CONGRATULATIONS and thank you to everyone who completed the Whole Life Challenge!
We kicked off the new year with the Whole Life Challenge which lasted 6 weeks with daily scoring on categories such as nutrition, exercise, mobility (stretching), well-being, sleep, and hydration. Everyone who participated was required to post a daily reflection as part of their scoring. It was great to read about the successes and occasional struggles everyone faced when trying to stay the course. There are so many motivational people in our wellness program!
Here are what some of the participants had to say about the challenge:
“I guess what stuck with me is exactly HOW MUCH processed food I was consuming and thinking it was good for me because it was low fat, a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice. Before this challenge, my lunches consisted of a frozen dinner or a can of Progresso Light soup. E-v-e-r-y day ……… When I eliminated those items from my diet, I lost 2 ½ pounds and I’m convinced it’s from the sodium. I’m not saying I’ll never eat another Lean Cuisine but with this challenge have found that with just a bit of planning and preparation, it’s easy to fix fresh meals that are not any more expensive, are so much better for me and tend to satisfy me more than what I was eating. This challenge has also prompted me to carefully read food ingredient labels.
Setting time aside for the practices was helpful as well – it made me think about my day. What could be done better and feel good about my accomplishments.
I think this was a good challenge. It was different than anything we’ve done and for me it was educational, informative and overall a good experience.”
– Kim Sholar
“At first I was not going to do the challenge, because it just seemed like something that was not doable for me. I really didn’t think I could give up so many things. Also, I’m not a very good planner, so all the prepping just seemed unreal to me. As I said earlier I enjoyed the experience and I really surprised myself. I guess if I have to say one not so good thing about the challenge it would be, 6 weeks is a long time to deprive yourself of some of the things that you really like and know that you will eventually go back to. Honestly, I went into the challenge thinking it’s just that “a challenge” and not a lifestyle change for me, and it won’t be forever. But, I now realize some things will become part of my lifestyle. I will continue to cook and prep my meals for the week. I will limit my alcohol. Also, I will continue to go for healthier options instead of picking the quickest and most convenient foods I can find.”
– Bonnie Holmes
“Through this program I was able to establish several new habits that have been very helpful like daily stretching and adding more sleep. Before the program I would go to bed anywhere from 11:00 to midnight and since I always wake up early I was only getting about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep. I set a goal of getting at least 7 hours as part of the challenge, and have accomplished that goal by simply making sure I was in bed by 10:00. “
“The program has helped me to take my wellness to another level and has been a great addition to the Atlantic wellness program. I have a really strong why to continue to seek wellness as I want to be around to impact my family and future grandchildren along with making an impact in whatever way I can. Wellness for purpose is what it’s all about for me personally.”
– Tom Trexler