Ever just decided to go for something out of the blue? I was innocently reading my e-mail yesterday morning and I saw an e-mail from Dave Navarro – The Launch Coach offering his super-well written free e-book on how to make money selling products in three days.. I read it and thought — OK, Meredith — maybe you are making everything *way too complicated*. Any product I ever contemplate releasing is huge, multi-faceted, and complex. And, therefore, I never release any products!

Later that morning, I got another e-mail from Paul Evans with Nicheology challenging us to get something up and running in 24 hours. Hmm… could I do that? Maybe…

Well, finally, I get an e-mail invite  to participate in a half marathon for Team in Training.  The event is  Day of The Tread which is local to me in Albuquerque.   To participate in the race through TNT,  I need to raise $1,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I have done TNT events before (a century ride and a triathlon)  and it is a good program – and I really want to learn how to walk fast…  But, I also don’t want to rely completely on friends and family for donations again… So, since things happen in threes, and I want to get this new phase in my business started in a “good for all of us” way – I am thrilled to present…

A way for you to reach your goals (by listening to my goal setting workshop), a way for me to reach my goal (of getting a product out), and a way for us to work together to reach an important goal of helping to support cancer research.

To get my 40 minute audio goal-setting workshop  filled with goal setting wisdom (plus worksheets!) all you need to do is click the donate button and make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

How much? Totally up to you… I’m doing a half marathon so $13 would be appropriate. If you give me $50 I’ll write the name of someone of your choosing on my running shirt on race day. No matter what you decide… you’ll be helping yourself AND helping others!

Thanks in advance and I hope you enjoy the audio and reach your goals!

I don’t usually go looking for philosophical wisdom on my cereal box.  But, this morning I was struck by the “non-challenge” campaign on my Cheerios box.  The idea was that very simple small steps can get you in the direction that you want to go.

An example:

Want to exercise more?  Training for a marathon can be a challenge – Making time to play with your child in the park is a non-challenge.  Eating Cheerios to lower your cholesterol is a non-challenge.

It really got me thinking… How many times to I jump after the whole enchilada – I will *never* eat carbs before noon again. I must lose 100 lbs by next year only to get discouraged when I fall short of the mark?  Maybe non-challenges are a better way to go.

Here are some non-challenges for goals that I’m currently working on:

• I will eat a healthy lunch every day (I have breakfast just about taken care of)
• I will move my body (walking, dancing, weight training) for 30 minutes a day
• I will take time, pause and think about my blessings every day

What are some of your non-challenges?  To help me break my big goals into baby steps – I’m going to be participating in Scott Tousignant’s  Home Office Transformation Challenge.    You can find out more about it here.

I don’t want to say I took a complete vacation from the Fat Loss Quickie experience when the invaders (oops – houseguest) were over — but having them in my space and having to be quiet in the morning — put a small crimp in my workout plans.   I think I actually only  missed a workout or to put I felt like I was off track and off balance.

Today I need the FLQ cardio and weights AND my regular weight training workout. I am amazed at how much I can accomplish in my home gym.   It feels like I can do about 85% of what is possible at the real gym (chin ups are tough for me — I like having the assist machine — at home I end up just jumping up to the bar…)  All I have is a set of dumbells, weights, a weight bench and bar, bands and a TRX (really cool hangy strappy exercise thing).  I guess I could also put my bike and trainer downstairs — but the Fat Loss Quickie workouts are some awesome intervals you can do in a very small space.

I’ve also been listening to the motivational audio that is part of the program.  Great segment today on goal setting — not just how to set goals — but how to really visualize yourself going through all the steps.  Suzanne was listening and asked me what my goals were… Her goal is to learn a lot in school (which I think is admirable…)

Starting Day 5 Fat Loss Quickie Experience today.

Today was a good day – at least as far as exercise goes.  I started the morning with 100 squats (uugh).  But, actually that is a great way to get a little bit of cardio with no equipment.  Six minutes and I was done (and it was *hard*)  I didn’t  use dumbbells to add weight but I made up for that later in the day

When my daughter was swimming I did my weight workout, most lower body.  It is amazing how hard you can work in 20 minutes!  I managed to sumo squat using an 80 lb bar.  The routine only called for 4 reps — so I figured why not.

I also listened to the motivational video from the Fat Loss Quickie program about journaling.  I am a bad journaler — or rather I’m good at starting journals and blogs — not as good at keeping them up   Still, for a $20 program, Fat Loss Quickie Experience provides a ton of value with 2 real time exercise videos, motivational videos (this is the BIG part), a meal plan and a support community.  I’m sort of waiting to see what the catch is — so far there isn’t really a downside.