Fancy meeting you here again this afternoon! I bet you didn’t expect to see me until a bit later, huh? Well, with Makenzie in preschool and Braedon getting in his morning nap, I found some extra time and decided to use it to hang out with some of my other favorite people. That would be you.

Plus, I couldn’t wait to give you more of the details on the panel discussion – The Numbers Game -  Janetha, Beth, Lisa, and I shared at the Healthy Living Summit!

What exactly does “The Numbers Game” mean? Well, as healthy living bloggers many of us have goals in some form or fashion. They may be specific…or just to live healthy in general. No matter our goals, numbers usually play a factor in some way.

Allow me to break it down for you here so you can feel like you were right there with us. Or so you can be there again. PS – If you came, you’re my new best friend. <3

Examples of How We Use Numbers In Goals 

• calories/points/number of veggies for a dietary goal
• scale weight or measurements for a weight loss goal
• mileage or pace for a running goal
• number of workouts done a week for a fitness goal
• blog subscribers, page views, etc for blogging related goals

Our panel touched on our own personal goals to share a variety of perspectives on each of these. Numbers can be a very useful tool in our goals and should be used accordingly. The use of numbers has many positives to helps us in achieving our goals.

Positive Use of Numbers In Goals

• to serve as a benchmark to help track our progress in a concrete, measurable way
• to give us feedback on our actions so we can adjust as necessary
• to motivate us to keep going when we see the desired results

Numbers obviously have their place when it comes to our goals. If you want to PR in a race, complete a set of 20 pushups on your toes, or eat more vegetables – you will likely use numbers to help get there.  However, the positives of numbers in goals can easily get sucked into a negative black hole if you don’t proceed with caution.

Some Negative Ways We Use Numbers In Goals

• the comparison trap with others OR with our previous selves
• feeling frustrated and wanting to give up when the results aren’t as great as hoped
• getting prideful and not putting in the effort when get close to achieving a goal
• losing sight of realistic goals or wanting to continue progress beyond what is healthy for you or your body

Just because there are some negative ways goals can crop up doesn’t mean we need to say “forget about it” and not use them at all. Definitely not! They have their place. Our panel hoped to emphasize a few things to help keep that healthy balance and that could take up a whole other post. So, stay tuned for ways to use numbers without going insane in the membrane. I don’t want to send you into overload right now. Heck, my mind still needs a bit of a break so it doesn’t go into overload after this weekend!  

But for a little fun…let’s end this post with some quite interesting blooper shots. I can get pretty intense!

Time for me to catch you later! Now, if only I had time for that little cat nap…

• What are some ways you use numbers for goals and their pros or cons?
• Do you get nervous public speaking? I surprisingly didn’t once I got up there!

Guess what. It’s Friday, y’all! Wow. I felt like the biggest redneck typing that. Even living in the South my entire life, I have never been a big “y’all”-er. But it’s Friday and Friday deserves a little crazy. So – Happy Friday, y’all!

Just like the past couple of weeks, Friday now means a rest day for me. Though, it still a little odd resting on Friday instead of Sundays (my standard rest day of choice for years). I feel like on a weekday I should get up and do something just like all my other weekdays. Then, I remind myself the rest prepares me for my Saturday long runs and gives me the chance to have a less stressful and crazy morning one day of the week. Much needed and both good for the health.

Besides, just because I’m not getting my workout groove on doesn’t mean I don’t do things to better my health in other ways. I think we too easily forget about all the many, many, many ways we affect our health beyond our eating and fitness habits. Like flossing, sleeping, taking care of our money, hydrating, taking the stairs, or saying “I love you”. But you know what? Those DO count!

You know what else? Those can also count and add up to moolah in your pocket. You heard me. Cash. Money. Bills. Well, more aptly…Starbucks. iTunes. Amazon. Fandango. SpaFinder.

Yes. I’m for real.

Earlier this week, I received some information about a new site called DailyFeats.

At first, I thought “whatever…another product pitch”. Then, I took a closer look. You sign up. You check in daily or throughout the day (they even have an app!) to mark off certain feats you accomplished. You earn points for every little thing you do to better your health. Your points add up. You cash in your points for prizes – like gift cards to iTunes, Amazon, Fandango, and Starbucks. Ummm…why the heck not?!?!

I have received nothing for this. Nothing. I simply had to share it with you all. I love that DailyFeats offers a site to focus and reward a broad spectrum of healthy behaviors and positive actions.

 
I can finally get something for the incessant laundry and dishes!!!

There are so many things to earn points with. Not just workouts or meal choices, although those are there too. Just like I enjoy checking in with my budget to remain aware of my spending, this is a cool way to check in with my habits to look at my lifestyle and how I care for myself. AND earn some free new running music down the line…helping me rack up even more points.

Sure, it’s another thing to keep up with online. Sure, there are some ways they could make the site more user friendly – such as allowing you to check in more than one feat with one click instead of individual clicks for each. Sure, it can take a bit of time to rack up 2000 points for some of the better gift cards (although I have racked up over 200 in just a few days). Even with all that, I still think its a pretty cool site. I’m signed up. I have the app. And I’m working towards a free movie night with the husband. We don’t have a huge entertainment budget, remember? 😉

• What are some ways you take care of your health beyond the standard eating and fitness habits?
• Want to sign up for DailyFeats? Earn 50 points to get you started by entering the code faithfitnessrun50 when signing up. 🙂

**I cannot express enough that I received nothing for this post. I was simply made aware of this site and decided to give it a try out of my own personal will. The opinions are 100% my own, honest thoughts.