Em, me, and Michelle after my third challenge! Pardon the poor photo quality! It’s the thought that counts, yes?
There are a few things that have definitively changed my life:
- Dry shampoo … Any woman should know about this and use it. Less showering, more living.
- Netflix and Hulu … Do I even need to explain this one?
- Emily Schromm’s 21-day Superhero Challenge … Talk about a game-changer.
I started doing these challenges about 2 years ago. I had been married for 3 years to a man who ate a minimum of 4,000 calories each day. I thought, “Oh, if I eat half of that, I should be good, right?” Half of 8 cookies is 4 cookies. I cannot eat 4 cookies a day and maintain my girlish figure. My girlish figure was gone by the time we hit the 3-year mark.
I was sad, unhappy, uncomfortable, and just a little bit … soft. My body was barely reminiscent of the collegiate athlete I once was. My clothes weren’t fitting and I refused to go up yet another pants size. So I joined Emily’s challenge. I figured, I can do anything for 21 days. And I did. I dropped 10 pounds in three weeks and felt great. Then I did another one and felt a little bit better. Then I joined CrossFit. Over the next two years, I did challenge after challenge, using them as kind-of a reset button when I felt myself losing control.
As I explain on my “About” page, I’m usually an all or nothing kind of gal. Before the challenges, if I ate #cookiesforbreakfast, I would forego veggies the rest of the day and eat ice cream for dinner. It was like, “Well, this day is a bust, I might as well feel as crappy as possible about it. Who wants French fries?”
This impulse still lives (read: rages) within me on the daily, but Emily’s way of eating is truly a lifestyle, one that is simple and easy to understand. Her challenge helps set me back on course if I find myself eating like a maniac.
The highlights of this challenge:
1. No sugar, grains, or alcohol. Remember, you can do anything for 21 days.
2. Your skin will clear up, you will sleep better, and your energy will skyrocket.
3. She sends you a video every morning to help you remember why you’re doing this. Sometimes it’s one about nutrition, sometimes it’s a workout. Either way, they aren’t long and they are worth every second of your time.
4. There is a huge community of people that do this. Literally, thousands. Check these hashtags on social media to see how many people are doing this! #21daysuperherochallenge #beyourownsuperhero #unleashedfitness
5. You can eat bacon every.single.day. No joke. I wouldn’t lie to you about bacon.
This diet isn’t a quick fix. It’s not a 21-days-and-then-you’re-done-forever kind of thing. But it’s OK because the way it makes you feel is a bit addicting. I’ve done at least 6 challenges in the past two years. And eating real food and moving my body every day has dramatically transformed my life. Sure, I’ve trimmed up and I look better. But it isn’t even about that. I feel better. I like myself more. I have more kindness for myself, therefore I extend more kindness to others. I may not have the exact girlish figure I envisioned, but I’m strong as hell and I wouldn’t want to be any other way.
Em’s message is one of grace—the “rules” are there as guidelines. I follow them strictly for 21 days and then after the challenge, some of them stick around. It’s impossible to not change your daily life after learning about everything she has to say. The point isn’t to drop weight, it’s to feel powerful and emboldened to take on whatever you want in life. It’s to become your own superhero.
If you want to sign up, the next challenge starts AUGUST 22nd. I will be doing it along with most of my family and a few friends. Did I mention yet that it’s only $21?! Twenty-one bucks. That’s nothing for the value you get. I obviously can’t say enough about it and how it has transformed my life. Join me and a huge community of superheroes!
Also, if you have any questions at all, please email me. I’m more than happy to chat about this and spread this magic around! rachel@greenchairstories.com