So, I hate cleaning the house – it’s my least favourite of all the chores and tasks we, as grown adults, have to complete so in order to make it more bearable, I’ve gotten into the habit of grabbing my earphones and listening to a podcast as I’m cleaning – I’m a big fan of comedy as well as interview style ones and this weekend, as I was mopping the kitchen and living room, I was listening to an interview with James Smith, a personal trainer who I’d never really heard of but he was asked to provide some words of inspiration at the end of the interview to which he replied:
What could you do, starting today, that you could do for 100 days?
If you were to do that thing for 100 days, at the end of that 100 days, would it benefit you?
If the answer is yes, why aren’t you doing that thing and why can’t you start that thing tomorrow?
It really made me stop and think. I’ve read and researched lots about ‘habits’ over the years and it’s a topic that really interests me and there’s so many theories out there about how many days it takes to form a good habit – I don’t subscribe to any of them as I know from personal experience, I’ve been able to change some bad habits quite quickly whilst years on, some are still very much ingrained and require real conscious effort to overcome them and in the same way, I’ve created some great new habits that have been easy to implement but suddenly vanished as well as vice versa. But I really liked James Smith’s very straight forward way of asking ‘will it benefit you in 100 days and if yes, why aren’t you doing it?’
So I spent a bit of time mulling it over – I do love a challenge and a to do list and committing to something for 100 days (I can create a new tick list) is something that I’ve not done before. But I also need to be realistic – doing something every day for 100 days means it has to be something I can do at anytime or anywhere as I have a few trips away planned, life can certainly throw up challenges so it has to be something that I can fit into any day and doesn’t require any external equipment. I had considered hula hooping but I’m not planning on packing that in my case when I go away plus hula hooping in the pouring rain just simply doesn’t appeal. So after a bit of thinking about what I can commit to as well as what I’d like to see at the end of 100 days, I’ve chosen my new 100 day habit to be:
10 sit ups a day
Now, you may be thinking – but that’s not a lot or a particularly huge challenge however:
- I’m totally rubbish at sit ups, always have been and I don’t think I’ve ever managed a ‘proper one’ in my life!
- Sit ups are really good for strengthening your core (which I definitely need) and also are good for flexibility in your back and hips (both of which I struggle with)
- 10 is a number that I absolutely can commit to every single day
- I don’t need any specialised equipment or a specific time of day to do them and even on the busiest of days, I can find the couple of minutes I need to complete them
- 100 days of sit ups may help to tone up my belly a bit – it’s definitely one of my ‘wobbly’ areas and I’m not on the hunt for a six pack but a bit of toning up would definitely be a great result.
So, I started this on 1st April, I’m 2 days in when writing this blog post and so far, I’ve been doing my sit ups in the spare bedroom in the evening, I’ve created a 100 day tick list in my journal and watched a YouTube video on the best technique for beginners in order to not get injured or strained – the goal is that on Monday 12th July, I’m doing my 10 sit ups a day like a pro!
Get involved
I’d love to hear from you if this is a challenge you’d love to get involved with – your habit could be anything that you know will benefit you in your goals in 100 days! I’d say the key is really thinking about what you absolutely can commit to and don’t set unrealistic expectations. It’s much better to do something small and achievable every day than going all out for a few days and then giving up. Either message me or comment on this post to get accountability and see just what you can achieve!
As a weight loss coach, I love helping people discover the best ways to reach their individual goals – from working on their mindsets and habits to help with nutrition and healthy eating advice and recipes. If you would like to find out more about my 1-2-1 coaching programme or how I can help you, please do get in touch.
Email me or phone/message: 07834 442607
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