healthy living starts now – Page 2 – Be Well Consulting Group

The Goal is to Run a Half Marathon: The Journey is the Reward

Yahoo!!

You’ve gotta love a training program that starts with a rest day! Thank you, Runner’s World. My 13-week training program is off and running, so to speak, with two successful days under my belt.

As I shared recently, running a half marathon has been on my mind for some time. AND – over the next 13 weeks it will be on my mind every day. I am officially registered to participate in the Maine Half Marathon on October 6. The longest run I’ve ever completed was 10 miles – and that was several years ago. Since then, running has been pushed to the back burner, so I’m bringing it front and center this summer!

Why am I confident I’ll be able to meet my goal of running a half marathon?

I really want to do it!!

The training program I’m following calls for me to run three times a week, which is similar to the training program I followed for my 10-mile run.

This is a great plan to focus on my health goals.

Running three days a week won’t interfere with my cycling schedule.

The timing is perfect: early morning runs tie in with a schedule change I’m making to my work week.

I’ve got accountability in place: I’ve told many people I’m doing this run, and a couple of them are going to be checking in on my progress.

It’s a SMART goal: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-specific.

BOOM! Now I can enjoy the journey.

The Goal is to Run a Half Marathon: The Journey is the Reward was last modified: June 25th, 2019 by Deb Nelson

The Weekend Is Suddenly Looking A Whole Lot Better

The weekend was fast approaching as I hopped in my car to go to a meditation session at Mid Coast Center for Community Health & Wellness. I arrived for the session, went into the Health & Wellness Center, and discovered that we’d be meeting in the library rather than the room normally reserved for the Center’s wellness classes. I was directed to the library and OH. MY. GOODNESS! What a wonderful surprise this library holds:

Yes, you guessed it; there are LOTS of books in this library.

There are books by some of my favorites in the health and food industries:

Caldwell Esselstyn

Michael Greger

Christiane Northrup

Michael Pollan

Andrew Weil

There are cookbooks I’ve either got on my shelves or want to have on my shelves:

Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook

Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals

The How Not to Die Cookbook

The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook

Veganomicon

This meditation room change turned into a meditation bonus. Why is the weekend suddenly looking a whole lot better? I borrowed Michael Greger’s The How Not to Die Cookbook and will be cooking up a storm of nutritious, flavorful meals this weekend. Woot! Woot! Are you taking advantage of unexpected changes to your world?

Healthy living starts now.

The Weekend Is Suddenly Looking A Whole Lot Better was last modified: April 12th, 2019 by Deb Nelson

Challenge On: Healthy Living Starts Now.

Thanks to the internet, there seems to be no shortage of challenges that cross my screen on a weekly basis. At the end of 2018, I saw a challenge to run or walk the year: 2019 miles in 2019. The folks that run this challenge claim everyone belongs:

EVERYONE INCLUDED

EVERYONE CHALLENGED

EVERYONE SUCCESSFUL

The organizers at Run the Edge encourage participants to build a team or join an existing team – run or walk a portion of the 2019 miles and let your teammates do the rest. Suddenly this didn’t seem so daunting. This challenge appealed to me for a number of reasons:

This challenge will help me train to meet my goal of running my first half marathon in 2019.

Two friends have joined a team with me to run / walk 2019 miles. This means I’ve got accountability partners – very important for me to stay on track.

Have you noticed the reference to run / walk? I’m recovering from a fall at the end of 2018. So while I’ve not done any running, I have been able to log some miles.

There is a Facebook page that provides a ton of inspiration and motivation.

This isn’t a competition with anyone; it’s merely a way for me to get to my goal and have an active 2019.

Have you found a way to keep yourself on track with goals for 2019?

Challenge On: Healthy Living Starts Now. was last modified: January 20th, 2019 by Deb Nelson

From Happy Endings to Fabulous Beginnings

Thank you, 2018, for a wonderful year! 2018 proved to be a fabulous year in a number of ways. A few highlights for me included:

Publishing my first book, Finding Health After Cancer – finally or at last some might say. At just the right moment is what I would say.
Setting the stage for a second book to follow in 2019. Yes, really!
Working with my first corporate clients.
Reading 23 books (up from 16 in 2017).

Oftentimes it seems I am saying good riddance to a year as we turn the corner to a new one. 2018, however, holds a special place in my heart. While accomplishing a significant goal in 2018, I also mapped out a plan for a stellar 2019. My husband and I will have milestone birthdays this year and have identified a number of activities (both personally and professionally) we want to accomplish. These lists should not be confused with New Year’s Resolutions: they are things we want to do to bring joy to our lives, they are NOT shame-filled corrections to last year or any other year; they actually build off of momentum from 2018.

We took a cue from Gretchen Rubin and each of us made a 19 for 2019 list. Rubin and her sister introduced this concept last year to their podcast listeners when they revealed their 18 for 2018 lists – lists of 18 things each wanted to do in 2018. I loved this idea, but for some reason did not hop onto this idea last year.

A couple of highlights on my list are:

Publish second book.
Expand on speaking portion of my business.
Become more active in Chambers of Commerce.
Read 32 books.
Run my first half marathon.
Participate in my first century bike ride.
Identify volunteer opportunities.

To accomplish my business goals, I’ll rely on an accountability group to keep me moving forward. There is nothing like a friendly kick in the butt with words of encouragement to ensure forward motion!

I’ve put details of how I’m going to accomplish each of these items in writing to boost the likelihood of making them happen. Two friends have signed on to be my running buddies which will provide accountability for me to get off the couch and go outside (or to a treadmill when roads are snow covered) for a run. John and I will train at our home and at the gym for the century ride until spring when we can get outside to hop on our bikes.

What exactly is the purpose of this 19 for 2019 list, you ask? I have discovered I’m at my happiest and feel most fulfilled when I have specific items I want to achieve and work toward them. Keeping it simple and accomplishing the items I’ve got in store for 2019 will result in my being healthy and happy – and what else could I want for 2019?

So…what about you? Have you set yourself up for success in 2019? Need help setting and achieving your goals? Let’s connect. After all, healthy living starts now!

Photo of Deb and her bike by Richard Sawyer Photography.

From Happy Endings to Fabulous Beginnings was last modified: January 3rd, 2019 by Deb Nelson

Keep It Simple: Follow Peter Sagal’s Three-G Formula & Get Your Run On

December presents an opportunity to review goals of the current year and get a jump on your goals for the upcoming year. While I achieved a significant business goal of publishing my first book, I’ve let some of my fitness goals fall off.

Just as I was reviewing plans for 2019, I had lunch with a friend who had just read Peter Sagal’s The Incomplete Book of Running. She brought the book to lunch and suggested I give it a read.

Best. Idea. Ever.

Sagal shares how he found the time and inspiration to run, as well as the ups and downs of making running a priority in his life. He’s had a number of unique experiences thanks to his running life. Some funny. Some not so. All thought provoking.

So how did this book affect me? It reminded me that like establishing any other habit, making running a part of my life again can be as simple as the three steps Sagal outlined (in more detail than I’ve included, of course):

Gradual – let your body adjust to your running habit & avoid injury.

Goals – make an achievable goal – run a 5K and take it from there.

Group – stick to your running habit with the help of an accountability group.

This GGG approach is actually pretty effective. It worked perfectly for me when I was my most successful with my running routine. I had a long-term goal of running a 10-mile race, with several 5K races along the way. I ran three times a week, following a plan outlined by Jeff Galloway. AND – I had three other people who were running their first 10-mile race right along with me, and they were also following Galloway’s plan. Closer to the race, I joined a local group that helped me build speed – yes, dreaded hill work really helps!!

My advice to you if you’re looking to make running a part of your life in 2019: read Sagal’s book. It’s a quick read: fun, funny, and inspirational; it might be just the push you need to get your run on!! Let me know how The Incomplete Book of Running inspires you!! You’re in control: healthy living starts now.

Keep It Simple: Follow Peter Sagal’s Three-G Formula & Get Your Run On was last modified: December 17th, 2018 by Deb Nelson

Does it Really Matter Which Path You Choose?

There are many paths to health. One of the most dangerous thing you can do is to get caught up in analysis paralysis. What’s so dangerous about that? You’re trying to decide whether to take a spin class, go for a run, or join a yoga class. Suddenly you realize you’ve been pondering this for two weeks. In that time, you have put your exercise plans on hold.

Use Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule. Count backwards: 5-4-3-2-1. GO! Pick one. Take one step. If it works out, great. Keep on going. If it doesn’t work out:

Re-assess.

Pivot.

Move on to Plan B.

Just as different paths lead to the same beach in the image above, many paths lead to reclaiming your health. They all start with action. Put one foot in front of the other, and begin.

Need help, let’s connect! Healthy living starts now.

Does it Really Matter Which Path You Choose? was last modified: September 28th, 2018 by Deb Nelson