Healthy Habits in the New Year: A giveaway to get you started!
The New Year often acts as a reset point for many of us. It’s a great opportunity to get started with healthy habits. We resolve to quit smoking, devote more time to our families, or get fit. Unfortunately, many of our New Year’s Resolutions get abandoned by February. It’s not your fault. It is that by default…New Year’s Resolutions don’t work. (Don’t believe me – listen to Stanford Persuasion Lab Director BJ Fogg explain the science behind the ineffectiveness of New Year’s Resolutions).
For 2013 I propose something different: Forget about New Year’s Resolutions. Go for New Year’s Habits instead.
Instead of resolving to, e.g., walk for 30 min daily, resolve to walk for 10 min daily (easiness), after dinner (specificity), and tell your partner and best friend to call you every day reminding you of your resolution (trigger). Put it on your calendar too and set reminders (triggers). Wear comfortable clothes for walking before dinner – so that you are already ready to go after you are done with eating (easiness).
The easier the new activity is, the higher the chances you will follow up with it, past the month of February and beyond 🙂
Also, the more triggers you add (like your friends calling you and your calendar reminding it) the higher the chances that, again, you will keep going past February.
Today I am announcing a very special giveaway to help you acquire healthy habits in the New Year.
1st place gifts
- One FitDesk
- Free one-month membership to the Exercise Bliss program
- Free access to the Healthy Habits course
2nd place gifts
- Free one-month membership to the Exercise Bliss program
- Free access to the Healthy Habits course
3d place gifts
- Free one-month membership to the Exercise Bliss program
About the gifts
The FitDesk (1 FitDesk)
How the FitDesk will help you create healthy habits
The FitDesk is the most amazing exercise bike ever. Why? Because you can do almost anything…while you are burning calories.
Here are a few 2013 habits that the FitDesk will help you acquire:
- Watch TV while burning calories (rather than sitting on the couch)
- Read a book while building muscle (rather than sitting on your armchair)
- Respond to e-mails on your laptop while moving (rather than sitting on your office chair)
You see, the FitDesk is made so that you can use your laptop or read your book while you are cycling. That’s why it’s so amazing. I got one last June, and I have been using it almost daily ever since. That’s why I am raving about it. It helps me reduce how long I spend sitting every day. See my video review here.
Now, you don’t need to spend hours on the FitDesk every day. Even if you sit there for 10 min every day, you are still building the exercise habit. The FitDesk will make you a healthy habits winner because it just makes exercise so easy. You just sit on the bike while you do your work. Brilliant!
Free access to the Healthy Habits Course (2 people)
The Healthy Habits Course teaches you how to manipulate your brain to actually build the habits you want to have in your life.
You might want to…
- Eat healthier snacks
- Cook more
- Go to yoga more often
- Walk more
- Stretch more
- Meditate more
If you have had trouble with any of the above areas, then the Healthy Habits course will give you the tools to tackle it. You will get access to 4+ weeks of high-quality videos and spreadsheets that explain you the nuts of bolts of why we do what we do, why we don’t do what we want to do, and how to make change happen.
Through the course you will tackle at least one area of your life you want to improve on. By the end of the course you will feel like a different person!
The course launches in Spring so if you win, you will be one of the first people who will get access to it!
One month of Free Subscription to Exercise Bliss (3 people)
The Exercise Bliss video exercise program helps you create the exercise habit…even if you have no motivation or time to exercise. Seriously, if you wish you exercised more, and feel guilty for not doing so, then Exercise Bliss is a great fit for you.
Here is how it works: Every day you get a reminder e-mail to a 5-min exercise video that you can do at home without equipment (trigger). The exercises are custom-tailored for beginners. You are committed to 5-min of exercise a day Monday through Friday (easiness). Now, if you want to do more than 5 min, then you will have access to longer exercise videos once you are done with the 5 min.
But what if you cannot do the 5 min of daily exercise? Well, what is not allowed in the program is beating yourself for not doing enough. What you need to do though, is take a deep breath and move on with your life. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Through your one-month subscription you will be enrolled in the daily 5-min videos and receive the motivational reminder e-mails. The next class of Exercise Bliss is scheduled for early 2013, so grab your seat and you will soon get started with a solid exercise foundation. This one-month subscription is beyond the normal Exercise Bliss free trial.
“Loved Exercise Bliss. Super simple, easy to commit to. Easy to fit into my hectic schedule.”
– Jacquie, busy mom of toddler twins
“Liked Exercise Bliss very much. Showed me my weakest areas and made me want to get stronger without making it seem impossible to achieve.”
– Karen Williams
“I enjoyed it very much. It was what I expected and I am glad I participated.”
– Carol Murphy
What to do to win the giveaway and get new healthy habits in the New Year
1. Mandatory – Leave a comment below: What New Year’s Habits do you want to tackle? What will you do to make that happen?
2. Bonus points – share this post on social media (Facebook + Twitter)! The more you share, the higher your chances.
3. Bonus points – like Fitness Reloaded and the FitDesk on Facebook. Follow Fitness Reloaded and the Fitdesk on Twitter.
4. Mandatory – Complete your participation in the giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.
5. My decision is subjective and final. I reserve the right to change the gifts or terms related to this contest without notice.
The contest ends on Monday January 14th at 11.59 am PST. Winners will be announced in the few days afterwards. The selection of winners is subjective (but social media points do affect my judgment) 😉
People all around the world are eligible to participate, but if you come from countries other than the US and Canada, then you are not eligible for the 1st prize (the FitDesk only ships to North America at the time being).
Ready? Go! Scroll down to leave a comment: “What New Year’s Habits do you want to tackle? What will you do to make that happen?”
P.S.Stay Updated and get more bonuses!
Want to learn when Exercise Bliss and the Healthy Habits course launch? Sign-up below to be part of the Fitness Reloaded Insiders. You will get the first 5 chapters of my book “Surprisingly…Unstuck”, and will stay updated 🙂
Hi Maria,
This year I”just” want to include more exercise in my life. I’m most of the day at my desk, so you know what I mean!
I want to be more active so that I can try to lose all the extra weight
I want to walk more and change up my exercise routine in some way…but at home…not at a gym
lose 20 pounds. I will do it by diet and exercise
Being self employed there are simply not enough hours in the day for me to do my actual job, do all the business and “behind the scenes” work that has to be done to make my business function, and live a healthy lifestyle the way I want. I want to be able to multitask my desk work with exercise to help feel better about “sitting” around all day on the computer.
I want to sit less so this is a great giveaway for me!
The New Year’s Habits I want to tackle is to lose 155 pounds so I can have the much needed surgery to fix a belly button hernia.I will try to eat better & a fitdesk would help make this happen.
Woo! This all looks so cool. My plan for the new year is to look into juicing and see if that works for me, as well as to look at more complementary and integrative medicine to streamline my health and (hopefully) stop taking so much medication. I also went to my first yoga class last week and really loved it!
This is a great giveaway, I want to complete a half marathon this year and overall be more active. this will help!
sign up for run/bike events
Drink more water! I plan to get a bigger jug for my desk!
I plan on eating healthier, staying to the perimeter of the grocery store and not keeping any junk food in my home!
I love to run but I want to set goals for myself. I want to do a 1/2 marathon in under 2 hours than do a full in the fall in under 4hrs 15min. I also want to do regular strength training and yoga. Happy New Year everyone!
I spend way too much time either reading or at the commuter. I am on Dialysis, and I want to be as healthy as I can but I have no energy.
I want to get back into my habit of taking long walks (4 miles or more) at least 5 days a week. To do this, I’ll make sure I’ve got plenty of music to listen to using my old minidisc player and rechargable batteries to keep it playing.
I need to give up tortilla chip! I have changed so many habits, but can’t seem to shake the tortilla chips…… :(.
I have hit a major slump. After feeling totally lost and like a failure due to being downsized at work, I have been looking for a good decent paying job for almost 6 months. To add to that I have put on about 10 lbs just adding to my self esteem issues… I would love to have a fit desk so that I could work fitness into my day more easily while I continue my job hunt which is oh so important also.
I’m starting out the new year with rhythm in mind: Water each day, regular exercise, routine and schedule around the house for cleaning, shopping, and so on. I want peace and smoothness.
I want to further a creative and active lifestyle full of health and wellness with my husband and children. I am hoping that leading by example will instill the best healthy lifestyle values in my children. It has always been a struggle but I try to do it every day.
I work full-time, I am a full-time online student, and a single mother of three. I want to find a way to be active and get my work done. Fitdesk anyone? 🙂
I’m going to start jogging to ‘combat’ my spare tire! lol
I want to tackle the extra weight I have put on by eating healthier and being more active. I sit in front of a computer way too much!
I think the 5 minutes a day 5 days a week is a goal. I hope to get up to 30 min a day!
Great contest to help get healthy
More exercise! Eat right! I need to lose the weight that I gained when I quit smoking and well, the menopause thing doesn’t help either. 🙂
Once we change the clocks again and it’s light outside longer, I plan to go back to waking after work every day as a start. Also, I’ve cut out drinking soda and now only have pizza once a month. It’s a start!
I need to gain some will power and exercise more. Not sure how I will do that just yet.
I want to be more active in my business of making people financially free and losing weight would be very helpful. I need to lose about 150 pounds. Wow looking at that in print is scary. I need to lose the weight for my health and my professional appearance.
I want to prioritize fitness.
This new years I want to take on diet control.
I can exercise all I want but dieting is extremely important.
Besides, this fitdesk looks really cool and useful.
Innovating new ways to exercise and multitask is the new age.
I want to get healthy.
I’m just going to keep trying harder
I’d love a fitdesk, I hate sitting all day on the computer, this would be great!
I am determined to live healthier in 2013. Eat cleaner, exercise more, drink more water and consume less processed foods.
I want to get toned and build more muscle, especially in my stomach. I’ll continue to practice yoga and add more core exercises and cut out refined sugars to achieve my goal in 2013!
I really want to lose around 40-50 pounds but I plan on getting off my computer more or honestly purchasing a fit desk or treadmill desk. I have already begun dieting.
I want to increase my activity level so I have a better chance of surviving the zombie apocalypse.
I want to better plan my meals and prepare my snacks ahead of time so I am not as tempted to grab something that is not as healthy.
I really want to eat healthy 80-90% of the time, consistently. I go through batches and need to make it a habit!
My new year’s goal is to sleep better… and I know from experience that regular exercise helps me with that.
Something I need to tackle for New Year’s is my activity level. I run several businesses from the comfort of my own home and unfortunately I’ve been taking that ‘comfort’ part a little too literally. I’m not a foodie so I know it’s my lack of activity that’s done it. I am determined to increase my level of activity and quit being such a desk potato. Having the ability to exercise while still being able to get my computer work done would be a dream come true. There’s just not enough time in the day! Do you guys have a cloning device? Or maybe a spliter? I’m sure there’s plenty of me to go around…
After running 11 half maras this year, 2013 is my year to work on my pace. Get my run on and do some speed training to get faster. I need some help to figure out what kind of weight training and cross training i need to do to build strength up! I say its gonna be a hilly training season.
My habits for the new year are routines for exercise and household organizations. I’m setting specific goals and writing them down to help motivate me to follow through.
I shared on Twitter.
Oops, forgot to show you where: https://mobile.twitter.com/ilovepool/status/282628480603156480
I need to eat healthier and move more!
I hope to better balance work, working out, and spending time with family.
I would love to win a FitDesk so that I can put more activity into my day. This new year I’m hoping to find a way to squeeze more activity into my day, especially when I’m studying. I go to school online, so that means a LOT of sitting. Having a FitDesk would really make things so much better… & I’d burn so many more calories.
I would like to get into shape and lose weight. I think a fitdesk would be a great help!
I would love to have a fit desk for every member of my family! We’ve all been making strides to become healthier and this year will be no different. Healthy habits would be a great way to get just a little better this year, too! Thanks for the motivation and I’m off to share this contest for bonus points 😉
I want to lose my baby weight (45lbs) and I will continue to not drink soda and hopefully cut back on chocolate
I would like to lose a few pounds and tone up. I’m going to watch what I eat, and I guess I’ll have to exercise.
This is the year I’m losing weight. I’m getting on a program and sticking to it. Getting more exercise and eating right!
I want to start using my gym membership and start moving more and lose some weight.
What New Year’s Habits do you want to tackle? Eat less junk food! What will you do to make that happen? Clean out the cupboards!
I need and half to add more cardio in 2013 I am weight training 6 days a week and have lost 70+ pounds but must increase cardio
I work full-time, I am a full-time online student, and a single mother of three. I want to find a way to be active and get my work done. Fitdesk anyone?
I am really confused because Ive been logging in each day entering and now today it shows I have no entries and have to start over 🙁 🙁 I really really really want this more than anything you can imagine and don’t know what happened to all my entries?!
Time to get back on the exercise wagon! Would love to win that FitDesk and plus my exercise with productivity
I’m wanting to work out more, eat healthier, and cut out sodas!! I’m going to try to not buy any junk food!
I’m working on making exercise a habit. And making sure I have lots of healthy snacks ready to go so I don’t eat junk at my desk.
I want to commit to recording everything I eat every day for the year, not just when it’s easy to do so.
I haven’t been able to exercise for almost a year and a half due to my health which is now much better and I work all day at home sitting at my computer. My resolution is to get back into shape, exercise and cooking healthier meals for my family!
Actually, exercise is my new years choice – I refuse to call it a resolution because they fail. AND although I hate my weight, it is not for my weight, I have chosen to do this for my mind. It helps with my depression and other things. So I have chosen to do it for my head, instead of my waist 🙂
I really don’t have any resolutions as such but I do have plans to create change. One thing I am changing is drinking more water cause I know I don’t drink enough of it. I’m creating this change by keeping a water bottle at my desk. Also since I sit at the computer a lot, I’m trying to get up from the computer on a regular basis and stretch and walk around. A timer helps to remind me when I need to get up otherwise I would sit for hours on end without taking a break.
I want to walk daily and do yoga 3 times per week as my New Year’s habits. I do both of these activities already but not as frequently as I’d like.
I have a few new habits – and, funny enough, that is how I decided to approach them even before finding your blog – really thrilled with your blog though and looking forward to reading your book.
First off is the keep the house clean challenge. This has been difficult because my husband and I combined two super filled, well outfitted houses into one about three years ago – and we still have too much stuff. We have been addressing this in two ways. One since the beginning of January we have been filling strategically placed “Freecycle” bags and then giving them away when filled. So far we have removed about a car trunk full of stuff from the house. Everything from shelving to clothing to books has left…yeah!
The second strategy has been to choose a small area of the house each day, something that can be completely cleaned and tackled in about 15 minutes. And clean it. The result is a cleaned and organized front hall, side closet, kitchen counter and living room. And we are still going strong.
The second is business building. I have been “working on” my business for two years now. Enough is enough. Time has been blocked off in my calendar, task have been broken down and ordered and I am marching onward and upward with that one. Very happy to have found a system to help with win this battle.
The next two battles haven’t been won yet. I am cooking more frequently (I am aiming for 5-6 nights per week) I seem to be able to hit 4-5 night most weeks. I need to managed just 1 more night consistently to be happy with that goal. I cook entirely from scratch so I have to strategize that really well, as you can imagine. I’m not a huge fan of meal planning, so I list off on a chalkboard the meals that I can create with the items in the house, and if I need one or two ingredients I underline them so I know to shop for them on the next outting. It seems to be working well for me. I might need to add a little freezer cooking to the mix for days that get away from me. (Like today did, we had Indian take out).
The last challenge for me has been the difficult one. First, really, exercise can be bliss? Take me there and show me – I want to believe you. I need a serious mental adjustment on this one (and I am being honest here – I know there is a mental block). Second I need to get off my duff. I work on a computer – so I am sitting. And sitting. Still sitting. Hours later…sitting.
I often thought that a tool that combined an exercise bike or a treadmill and a desk would be a eureka moment – seriously – if I am occupied reading, typing or being creative, I won’t even notice that I am exercising…perfect! AND I wouldn’t be sitting. And sitting….so I personally think that the FitDesk is genius. I also love that it isn’t really all that big – we live in a small house.
So my last new habit was to break an old habit. Entering contests. Truly addicted to that. I’m blowing that by entering this contest – But I couldn’t resist. That FitDesk threw me over the edge. That and the thought of being blissfully happy while exercising!
All the best!
Colleen
my new habit is to move, daily. Burn some extra calories while trying to eat less flour based foods. I’m hoping that in doing so I’ll lose a few pounds, but I just want to regain my youthful strength and energy. I know that I need the endorphins from exercise to get me through the winter blues; once spring hits it’s all downhill!
My goal this year is to get up and move with my family. My family wants to get outdoors and hike, bike, run, walk everything that keeps us active
My goal is to shed the layer of fat and uncover my abs!
I am aiming to walk three miles every day by the end of the year.
I hurt my back last summer and am slowly getting better. This Fitdesk would definately help me get back in to the flow of working again.
to stay healthy as I enter my 50’s! Exercise, exercise and more exercise 🙂
This would be easy for my sore back!
I’d like to focus on eating healthier and making the time for more exercise.
I just want to be healthier. This will include changing some eating habits and starting to move.
I want to feel good – which means getting moving more. I stopped moving last year during the heatwave and have had trouble finding my motivation. Need to get back into it!
I’m looking to get active (run a marathon by the end of 2013) and continue to build my business, which means logging a lot of time on the computer and driving. Balance is the key, right?
I want to exercise at least 15 min. each day, and I will do that by scheduling it and walking or biking places when I can.
My mantra for the year is “get in gear” — physically and mentally! One way that needs to translate is the habit of regular exercise.
I would like to get more fit so I have more stamina and will hopefully enjoy a longer life with a higher quality of life.
We’re adopting a new dog so I hope to be more active everyday!
This year I want to lose 10 pounds. I lost 25 last year. Slow and steady. I started walking last January. Will keep walking every day!
I want to ride when it’s raining and not get wet!!!
My goals are to workout 3x per week and count my calories. I make sure to have my day planned and meals ready so i am always holding myself accountable
I’d really like to get in shape.
I want to stop drinking so much diet pop to cut out aspartame and caffeine. To do so, I need to keep it out of my fridge and find other alternatives such as tea and naturally flavored water.
I’m a veterinary student and have to spend all my afternoon and nightly hours studying, when I’m not in class – it’s really difficult to make time for anything else. I used to always run and bike so I really want to get back into the habit of working out at least three times a week. Being physically fit is such an important part to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and will really help with my mental wellness; I need to be burning off some stress!
I want to get fit
I am exercising 120 mins a week!
Happy New Year! I’m planning to be debt-free by the end of 2013, it’s going to be tough but it’s a goal!
I would like to walk more. To tackle that, when the weather is much warmer, I’ll be taking the dog to the local park.
I work from home and take care of my very high maintenance wonderful grandmother who is 84. With living with my grams, I have to always have a lot of food in the house which has caused me to pack on the weight. My goals are to find healthier food options to make for us. Look for ways to make my own being a priority and exercise more. Incorporate healthy activities into my Sunday Funday outside of just going for drinks with people for social interaction. I spend way to many hours working on my computers and the FitDesk would be perfect for during the week exercise when I can’t leave my grams.
Thank you for your time.
I converted my desk to a standing desk at work – after being inspired by your book actually! It will be an easy habit to keep up since it would take me an hour to undo it. 🙂
I would like to quit smoking and get more exercise. The fitDesk would be perfect for this.
I’m registered for my first half marathon! To complete this goal, I’m going to keep up my regular training and keep up my audiobook streak.
For starters I am quitting biting my nails! This has been a “resolution” for three years in a row, but this year I decided to try something different. Hypnosis. Skeptical about it, but I figured I’d try a new tactic. It’s been 3 weeks, and I haven’t chewed my nails since I started! Once I have that one down and am regularly manicuring my new longer nails, I plan to add ridiculously small exercise to my nighttime routine: 1 pushup. I think I can do this. I am also saving up for a FitDesk. I think $1 per week is ridiculously small enough 🙂
I am going, starting tonight, eat healthier and get back into exercising more often. I will accomplish this with the help of my loving and gracious God.
This year I want to make a commitment to get fit or maintain some sort of fitness level, for health rather than looks.
My New Years resolution is to consistently exercise at least 3 times a week. I’m always a little disappointed in myself over this. I think something like this would make the difference!
I totally love love love the FitDesk concept. . Thank you for creating this unique and most useful piece of equipment. I have gained a lot of weight through menopause and have begun a lifestyle change of diet and exercise. I liked the concept of the treadmill desk but love this desk and its use is way more versatile. This FitDesk will truly help me achieve my goals. Also, I am uniquely in the position of being able to influence others in health and wellness in my profession and I plan to incorporate your desk to promote healthier lifestyles for others. I LOVE YOUR DESK.
I am going to cut back on eating so much sugar. I’m not adding sugar-items to my grocery list!
I will get back on track with avoiding refined sugar. I feel so much better when I don’t eat sugary junk!
I plan to eat healthier, watching my carbs as I’m pre-diabetic.
i want to sit less in the new year and run more!
I am trying to eat healthier. I started exercising again. I have a hard time exercising when I am in classes. Most of my classes are online, but it takes a lot of my time. I have cut back on my carbs the most, and I have dealt with my weight my entire life. I just want to be healthier and not miseralbe!I know if I get some of this weight off of me, my bad back and bad knees will appreciate it!
I have a desk job and love to play video games, but this year I will spend less time at my computer. Other hobbies will mean more movement, which will mean a healthier me.
I walk daily and try to get in 10,0000 steps…great if I do, if not I try again the next day. A pedometer was terrific for me. I don’t like the word “exercise” instead I prefer the word “movement”, and with that in mind I try to move as much as I can in a day. Some days I can move for a few hours and other days a few minutes, change your mindset, change your life. A baby first learns to roll over then crawl then stand and walk before running.
Full time working mommy of 2 very young kids. I’d love to get this for my office so I can lose baby weight and work at the same time. It’s hard when you have limited time with the kids to go to the gym in your spare time.
I’d love to start exercising in the winter since all my sports are summer sports! I’ve already bought an indoor bicycle so I can cycle while indoors and I’ve gotten a Wii with Wii Sports for some added fun!
I plan to swim two times a week. If I win the fit desk, I will do my college work while biking!
I plan on keeping up with my blog to keep me on track.
Found a walking partner at work and we’ve been bundling up for these cold days or walking the stairs inside the building when it rains. I’d share the bike with my college student who loves to sit and play video games and this would help both of us.
I am sooooo excited to see who won as I have been dying to get one of these for the last year just didn’t have enough money!! Thank you so much for the giveaway