you improve your health.
As you know, I am a vegan. I wholeheartedly believe that eating animal products is not ideal, unless you have no other choice to survive. However, I do understand that not everyone has come to that belief; so, I’m going to do my best to gear the monthly journey to promote better health, no matter your stance on animal products. This will be a gradual process. This will not be one of those challenges where you’re dropping “Biggest Loser” amounts of weight each week. Our focus is long-term change… mind, body, and spirit. Our focus is feeling better and doing good to ourselves. This means, the scale may or may not be your friend on the 12-Step Journey, but that’s OK. There are far more important things in life than what you weigh.
No matter what category you fall in: I already know what I need to do or The 12-step journey, you are welcome to join in. The Journey begins on January 1st, and will be broken up into monthly segments. You have a few days to decide what works best for you. Just let me know your plan in the comments of this post.
Looking forward to traveling the path to better health with you in 2013!
Blessings!
Brick by Brick 
Hello my friend! I always get so excited when we discuss challenges or in this case, our latest journey. Maybe it’s because this is how our friendship began more than thirteen years ago. 🙂
I’m looking forward to following you and cheering you on as well as holding myself accountable. My plan will focus on becoming healthy.
2013 Journey to Health:
* I will journal my nutrition and activity daily (going old school on this and buying a journal rather than documenting electronically. I will purchase this today.)
* I will increase my fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
* I will increase my activity (I have never been fond of exercise. I can easily stay on tract with nutrition once I get a good rhythm going but I would much rather decrease intake than run anywhere. LOL.)
* I will weigh myself only once a week. That day will be on Saturday at which time I will report either up or down and how much. Out of respect for your personal journey I will not post my actual weight.
* I will allow myself one “free” meal per week if necessary but I will journal that meal as well.
I believe I can hang in there with you for a whole year but I’m starting with 90 days initially. Looking forward to 2013 🙂
~ Mandy
Hooray! Welcome to the journey, Mandy! I know you can hang in for a year, but I do think it wise to have milestones to pass along the way. I know what you mean about “old school”, there’s just something about putting pen to paper that touches a deeper part of oneself.
I greatly appreciate your acknowledgement of my personal “no weigh” journey. ((hugs)) I know you’re doing your own thing, but feel free to join in with the 12 step “calls to action” if they encourage the execution of your own plan.
I’m looking forward to following and cheering you on as well, my friend! I’m raising my glass of OJ to toast “accountability” and the upcoming year!
I’ll join. Just reading this so ill need to think through a plan of action and get back to you. But I need the motivation and encouragement from others.
Hi Shelley! How fun! As soon as you have your plan of action ready, post it here so that we can hold you accountable 🙂 So glad to have you “join the journey”.
Where can I find the 12 steps? Been reading and contemplating joining in.
Hi Mom 😉 I would love for you to join in! The 12-Steps will be revealed one at a time (one each month). The one for January will be posted tomorrow. Each step is intended to gradually bring us one step closer to healthier living. If I listed them all from the start, some would try to incorporate all 12 at once, which would defeat the purpose. I promise, they will be fairly painless. I’m not going to push for a marathon at the end of the year or anything remotely close to that. The point is to end the year healthier than we began it. Of course, doing the 12-Steps doesn’t prohibit you from setting other goals too 🙂 Are you in?
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Great idea for the new year! I need the food,exercise, and spiritual accountability. Journey will be my “One Word” for 2013.
I’m 95% vegan and about 85% LFRV.
Traveling for work and poor planning hurts my consistency.
Goals:
1) 100% vegan and 90% LFRV.
2) Get up and get moving.
3) Repair my relationship with God.
Welcome to the Journey, Mark! Congratulations on getting so close to vegan already! Those look like some great goals for the year 🙂 Keep us updated on your progress toward them so that we can encourage you along the way. As a child of God, the repair happens the moment you turn back to Him. Looking forward to seeing what He works in your life this year!
Yes, I would like to join in the Journey. My journey to a healthier me will begin tomorrow as I ask for God to help me reach my spiritual, physical and mental 2013 goals. The month of January I commit to begin my Journey to reach my yearly goals by:
Spiritual Yearly Goal – To know God more and to know His Presence, Wisdom and Guidance
* Spend time daily in prayer
* To daily meditate on His Word
* To memorize 2 new scripture passages this month
Physical Yearly Goal – To become more fit and to see improvements in lengthy health issues
* To set weekly goals with Fitbit
* Exercise 1 hour 3-4 times a week
* 18-2000 calories a day logged on my phone app
* Eat primarily vegan by reducing animal products to 3-5 servings a day
* Limit nuts and oils to 1-3 servings a day
* Cleanse kidneys and reduce stones by drinking 16 oz water/2 tsp apple cider vinegar (ACV) daily for 2 weeks, then 3-4 times a day until no longer needed.
* Hair care – soda, water and ACV only
* Face & Skin Care – soda, water, ACV and coconut oil
Mental Yearly Goal – To learn to give the brain a rest and start taking time for fun things, hobbies, relaxing things
* Plan and do one fun, no brainer thing a week
Others Yearly Goal – To be purposeful to do things for others
* Make one unexpected phone call, write an appreciation note, or do one unexpected act of kindness each week
Love and hugs my darling girl,
Mom
That’s great, Mom! Looks like you’re ready to get cracking! I like the “fun thing”. I think we all could do more of that. Looking forward to watching your transformation this year. Love you!