I eluded in my last post, that I had a simple plan for April which I hope others will join! I have tried a plan Sparkle before, with some success so I’ve decided to dedicate April as the month to really implement the plan! I think April is the perfect month to make small healthy changes to help get your body ready for the summer! The changes/goals I am going to focus on are:
- Drink a minimum of 6 glasses of water a day
- Walk outside for a minimum of 45 minutes a day
- Keep a food diary
- Have a minimum of 10 dairy free days
- Have no more than 1 wheat product a day
- Swim a minimum of four times a week (trying to be realistic due to the move!)
- No chocolate (I have been enjoying far too much chocolate lately!)
- Remember to take my make-up off every night (I’ve forgotten lately!)
Those are my simple goals for April’s month to shine! I’d love if any of my blog readers would join in as a way to motivate and encourage each other! Remember these are my goals and are slightly ambitious for people just beginning on this journey; one small change can make a huge difference. Your one small change may just be to drink X amount of water a day, or to hit the gym twice a week, simply think about what is right for you!
I have to say, I’m quite excited about this plan!
Is anyone going to join me?
I am with you on the water and although I’m not an outside type of walker (FL heat is horrendous) I will go ahead and go with walking on the treadmill 45 minutes a day for at least 3 of the 7 days
Small goals but for me a big deal. I wish us both luck and have all the faith in the world we can do it 
I’ve read your blog for months but have never commented. Your April Sparkle challenge seems like the perfect time to come out of the shadows, say hello and offer some encouragement. After several weeks of late nights in the barn waiting for lambs, while keeping the household running and chasing my kids around (2 under 4), my reserves have been used up and I need a month of taking better care of myself to come back up to speed. Your writing brings me inspiration and new perspectives on the world everyday. Keep up the great work and enjoy your month of Sparkle. I might even be motivated enough to update my own long neglected blog.
I am trying something like this now…….I just began about four days ago to eat a very low carb diet (this is better for me as a diabetic) and walk in water for an hour at least four days a week….I am reading the new Thich Nhat Hanh book Savour as part of trying to do mindful eating. And I will drink at least 6 glasses of water a day. Starting at 8am, I will drink one glass every two hours. In the evening I will drink more if I want to. I am trying to walk more on land, but it is difficult with my arthritis.
I’ve been working on this basic idea for this whole year; with the aim of turning 30 next January feeling as good as I can!
My diet and walking plans are actually going really well but I will think about some specific extra changes I can make for April so I can join in. I’m thinking it’s going to be cutting back on tea (again, this was going well in January) and getting to bed earlier.
I’m looking forward to this.
I’m in. But not that ambitious.
It would be good for me to drink more water. So I’ll focus on that. And walking outside for 45 minutes a day seems doable too: I have a dog to come with me and I have no bike, so since I live in the city, walking is for me the usual way to go from one place to the other. I might pay more attention to it though, and make sure I do it every day.
I’m going to eat at least one piece of fruit a day. I’m a big veggie lover, but fruit is my weak point. Not that I don’t like it, I hardly ever grab for it. So coming with that I really should limit my crips intake (I know – bad!!!) to one bag a week.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Oooh, as soon as I read the post I knew I’d join you though reading Looby’s comment above gave me a shock – it was like I’d already posted LOL (though I’m turning 30 in December!)
My goals were also to cut down on tea and go to bed earlier – maybe it’s a 29 year old thing.
I also wanted to take my vitamin supplements more regularly – I’m always forgetting – and like you, cut down on the chocolate. Not cut OUT (it’s Easter after all) but cut down 
x
Your month to “sparkle” was the month that I chose to “become a goddess”! Ha! I have a list similar to yours that I’m working through which includes plenty of water, fruit and veg, and exercise. And does not include sugar, caffeine, bread, or pasta — those are big energy killers for me. Aside from that, will be planting in the garden and enjoying some coffees by the sea = these do my heart and spirit good. Thank you for the little nudge today! And good luck on your list.
I’ve just had a test which I think says I’m diabetic (waiting for the results of more tests, but I’m going to assume the worst) , so since Tuesday 23rd, I’ve clocked up 24 miles in walking and swimming, and I’ve just bought an exercise bike. I’m also watching what I eat. I feel better than I have in years!
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Sparkle! I like it! I’m going to focus on drinking 6 glasses of water and walking for an hour 3x/week.
As always you put into words what I’m thinking I should do, so now no more thinking just action. Everything is achievable (apart from the swimming or rather sinking in my case) so count me in. Lights, camera, action … bring on April.
Ah what a brilliant sparkly blogpost.
I bought a pedometer a couple of days ago and have clocked up 8394 steps today to far – “they” say that 10,000 is the aim but so far so good methinks.
Water and walking are 2 simple sparkle makers!
I’m also on target so far with my 5 fruit/veg a day.
Start swimming again! Once to twice a week depending on finances.
April is also the month for Spring Green at Sorta Crunchy, so I’ve decided to try to eat an extra serving of veggies each day… but I’m already in the process of doing that, so does that mean I need to eat an extra extra serving? Hmm… No, I’m not that ambitious!
That’s a great set of ideas there to Sparkle in April.
I wish you the very best in all that you do.
I think I need to drink plenty more water too!
Aside from being a newbie vegetarian (3 months) I have noticed I am back on the chocolate wagon again. I didn’t eat that much chocolate for pleasure before the 12th February. I went for a months course in Findhorn, Scotland and chocolate was the top of the Agenda pretty quickly. At first I didn’t want to give into it, but it just became a natural occurence, and I didn’t feel guilty. (which is a first-as it was not linked to my emotional cravings) I say this because the course was full on filled with information and talking from 9am till sometimes past 9.30pm.
Anyway giving up chocolate does sound like a good idea, as I have had more than a month of it, and It would be nice to be liberated from the cocoa and more into the tranquile waters.
I think am going to go with drinking more water per day, as I feel that’s the most important at the moment.
I figure the water will replace the chocolate, and I won’t need to eat it by the end.
I love your blog, and it seems we have a lot in common. It’s interesting as I grew up on a farm in a complete different country(Portugal) living and eating off the land, and moved to a city(London), and now it feels like I’m returning to the land.
I also feel like there are so many things that I can do which will enable me to be that step closer to where I would like to be. Like you, I also feel drawn to living on a farm again, and doing everything by hand, planting and hopefully set up some type of local commerce to be of service to others in the community.
At the moment am torn between either working (volunteer) as a gardening assistant in my local park(which will be for a couple of hours, 1 day a week) or WOOFING somewhere in Somerset for a month. Considering I’m jobless due to choice, either is an option. Though I feel perhaps with the first that I may need to get a job, at least part time again involved in some way supporting local farmers or in a community type setting.
I do feel drawn to doing something different, and just going with the idea of WOOFING more as I am free of anything for now, and more than happy to be of service to others and be part of their own holding.
Anyway its good to be here, as I feel an easy in sharing this with you and all the readers.
The water will be for me in April.
Good luck to you.
great idea! i’m in!
My joints have been achy from my thumbs down to my feet. Since I can’t take anti-inflammatories due to Rx I’m on, I just began the process of trying to help inflamation naturally (much better for me anyway). Drinking lots more water, cutting out refined sugar and white flour as much as possible, using more olive oil, and eating more fish. Of course, it was a disaster when I walked into work and found a bag of chocolate covered macadamias on my desk that my boss brought back for me from Hawaii.
Your ten days toward health last year really helped me, so I’m back in again for the SPARKLE!
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I’m in too. Love the idea. I was needing something to shake the cobwebs out after the winter. I will be starting my day with a cup of warm water with lemon and a healthy breakfast (I’m terrible at just having coffee until almost lunch time). Yoga everyday and a walk at least three times a week. Having two veggie days a week. Avoiding convenience foods and really planning the menus for the week. All the best!!!
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I’m a bit late joining your Plan Sparkle, but I really need to do a few things, so I’ll accept a challenge as well. I plan to:
- walk once a week with a friend
- work out twice a week (I need to start combatting my degenerating bones with weight training)
- drink 6 glasses of water each day
- eat veggies or fruit with every meal
- lay off the chocolate (now that the Easter chocolate is gone)
- keep off the internet until noon every day (it’s totally distracting me from doing paid work on the computer)
- follow the Lectionary readings every day (I don’t pick up the Bible often enough)