The Perfect Week

WayneAldrich · July 2023

I keep finding myself going through periods (of days) where I am doing all the right things, then periods (sometimes weeks) of doing all the wrong things. With this in mind, I have decided to do what I am going to call a "Perfect Week Challenge". I am going to have it in writing exactly what I am going to eat, scheduled time for ice baths, plan workouts and meditations and even how much water and sleep I should be getting. My end goal is to simply restructure my mental model and change my habits to be healthier. So I am looking for suggestions from others. I am going to be taking a "Stay-cation" next month, so I will be either at home and/or camping in the wood.

Do you have any suggestions what why I should add or consider? Have you done anything like this before? If you have, what was the hardest part and how did you get through it?

ninerbuff · July 2023

Habitual change is usually gradual in approach. If you try to do a full 180, you might be good for a week or two, but then resort back to a few bad habits again.
IMO, you take one or two bad habits and fix them till you're consistent with it on a regular basis. Then go onto the next one.
For instance, just getting up when the alarm rings in the morning rather than snoozing it. Then from there, doing what ever morning routine within a time limit. And so on. It's the small changes over time that make the difference, not just one big one occasionally.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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AnnPT77 · July 2023

I'm not a huge fan of perfect, even if I could define it. I'm more about "pretty good on average, the majority of the time". Works for me (still, in year 7+ of maintenance after decades of overweight/obesity), but YMMV.

If it were me, and trying for perfect, I'd go with things like:

* Do enjoyable exercise that's a manageable challenge to current fitness, not exhausting but rather energizing.
* Eat food that tastes good, adds up to reasonable calories and decent overall nutrition, while keeping you feeling full and happy the majority of the time.
* Practice some stress management techniques that reduce your total life stress.
* Get some good sleep.

Not sure what exercise is fun and not exhausting? Not sure what foods to combine to balance all those goals? Don't know appropriate stress management techniques? Not sure how much sleep you need to to feel your best, nor how to get it? Experiment with those things, figure it out, practice those habits until they stick.

That'd be pretty perfect, IMO, for some definitions of "perfect".

alung2k3 · August 2023

More power to you and your iron will power dude!

As others have said, trying to go all in guns blazing probably won't be sustainable, maybe pick one or two and try that first. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Lietchi · August 2023

I'm a perfectionist at heart, and even I don't aim for a perfect week

I think it would be great to conceptualize what a perfect week would look like for you, it's good to think about what you're trying to achieve, but as has been said above, implementing it might be better as a series of gradual steps:
- either change one habit at a time (for example: don't try to quit smoking,, eat less take-away, be more active,... all at once)
- or incremental change for single habits (for example: if you aim to exercise 1h per day, 6 days a week, try starting with 10 minutes 6 days a week, or 1h 2 days a week)

Rockmama1111 · August 2023

I kind of like the idea of committing to one perfect week. It's a challenge with an end, and you'll be able to pat yourself on the back at the end and say "I did it." You'll probably drop a couple of pounds, feel pretty good, and it will be good motivation to keep going. You can analyze your nutrition and see where you need to adjust, etc.

A friend of mine LOVES to have a plan--set meals, set exercise, etc. It really motivates her.

The caveat is that if you have a perfectionist streak, you could derail if you don't keep it up!

WayneAldrich · August 2023

Thanks for all the thoughts and advice. I do know that for most, this would not work. But as @Rockmama111 said, it has an end. I also feel it is a relativity short period of time. Thank you again!

neanderthin · August 2023

WayneAldrich wrote: »

Thanks for all the thoughts and advice. I do know that for most, this would not work. But as @Rockmama111 said, it has an end. I also feel it is a relativity short period of time. Thank you again!

Yeah, don't overthink it, most people do. You have a time related plan, and I'm sure it will reveal new things that you can use in the future and it sounds like fun. Cheers

The Perfect Week

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