Whole Living Daily

Have you joined the Whole Living online community yet? As we get closer to the 2011 Whole Living Action Plan annual 28-day challenge, it's buzzing with activity, blogs, and discussions about New Year's resolutions and goals.

A few months ago, we put a call out in Whole Living magazine for women who were interested in being official Action Plan bloggers for the month of January. We were overwhelmed with your response -- heartfelt letters and personal stories from all over the country. It was terribly hard to choose just a few people to represent our entire community.

Luckily, we don't really have to: The great thing about our community is that everyone can blog, and you can make your profile and your posts as public or as private as you want. So while we did choose a selection of women to highlight here, we'll also be finding new and rising stars throughout every day of the Challenge.

To get you started, here's a look at some of the women who will be doing the Plan alongside you, giving their honest opinions and feedback every step of the way. Meet our first group of featured bloggers!

Nicole / San Francisco
If the subjects of balance and lifestyle come up in casual conversation, two questions are sure to be asked: "What time do your kids go to bed?" and "What time do you go to bed?" My answer is always: "My kids go to bed early, and I go to bed around ten." While it's true that my daughters go to bed early, it is not true that I go to bed around ten. But that's not true: I can't remember the last time I went to bed around ten. What is true is that I stay up too late, and it's a habit I've never been able to shake. (Read Nicole's blog.)

Kristie / Greensboro, NC
My husband has always been the healthy eater in the family and he naturally practices the habits of those who "Eat to Live." I, on the other hand, am a founding member of the "Live to Eat" segment of the population.  I do have my morning yogurt, but I typically consume it while simultaneously perusing my e-mail, listening to The Today Show, and chatting on SKYPE.  I usually top it off with a significant dose of caffeine in the form of coffee or (I hate to admit this, but I am pretty darn sure I'm not the only one)...Diet Coke. (Read Kristie's blog.)

Courtney / Los Angeles
I am excited to participate in the Whole Living 28-Day Challenge.  I am also a bit nervous, because this means I am actually going to have to part ways with my raw, refined, brown, granulated, powdered sweetheart... sugar.  I've made all the excuses.  Pop tarts have real fruit, so they fit in the food pyramid.  Brownies have eggs, that's protein, right?  The time has come, though, to face facts.  I am inching (or hurtling depending on which day you ask me) towards my mid-30s, I am single, stressed, and sick of feeling unhealthy. (Read Courtney's blog.)

Christy / Covington, KY
I am ready to change my habits, health, and hopefully body. However ... I am already worried about missing bacon, actually pork - in general... And great wine and cheese....I manage a Southern food/stick to your ribs/carnivore lovers/pastrami paradise kind of restaurant,  my friends are all foodies, chefs even....  eating is what we do.. how we celebrate, communicate, comiserate ... But they love me - right?  And support me... right?  AND - this is only 28 days... 28 days I can dedicate to me and my health, to make lasting changes for my health. (Read Christy's blog.)

These are just four of the thousands of women who will be doing the Action Plan starting in January -- and throughout the month, we'll be highlighting more inspiring stories. Want to read more -- or start your own Action Plan blog? Check out our Member Blogs page and sign up now!

Amanda MacMillan is Whole Living's web editor. Follow her on Twitter at @amaconamac.