Day #15: 2 workouts today, and catching up on Days 9 – 14

After a really inspiring Refresh Philly last night, I recommitted to this challenge. Recommitted to “really” doing this. I haven’t missed a daily workout, but the last few days were kind of weak.

Today: Got to the gym at 6:40am and did a quick focused weight workout, followed by an hour of yoga

Day 9: Wasn’t feeling too good, and only completed half my weight workout

Days 10 & 11: Traveled up and back to NY for training, which meant getting up at 5:30am, and getting home at 8:00pm. I did pushups each day as my workout. It wasn’t crazy or intense, but was enough that I still felt engaged in the 30 day challenge.

Day 12: Morning yoga at the Sporting Club. Ahhhh. It felt really good and helped recuperate from sitting on my butt for 15 straight hours the past 2 days.

Day 13: Soooo sleepy. Really just unmotivated Sunday. I did 15 minutes of yoga at home in front of the TV. No, it wasn’t a yoga show I was watching. I just did a few sun salutations while Jim slept on the sofa next to me, watching a movie.

Day 14: More pushups. I got to work early to catch up on what I missed last week, and to prepare for sprint review – which meant no morning workout. I ended up doing pushups again at home! Oh no, where has my commitment to the challenge gone? Luckily, last night was Refresh Philly, and I had an opportunity to plug the eCity Running Club, along with my wellness challenge companion, Phil Thomas.

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Day #8: Gentle Vinyasa Yoga A.M, Run Club P.M.

I did “Gentle Vinyasa Yoga” at 7:00am today with Kate. What a great way to start the day. I actually got my clothes ready last night, and was at the gym by 6:15 this morning. I got to spend 45 minutes relaxing, drinking coffee, and reading Ken Schwaber’s Agile Software Development with Scrum. After yoga I spent 10 quality minutes in the steam room focusing on my breath. By the time I showered and got to work, I was ready to curl up for a nap.

The one issue I’m finding with all this daily exercise is that my appetite seems to be outpacing my workouts. I find I need to eat before I workout, and by the time I’m done I’m completely ravenous. I’ve gained 2lbs in the last week. It’s not horrible, and can come off just as fast as it went on, but I’m concerned that this will be a trend. I would love to know how other people manage their appetites when they are beginning a new workout routine.

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Diet without beating yourself up

We can all relate to the standards and ideals we create around the foods we know we *should* be eating. We beat ourselves up when we make choices that we know aren’t helping us reach our goals.

I’ve discovered the secret to dieting without letting it take a toll on my self-esteem and emotional well-being. Anytime the word “should” enters my thoughts, it’s because I have some ideal that I’m not living up to. This is not earth shattering news. The question then becomes, how do I not let those “shoulds” rule me? How do I create a vision for myself and what I want to be, without it centering on what I think it should be? It almost seems impossible.

But it’s not.

If I dig deeper, there are principles and values under those standards. There exists beautiful and complete guiding themes that create those ideals.

I took some time and considered this -
“What standards and ideals do I have around diet?” (these are the shoulds and shouldn’t)

I shouldn’t eat sugar
I shouldn’t eat white flour
I shouldn’t eat too many carbs
I shouldn’t eat too much dairy
I should eat more raw fruits and vegetables
I should eat less
I shouldn’t eat after 7:00

What principles and values do I have around diet? (These are things that have intrinsic value)

Nourishment
Nutrition
Life
Vitality
Energy
Togetherness / Connectedness
Community
Family
Longevity
Relaxation
Comfort
Tradition
Being Present

What I’m learning is that when I look at my diet from a place of standards and ideals I can never experience myself as whole and complete. When I view my diet from my principles and values I can experience myself as whole and complete. The standards and ideals I’ve set are vague and restrictive. I can experience no freedom or sense of empowerment while living in that.

The challenge I’m setting for myself this week is to view my diet from my principles and values, and observe the impact this has on myself.

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Weight Workout Tuesday 2/2/2010

2 sets each, 90 second rest between each exercise

One arm rows: 16 x 20lbs, 15 x 20lbs
Pushups: 12, 10

dumbbell shoulder press: 15 x 12.5lbs (felt light), 12 x 15lbs (felt a little heavy but manageable)
one leg db calf raise: 15 x 20lbs, 15 x 20lbs

dumbbell curls:14 x 15lbs, 15 x 15lbs
overhead tricep extension: 15 x 15lbs, 10 x 15lbs

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Raw for 30 days

As a way to kick start my health and fitness in the New Year, I’ve chosen to go 100% raw for the next 30 days. Over the past 2 years I’ve gone on and off a strictly raw food diet. I notice increased energy, better sleep, clearer skin and weight loss while on raw foods. I’ve never gone adhered to a 100% raw foods diet for any length of time.

The first 2 days were relatively easy, since it was the weekend and I was home. I expect today to be a little more challenging since I’m at work.

Yesterday’s Food

Large Fruit Salad for Two: 2 grapefruits, 1 banana, 1 orange, 1 cup pineapple, 1 cup cantaloupe, 1 tbsp agave necter, 2 tsp lecithin granules

Cabbage & Spinach salad with thai dressing

Raw Treats

Strawberry Sorbet

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Last Day Before Vacation: Workout & Diet

Breakfast: 5pts

Clif Bar (Chocolate Chip)
Coffee with Sugar

Lunch: 4pts

Fruit Salad: Grapefruit, kiwi, orange, banana, and mango mixed with greek yogurt

Snack: 3pts

The rest of the fruit salad from lunch

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