Congratulations to our Challengers Of The Week: Dori Manela, Andy Gray, and their pup Larry!
This week, we’re focusing on Refine Resolution Rule #6: Find A Big Reward. Resolution Challengers will be choosing a Big Reward they will gift themselves if they complete their 3-month challenge. As soon to be newlyweds, Dori and Andy are an inspiring example of Challengers who train hard with a Big Reward (The Big Day!) in sight.
Dori, Andy, and Larry the dog dish about what keeps their eyes on the prize:
Q: What have you struggled with in succeeding with past health and fitness resolutions?
Andy: I struggle with maintaining my resolution for a prolonged period of time. I can usually keep it up for a couple of months before I get bored.
Dori: I didn’t succeed in the past because I couldn’t find a workout I loved. It’s tough to make a resolution to get in better shape when all you know about working out is an elliptical machine, but that’s how I used to do it. It’s no mystery why that never lasted very long.
Larry: I made a resolution to learn how to escape from my crate and I succeeded. Now they lock me in with a suitcase lock. What does “zero zero zero” mean?
Q: Our Challengers have been working on creating Plan B’s to help them to plan for the most common roadblocks that get in the way of their workouts. What is the number one thing that gets in your way of working out? What is your Plan B?
Andy: Work. Including my commute, I’m at work for 10 hours a day and by the time I get home I just want to relax on the couch. I’m barely coherent in the morning, I have no idea what’s going on, so after work would really be my best time to work out. My Plan B is to work from home once a week if it looks like I’m not going to get all my workouts in. This way, I can easily fit in exercise because I won’t have to deal with a commute. Plan C would be to ask Dori to force me awake in the morning to work out, no matter how much I whine.
Dori: The best way to stick with a workout is to find one you really love. I found that with Refine, but I live and work in Jersey City so my biggest roadblock is getting to the Upper West Side for class during the week. Actually, getting there isn’t the problem, but I make it a problem by stressing over it: having too much time in between work and class, getting home so late, having to take annoying trains. I guess my own head is the number one thing that gets in the way of my workout. My Plan B is to sign up for two 7:40 PM classes a week (in addition to the two weekend classes I take) so that I am guaranteed to get to at least one if something comes up. I’m going to just suck it up and go to at least one evening class a week. Even if I feel stressed before, I always feel amazing after.
Larry: It’s too hard to exercise in my crate! I wish they would let me out. That time I escaped, I exercised by eating a box of tissues and pooping on the carpeted bedroom floor. It’s hard work! My Plan B is to stop eating everything in the apartment so they’ll let me stay out of the crate and run around playing all day.
Q: What does in shape mean to you? What will you look and feel like on your Big Day if you are successful?
Andy: In shape means I lose a little of my baby fat and get more muscular. Mentally, it means feeling good about myself, not feeling lazy, being more energetic and more alert. If I’m successful, on our Big Day I’ll look like I’m in good shape, but mostly I’ll feel confident and strong and ready to start the next chapter of my life at the best time in my life.
Dori: In shape means being confident that I look and feel my absolute best. It means surprising people by being stronger than I look, and it means feeling comfortable in my clothing. If I’m successful with my resolution challenge, on our Big Day I will feel confident and beautiful in my sexy-but-unforgiving wedding dress!
Larry: What Big Day? Are there treats involved?
Tips to learn from Dori, Andy, and Larry:
-Think about what looking and feeling your best means to you. Make that image stick by selecting a concrete reward you will give yourself if you reach your goal.
Join the Resolution Challenge and make your Big Reward a reality! #RefineResolution
Brynn
Thank you for featuring us as the Challengers of the Week. I can’t believe I can honestly say Larry has been to Refine twice already, but it’s true. Jersey City to Upper West Side is a big trip for a little dog! The Refine Resolution Challenge has already helped me and Andy add workouts to our schedules and get committed and excited to get in better shape for our wedding. Thanks for creating a fun, challenging, awesome class!