Category: Uncategorized

How to Make Drinking More Water Feel Less Overwhelming

On By JillIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

One of the habits I’m really trying to be more committed and consistent about is drinking more water.

I own dozens of water bottles: Tervis, Corkcicle, Hydrojug, Stanley, Owala, Yeti, Swig… and plenty more. Just ask my husband. He has a firm one-in, one-out rule for my cups—which I have not been great at following lately.

I’ll see a new cup and think, “This is the one. If I have this cup, I’ll finally drink more water.”

Spoiler alert: there is no magical cup.
There is only commitment and consistency.

I’ve realized that for me, a huge cup of water feels overwhelming. It just sits there judging me all day. So instead, I’ve started using a cute small cup that I can refill throughout the day.

To keep myself accountable (and eliminate the “I’m too busy to refill it” excuse), I keep a quart (32 oz) mason jar nearby and use that to refill my cup when it runs low.

This combo works better for me. It’s not even 8:00 AM, and I’ve already had 16 oz of water. My goal is to finish one mason jar before I have my coffee.

So if big water bottles feel overwhelming to you too, maybe try this approach:

  • Find a small cup you actually like using
  • Use a mason jar, Stanley, Tervis, or whatever you have to refill it and keep track of how much you’re drinking

No perfection. Just progress.

What are some things you do to help yourself drink more water?

Healthy Habits Challenge – Week 1: Fresh Start & Your “Why”

On By JillIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Welcome to Week 1 of our challenge — and if you’re here, I’m really glad you are.

This week isn’t about meal plans, workouts, or doing everything “right.”
It’s about something much simpler—and much more important.

Your Why

Most of us already know what we “should” do.
Eat better. Move more. Drink more water. Go to bed earlier.

The hard part isn’t the what.
It’s remembering why we want to do it—especially on the days when motivation is low, life is busy, or starting feels harder than skipping.

Your “why” doesn’t have to be dramatic or perfect. It doesn’t need to impress anyone.

It might be:

  • To feel better in your body
  • To have more energy
  • To be healthier long-term
  • To feel more confident
  • To show up better for yourself or the people you love

Or it might simply be: “I’m tired of starting over, and I want something that actually sticks.”

Every reason counts.

One Small Habit

Once you’ve written down your “why,” choose one small habit you want to practice this week.

Not ten.
Not a full lifestyle overhaul.
Just one.

This is about practice, not perfection.

Your habit could be:

  • Drinking more water
  • Taking a short daily walk
  • Tracking meals
  • Journaling
  • Going to bed a little earlier
  • Adding protein to breakfast

Pick something realistic—something you can show up for even on an average, imperfect day.

This Week’s Challenge

📝 Write down:

  1. Your why
  2. One habit you want to practice this week

That’s it.

No pressure to do it perfectly.
No pressure to never miss a day.
Just commit to showing up and trying.

If you’re comfortable, share your “why” and your habit with the group. There’s something powerful about saying it out loud—and you never know who you might encourage just by being honest.

This is your fresh start. Not because it’s a new week…
…but because you decided to begin again.

You’re already doing the hardest part: showing up 💛

If at First You Don’t Succeed…

On By JillIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

IIt’s the start of a new year, and here I go again—trying to recommit to my health and wellness and lose some weight.

I was looking for a graphic to go with this post that said:
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

But while searching for that quote, I stumbled across a few others that made me laugh, so of course I had to share:

  • “If at first you don’t succeed, then maybe you just suck.”
  • “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.”

Luckily for us, we’re not skydiving…
We’re just trying—again—for what feels like the 87th time to focus on our health and wellness and lose some weight.

Here’s the frustrating part: I know what to do to lose weight. I really do.

I just need to actually do it.
And that is so much easier said than done—or I would’ve already done it and wouldn’t be starting over for the 87th time.

So what does it really take to lose weight?

  • Willpower?
  • A calorie deficit?
  • Cardio? Lifting weights? Walking every day?
  • Low carb? No carb? Intermittent fasting?
  • Tracking calories? Tracking points? Counting macros?
  • Eating “clean”? Giving up sugar?
  • Drinking water like it’s some kind of magical weight-loss juice?

Nope.

None of those things will help you lose weight if you don’t have the two things that actually matter:

Commitment & Consistency

Not perfection.
Not doing everything “right.”
Just showing up again… and again… and again.

Even after the 87th restart.

This year, I’m choosing to focus on commitment and consistency instead of perfection.

What that looks like for me:

  • Journaling daily and tracking my meals – for accountability
  • Doing my best to drink 64 oz of water a day (that’s my goal—everyone’s target is different, and that’s okay)
  • Being more intentional about what I eat and how I spend my time

And also:

  • More movement, less lazing around
  • More reading, less TV
  • More doing instead of just planning what to do

At least this time, nobody has to jump out of a plane.

What do you plan to work on this year?

Banana Split Dessert WW Style

On By JillIn Uncategorized, Weight LossLeave a comment

img_6867

At a cookout we had at work a few weeks ago, someone brought this dessert and it was amazing.  I decided that I wanted to make it for our Easter dinner tomorrow, but I want to lighten it up a bit since I’m doing WW.  I swapped out the cream cheese for fat free cream cheese, used lite cool whip instead of regular, Truvia instead of sugar, and sugar free chocolate syrup.   I’ll post a picture later, but wanted to go ahead and get the recipe posted to share with friends.

Here’s what I’ve put together:

No Bake Banana Split Dessert

Servings: 12 to 16 servings  Prep: 30 minutes Chilling time:  4 hours

12 servings = 7 points each or 16 servings = 5 points each

For the Crust:

  • 16 low fat graham cracker crumbled
  • ½ cup margarine (melted)

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

  • 12 ounces of fat free cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup Truvia baking blend
  • 8 ounces Cool Whip Lite

For the Fruit & Toppings:

  • 4 bananas (sliced)
  • 20 ounce canned crushed pineapple, drained well
  • 16 ounces strawberries (sliced)
  • 8 ounces Cool Whip Lite
  • ½ cup walnuts, chopped
  • Sugar Free Chocolate syrup
  • Maraschino cherries

Directions:

  1. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or butter spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter with a fork, stirring until all of the crumbs are evenly moistened. Dump the crumbs into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Refrigerate while you prepare the next layer.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the Cool Whip until thoroughly combined.
  4. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the graham cracker crust.
  5. Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on top of the cream cheese filling, top with an even layer of the crushed pineapple, and then an even layer of the sliced strawberries.
  6. Cover with the Cool Whip, smoothing the top. Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts, then drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with maraschino cherries. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Leftovers can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.