Halfway There!

What do you think is harder?: Starting a challenge or pushing past the halfway point?

Update on my 30 Day Forest Hill Bikram Yoga Challenge in support of Rethink Breast Cancer and young women with breast cancer.

One thing I didn't think about with regards to my 30 day challenge was just how very, very long 30 days actually is! I can't really think of anything I would want to do 30 days in a row (other than eat ice cream!) and here I am doing super-hot Bikram Yoga every day for 30 days!

I remember once when I was little I challenged myself to ride my brand new pink bike, with white streamers hanging from the handle bars, up and down the super steep hill in my school playground 100 times.  My goal was to do it every day and prove I was the best biker in the school yard. I got distracted on day one or two when another little girl shouted out "cool bike" and my social nature got the better of me and I decided it would be more fun to play shark tag in the playground with a new friend.  The moral of the story is that I think it is easier to start things than finish them!  Luckily I've gained some wisdom since my school yard days and I have a few different ways to keep myself  motivated.

My tips to help you meet your health goals!

• Attach your challenge to something meaningful like raising funds for an important cause. I am so happy I signed up for Reachout4Rethink for my Bikram challenge. I have raised over $1,500 and am so touched by my friends and families support in my efforts.  It keeps me motivated to know that I am helping Rethink and young women with breast cancer.  Reachout4Rethink can be used for any challenge (a marathon, diet goals, growing your hair – whatever!).
• Include your friends in your challenge. I have 2 friends doing the Bikram challenge with me and it totally helps to have people to go with and to laugh at all the craziness that goes on in the studio with me.
• Strongly articulate to yourself what the benefits of the challenge will be.  Get really specific-I will sleep better, get into my skinny jeans, have more energy to play with my kids etc.  These benefit reminders should outweigh the difficulty you are facing in the moment – as hard as it is for me to hold some of the Bikram postures for 60 seconds I know in my heart I can do it and the reward is greater that giving up.
• Tell as many people as possible about your goals.  I Facebooked, Twittered, and told everyone I knew I was doing this challenge and believe me I get asked constantly about what I am doing. I am super accountable!
• Buy a new outfit for your challenge (or find something shiny and new to make the challenge exciting).  Nothing puts the pep in my step like a new  pair of lululemon hot yoga shorts!

I’ve got 14 days to go and I would love to know how your keep motivated for your challenges.  Help me make it to day 30!

Alison