The 30 Day Challenge II: Fitness

I started a new 30-day challenge. With the huge success of my sobriety, it’s helped me to make a decision towards becoming a healthier individual in the overall aspect of my life. Mentally and physically. Ultimately, I want to quit smoking, but before I do, I want to develop a habit of exercising and partaking in activities on a daily basis. I figure that there will be less temptation to smoke if I’m drinking less (The 30 Day Challenge I: Sobriety) and becoming more fit.

To make it fun and competitive, I did two things: I made a bet with a buddy that I could become more fit than her in 30 days. She accepted the challenge, and we decided that the loser will have to buy the winner a bicycle. The next day, I entered the Lime Bar Challenge; in this challenge, I’d be competing against others on a weekly basis, and my stats will be recorded each week.

I’ve been changing my diet. The first two things that I’ve (made a conscious effort to) cut out are fried foods and sodas. I’m sticking to a lot of water and juices. It’s a good thing the fruits here are very reasonably priced. A bag of mangos, bunch of bananas, apples, or oranges cost $2BZ each ($1US), so I find myself eating a lot more fruits and vegetables.

I’m taking this opportunity in my life to make a complete difference; not just to myself, but also to those around me. I believe in self-control, and overcoming these small challenges will eventually lead to a more successful future.

My official weigh-in for the first week? 206.5lbs @ 34% body fat. This is actually surprisingly good, as the last time I weighed myself (in the States, October), I was clocking in at just under 220lbs.

However, my goal is not just to lose weight, but to become fit. I’ll keep you all updated on a weekly basis as I report my progress here.

The 30 Day Challenge I: Sobriety

I did it. I’m sitting here writing this post at 4AM. Why? Partially due to the fact that I cannot sleep. Partially due to the fact that I’ve been working non-stop day and night to officially launch a brand new marketing campaign for Brahma Blue. A new website is in order, and we’re going to hit this horrible buyer’s market. And we’re going to hit it hard.

But I digress.

The real fuel for this post is simply this: I’m excited about overcoming my 30-day commitment to staying sober. There have definitely been many challenges along the way, ESPECIALLY living in San Pedro, Belize, but all in all, I’m extremely proud for sticking to my word and promise to myself.

St. Patrick’s Day was the tipping point. I remember being at Jen & Kate’s “Dublin the Pleasure” party, and vaguely remember leaving the house and moving to La Playa Lounge. What I do remember, however, is waking up the next morning, contemplating on whether or not I needed a shower, as I was running late for a meeting. As I was brushing my teeth, I nearly spit the brush out of my mouth when I gazed at the mirror.

My face was COVERED in green paint. Not just covered, but little designs were painted. On my face. Do I remember this happening the night before? Vaguely. Thanks to Ms. Lorie Jackson for the aesthetic designs.

I’ve thought about starting the sobriety a few days before that night. This island has a way of creating repetitive actions and events. What do I mean by that? How often have we (younger folk) asked our friends what they’re doing that (weekend) evening, and the answer was, “Meeting up with friends at Fido’s, moving to Jaguar’s and then probably Big Daddy’s for afterhours…”

My productivity was also falling below par. Okay, that’s an understatement. I remember in March, I’d get home at 2-3AM, lay in bed, mess around on the internet, and by the time I closed my eyes to sleep, the sun would be peeking over the horizon. I’d wake up in the afternoon, and lo and behold, my day was wasted.

The personal challenge soon turned public as a small group of friends decided that they, too, wanted to dedicate themselves to sobriety. We laughed and began to place bets on who would be the first to lose the challenge. To keep a long story short, let’s just say that the decline of sober individuals grew exponentially throughout the coming weeks. At this point, as I write this, I am one of two individuals that has made it this far. And I congratulate Rob and pat him on the back for pulling through.

Throughout our 30-day challenge, my friends and I concocted creative ways to spend our weekends, rather than the usual. We’ve played soccer on the beach, Karaoke’d at Wet Willy’s, gone up North a couple of days and spent time in beautiful swimming pools, etc.

I’ll leave you with this; I challenge YOU to start your own challenge. Find something that affects not only your life, but the lives of others around you, and dare yourself to give it up for 30 days. See how much of an impact the vice has/had on your life, if any at all.

Next 30-day challenge: lose 15 pounds (started Monday, April 13)