July is our high-energy month, so I decided to take my daily routine to the next level and get more steps in! 10,000 steps per day is not necessarily the exact number of steps every person is recommended to take, but it’s an achievable goal that I can set for myself above the 7,000 step goal I usually set.
GOALS THIS MONTH:
- walk 10,000 steps per day
- take more intense/cardio fitness classes
- be more active on vacation
HOW DID IT GO:
It was fun! I didn’t reach my goal every day, in fact I only reached it about 60% of the time. I averaged about 9,668 steps per day. I felt that was pretty close even if it meant that some days were much lower than others.
Since I have a lot going on, I needed a bit of motivation to get walking every day. And it just so happens that about half a mile from my house is a delicious ice cream place… I went there a lot. Or to the grocery store to buy some Fruity Pebbles. Or to the liquor store to buy wine. None of which were healthy, but I would probably have done them anyway so at least I walked there! Progress.
Another way I was able to motivate myself was to make plans on the weekends to do active things. For example, my fiancé and I decided to make the best of our day off on the 4th of July by walking from Canton to the Inner Harbor to get milkshakes. Of course after we got half way there, we got tired and decided to rent motorized scooters to get the rest of the way there. But it ended up being a really fun day that would have otherwise been a mundane 30-minute activity.
It was really a struggle to get all my steps when I was in Miami for my bachelorette party. (Do putting on glitter tattoos and riding an inflatable unicorn in the ocean count as exercise?) But my friends planned some great activities for us that helped me feel sane since I enjoy more active vacations, including one of those cycle party bike tours and sunset paddle boarding. Eating pasta and drinking champagne still did not make me feel like I was doing a good job with kicking it up a notch though! So when I came back, I made sure to take some Boot Camp and BODYCOMBAT classes to get my energy levels up. And getting back into the walking routine was hard, but nice to have my body feeling normal again.
Setting this goal for myself was time consuming and frustrating when I had other things to do, but when I was able to get myself on a walk, I felt awesome! Not only does exercise release dopamine and sunshine raise your serotonin levels, but if you walk with your dog like I do, it makes them happy too so you become a better dog parent!
I noticed that I was in a better mood, had more energy to get things done the rest of the day, and got a small sense of accomplishment every day. If my fiancé walked with me, it gave us a chance to catch up on our days without interruptions and it felt like a small bonding time. This is definitely something I would like to keep up with and keep in mind, especially when things like vacations disrupt my daily routines.
VLOG:
FAVORITE RECIPE THIS MONTH: Waffle Fruit Pizzas
This is easy to meal-prep! You can make the waffles and chop the fruit, then just toast the waffles in the mornings. I like to make my own waffles and add protein powder to them.
Ingredients:
- box of pancake/waffle mix (and ingredients it requires) OR box of frozen waffles
- peanut butter
- chopped fruit of your choosing (I like blueberries, strawberries and bananas)
Directions:
Start with already-made waffles (either pre-made frozen waffles or handmade waffles works.) While still warm, spread peanut butter over top of waffle and top with your choice of chopped fruit.
This blog post was prepared and accomplished by the author in her own personal capacity. The opinions expressed are solely of the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of Merritt Clubs.
