FitYaf.com
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Fitness
    • Group Exercise >
      • How I Became an Instructor
      • Group Exercise Schedule
      • Class Reviews
    • Fitness Friday Workouts
    • At Home Workouts
    • Running >
      • Races
  • Nutrition
    • Shakeology® >
      • Shakeology Taste Sampler
      • Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse
      • Shakeology Sampler Pack
    • Beachbody Ultimate Reset™
  • Health and Fitness Coaching
    • Challenge Groups
    • Testimonials
    • Beachbody Promotions
    • Shop

Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge

12/23/2013

2 Comments

 
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed me using the hashtag #Elf4Health these last few weeks.  If you were wondering why, Elle at NutritionElla and Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean organized an amazing challenge group of about 1000 "elves" looking to improve their lives this holidays season.  There were a total of 28 challenges, most of which I participated in, but I put together these highlights of my favorite challenges - ones that you can try out all year round!
Also, I'd like to take the time to give a shout out to my personal elves these last four weeks - they were full of tips and great ideas! Check out their blogs:
  • Erin @ Serendipity and the Sailor
  • Tara @ Sugar Sweat and Sparks
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge

Unsubscribe from emails

Do you find that you spend a lot of time just deleting emails from your inbox?  Sometimes without even reading them?  Use unroll.me to unsubscribe from SO MANY emails!  When I entered my email address, I was able to unsubscribe from 63 newsletters/store emails with the click of a button!

Track your water intake

Aim for half your body weight (in oz).  If you weigh 150 pounds, try to drink 75 oz of water.Make it through two 32 oz water bottles and you're almost there!  OR mark your water bottle like this to set yourself little goals throughout the day.

Physcial challenges make you realize what you're capable of

There were a few physical challenges we participates in, and each one helped me push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.
1) 100 Burpee challenge. Do 100 burpees throughout the day.  Modify as needed, just check out this video for ways to do this. 

Here are a few ideas for tackling this challenge: 
  • If you're a burpee veteran, try doing them consecutively!
  • Break into sets of 33 and do a set before each meal.
  • Do them 10 at a time throughout the day - maybe every hour!
  • Do 50 when you wake up and 50 before you go to bed.
  • Get up and do burpees during every commercial break.
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge
2) Run a mile as fast as you can.  This one is pretty self-explanatory.  You can walk it if you need to, or maybe split the mile up into walk/jog intervals.  Either way, no matter your fitness level, everyone can push themselves JUST A LITTLE HARDER for just one mile!
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge
3) Hold a wall sit as long as you can.  If you're a wall-sit pro, make it more challenging by holding a weight.
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge

Eat the rainbow

When you eat foods that are a variety of colors, you're guaranteed to get a variety of nutrients, minerals and vitamins in your diet!  Here are some ideas:
  • Make a frittata for breakfast and pack it with veggies.
  • Have a jumbo salad for lunch topped with lots of lean protein and extra veggies.
Color Inspiration
  • Red: strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers
  • Orange: sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash
  • Yellow: spaghetti squash, summer squash
  • Green: spinach, green beans, kale
  • Blue: blueberries
  • Violet: eggplant, purple potatoes
 

Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge

Clean out your fridge and pantry

Take some time to deep clean your fridge. Pull everything out, clean the shelves and drawers, throw away expired items and then put everything back, with healthy snacks at eye level!

Then move on to your pantry. Throw away expired items, organize the shelves and consider donating some food to a local food pantry as a bonus challenge!


Here are a few articles with more info:
  • How to Clean Out The Pantry
  • 5 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Pantry
  • Clean Out Your Pantry To Live Healthier  
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge

Closet Cleanup

Take some time to go through your closet.  Clean up the clutter by removing what you don't wear - consider donating these! Not sure what to give away?  Put all of the hangers in your closet on the rod backwards.  Once you wear and wash an article of clothing, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the right way.  In a few months, you can easily see what you wear and what you don't!

Meal Planning

It's not secret that meal planning helps you get through the week, while sticking to your nutrition plan.  Take time on the weekends to prep and plan you meals to set yourself up for a great week!

Set a new fitness goal

This one might be my favorite!  If you know me well (or read my blog enough), you know I'm a huge fan of goal-setting when it comes to improving your health and fitness.  I haven't set my 2014 goals just yet, but I'm certainly thinking about it!

Some ideas: 
  • Run a particular race
  • Try a new sport
  • Get faster
  • Add one more day of exercise to your weekly routine
  • Walk 10,000 steps each day
  • Get up every hour and move around
Highlights from the #Elf4Health Challenge
How can you challenge yourself in the upcoming new year?
2 Comments
Jessi Boehme link
12/23/2013 12:00:15 am

So glad you linked up for the recap! I loved reading your post and it sounds like you had a really great experience (: (: I think I may copy one of your fitness goals, I'm trying to make sure I'm getting up every hour to move around! P.S. Your pantry is beautiful!

Reply
Laurie link
12/23/2013 10:59:32 pm

<3 Merry Christmas!!! I LOVE reading everyone's blogs!!! Love your fitness goals!!! I hope you have wonderful Holidays and a Healthy New Year!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jillian [FitYaf]

    fitness enthusiast.
    coach.
    marathoner.
    bioengineer.

    Fit Approach
    FitYaf's Bulu Box
    Picture
    FitFluential Is Fitness Found

    Archives

    February 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Insanity Certification

    Categories

    All
    21 Day Fix
    At Home Workouts
    At Home Workouts
    Beachbody
    Bodypump
    Bulu Box
    Burpee
    Cardio
    Challenge
    Charity
    Choreography
    Crossfit
    Diva Dash
    Fall
    Family
    First Blog Post
    Fit
    Fitmapped
    Fitness
    Fitness Challenge
    Fitness Challenge
    Fitness Friday
    Fitness Friday
    Fit Pregnancy
    Fityaf
    FitYaf Answers
    Focus T25
    Friends Of Fityaf
    Friends Of Fityaf
    Gadgets
    Group Exercise
    Group Exercise
    Group Fitness
    Group Fitness
    Half Marathon
    Healthy Eating
    Healthy Eating
    Healthy Habits
    Healthy Habits
    Les Mills Bodypump
    Low Impact
    Marathon
    Music
    Nickname
    P90
    P90x
    Paleo Diet
    Parties
    Party
    Philly Phitness Tour
    PiYo
    Pregnancy
    Pull Up
    Pull Up
    Pull-up
    Pushup
    Race
    Recipe
    Richard Simmons
    Running
    Shakeology
    Shakeology Recipes
    Shaun T
    Soulmate Workout
    Spinning
    Step Aerobics
    Strength
    Summer
    SweatSync
    Travel
    Treadmill
    Weight Loss
    Weight Loss
    Winter
    Workout
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

    To my readers, please note this website and blog is for educational and informational purposes only. For medical advice, dietary restrictions, and/or medical diagnosis, and before beginning any diet and/or exercise program, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional. 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.