Are You Ready? 8 Tools and Tips For Your Challenge Prep

How many of you will be joining us for the Challenge next week—and how many for the first time? (I’d love to see a show of hands in the comment section.)

The cool thing about the Challenge each year is this: everybody comes at it from a different place. Some folks are hundred pounds overweight and haven’t exercised in years. Some are at the top of their Primal game but love the community engagement and chance to encourage others. Most are at every stage in between.

Behind every participant across that spectrum is a fascinating story. Your story. The one in which you haven’t quite had the life you’d hoped lately—and the one in which you claim it back.

Today I’ve got some ideas and resources for you to consider. If you’re on the fence about joining us, maybe these can get you over the hump and get you committed. I sure would like to see you with us.

Shop For the Challenge the Weekend Before

Does your pantry and refrigerator reflect your Challenge intent? You have four days to dump or donate what you won’t be eating and to fill your kitchen with Primal fare. Here are some lists (for Primal and for keto) that can be of help.

Spend Time Choosing Primal Recipes

Here’s the catalog of every MDA recipe, but don’t forget to check out the goodies over at Primal Kitchen®’s recipe blog, too.

Prep To Track Your Day-To-Day Practices (and Progress)…If That’s Your Thing

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the “vastness” of a goal. Some of us benefit from seeing our accomplishments grow task by task. For those who are wired that way, keep a food/exercise/stress management journal or wear a tracker if you like gadgets. In addition to the actual tasks, make some observational notes on how you feel, what you’re able to accomplish, where you feel challenged. Looking back on your notes will give you a sense of how far you’ve come and how you stuck with your plan over time.

Work With Your Own Goal Style If You’re an Intuitive Type

I did a whole post on this (“Alternative Goal Setting: How Free Spirits and Slow Burners Can Achieve Their Health Visions”) during a Challenge last year, and I still get mail about this one. If you’re naturally skeptical of structure, take a look.

Check Out the WOW Workout Series

For anyone who needs guidance on how to fit in a workout each day without a gym membership or any special equipment, I’ve got dozens of ideas right here. Whether it’s The Grok Throwdown, The Cave Bear, Bringing Home the Kill, or the Couch Workout, you’re sure to find a favorite.

Divide and Conquer If You Need To

Sometimes it’s easier to tackle one aspect of a lifestyle than to attend to all of them at once. While the Challenge encompasses all of the areas, don’t worry if you need to focus to get the best result. Although all the elements of the Primal Blueprint work together (and can actually make other efforts easier), the most important point is to make the change you’re willing to make. Take on what you feel you’ll stick to. If you keep the rest in sight, chances are you’ll begin gravitating toward those other changes anyway. Healthy choices have an elegant way of begetting other healthy choices.

Make a Burn Pile of Your Past Excuses

Think of the excuses you’ve used in the past for not taking this next step—whatever it is you’d tackle on this particular Challenge. Write them all down on paper. Individual post-its if you want to get fancy about it. But then watch them all go up in flames. For 21 days, let them stay in the ashes. After three weeks, if you want them back you can have them.

Pick a Mantra You’ll Hang Onto

If excuses have derailed you in the past, come armed with something to fill that space instead. Choose a mantra you’ll turn to again and again throughout these three weeks. THIS will be your fallback when the going gets tough or you get tired. This will be your stepping stone back to your intention.

Thanks for stopping by today, everybody. The bees and I are getting next week set up for one awesome Challenge experience. I’ll have multiple announcements on Monday to kick us off and some tips for meal prep as well. In the meantime, let me know how you’re prepping for the 21-Day and how we can be of help.

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