super summer challenge: how it works + printables

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Posted on May 23, 2013 in Motivation

I am so happy that you guys are stoked about the Super Summer challenge (hashtag: #SuperSummer)! Now that you’re all pumped to make your summer healthy and happy, it’s time to share the down and dirty details of how this is going to go down. Coach Krissie and I want this challenge to be accessible to all ages, weights, fitness levels, so it’s totally customizable. Let’s get started!

Overview

We’re going to focus on two areas this summer—mind and body. For both of those categories, each participant will have a list of associated tasks and point levels (you can make your own, customized list or use mine or a combo of the two). The easier the task is for you to complete, the lower the point reward for it.

Here are some sample tasks from my lists:

Like I said, these are items from my list. Below, you’ll find my list, but also a blank printable for you to create your own tasks. It should be customized for you and your challenges. For some folks, running a 5K is nothing and shouldn’t be worth a ton of points, for others, it should be worth the most. Make it challenging, but make it fit your own strengths and weaknesses.

There are, of course, items that overlap and fit on both lists—tasks that are good for both your mind and your body. Those items are worth double! If you complete one of those (one of mine is getting 50 points for going on a hike) then those points going on both of your tallys. Woohoo! Double reward.

When

The formal challenge will go from June 1, 2013 to August 31,2013. However, the printables and format will work any time of year, and you are free to print and participate when it works best for you.

The Goal

Have a healthy and happy summer! But more specifically, the goal is to rack up 10,000 Mind Points and 10,000 Body Points by August 31st. You can complete each task as many times as you like over the summer and complete them in any combo to hit your goal. If you want, you are free to tweak this goal level to make the challenge easier or more difficult to accomplish.

The Reward

Alright, you know a challenge isn’t a challenge without some big juicy reward, right? Well, I’ll do you even one better—this challenge has two big juicy rewards! Because this is a long-term challenge, I encourage you to set two rewards for yourself—one at the halfway point (5,000 points) and one at the challenge completion (10,000 points). There are spots on the printable for you to write out your reward. I’ll talk more about the rewards I’ve chosen for myself when we officially kick off the challenge on June 1st. They’re exciting! Make sure you’re thinking big, this challenge is a big commitment and you need to reward yourself handsomely for completion.

Peer Accountability

One fun (and free!) added aspect that Coach Krissie and I are offering with this challenge—peer accountability. You can opt in to be included in a list of accountability partners. We have a Google Spreadsheet that lists your name, your location, your preferred method of contact (Twitter, Facebook, email, etc.), plus a list of your major goals for this challenge (get more active, eat more veggies, drink water, relax more often, etc.).

Have a few extra minutes? Just pop into the spreadsheet and send an encouraging message to one of your fellow challenge participants. Coach Krissie and I will be participating and sending encouraging messages throughout the challenge. Who knows, you might find a new friend!

Signing up for peer accountability isn’t required for participation in the challenge, but we think it’s going to be a really fun way to help each other out. Remember: this spreadsheet is open to anyone who has this link so don’t place any info that you wouldn’t want out there on the internet (like, uh, your address or your social security number or the location of your life savings…).

Work with Coach Krissie

Need an additional little push to keep going throughout the challenge? Coach Krissie from Committed Coaching will be offering extended Super Summer services at 15% off her normal rate. She has two different options for you to sign up for:

Accountability Services

Coach Krissie will personally follow-up with you at intervals of your choosing (monthly, weekly or multiple times per week) about your progress with the challenge. You can Skype, text or email with Krissie to work through any issues you are having and talk about your goals. To sign up for accountability services, just click the big button below. When you fill out the form, make sure to mention “Super Summer” in the “How did you hear about Committed Coaching?” box. Then Krissie will invoice you for the discounted rate.

Discovery Sessions

Not sure if you want to work with Coach Krissie or not? She’ll also be offering a limited number of Discovery Sessions—30-minute get-to-know-you phone calls to talk over your goals, motivation style and needs. You’ll get to know Coach Krissie and how she works before you commit to extended services with her. There are limited spots available for these phone calls, and she’ll be announcing how and when to sign up for these calls only on her Twitter account. So make sure to follow @CoachKrissie and look out for the #SuperSummer hashtag.

Printables

Alright, now that you know how everything is going down, it’s time to share the printables! We have three printables for this challenge.

Ready to go?

The challenge officially kicks off on June 1st (and I’ll be posting a kick-off post to get everyone pumped and excited). But for now, get your printables printed, get your lists and charts ready, start thinking about your rewards and get signed up for accountability partners or Coach Krissie’s services, so you’re all ready to go on the 1st!

Krissie will be guest posting here next week with some expert insight on goal-setting and rewards, and then I’ll be back again on June 1st to cut the ribbon/set off the fireworks/blow the horn. Get ready, get set!

What are you thinking your two rewards will be for the challenge? Remember: think big!

what i ate wednesday: summer eats

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Posted on May 22, 2013 in Food

I think summer officially showed up here this week. It’s been hot and humid and that means I’ve been craving summer eats like crazy. I tend to eat much lighter in the summer. Which, you’d think, I’d drop some weight because of it, but I just replace all the heavy foods of winter with beer in the summer. Ha! Balance!

I was sitting out on the front porch drinking some coffee and my incredible husband showed up with breakfast! He put together this beautiful yogurt bowl for me: Greek yogurt, strawberries, raspberries, apricot, raisins, cherries, hemp seeds, oats, PB2, and almond meal.

For lunch, I had one of my radish green toasts, plus a side of salad and a nice, cold glass of lemonade. It was so warm by lunch time! I also had a piece of chocolate for lunch dessert that managed to escape the eye of the camera.

After I spent a few hours out in the heat mowing, Craig and I took a break on the porch to snack on some tortilla chips and drink some shandys. Such a perfect summer drink!

Dinner was fish tacos! If you follow us over on The Broken Plow (our DIY, homesteading and gardening blog) you know that we’ve been catching fish out of our lake. It is so nice to have a hyper-local source of fresh fish. Along with the tacos, I made a strawberry cucumber salsa with the fresh strawberries we got in our CSA this week. SO yum! That recipe is coming your way soon. Alongside, I had a beer. Because you can’t have tacos without cerveza, right?

As always, big thanks go out to Jenn at Peas and Crayons for hosting this fun food-filled party we have every week. If you guys haven’t clicked over to the main WIAW post yet, you should! There are so many fun eats and so many new blogs to discover. You could lose a handful of hours just discovering new friends and foods!

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten so far this week?