|19| Honey Lemon Shots: 75 (not so) hard, 2023 reflections + a little bickering

Happy New Year! This Honey Lemon Shot is a bit different this week. I'm joined by my lovely fiance (soon to be husband in 8 months) Len and we talk about some of our 2023 reflections.

Has anyone ever actually held up a New Year's Resolution? I genuinely want to know because I don't think I ever have. That's why we focused on reflections over resolutions. We also talk about our different philiosphies in staying committed to ourselves this year and how we are achieving that.

In other news, I'm started the 75 (not so) hard challenge! Listen more for what that entails and if you feel like you need a lil boost maybe we do together?!

Hope you enjoy this episode! Thanks for tuning in! 

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Transcript

HLPS2E1

[00:00:00] Testing, 

Len: testing, testing, testing, testing. 

Angie: Hello, happy 2024. Welcome back to the Honey Lemon Podcast, where we dive into those sweet and sour experiences that make us who we are. So today it's a solo episode, but not really because I have a special guest. Special guest?

Hello! 

So if you didn't recognize that voice, that is my fiancée, Len, aka coach Len, he is my fiancé, we are getting married in pretty much exactly eight months, which is crazy to think about. So this is gonna be a big year for us, a big year for the podcast, a big year for life in general, it's gonna be a lot, but it's gonna be great. I thought we could start off the year just shootin the shit.

As I'm talking, Len is on his phone, which he knows I hate. 

Len: Looking back on the [00:01:00] year.

Angie: Yep, and we're already bickering, so that's great. I'm not bickering, you're bickering. I'm not bickering, you're bickering. How about starting over? 

Len: You started over. 

Angie: We just did our start over handshake, alrighty. so, yeah. 2023 was a big year, I think. And I think there's this habit of people, like, towards the end of the year, towards the beginning of the year, there's a lot of pressure to just be, like, your best version of yourself because it's a fresh start.

It's a clean slate. But, honestly, I don't really believe in new Year's resolutions. Do you? 

Len: I do not. Why? Because I never achieve them. 

Angie: I wonder, can someone let me know, like, have you ever set a New Year's resolution and it has actually been successful? Like anybody, has anyone ever actually achieved their New Year's resolution?

I'm sure they have, but I just feel like, and this is something I learned, like, astrology wise, is Did you know the new [00:02:00] year, and in a lot of cultures this is true, the new year is actually in April because the start of spring. Sick. The start of spring is, new life, new beginnings.

That is like, most cultures celebrate New Year then. So it's kind of odd that we're celebrating in January and we live in North America so it's cold. It's still a time when we're supposed to be, Into ourselves, it's still a time when we're supposed to be like, not necessarily making huge, big changes.

And I was listening to this other podcast, the Organic Olivia podcast, which I'm obsessed with her, I hope I meet her one day. I love you, Olivia. On her podcast she had like a, going into the new year, what to expect, and In January, you're really supposed to just, and for this year in particular, it's really important to just, like, build foundations in the beginning of the year and not necessarily make resolutions, but, like, build [00:03:00] on the small things, the little things that, you know, come that warmer period in life when it's more exciting, more lively, you're actually gonna stick to and you have a good Solid ground that you're standing on for these habits that you're gonna build.

So I'm a big believer in reflections over Resolutions. 

Len: I agree 

Angie: you know, you can like talk. 

Len: I don't interrupt you. 

Angie: Okay What do you think about that reflections over 

Len: resolutions Reflections over resolutions. I think I would say habits over resolutions because Yeah, no, go on. Because I feel, well, first of all, I think we come up, the holiday season's just a mess.

So, it doesn't make sense to me, especially the last two years, I've noticed that everyone's, sleeping in, have weird sleep schedules, they're, I don't know, partying, social, drinking, probably not eating the best, and then, at the end of it all, we're supposed to just [00:04:00] start the year fresh, and like at our best, but really no one's at their best, cause like, I don't know about you, but like, I got sick the last few, Okay.

And I don't know. It doesn't make sense to me to start off a year like that when you're not even feeling your best and like not even the flow of who you are. So it makes me feel better knowing wherever, who said that it's April. That it's, it's just like a thing. I think it makes more sense because by then you had the, you were settled into the year.

And, I don't know, when I look at something new, I like to be at my best, so, that's why I never really believed in resolutions for the last little while. But when I look back on anything, significant that's changed my life, it's usually started with some sort of habit that I've just Stuck with, and I don't know, I've just seen habits compound more than just like saying, arbitrarily I wanna do something, or This is my goal for the year, which has no effect.

Angie: So what's the difference between a habit and a resolution? 'cause a resolution could be like. I want to go to the gym every day 

Len: I think it's a good starting point. I think [00:05:00] what the way I explain it to other people that really sticks out to me, it's like, I think everyone here uses Apple maps or ways or whatever, but like resolution is kind of like saying, I want to be at this, I want to be at this destination or this endpoint.

And like, usually it's well thought out and people like mean well, especially like if it's something they really, really want to do and they pick that one thing to say is their resolution. So it's their destination. But then they don't really plan the step to get there. They just think they're like, Oh, I'll get there.

Or like, yeah, I'll, it'll happen on its own. And that's where we kind of like lose ourselves, where we think that just because we wished it, it happens, but none of that actually happens. So that's where habit kicks in. Habits are kind of like we put it in a GPS, GPS spits out like things to do, steps to take, and then honestly, if you just believe in the steps and you just do them every day, then you end up being where you want to be anyways, so.

Angie: Okay, so, we'll get to the habits in a bit, but [00:06:00] I thought it would be fun to reflect on the last year that we had and think about some of the things we're really proud of, maybe some of the things we're not so proud of. Do you want me to go first? 

Len: Yep, sure, if you want. Do you want to go first?

I'm actually a visual learner, so what I'm doing right now is I'm on my phone, and I usually take pictures or videos and snapshots and Screenshots, I should say, of like everything in my year and that helps me remember things. So I'm just like going through my gallery and like going through the year from January 2nd, 2023 till the end of the year.

Angie: So I guess I'll go first. So 2023, I feel like 2023 for me was the first year in a long time where I was like really living in my purpose. Did you notice a difference in me in 2023? Yep, 

Len: because the first picture that I have in January is your podcast mic that I bought. [00:07:00] Oh. 

Angie: And I'm sure those of you who have been listening for a while, you know that I've been wanting to start a podcast for a long time.

Len knew that I was never going to start unless I had like something to get me going. Because when it comes to me, I need to like research the best things. Think and think, and research and research, and overthink, and then research some more, and I probably never would have started for another couple years.

So he actually bought me the mic that we're recording on now, and that I've been recording all of my episodes on, and that's what really got me started. Of course, I didn't start the podcast for another eight months after he got it, but that's fine. Was it eight months, or was it like a full year? I don't know, bro, but it took you way too long.

It did take me a long time, but we're here now! And you're listening to this podcast now, so thank you for listening. So yeah, I think 2023, I just really started living in my purpose and honestly, a lot of that is just because of this podcast, because I [00:08:00] feel like before, I was a little bit doing a bunch of stuff but not really doing anything particularly well.

It was like, Jack of all trades, master of none type stuff, like, I was content creating, but it didn't really have a focus or flow. It didn't really all connect until I started the podcast, and then, everything that I was doing kind of, like, filtered through that, whether it was, like, something I was going through personally.

Whether it was like meeting someone new and just wanting them to share on the podcast, like some of my guests that I had last year. And yeah, so I think that is one thing, just starting the podcast and then just being consistent with it was something I was really proud of because that was the first time I was actually consistent with a creative project.

So it really just told me I'm, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing because any other creative project I've done. It's [00:09:00] just been, I'll do it, and then I'll stop, and then I'll try again, but like, not fully, like, my heart's not really in it, but this podcast, my heart is in it. 

Len: Today's podcast? 

Angie: I mean, the podcast in general.

Oh. 

Len: I think that's really nice. 

Angie: Yeah. And I also danced a lot last year. I did two dance showcases, and the last one I did, Was an inter advanced level, which is the highest level I've done so far. So, if you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen like lots of videos and photos. And Yeah, it was like I went to, I went to work the weekend after my showcase and one of my co workers was like, Oh, like I saw, like, your videos that you posted, like, what was that all about?

And I was like, oh yeah, it was like the showcase. Shout out to City Center Dance they provide these amazing 10 week showcase programs. So basically, you learn one style [00:10:00] every two weeks, it's up to you to rehearse it and practice. And then you perform it 

it's almost like, well, it's not almost, it is pretty much an adult recital. But showcase sounds better and more elevated. And yeah, my coworker was like, it was literally like a dance movie. And I was like, what dance movie? And he was like, I don't know, like. The one with Channing Tatum or something. He was like, it's like step up.

Yeah. So that was fun and I was really proud of myself even though I was freaking out because all of the, for my last showcase, the dancers that I was dancing with were just amazing and I really wanted to be as good as them. And I Hope I was, or at least I faked it till I made it, but made it. 

Another thing I would say I'm not necessarily proud of, but I feel like this past year I've just let go a lot of, like, relationships that were no longer serving me. And I feel like a lot lighter, I felt so much lighter going into this new year. Cause I just felt like [00:11:00] I had all the people that I need in my life.

And like, I've made new friends, I've reconnected with old friends. And now I'm just at a point where I'm just like, you know what, I'm just going to really pour into the people around me and they pour back into me we support each other, and that's that, so that's something I'm really Grateful for going into this year, I would say.

And that's probably, like, the biggest reflection. Because I didn't realize how much stress I was holding onto just by holding onto people and, , ideas that were no longer serving me. 

Len: Mm I agree. What about you? For the whole year? Yeah. Well, I I like that Apple did this, but they, there's a way to look back on a year and then it just like, there's like a main picture for each month.

Oh, that's neat. And it like, it helps me, for those of you who don't know, like I said, I'm a visual learner. I like to look at things and I'm Like it just helps me jog [00:12:00] my memory. It's like videos and We're looking back on the year. It's like some cool things happen. So the First one I mean besides work and me training the first one was January 8th.

We got our ENDY bed Oh, yeah, and we that was like our first partnership or like a collab. Yeah, our first social which is kind of cool and The bed has been really comfortable For those who don't know Angie and I shared a twin bed for two years Yeah, two years, which is crazy because yeah, just crazy. 

Yeah, it's nuts when I think about it.

When I scroll through these things, I like look back and like the big thing I see as a theme has been like, I had a lot of great memories with groups of people.

Mm hmm. Yeah. Like, went to Hamilton to watch my friend run her marathon, or a 30k, then, and I went to Boston, so I went to three different, two different states last year, so I went to [00:13:00] Boston last year. Then, your dance showcase was in April, oh I should say I went to Montreal too, for another run. And, again, another group of people, I went with a good friend of mine, ran with some people over there.

Your dance showcase was again, a group of people. Boston was with a group of people. There's a theme here. Lots of connections. anD then like April, May, we went to some concerts. We went on lots of bike rides with friends. That's a big thing that sticks out with me. I we did so much in the summer, I didn't even realize it, but that's why I took pictures. Went to the Kawartha Lakes for a bachelor party. We Went and I did this like massive like team workout, more cottaging, more concerts, we had a wedding, more concerts, more weddings, we went to Chicago in September, again, groups of people more weddings, more concerts, this is a theme here, and then the tail end of the year, I think it kind of slowed down, but looking back on this, I would say the [00:14:00] first eight months of the year, nine months of the year were very like, I think I bit off more than I can chew.

It was like, I don't, I definitely like really had lots of fun with being in groups or communities and, you know, just going out, but then by the end of September, that's when I really felt like burnt out and drained, you know, and I think all that like socializing caught up to me, given that I'm a social person I didn't make time for myself.

And it was like, once I, it was kind of like that, like momentum where I was like, I had one good month of, Social and team hanging out. And I was like, Oh, I like this. I want to do this again. And then I did it in February and I did it in March and did it in April, you know, And then like I didn't realize I kept thinking that was energizing me, but by doing that it helped me Do the things for other people but not realizing it until the end of the year I had no time and I did nothing to fill my cup and then I think like October November were really [00:15:00] tough.

I was like exhausted. Maybe not feeling my best and not like I just wasn't As, like, happy as I was at the beginning of the year, and I think that's because I didn't have any time for myself, I was confused, I was, like, a lot of things were coming up, I think I lost my, like, momentum and confidence, and then on November December is about Just fixing that and that was my 2023.

So 

Angie: what did you do differently towards the end of the year? 

Len: I think I kind of like accepted that like it's okay for me not to say no to Going to serve other people's purposes And I think I finally like realized that like I couldn't answer what I was doing for myself Like what I what I wanted to do You know And I noticed like silly little things like things that wouldn't affect me for was affecting me like comments made from other people And I was like, I don't know how to, like, I don't know why this is bothering me so much and then I would like carry that with me and then other things like I, like, I finally [00:16:00] realized in October and November that I was doing terrible with my sleep.

Like I was averaging like maybe five to six and a half hours of sleep a night. And like, that was a big thing of itself, so.

Angie: That's huge. So what are you going to do differently 

Len: for this year? Well, it started back at the end of the year, December, I was saying earlier. It's like, just the end of the year, end of the month the last two months of the year, I was like, man, I need to stop giving in to other people and thinking that I'm getting energized by something that, like, is It's good for me and something I want to do, but it's kind of like, I'm kind of like an all or nothing kind of person sometimes, and I need to remind myself that I need to fill more buckets of variety rather than just like overfilling more, like, does that make sense?

Yeah. Like if we use the analogy of like, in our lives, we always have like, let's say six buckets. To make sure we take care of it at all times, so like ourselves relationships with others, family, [00:17:00] financial well being, something along the lines of that, I would say like six things like that. And I think I was like, really like, man, I was like, letting shit overflow.

Can I swear on this podcast? I can now, sweet. I was letting, like, I was filling the hell out of that, like, one bucket. We can 

Angie: put the explicit mark. 

Len: Awesome. And. Yeah, and then I finally realized that like I thought I was filling my cup by filling something else But like if you think about it doesn't make any sense Like why would I feel like how would me filling one bucket of my life also fill another bucket?

And that's what that's this analogy of like bucket made me realize. I'm like, I'm not doing anything for myself. So yeah 

Angie: Yeah, I think, like, you are a true extrovert. You get energized by people, but I do think as we get older, we, I think of it as, like, I start my day with a certain amount of coins, and each social interaction, doesn't mean, doesn't matter if I enjoy [00:18:00] it or not, each social interaction costs me some coins.

Mhm. So by the end of it, I can either be, like, done my coins, or I can be in, like, negative coins. And when I'm in negative, that means k, I just need to like, not talk to anybody, like I need to recuperate, and like, that's why I, now I'm really good at, you know, if I have a really social weekend or a social week, then the next week I purposely do not make plans.

So when people are asking me in advance, hey, are you free this weekend? If I see that I have a lot going on or even just one or two things the week before, I'll be like no, I'm not free that weekend, I'm free the weekend after. Know what I mean? Like I preemptively make buffer time because I found in the last few years if I don't do that, I end up just being really drained and I, same thing like you, like I don't do things for myself.

I end up like putting everyone else's needs before my own. [00:19:00] 

Len: Okay. I mean maybe I don't need that level of 

Angie: Separation? Well, yeah, you're not an introvert, so. You don't need to go at my level, but I'm just saying that's what I do. 

Len: I just think that for anyone who's an extrovert, I would say, given my own personal, well, the past year and If I were to do a do over, I would, I would just have clear separations of the week.

Like, I mean, obviously there's different ways to do it, but I like having social weekends. Cause I feel like that's when people are their happiest and like, we don't have to run back to work and whatever. And I think that I need to do a better job of making time for myself during the week. You know, so that way I can have the best of both worlds.

And that's just something that I would do differently. I think I was trying to be social every day, all the time, all week. And that's what's causing me to, you know, not take time aside. Like I gotta make sure I'm sleeping. Like that's crazy. 

Angie: That's not, not good. Okay. What did we talk [00:20:00] about? Okay, so you just talked about what you could do better, like, and that was making time for yourself.

Yes. Right? I think what I could have done better last year was, like, focus more on my health and fitness. 

Len: Fitness? Yeah. Funny you should say that. Why is it funny? Because you are already doing that this year. 

Angie: Well yeah, because now I am, and we'll talk about like what we're doing, because you're doing it too.

Len: I've been doing it, bro. Yeah, but 

Angie: you're, you're like. I've been here. Okay, but I feel like you're like a little bit more dialed in, or maybe because I didn't see you as much before. Yep. Okay. No, but you're doing other stuff. Like? Like our little challenge that we're doing. 

Len: Yeah, but that's, I would say that's wellness.

Angie: Okay, okay, wellness. Yes, wellness. Like, wellness I could have done more with. Because, [00:21:00] like you, I feel like I had a very all or nothing concept.

continue. I can't continue because you're making noise. Oh, 

Len: sorry. Are you done? Yep. 

Angie: You're not done. I'm done. Kat, we're getting comfortable. I'm comfortable. 

Making noise. I'm making noise. You're leaning against the thing. Okay. Just be still. Okay. I'm 

Len: still. Okay. Are you good? Yes. 

Angie: Okay. Yeah, I feel like also, last year, I was, and I still am, at the heaviest I've ever been in my life, and, , I've never had to, like, Get rid of a bunch of clothes and like get all new clothes and stuff But like I had to do that last year and I know that's fine and that our bodies change and clothes are supposed to fit us Not the other way around but just mentally that kind of affected me And I feel like you've heard this many times throughout the year like I would be not [00:22:00] talking very nicely about myself I would be like, oh my god, I'm fat.

Oh my god I'm a blob. I'm a fat lard. Like, I know I'm all like, health and wellness on social, but like, I have bad days, too. And I was definitely not using kind words to speak about myself. And sometimes I think that's okay, though. Like, sometimes it's okay to just be like, You know what? I feel like shit.

And I feel like this so kept complaining kept complaining all year but like didn't really do anything to change it I mean I did a little bit but I felt I realized today because I've been so committed now before when I was trying to do like trying to just get myself back on track and like trying to prioritize my wellness I was just, I had way too much going on.

, I was volunteering at a yoga studio. So then, to make those volunteering hours count, I was like trying to [00:23:00] build in yoga into my, weekly wellness. And then I was working, I had there's this amazing gym in Durham region called Herfit Camp and the lovely owner Dallas, she invited me to come do like the 12 weeks with them.

But all of the days that they were having their sessions were on days that did not work for me. I go into work Tuesday, Thursday, during the week, those were the days that they were available. So then I was constantly just feeling like I was letting myself down because I was , Not able to go before work, not able to go after work, and then on the weekends I'm tired, so I didn't want to wake up early to go, so then that was a bust.

And then the rest of the time I'm just podcasting, I just felt like I had no time, but now that I'm doing it and being a lot more Intentional with it. I now know that you can't be doing too much Because otherwise it's gonna be bad like I know that wasn't very eloquent, but[00:24:00] like I just said at the beginning of this episode like focusing on a few habits and a few things That you know that that are challenging maybe but you know that you can be consistent with it I think that's a lot more valuable than like, you know trying to make this workout class trying to like have the perfect meal plan All of this stuff just focus on like a few things that you can do.

Mm hmm 

Len: I think we're kind of like also we're like Programmed to always try to do everything think of how many times like like I was actually guilty But I mean, I'm always guilty of it.

But like even just now I'm recording a podcast some of my phone I know I was doing it to jog my memory and legit but I could very well, and I think in the past, I've also like Ventured off onto Instagram or texting someone back I think that world where we like prioritize multitasking and now slipped into , being always on or always being able to do, always having a need to do everything all at once.

Maybe that's also trickling into our lifestyles and [00:25:00] whatever, you know, 

Angie: that makes sense.

Well, like, all of our attention spans have gone down with TikTok and Instagram and all this stuff, like, it's hard to just even focus on one thing at a time. No, it's 

Len: not even that. It's like, yeah, I mean, that's true, but it's like, we don't even realize that we live in this, like, culture now that, Doing everything all at once for one day we think is like, ah, it's okay, it's no problem, but then it becomes so addictive and it compounds so much that it ends up trickling to other areas.

That's why we like, we sign up, we bite off more than we can chew, I think, in life. Yeah. 

Angie: So, that brings me to my next. thing, which is like what we're doing differently for this year. So, at the beginning of the year, okay, first of all, so one of our friends, and massage therapist, Cass, she did the 75 hard challenge, and I saw her recently and she was like, you should do it, , I know you're struggling with commitment, and , accountability, [00:26:00] accountability was always my main thing, because I was never able to just like be accountable to myself.

So, I was like, no, 75 hard is too intense for me. aNd then I was like, should I do it? So then, before the end of the year, I looked at the rules and I was like, I'm not doing this. 

Len: Yeah, because it's extreme and it's so, it's so specific. Like, it works for 

Angie: some people though. 

I think if you need like that extreme, like, mental challenge sure that works, but like at this point in my life I'm really looking for stuff that's sustainable and that I will stick to and I'm really just trying to like I'm turning 33 tomorrow and for me, I'm like, hey I can't just like keep doing the same thing the same patterns like starting being really like committed to something for three months then Doing nothing for nine months and then going back to the three months of being committed like I just want to do small things Every day that I'm proud of and that [00:27:00] are consistent So if you haven't heard of the 75 hard challenge It's basically this challenge that a lot of people do, it's like, you have to read 10 pages a day, but not like, no audiobooks, and they have to be like, self help books, so 10 pages a day of like, some sort 10 Self-help or it can't 

Len: seem like that's the worst part of it all.

No, I'm saying listing everything. Well, it's 75 days. Well, 

Angie: the, just the no audio books part. 'cause for me, I cannot 

Len: read. Let's go to the actual part. That's hard for people. . 75 days, first of all, two workouts a day, 

Angie: but one of them could be a walk. 

Len: Exactly. So it's two workouts a day, 45 minutes. One outdoors, one indoors.

And then there's also like, you have to follow a diet of choice that hopefully is not restrictive. Well, it's not [00:28:00] restrictive, but you also can't have any sugar, can't have, you know, processed food, no takeout, I think. That's what it said. Like, you have to cook your own meals. And there's a water goal. One gallon.

There's a Which is four liters. For leaders there's then there's that reading like an actual physical book. That's a Thing I think there's some people it's a practice where you take like a progress photo every day 

Which basically it's just like glorified bodybuilding prep for 75 days 

Angie: Yeah, and for some people that works, so like, I'm not gonna knock it at all, but for me, like, I know, like, I could do it, but then I know at the end of the 75 days, I'm gonna binge, and I'm gonna, like, do all the things that I couldn't do before.

Mhm. Whereas, like, if I just allow myself, if I want a piece of cake, I can have a piece of cake, and it's fine, it doesn't mean that I've failed this big challenge that I'm working towards. So, I have created my own challenge for myself. And I started before the new year. And I'm calling it the 75 [00:29:00] not so hard.

Just to 

Len: work up the Ah? The 75 soft. That's also terrible, I wouldn't do that. 

Angie: Okay, well, you 

Len: guys let me know what I should do. How about calling it just like a neutral, like, The 75 Days of Purpose or something. Bleh. Okay. Or the Sexy 75. Yuck. No way, man. 

Angie: Okay. I think 75 Not So Hard is cool. It's funny. 

Len: It's nerdy, but okay.

Angie: I am a nerd. Okay. Okay, so my 75 not so hard And this was inspired by the 75 hard, but for me, it's just like more sustainable more achievable So my 75 not so hard I'm doing five things and if you ask me why the reason I picked five things is because the habit tracker app that I'm using Can only the free version can only track five things 

Len: So dumb.

Angie: So that's why I'm doing five. You can do less or you can do more. But I'm also using this habit tracker app. [00:30:00] It's literally if you type in habit into the app store, it pops up. It's like a pink check mark and shout out to my best friend Roma because I saw her before the holidays and I was like, dude, .

I'm really struggling with accountability with sticking to things and she was like, oh, you know what I do? I like track on an app and I like check mark things. And I remember a long time ago, I read Atomic Habits. And one of the things that he suggested was, to, really stick to things was a, like, reduce the scope.

So, make it simpler. So, like, one way you could reduce the scope is, you know, if your habit is to, like, go for a run every day. Reduce the scope would just be like, okay, just put on your running shoes because it's easy to put on your running shoes. But then you're probably more likely to go for that run if you have your running shoes on.

So for me, I just picked like really simple things that I can do every single day that I will stick to and I started [00:31:00] tracking my habits. I started on December 27th and so far I've been perfect and I've been not and I will say like perfect means like I've just been Checking off the habits as they are.

So my habits are I have to do walk 8, 000 steps a day Which is basically like two 40 minute walks a day if I split it up So I've been like starting my mornings putting on all my clothes and my scarf and jacket and everything and I literally just like walk for 40 minutes and I started listening to like audiobooks as I Walked because I also want to read more but that's not one of my habits for this year.

Then my next habit is drinking three liters of water a day. So that's pretty achievable because I have found that like if I'm not intentional with it I Can go up until like 3 p. m. And not drink any water, which is not good. And then I'm [00:32:00] like, why am I getting all these UTIs? TMI? Not on this The third one is eating four meals a day that includes some sort of protein. Sometimes I'm so busy that I just don't eat, which I don't want to do because that is not conducive to my other habits and goals that I want to achieve. So, even if I'm busy, like, there has been days when I just, like, put a scoop of protein powder.

In, like, a dandelion blend, and I'll drink that, and that's my meal. Sometimes I've put, , a couple scoops of collagen powder into, , a coffee and I'll drink that. Like, that's not, like, what I'm trying to achieve. Like, usually I try to eat a full meal, or a snack of some kind. But, that's been working for me.

So, four meals with protein in it. One 45 minute workout a day. And that can be, like, stretching, that can be strength training, that can be whatever for 45 minutes, because I am very sedentary [00:33:00] when I'm not walking or working out, and I'm just, I was just sick of myself.

Like, I was sick of complaining that I don't do anything and I don't move my body, and I was, like, getting a lot of pain, like, back pain, my jaw pain was out of control, and you would just be telling me, like, Yep. Len is good at giving me tough love because When I'm complaining or I'm frustrated, he's like, Well, like, have you moved today?

Like, you know that your pain is better when you're moving, when you're doing something. Why don't you come to the gym with me? And I'm like, no, I want to be on the couch. Which sometimes you do need that, but then at other times it's like, Okay, now that I've been, , consistent for over a week, I'm like, damn.

I really feel so much better. Like, astronomically better. And my pain is, like, so much more manageable. So, I know it's hard to start when you're like in pain and stuff, like it's so difficult, you don't want to do the things. That potentially could make it better, but just like, try. [00:34:00] That's all I can say. And the last one is doing one meditation a day, and one like, breath work thing a day.

So I've been doing this like, ERV tapping sequence which has been really helping my pain also, and my anxiety. And then I just do this like, Andrew Huberman, and What's that guy's name? Reuben. 

Len: I have no idea who that is.

Angie: He's like Rick Reuben. Okay. So he, there's like this 5 minute breath work thing on YouTube. You can Google it. And that's what I do. And it's literally like 5 minutes of just in and out breathing. When I want to make it fast. And then when I'm feeling like I have more time. I'll do a Wim Hof.

breathing session, but I do that before bed. And my sleeps have been better. Wouldn't you know it?

So those are the things I'm doing and I'm gonna do it for 75 days. Hashtag 75 not so hard [00:35:00] or slash 75 soft. And I'm hoping that these things will just become, no, not I'm hoping, they will become just daily things that I'm gonna do. Because I found before, like I could spend, like, up to four hours just, like, scrolling on my phone each day.

Mm hmm. And then I would say that I have no time to do stuff. Whereas, like, now I think I'm a little bit, a lot more intentional with my time. So, I'm feeling good. And I'm feeling mentally strong, physically strong, and yeah. So what are your things you're doing for your 75 not so hard? I'm actually not doing 75 not so hard.

I thought you were doing it with 

Len: me! I'm doing it with you. I'm supporting you. Yeah. I like, have my own reasons why. And I feel like, I mean, it's good for people that need that thing because, well, 

Angie: I, 

Len: I am doing it with you, but I'm not looking at it like that. What do you mean? Like I, I've been in the fitness industry for 13 years now.

Yeah. But this is [00:36:00] not 

Angie: just fitness that I'm doing. 

Len: Okay. Didn't know this is the cutting off podcast. Sorry, . I've been in the industry for 13 years. I've done a lot of things. I've done. Everything. You can probably call it out. Keto, low carb, no carb, high carb. I've done 75 before. I've done You've done 75 hard before?

Yeah, just I haven't done it really well because it doesn't work for me. It's not something that works because I'm one of those people that are like, will do it, but the minute I know it's over, it's like I'm not someone, , I need to do something there is no start and end point. It's like, I do it everywhere else in life, where like, I know when I'm done work, like, this is all me last year, when I was done work, I was like, ah, I'm done, like, I did the hardest part of my thing, and, you know, I don't have to, I don't have to try more, you know, like, I can just, I can just coast, but then that's when like, My food went to shit.

That's when, the house was a mess. So, like, I just didn't have a very good balance. And I think that's the word for me. It's like, there's no sustainability. I think you said [00:37:00] it earlier, where, like, I just can't look at something for 75 days and think, like, That's what I'm going to need. I look at it like I'm going to need this for the rest of my life.

You know, so like Well, 

Angie: me too. But I have to start, so 

Len: like I'm just trying to get a move on. Yeah, this is no knock on anyone else. I'm just like, this is what I'm doing, right? Like, you know what you need. I know what I need. Yeah, you're right. And I think along the lines of Atomic Habit, it's more like I've seen the value of like definitely doing things day in and day out.

But like, one of the biggest concepts in that book is identity. It's like, what is, what identity do you want and like what actions and what habits do you need to form that identity? And then like, you know, it just kind of like all stems from there. Like it becomes automatic once you think of habits in relation to an identity.

So for me, it's like. If I can do it daily, but also think of it something that I can do for the rest of my life, then I'm like gonna do this thing, you know? So like, I'm kind like 75 hard is a good starting point for [00:38:00] sure. But I think like where it misses a lot of the boat is like, it doesn't give people that structure for what to do outside of it.

Like, I don't like something that says, and this is just me, this is just talking about myself. I don't like starting an ending point. For someone's like fitness Like it doesn't make sense to me why you'd only Like if you're not gonna directly talk about what's gonna happen after the fact It's the same reason why I don't like dieting same reason why I don't like, you know, 12 week challenges and two week challenges It's like I I do think the there's value in the motivation to start and I have this value in the process of it but I don't like what it ends up with because I think people don't think about What happens after we get there, right?

Like I know the analogy of like the gps where like we we get to our destination And most times we get to our destination and there's a next plan But for some reason for like challenges and like things like this it doesn't work the same way we finish mfo hard and like I can probably argue so many people stop, you know what I mean?[00:39:00] 

That's why, that's why, that's what I said. Yeah, and that's fine, if you're okay with that, then I'm not, you know, cool. Like, that's what you want. For me, like, there's more to that, you know, and I feel like I don't want to go through these, like, patterns of stopping and starting. Like, I'm in a big part of my life where I want sustainability to be something that I do that forms an identity for the rest of my life.

So, what I'm trying to say is I'm really being conscious and intentional this year about doing things that I know I'm going to sustain, you know, like, I don't know if I can sustain 75 hard for the rest of the year, that's me talking personally, which is why I'm like, I like 75 not so hard. Same thing. For me, the way my mind works is if I know there's like 75 days, that means that like, I'm focusing and salivating about day 76.

And like day 77, I'm like, Oh, when this is over, like, that's, what's going to motivate me. And I think that's the wrong motivation to have personally. So that's why I don't look at it that way. And I, I don't like looking at it. Like, what can I do for the rest of my life? That's cooler [00:40:00] to me. Like, that's more of a challenge being like, okay, well, if I can form a bad habit and it can last all my life, I can do the same thing with a good habit.

I just got to try really, really hard. You know, like, I think of like my mom. To this day, my mom, , We'll cook every meal, like my mom will cook every single meal, even though the most, like, the craziest intricate dishes, like, she'll do it, , without even thinking, , she knows the recipes in her head, she knows the proportion, and mom's a really good cook, but, like, she'll, like, just pull it out of nowhere, and she'll make it look to the people around her like it's nothing, and for me, in some ways, that's literally her habit, like, my mom probably has recipes, and she can cook things under habit, and, like, she's known everywhere in her life for being a good cook.

You know, anyone, all walks of life. And I'm like, I don't think she sat there being like, I'm gonna be the best cook ever. I don't think she sat there and she's like, I'm gonna do this really, really well for one year and it's gonna stick. Like, I just think she's like, she thoroughly enjoys it. She's like, yeah, she like embraced [00:41:00] the process of, you know, just like doing the work.

And then , she did the work for so long that , now it doesn't even feel like work. I just recently had the experience of starting a new role and I'm like man this this is so hard when I first started My first week and I'm like, I don't know if I'm gonna get this but eventually you stick with it enough And then now you're like, oh I can do this night in and out And imagine if we do that with like our food, we did that with like the way we approach our movement, the way we approach our like sleep, it just makes a big difference.

So for me, this year in 2024 is like, if I'm going to do something, I'm going to be intentional about it. And I'm going to make sure that , I'm making a decision to do this. So that I can do this for the rest of my life. For me, that's what motivates me. I don't have, like, I don't have an end point. You know?

Angie: Wrong.

I think we're saying the same thing though, but like, we have different experiences and different methods are needed. Like, you already have, , good habits You have a strong foundation like someone like me doesn't does not have a strong foundation. Yeah, and like the basic stuff So like when I think about what is something I can do for the rest of my [00:42:00] life Like that's way too daunting for me, 

Len: you know, yeah, I agree And that's I mean, that's what I said I I preface this with like this is what I think I need given everything that I've experienced and tried to do in my life Whereas some people yeah, maybe they need this they kick start for sure power to them, you know, like I'm just talking from like what has worked and not worked in my life 

Angie: I think for me, I was just, like, sick of myself saying, , I want to do this, I want to do that, and then just never doing it.

And, like, my problem was, , similar to you, I've worked with a lot of different coaches, been on a lot of different, like, meal plans, also been on keto, also been on, like, anti inflammatory. Done like parasite cleanses done all this stuff and by the end of it I'm like I you know what I just want to eat like pizza every day And then it's like not sustainable 

what I'm saying is now I've gotten to a place where I know what's not sustainable and I know what is achievable and the reason why I, I'm personally doing [00:43:00] this challenge for myself is that I've, I have no problem being accountable to a coach.

I have no problem like being accountable to, like when I was working with all my different coaches, like that's when I'm at the best cause it's like, okay, they're going to like yell at me or like I'm spending this money. So like, I'm like losing either way if I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

So I'll do it if I'm with a coach, but it's been a long time since I've like held myself 

Len: accountable. Yeah. I mean, I think that's great. And I think that's, that's where a lot of people are like, I think that's going to work for you. I'm thinking. But I definitely want to do this. Hang on.

Hang on. I'm just saying, I'm just saying the whole point of this is talking about what we are going to do. Yeah. So I just 

Angie: don't want someone listening to you being like, well, what do I do then? Like, you know, like I think the point is just to bring it all together Is that just look at where you are like you [00:44:00] for some people it might be using a coach that Is a good point to start and then just keeping in mind that it should be sustainable or maybe it is a challenge that is going to help you like achieve something.

I guess it's like really based on your needs and what I guess what we're saying is everyone is different and there is no one size fits all for it. It's not like sexy to achieve your goals. It's really like the small things that you're doing every day like you said that make up your true identity of who you think you are.

So if you want to join me on the 75 not so hard tell me what you're working on and what things you're going to be achieving for the next 75 days. I think that pretty much wraps up this episode. What do you think? I 

Len: thought there'd be way more questions. This is, but 

Angie: this is not a question and answer.

This is more of a reflection. Well, I like questions and answers. Lendl does not listen to this podcast. He 

Len: he he. I listen to 

Angie: this podcast. When's the last, what's the last episode you listened to? 

Len: thE [00:45:00] one with the, I forget her name, but the last one you, you put out, because you, it was a video one.

So I watched the clip on Instagram. There's a video one. And then I listened to the actual podcast. I'm bad with names. 

Angie: Did the video make you want to listen to the episode? 

Len: Yeah, because I thought all the episodes were like that and so then I looked back at all the episodes and I was like Hey, there's only a few videos.

Angie: It did have videos, but I've I didn't use like zoom footage. That was the first one when I used Zoom 

Len: footage. Oh, see, I like that. 

Angie: Yeah, I like it too. It's just a lot of work to do that. Which, in 2024, I want to give more of myself to this podcast as well.

 I feel like last year, I coasted and did the bare minimum. Which is fine because I was still getting my footing. But now I'm feeling really confident in my skills and What I can do with this podcast. So, 2024, stay tuned for more stuff. What have you thought of the podcast 

Len: Like this one? This one? Or like in general? Like in general, [00:46:00] yeah. The genre of the episodes? I feel like you can't replicate what you're doing. I feel a lot of people are answering and talking about, like, very unique conversations. So, like, I also like how a few of your guests, you know, be at their, , South Asian or, you know, they say things that I'd like.

I'm like, oh yeah, I thought I was the only one that experienced that with their, with my parents or growing up. And so, you know, like, things like Tanisha said that or like you know, there's a few examples right now I'm blanking on them, but like I think back and I'm like, Oh yeah, like that is a thing.

Like even the one when you're traveling with your parents or several other ones where like you're like, even the one with Emma, cause obviously I'd listen to that one. Like there are a lot of different parallels in my guess and that's something that I realized that like sometimes I know these guys, sometimes I don't, but when I listened to the stories about like their background or when they sign in and whatever, like there's a lot of similarities that I . Either I've heard before or I've like Well, 

Angie: that's nice, Shugabe. [00:47:00] You do listen to the podcast. Yes. , I appreciate you.

Thank you for joining me on my first podcast of 2024. 

Len: Yeah, I gotta get going so I can get back home on the traffic. What? Just kidding, we're recording this in our house. 

Angie: All right, well, with that. 

Len: Thank you, Endy, for sponsoring this podcast. 

Angie: Okay, oh my goodness. All right, everybody, so hope you enjoyed this.

I don't know what this is going to be when I edit it, but we'll see. Hope you enjoyed our little bickering and bantering and I love you. I 

Len: want to point out that you're the only person that says we're bickering and bantering on the podcast.

Angie: Well, we are bickering a bit. Bantering is not bad. Okay. Banter is good. Okay. See, we're bickering right now! 

Len: I just said okay. 

Angie: Oh my goodness. Well, I'm just showing that it's okay. Like, I always get comments of like, oh my gosh, you guys are so cute.

Oh my gosh, you guys are perfect. But like, we have issues too, and we [00:48:00] bicker too, and it's fine. We love each other. Huh. Do you love me? Huh. How about saying it? I love you. Okay. And with that be well, be loved, see you later.