Today’s workout was Vinyasa Flow Yoga at The Sporting Club, 10:00am with Sarah.
Most of my experience with yoga has been power yoga, and this is one of the first classes I’ve taken where it’s gentle, stretching yoga. I’m a little conflicted about it. I’m doing this 30 day challenge, but coming to terms with not having to kill myself every workout. The last 2 days of yoga have been really nice, and were much needed. I also found myself much more aware of my posture as I went about my business today. So it leaves me asking, what is this challenge really about for me? Just showing up is a huge part of it. I was really careful in stating that the challenge is about GOING to the gym every day. What I do when I get there is totally up in the air. It’s about making this an integral part of my life. Like walking or breathing, I just do it without thinking. There is no justification or rationalization. I just go.
Today is day 5 of the 30 Day Wellness Challenge. I’m at Cosi across from the gym. My plan is to hit the 10:30 yoga class at the Sporting Club. I’m pretty sore from the last couple days. I just want to take a couple minutes to document my workouts this week:
7/18 Sunday: Ran at Valley Green – 5 miles 7/20 Tuesday: Ran with eCity Run Club – 2.75 miles 7/21 Wednesday: Ran on Treadmill – 3.1 miles
7/22 Thursday:
Giant sets – each group of exercises performed without rest. 90 second rest between Giant set 1 and Giant set 2
4 sets of 8-10 reps
Giant Set 1
Squats: 30lbs x 10 reps
Lunges: 17.5lbs x 8 reps
Upright Row: 30lbs x 10 reps
Giant Set 2
Ballet Squats 16kg x 10
Deadlifts: 8kg x 10
Kettlebell Overhead Press: 8kg x 8
7/23 Friday
Giant Set 1
Wide stance squats: 25lbs x 8
Lunges: 15lbs x 8
2 arm bent over row: 25lbs x 10
Dumbbell Flys: 15lbs x 10
Giant Set 2
Bent over Lateral Raise: 12.5lb x 10
2 Leg Calf Raise: 50lbs x 13
Hammer Curl: 20lb x 10
Lying Tricep Extension: 25lbs x 20
I’ve been pretty curious about the TRX classes at the Sporting Club. My plan is to hit the 30 minute class next Thursday at lunch. Looks like it’s been getting some publicity!
I’ve embarked on a 30 day wellness challenge. I’ve always thought my greatest roadblock in getting (and staying) fit is a lack of consistency. This past year has seen great improvements, but I’m still battling the same issue. 10 or 12 days go by without me partaking in any physical activity. I’ve finally identified that the issue is not consistency, but integrity. If you ask me, I would say that I’m very committed to my fitness, and it’s a top priority. But when the alarm is going off at 5:30, 9 times out of 10 I’m hitting snooze, and going back to sleep.
It’s gotten worse lately. I hit on a solution that seems to be working. I got together with a couple friends and proposed a 30 day wellness challenge. The details are personal to each of us, and my particular challenge is to go to the gym 30 consecutive days. We have a phone call each morning on a free conference line where we call in and declare what we will do that do in the world of health. So far, so good. I’ve been to the gym every day for the past 4 days. I’m really excited about it.
I think this is more than just holding each other accountable. It’s creating something from nothing, then living into that. It’s giving me a chance to be someone I’ve never been. A person that goes to the gym every day.
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.
Week 1 Day 1:
5 mile trail run / walk (Indian course)
Week 1 Day 2:
Pilates: 30 minutes
Week 1 Day 3:
rest
Week 1 Day 4:
Workout time: 6:35am
Length of Work out: 20 minutes
(From Body Scuplting Bible for Women)
Each group is a set with a 90 sec. rest between each exercise
Squats: 2 sets / 12 reps x 15 lbs
Lunges: 2 sets / 12 reps x 10 lbs
Ballet Squats: 2 sets / 12 reps x 15 lbs
Stiff-legged deadlifts: 2sets / 12 reps x 15 lbs
Upright Rows: 2 sets / 12 reps x 15 lbs
Tricep Kickback: 2 sets / 12 reps x 12.5 lbs
Nothing quite matches the feeling of accomplishment I get from waking up early and exercising before I start my day.
I need to remember that next time I don’t feel like getting out of bed.
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
Put walnuts and raisins in a food processor and process until the mixture starts to form into a ball, and has a fairly uniform texture. There will end up being a good bit of oil from the walnuts. Form into small balls (about 1 tbsp) and roll in the coconut. Makes about 30 balls. Keep refrigerated.
