Greetings Glitter Crew,

It’s that time of year when love should be in the air…I’m not talking about the dreaded V word [Valentine’s Day].

The fall season, where I’ve learned over the last three years, are the most crucial three months of spending time loving on yourself.

How did I learn to make this change? Three years ago I read about the Last 90 Days Challenge with Rachel Hollis. Where instead of waiting till January 1 to make a change, it starts on October 1. The 90 day countdown to the New Year, loving yourself with the five to thrive focus…

  • Wake up 1-hour earlier
  • Drink half your body weight in water
  • Daily Gratitude: writing down 5 things you’re thankful for
  • Move Your Body 30 minutes a day
  • Give up one food item that is not good for you

If you want to see how I plan to master the above five focuses, check out the breakdown below.

Before I dive into that, I think it’s more important to share the why behind my love for this 90 day challenge!  If you see the photo I shared in this blog, it’s a photo I would normally never post. The reason why…

In 2018,  I hated the way I looked.

Past me, would say…

  • Look at that huge round face and double chin.
  • Those eyes are so squinty, dang, I smile too much
  • My broad shoulders definitely belong on a football player.
  • That belt accentuates my belly rolls.
  • I have thick arms that never fit into any cute clothes.
  • Those squatty legs keep me at vertically challenged at 5’ 2”
  • My wide caveman feet, why can’t I be dainty like every other Asian?

When I first did the Last 90 Days Challenge in October 2018, I learned to ignore the scale. After decades of weighing myself every morning, feeling defeated, I learned to not allow a number define my happiness. Instead, I learned that when I look in the mirror and just love on myself, that’s when I find true joy.

Current me…

Now looks at this picture and thinks, gosh I LOVE MYSELF! My amazing photographer, Tiffeny Michal Photography, NAILED IT!

  • She captured my gorgeous smile that exudes so much happiness that it permeates a room with sunshine!
  • These arms give the best hugs!
  • My precious rolls held my two beautiful boys for 9 months!
  • This short 5’ 2” body and those legs have carried me under waterfalls in Iceland, through the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and across glaciers in Alaska!
  • My size 9 feet, exposed for the world to see…they represent my love for life! My passion to just kick off the shoes and feel the earth between my toes!

I want to challenge all of you to focus on giving love back to your beautiful bodies! Give your life the attention it needs! Comment if you’re joining in the Last 90 Days Challenge! I told my boys about starting up again on October 1 and they are both in, they will be on this journey with me, ready to give love back to themselves. 

Here’s how I plan to approach the five to thrive focuses.

Wake Up 1-hour Earlier

Pre-pandemic, I was like a pop-tart out of bed at 4:45 AM. I loved the morning hour for self-meditation, scripture reading and prayer. Nobody needed me because the house was still soundly asleep. Post pandemic, it’s torture getting up at 6 AM. Having my kids in remote learning for 1.5 years, I used it as an excuse to sleep later. I sure miss my old habits and I’m excited to commit back to 5 AM. Nothing beats a hot morning tea, PJ’s, and silence!

Drink Half Your Body Weight in Water

It’s easier to put something in you then take it away. This is why I love water because it fuels me and keeps tricking my belly that it’s not really hungry. I used to drink 1.5 gallons a day, but I’ve fallen off that wagon. Ready to recommit to the multiple bathroom breaks – lol! It’s so worth it in the end. When I’m hydrated I feel energized, my skin is moisturized and I’m not constantly snacking. It’s time to bring back my monster water bottle.

Daily Gratitude

This goes hand in hand with my morning routine. With my mornings not starting as early, I miss writing down daily gratitude, which makes a huge difference. It’s five simple lines of five simple things that make you smile. Like the sunrise or a silly fart joke your kids told you. These little precious moments help to shift perspective in handling the rest of life’s hard moments.

Move Your Body 30 Minutes a Day

I LOVE shaking what my mama gave me, but lately the shaking has taken a back burner with my busy client orders. I can’t wait to recommit to morning sweating, giggling, and just smiling. When I finally learned to workout not because I had to lose weight, but because it made me happy, it shifted my perspective of putting on the dreaded sports bra. I look forward to get my heart pumping, but just like all things in the pandemic, I’ve gotten out of routine. It’s coming back every morning at 5:30am. My boys who are joining in will be walking with me on their non-school PE days. We’re excited to commit to movement through the fall/winter months!

If you’re wondering my fave workouts? Refit Revolution always brings me joy – these ladies in Texas are the best!

Give Up One Food Item That’s Not Good For You

It’s time to say goodbye to a dear friend. In my previous life, I’m pretty certain I was an elf. Because I love candy, candy canes, candy corn, and sugar! All day long I spend every hour searching for a snack. I’m not picky, if it comes in any form, I’ll eat it…donuts, cupcakes, ice cream…you name it, I consumed it. I’m a total stress eater and sugar is my vice. People often say you shouldn’t quit things cold turkey, but when it comes to sugar I have to. Because if I allow myself daily rations, it suddenly becomes an all out conquering of the pantry. So I have to say absolutely no to all dessert sugars.

With that said, my oldest son is joining me with the commitment and we have a Thursday mommy/son date day. We did make a promise, that on this day, we can cheat once a week. So it looks like cinnamon rolls once a week with mommy are still on the menu – happy day!

To be realistic, I’m still human, and so are you – so be graceful with yourself it making any food changes. It’s to reward yourself and I know cutting out sugars from 7 days to 1 day a week will make a huge difference.

So who’s with me in joining the Last 90 Days challenge? Who’s going to give LOVE back to themselves? You so deserve it! I can’t wait to see how we all feel come January 1, 2022!

Linda Larsen

Chief Glitter Officer

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