My Takeaway From Puritan’s Pride’s One Small Change Program: Life is All About Choice

#OneSmallChange

I was compensated by Puritan’s Pride for this post.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve been participating in the Puritan’s Pride One Small Change campaign. When I first started, I told you all about my commitment to exercise more. I pledged to work exercise more into my daily routine, whether it’s the treadmill, elliptical or just a stroll around the block. My follow-up post gave you a glimpse into my progress. And now, in my third and final update, I’ll tell you how it’s all worked out.

I wish I could say I’ve lost 20 pounds. Heck, I’d take 10. Even 5! But to be honest, I haven’t lost any weight. I haven’t gained any either, though, so that’s a good thing! I just unfortunately, haven’t had the time to get up early and hit the treadmill every day. Add in the fact that I’ve been sick for the past two weeks or so and that hasn’t helped matters any.

But that’s not to say I’m not committed to living a healthier lifestyle. I’ve spent many lunch breaks walking around Manhattan for a good 30 or 40 minutes. The fresh air’s been great for my head and the walking is certainly good for my body. The weather’s starting to cool down though (except for this week), so I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up with my lunch laps.

In my head, I’m committed to this. I want to exercise more. I want to workout on the weekends. Start lifting weights again. And I know I will. Allie and I have started eating a lot healthier and are cutting out the not-so-healthy snacking. Apparently an entire bag of chocolate chip cookies aren’t part of a healthy diet. Weird, right?

In the process of this challenge, though, I’m making other small changes. I’m making healthier choices. Smaller portions at meals. Less snacking. Cutting down on the sugar in coffee. That sort of thing. In fact, just this morning as I was buying my coffee at a local deli, I was sorely tempted to get a bagel with cream cheese. I already had breakfast at home and wasn’t even hungry. It just looked and smelled so good, I wanted one. I was “this” close to getting one but stopped myself.

See, life is all about choices. Some are big ones like who you’re going to marry, what house you’re going to buy, deciding whether or not to have kids, etc. Others, however, are small. What should I eat for lunch? What should I wear today? Do I DVR Agents of SHIELD or give up on it?

Oddly enough, it’s the small choices that often bother us the most. Probably because they’re so immediate. The big choices, the life-altering ones, are usually decisions that you need to think about for a long time.

But the small choices, the ones you make every single day, those are choices that affect your present. And for that reason alone, they can drive you up a wall and make you crave a bagel with cream cheese even when there’s no logical reason you should be eating one. That’s what we get for living in the moment.

If nothing else, Puritan’s Pride’s One Small Change campaign has taught me that every small step counts. Every block I walk at lunch. Every bagel I turn down every morning. Every set of stairs I climb instead of taking the elevator. They all may seem small at first. But over time, they add up and make my decision making easier and stronger.

I’m hoping to keep making “small changes” in my life. Not only do they keep life exciting, but they’ll lead to a much healthier lifestyle overall. And a longer life, means even more chances for small changes!

How did your commitment to One Small Change work out? If you haven’t done so yet, start making one small change in your own life. You’ll be creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself and if you enter the One Small Change sweepstakes, you may just find yourself winning $2,000 in the process!

One Small Change Logo

Follow Puritan’s Pride: Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Making one small change in your health habits can reap big rewards. Pledge to make one small change today. This your final chance to enter to win $2,000 plus prizes from Puritan’s Pride to help you stick to your pledge.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Puritan’s Pride. The opinions and text are all mine.

17 thoughts on “My Takeaway From Puritan’s Pride’s One Small Change Program: Life is All About Choice”

  1. i have been trying to teach my husband this concept that one small thing can lead up to a big change. i am taking the small step to get up and moving more towards loosing weight.

    Reply
  2. It’s good to have it repeated, and often, that taking one small step to a healthier lifestyle is easier to do and to continue doing. So many people think it’s “all or nothing” and when they don’t do as well as they think they should, or “fail,” that they might as well throw in the towel and give up and never attempt it again. So counter-productive. Sounds like you’ve caught on.

    Reply
  3. I’m sorry you’re under the weather lately. I’ll have to look up that phrase. Aren’t we “under the weather” every day? Like, how do we get above it? Silly gravity. Yes, keep DVR’ing Shield. I haven’t decided if I like it or not, but I’m still watching. And you’re very right, the small choices are so…NOW. I agree that’s why they are harder. But a bunch of small choices and BAM, big changes. 🙂

    Reply
  4. as of right now ive been without tv for over a week an I miss it but not too much,,gives me more time to do other things,the other night 2 of my grandsons spent the night an we actually played monopoly for a few hrs board game,an they had fun

    Reply
  5. I finally learned this for myself… I would be all gung-ho and start out all full force and then crash. I have to take small baby steps. It’s what works best for me. As for Agents of Shield (and possibly the new Dracula series) I gave up. 🙂

    Reply
  6. I really want to exercise more, but I have multiple stress fractures that are still healing – so, I am not even allowed to walk for exercise. However, when I am fully mended, I plan to get walking again. My husband and I are even eyeing a treadmill desk since we both work from home. I would be so happy if I could exercise AND get some work done at the same time!

    Reply
  7. I hear you about small changes. When we try to change everything at once we get overwhelmed and give up, at least I’m that way. Trying to cut out between meal snacks is enough for me right now. Once this is an automatic daily thing I’ll work on other things.

    Reply
  8. Small changes can make a huge difference ! I’m struggling myself but I feel good when I am active. So regardless of what the scale I feel good. If I lost 20 lbs I would feel fantastic! lol

    Reply
  9. I need to exercise more but I’ll wait till my lil pumpkin is due in January. I do need to drink more water starting now. Little changes can make a big difference!

    Reply
  10. I am trying to start doing some sort of exercise every day….. not doing great at it, but better. Reading your post, it made me think…. seems like all those “little” choices are what trips me up, because I DON’T think…. I just go on auto-pilot and beat myself up later for crappy choices.

    Reply
  11. That is so funny, should you DVR Agents of Shield or give up on it….I feel that way about some shows too. I guess I just have to get it into my head to be healthier…I just haven’t made the decision yet….maybe soon.

    Reply
    • Hah. Thanks, Cynthia. That means you actually read a decent amount of my post! And yeah, it’s really tough for me to give up on a show or a book. It has to be REALLY bad for me to completely give them up after investing so much time in them already. Good luck getting your head back into the health game.

      Reply

Leave a Comment