WLC Warriors
Tomorrow, January 20, 2018, I will begin the Whole Life Challenge (WLC)- six weeks of trying to eat clean, sleep, hydrate, exercise, stretch and be mindful of various behaviors. I completed a WLC at the end of last year with varying results. This time, I hope to be more strict with myself, to hold myself to a higher standard and to truly challenge myself. What I like about the WLC is that it truly encompasses your entire life- from morning to night, the different habits that you exhibit during the day. Each category, of which there are seven. earns you 5 points. Some categories are all or nothing (for water/hydration, did you drink the minimum ounces of water that you were supposed to? if yes, you get all 5 points. If no, then you get 0 points). Other categories are on a scale, like nutrition for example. You start out with 5 points for nutrition, and depending on the level you have chosen at the outset of the WLC (kickstart, lifestyle or performance), you deduct 1 point for each serving of non-compliant food consumed for your particular level.
This time around, I have selected the vegetarian lifestyle level that means no dairy except for yogurt, kefir and butter, no grains except for rice and corn tortillas, no sugar except for naturally occurring sweeteners, and limited quantities of legumes and nuts. Oh and 1 glass of spirits or wine allowed per week! I hope to strictly adhere to this food/beverage list this time around (last time I would have frequent "cheat" days or meals. The last time I attempted the WLC, I found nutrition to be the hardest category to maintain especially on those days that I ate out at restaurants or attended an event.
Which brings me to my conundrum. While I want to adhere to the food list and follow the WLC as much as possible, I don't want to be one of those people who makes a fuss when going out and have to restrain myself from the yummy non-compliant foods (bread basket anyone?) while the rest of the table happily indulges in these treats. And we all know that having that person at their table somehow reduces your own joy in eating the said non-compliant food. I have had friends who have shunned social activities both professional and personal during their times of intense dieting/food restriction so as to not be that annoying person. I don't see this as a sustainable way of living and being the social person I am, the six weeks of the WLC would be absolutely miserable if I couldn't see my friends or go out! I had a trainer last year who suggested that you just don't make a big deal about it. You don't announce you are on any type of diet to the table or are restricting certain types of foods. You order what you can eat without bringing much attention to what you are doing. And by operating under the radar, you can hopefully still enjoy company while dining out or attending an event. So this is the approach I am going to take and if you find dining with me annoying, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be "that" person!
If you are interested in joining our team, we are the WLC Warriors- click this link: http://www.whole.lc/wlc1801/t/wlc-warriors-52344b8b-7b71-40c0-8661-9dcf54118a8a/join
And wish me luck! It is going to take much willpower to complete the WLC!