My 2 Week Reset: The Details
As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of my big goals this year is to provide tangible and practical advice on how I live a healthy sustainable life. So this quick post details my latest mini-transformation!
December and January were busy. If you include layovers, I was in 5 time zones and 6 countries. My internal system was a hot mess! So when I got back to Bali I committed to focusing solely on my health and prioritizing it above all.
Every now and then, I focus on putting my health first by way of a "reset". It helps me to get back on track. Through this exercise, I'm quickly reminded just how much I love living a healthy lifestyle and wouldn't change it for the world. I also believe these mini-resets are one of the reasons I've been able to keep almost 100lbs off for 11 years. I recognize I'm falling off the wagon, and quickly get back on with a few weeks of intensity.
I recommend resets for a few reasons. First, it reminds you to take care of you. In a world where we naturally put everything and everybody above our own well-being, it's a refreshing perspective. It also helps by giving you a taste of what optimal health feels like. This is a feeling most people will naturally want to continue - and the focus will get you there. Lastly, you'll inevitably look amazing due to the results you see, which will mentally encourage you to stay on track!
“The purpose of my reset was to get back to a place where health is my main focus; I was quickly reminded how amazing it feels to be my best physical self. ”
Now, my reset is practical and completely doable. Gone are the days of detoxes and crazy diets - I now focus on one goal for the 2 weeks: Healthy living becomes priority and everything else goes on the back burner. During this reset, that meant a) I was extremely productive with work so I could put all of my spare time and energy towards this and b) I said no to a lot of events/outings and spent a lot of time alone in order to not be derailed.
So what does that look like? Here's how I approached my reset this time round.
the Details
Diet
I cut out junk food. All of it. I just focused on getting 4 meals in a day that were balanced and wholesome. I also focused on 3-4L of water per day. I didn't drink alcohol (with the exception of one glass of red). My diet for the two weeks remained fairly consistent and looked something like this:
Breakfast - Oats/Granola with unsweetened almond milk
Lunch - 2 Slices of muesli toast with an egg/egg white on one slice and peanut butter & banana on the other
Snack - Plant-based protein bar
Dinner - Chicken/Brown rice stir-fry (with a lot of veggies)
If you're going to attempt this, I don't suggest copying my diet exactly. That's because it's designed for me, my level of physical activity, and will get me to my goals. However, I do recommend you eating healthy and whole, and ensuring junk food, processed food, and refined sugars are removed from your diet completely. I also recommend a lot of water and the elimination of alcohol. More fun foods and ideas can be found in my latest e-book.
Exercise
My gym schedule was intense. But I needed it. My body craved it. If you're new to working out, I would not recommend this level of intensity. However, I do recommend exercising daily - just at your own level. Here was my schedule:
Day 1 - 30 minutes cardio + arms
Day 2 - 30 minutes HIIT + shoulders
Day 3 - 30 minutes cardio + abs/stretch
Day 4 - 30 minutes HIIT + back
Day 5 - 30 minutes HIIT + legs
Day 6 - 1 hour cardio
Day 7 - Rest
It's important to mention I loathe cardio and I don't think this much is necessary for weight loss... but remember this was a reset!
Now What?
Well, the reset worked! I don't weigh myself but I imagined I shaved some weight, inches, and body fat - as I'm sure you can see in the photo. But most importantly, I feel incredible. I have some travel coming up these next few weeks, but I feel very committed and back in the zone. I haven't felt this focused in months. To my surprise, I even cancelled a trip to India in March (which is huge for me) just so I can come back to Bali to continue this feeling of optimal health for an extended period of time. While traveling these next few weeks, I will stay committed and I'm not stopping! Be sure to follow my IG stories as I show how I'll remain healthy while traveling 3 continents and 3 countries in 3 weeks
The purpose of my reset was to get back to a place where health is my main focus; I was quickly reminded how amazing it feels to be my best physical self! My mindset is back, guys! I'm entering these busy few weeks with extreme focus on my health and ensuring I remain a priority.
Give it a try! If you've fallen completely off the wagon, I'd recommend 3-4 weeks to really get into new habits. If you're like me, and just needed a little push, 2 weeks should completely get you back on track.
Of course, if you need help with designing a plan that will work for you, take a look at my services and I can help you get there.
Comment below if you plan to give this a try!