Setting yourself up for optimal health
“Shape your Surroundings and they will Shape you.” - Winston Churchill
Prepping for your Blue Zones Challenge
The folks in the Blue Zones didn’t plan on living the longest healthiest lives, it’s just a natural default of their lifestyle. They didn’t weigh themselves, participate in health challenges or make commitments to not eat certain things.
So why are we being asked to consciously go out of our way to change our surroundings and what may come naturally to us? The answer is simple. In the US we are all about convenience. This alone is a major contribution to the health crisis in America. During this challenge we are going to “disrupt” our norm so moving forward healthy choices become the convenient choices.
Dan Buettner has answered some questions for me to help us get started and will continue to provide me insight along the way. So Before I leave you with a short list of tips to assist you in starting your Blue Zones Challenge, I will share with you my Q&A with the author and founder!
1. We are asked to write a purpose statement when we begin the challenge. Your research shows that " reason for being" is a common factor amongst all the elders in the Blue Zones. Purpose motivates us to get up in the morning.
While working on my own purpose statement, I found that it has changed a lot over the years.
What is your purpose statement and has it evolved or stayed pretty consistent?
I EXPLORE TRADITONAL PEOPLE’S OF THE WORLD, TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WISDOM AND PUT IT TO WORK—BOTH IN MY LIFE AND PROFESSIONALLY. STAYING IN GOOD HEALTH, PRIORITIZING FAMILY AND CONSCIOUSLY ENJOYING LIFE EACH DAY ARE SUBSETS OF MY OVERALL PURPOSE.
2. I'm a pretty introverted person and honestly feel a lot of societal pressure to get out and connect more than I do.
Do you think that everyone's need for outside connection can vary? In the Blue Zones regions, for example, did you notice an "introvert" type personality ?
I KNOW FOR SURE EVERYONE’S NEED FOR OUTSIDE CONNECTION VARIES. BUT I ALSO KNOW FROM RESEARCHING HAPPINESS THAT EVEN INTROVERTS FIND HAPPINESS IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS—JUST FOR NOT AS MUCH TIME AS EXTRAVERTS DO. IN BLUE ZONES, THERE ARE JUST AS MANY INTROVERTS AS HERE IN THE US, IT’S JUST THAT THE OPTION TO IMPLODE INTO YOUR ROOM OR IN YOUR HANDHELD DEVICE ISN’T AN OPTION. PEOPLE ARE AWAYS INTERACTING.
3. You quote "Shape your surroundings and they will shape you." - Winston Churchill
Most of the Blue Zones are outside of the United States where there’s a more "organic" style of living. There is more farming, less cars and more walking, no fast food restaurants or very little etc. Americans are bombarded with short cuts!
If you had to pick one convenience for us to eliminate or reduce in our daily lives what would you choose?
I’D ELIMINATE THE CAR. I KNOW THAT’S HARD IN LA. WHEN I LIVED THERE, (STUDIO CITY, BEL AIR, Santa Monica) I ALSO HAD A PLACE IN Santa Barbara WHERE I ESCAPED EVERY WEEKEND TO WALK AND BIKE.
4. I just got The Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook! I know it's probably tough to choose but what is your favorite recipe in the book and which one or ones do you recommend those doing the challenge start with the first week? I will demonstrate them!
I’M ATTACHING MY FAVORITE BLUE ZONES RECIPE.
Blue Zones Minestrone
Let’s see if I can pull this off ! Dry beans can be challenging so I’m gong to take Dan’s advice and soak them overnight.
First things First! Let’s start with a few assessments and write a purpose statement. I recommend buying a journal specific to your challenge. For those of you who have bought a copy of the book, you will see these assessments in Part 3. https://www.bluezones.com/books/blue-zones-challenge/
The True Vitality Testhttps://apps.bluezones.com/en/vitality
The True Happiness Test https://apps.bluezones.com/en/happiness
The Purpose checkup and writing your statement. All info found at…https://richardleider.com/
Find at least one person to participate in this challenge with you! If right now that just means joining me then you’re in luck because I got you 😘
This is a lot of information to work with and absorb without adding in our nutrition plan.
Make a goal to complete these fun and helpful quizzes and write a solid purpose statement.
In the next few days I will write a blog specific to our dietary plan of action!
Good Luck and reach out via email or my instagram with any questions.
Sincerely, Jennifer
