Healthy Lifestyle Mission Statement

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Designer Whey.

I don’t mean to gloss over Christmas, but…. Once the holiday food has passed (ha!), people will be sweating New Years resolutions all over the place. Many will find themselves eating new diets and going to a new gym. If that scratches your itch, fine, but before you sign up for anything…ask yourself this:

What is my Healthy Lifestyle Mission Statement?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Not being able to run for most of 2013 has forced me to reevaluate my goals. I’ve realized that running was my purpose for the healthy lifestyle choices I made and, without running, my lifestyle became a lot less healthy. This is not okay.

The motivation for a “healthy lifestyle” should not be centered around the ability to participate in a single sport. Life is bigger than running. There. I said it. So what is my healthy lifestyle mission statement? What are my broader goals, beyond just running, that can inform the choices I make and motivate me to make good ones.

Crafting mission statements are a real pain in the tush, but it needs to be done. Otherwise, I could get caught up in a myriad of random, “sounded good at the time”, goals and resolutions that distract me for a while, but if they don’t line up with my broader goals…my motivation will disappear faster than the “New Year gym newbs”.

My healthy lifestyle mission is… 
to be fully nourished, physically and spiritually, to prevent sickness and fight disease, and to be fit enough to participate in and enjoy most any sport or recreational activity. I want to live a life free of medications and chronic illness/injury and be capable of pursuing physical challenges and adventures.

That mission statement needs some work, but the point is I never want chronic physical limitations to prevent me from doing the things I love and being with the people I love. Therefore, my healthy lifestyle focus is going to be on nutrition and enjoying a broader range of physical activities. I expect running to be part of my healthy lifestyle, just not the reason for it.

Real Options for Real Life

Living my healthy lifestyle mission statement is not easy so there are some basic changes I need to make in the nutrition department. I don’t always have the time, money, or energy to prepare the best food and when the best food is not readily available, I tend to make bad choices.

To be clear, I’m not talking about the “Treats”, when I mindfully let myself indulge in something terribly tasty. I’m talking about the “Tricks”…for example, when I failed to plan and was caught post-workout with nothing good readily available! I need a better plan for handling these situations because they ALWAYS come up.

This is where Designer Whey comes in! They are a more affordable source of whey protein and make some great ready-to-go options. I’ve reviewed them in the past [click here to read] and am happy to include them in my plan for making healthier choices.

Instead of a Crunch bar…have a crunch bar?
No, not Nestle Crunch. Designer Whey’s crunchy protein bars are crazy delicious. If I’m going to have 170 calories of something quick and delicious, it might as well come with 10 grams of protein and some vitamins. It’s a better choice and just as tasty a treat.

Instead of a glass of liquid sugar…drink some Protein 2GO.
I’m rarely tempted by soda or fruit juice, but having a Protein 2GO packet on my person is wise. Less sugar, less calories and again…10 grams of protein. It is easy to take with me and a smart choice for adding protein to my day.

To shake or not to shake?
I’ve used Designer Whey’s protein powders with great success. However, as lame as it is, there have been times when I didn’t or couldn’t mix up a powdered shake. Maybe my shakers are all dirty and I was too lazy to clean one. Who knows? The point is that the Ready To Go shakes are a better option than skipping post-workout protein altogether…which I do more often that I care to admit.

Cheers to Healthy Lifestyles

A healthy approach to nutrition requires balance and having realistic expectations of yourself. I want to be smarter about my weak moments and have better food options available when real life gets whacky. I’ve slipped up on this way too much since I got injured and it can no longer be ignored.

Tell me…

• Do you have a Healthy Lifestyle Mission Statement?
• Are your New Years Resolutions always health and fitness related?
• What healthy changes are you going to make this next year?
• Have you tried any of these Designer Whey items?

Related Posts:
Year End Reflections (as opposed to New Years Resolutions)
Whey Too Tasty, Full Designer Whey Review
Recipe: White Chocolate Chai Chia Pudding with Designer Whey