Day 51: The 10 Minute Game

I have a confession: Sometimes I let my house get really messy! It doesn't happen all at once; it happens over time. But if I'm not diligently paying attention to the little things that I need to do on a daily basis, things will quickly get out of control. And when I try to clean up, I get overwhelmed. There is so much to do, I don't know where to start!?

So I came up with a game. I like to call it the 10 minute game.

The rules for the game go like this. 

You can't do everything at once, so take it a little at a time. 

The 10 Minute Game:
Rule #1. You have 10 minutes. Get as much done for the time runs out.


Rule #2. Start by choosing one item in the room; say it is a shoe. So put away everything that you would wear on your body. ONLY deal with the clothing items until they are all put away.

Rule #3. Chose another item/category and repeat untill everything is put away, or the time runs out.

Rule #4. When the timer runs out stop what you were doing and take a 10 minute break. Do what ever you like at this point. Relax.

Rule #5. When the time is up start the game again.

Continue this until the room is clean.

I am always amazed at how much I can get done in 10 minutes if I really focus, and take it a little at a time, but with the motivating pressure of a time-constraint. It usually only takes me about 12 minutes to totally clean up a room. And it feels really good!


Why do I tell you this? Because a lot of times trying to change your lifestyle to be healthy can be really overwhelming. You don't know where to start. But when you make a plan, focus and take things a little a time, it is totally achievable.

Spending time exercising can be a little like the time rule. You can either be disciplined, working really hard, focusing, and getting a lot done in a short amount of time - OR it can be like sending a kid to clean their room. They usually waste time, and get very little done, if not make a bigger mess - and you are more frustrated then ever!

You wonder why the room isn't clean - why you aren't seeing results.

"But Mooooom, I am cleaning my room", the kid says as they pick up one lego at a time, or stuff the clothes under their bed or put two things away, only to be distracted by a toy they found behind a pile of clothes. Are they applying themselves? Are you?

If you go to the gym and spend more time talking than working out, you know the answer. NO.

If you go to the gym and get on a treadmill, but walk at a 2.5 mph pace and spend the whole time talking to someone or texting, then NO.

If you go to the gym without a plan, then the answer is NO.

One of my favorite mantras is 

"30 minutes + high-intensity = results!" 

You DON'T have to workout long to get a lot done!


Eating healthy is kind of like the "one thing at a time" rule. Take one day, one meal at a time.

Chose a menu. Make a plan. Take little steps toward changing your eating habits.










The Daily Temptation
---------------->
This was what greeted me at work this morning! All kinds of left-over food from the Spa party last night.There were cookies, cupcakes, chips, bread with cream-cheese based dips, platter after platter of cheeses, meats, (again) cream-cheese based wraps (NOT HEALTHY) and other assorted temptations.

Thank GOD I prepped so well this week and brought plenty of healthy snacks and a great lunch!

FOOD

Breakfast: apple-pie oatmeal & a HBE
Snack: apple slices & almond butter
Lunch: spaghetti with spaghetti squash, and mixed raw veggies
Snack: a baked apple (and the other half of my "candy bar" while I was in line at Joanne Fabrics and tempted by all the goodies)
Dinner: Quinoa & Sweet Potato stew and mixed raw veggies


EXERCISE

I REALLY didn't want to workout today, and I left it until really late to do it, but in the end, I followed my own advice. I spend 30 minutes REALLY digging in, and I did a great Back & Abs workout.

3 sets, 15 reps each - using 2, 12lb dumbbells

Back Workout

One-arm dumbbell row
Upright row
Seated row (with resistance bands)
Front lat pull down (with resistance bands)
Back extensions (on yoga ball)
Bent-over row
T-bar row
Front chin-ups

Abs Workout

3-30 regular crunches
3-30 leg lifts
3-30 bicycle crunches




Thanks for reading all! 

I hope you try this workout!!