A challenge?

Hmm…

You may remember my last two challenges. The first was my Turning 30 – 30 Day Fitness Challenge, where I had to partake in some kind of physical activity everyday for 30 days. (Yup, that’s how I handled turning 30.)  I started off strong with jogging and yoga, but failed miserably due to injury, and laziness.

Embarrassing.

The second was a 30-day Vegan Challenge in which The All-Star also participated. This challenge was a lot more difficult so it was good to have a buddy.  I’m proud to say we were strict with our choices and the challenge was a success!!! And as soon as it was over, I was ready for some carnage (sorry PETA folks – we all have our weaknesses).

I definitely see the benefits of these challenges.  Even when I fail, a lesson is usually learned. It keeps my mind focused and I enjoy them…somewhat. So what kind of challenge am I due for this time? I’m really not in the mental position to start omitting things, so it’ll have to be something of addition and, of course, action. I could do something related to the blog but I’m looking for a little more substance.

I’m kinda stumped so I’m turning to you….

Got any ideas? The winner gets do the challenge with me.

It all started last weekend when I attended “Vital Signs,” a continuing education event hosted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine where several innovative and inspiring physicians, including Dean Ornish, MD, John McDougall, MD and Neal Barnard, MD,  spoke to us about the benefits of a plant based diet. Their research is compelling and their claims are pretty undeniable. Will I be converting to vegan now? Not necessarily. At least not yet. Let’s get through the challenge first and then we’ll see. Either way I’m happy and able to continue my nutrition education. And who better than myself to test it out on.

The best part, though, is I won’t be alone. Several patients and practitioners at The Healing Sanctuary have agreed to accept the challenge. It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to the outcomes. Tomorrow I’m meeting with Pamela Jacobson, successful acupuncturist and owner of The Healing Sanctuary, to discuss the guidelines for the challenge. We’ll be posting regularly on both our websites and encouraging those involved to post as well. June 1st is our anticipated start date. We’ll be spending the next month and a half making sure that we’ve got all our bases covered.  We’ve even got the All-Star on board. I don’t believe every part of this challenge will be easy, but I do expect it to be fun, and best of all – HEALTHY!

And to all you vegan readers out there, your suggestions and support are greatly welcomed and appreciated.

SO…although the challenge has not officially kicked off, tonight’s dinner fits the bill.

Trader Joe’s 17 Bean and Barley Mix. Made with carrots, onions and vegetable broth. Not much bad you can say about that. Stay tuned for challenge guidelines and, as always, trail markers for a path to wellness.

My biggest challenge with incorporating a healthy exercise regime into my schedule is time. Of course!  I’m sure many of you can relate to that.  With my commute and work and shopping and cooking, then digesting and reading and spending time with my significant other, where can I fit in fitness?  I’ll tell you where…in the morning, before I do anything.  That’s how it works for me. And if I’m diligent and committed, I’m okay. If I give myself even a little bit of slack, I’m bound for laziness.

Waking up earlier than I have to is the key to my success, and the hardest part. I really have to drag myself out of bed in the morning. Not because I can’t do it, just because I don’t want to. My covers are warm and my pillow is soft, much more forgiving than the cold, cruel world. But alas, I am an adult, and my days of sleeping in need to come to an end.  There’s just way too much a.m. daylight that I’m missing.

I made a commitment to myself this week that I would start waking up earlier than absolutely necessary and that today I would re-visit my yoga practice. So, bright and early, 7am, I was up and ready to stretch!

I found a free demo video from Myyogaonline.com. I’m seriously considering buying a year membership to this website. It’s only $9.95 a month. That’s cheaper than a yoga class. This 12 minute video was just what I needed to get started. I continued with another 1/2 hour or so of my own routine and I feel great.

Here are just a few of the benefits I experienced from yoga in the morning:

• reduced muscle stiffness and joint compression that occurred during sleep
• an awakening of the senses and the ability get my mind going without caffeine
• a feeling of calm and rejuvenation.

Take some time to examine the challenges you’re facing in regards to fitness. Are you busy like me? Is it a financial reason? Are you injured? Are you just not sure where to start? I hear a hundred excuses everyday from patients who want to be well but can’t seem to overcome one major obstacle, themselves. You are the only real thing standing in your way. Of course time and money and injury are factors, but those can easily be overcome with a little initiative and creativity.  If you want to grow, you can and you will.  Sure you may need to modify, but you are always capable of trying and with a little effort you can be even more than able. You just have to start with the basics.

For me, it’s yoga, then I’ll advance to running. I may even buy some roller-blades. For you it could start with a walk around the block and some light-weight bicep curls. Before you know it, your new routine will be set and you’ll be cruising along on your own path to wellness.

Namaste

Now that I’ve admitted my humbling failure, time to look at the positives and move forward, right?  So, what were my successes in the first month of 2010.  First of all, I took the initiative to embark on a challenge.  I didn’t know if I would be able to physically manage a jogging regime, which I am happy to report I was doing well with.  I paid attention to my dietary needs, which is an important life-long habit to which I’m addicted.  I also took the opportunity to examine myself both mentally and emotionally and have continued to grow as a woman and a health care professional.

That being said, it would seem that my challenge wasn’t a failure after all.  Sure I didn’t exercise for 16 out of the 30 days.  But I continued to challenge myself to be a happy, healthier, well-rounded individual, one who learns from her experiences and uses them to strive forward. And really that was the true point.  And maybe I wanted to prove, a little, to myself that I could be some work-out wonder whose physical abilities were only surpassed by her charm and beauty. I’m kidding.  But truthfully, I was using it to feel good about myself.  Having just turned 30 and feeling the need to experience the saga of aging with a spectacular achievement that would validate my youth, I decided to run.  Was I running away?  Hardly, I like to look at it as running forward.  So in truth, I feel good about what I accomplished. I hope you find the same satisfaction from all of your challenges. We prosper from that which makes us stronger.

The true goal is always growth!

Driving past the neighborhood high school this morning and seeing all the young teenagers crossing the street for school, reminded me of my own high school days.  Homeroom started at 7:25 am and (most of the time) I was there, even after my 3 am bedtime.  Now, however, even though I am officially a morning person, the idea of a 6 am alarm makes my skin quiver.  What’s the deal?  If my lackadaisical teenage counterpart could do it, surely the adult me can do so too, especially after 8 hours sleep.  And knowing the I’ll be bright eyed and bushy tailed once I’m off my pillow should help too, right?  You’d think.

Part of my turning 30 celebration (ACK! I’m turning 30 in 19 days and yes I’m going to celebrate!) is a 30 day fitness challenge.  I’m planning to wake up at 6 am every morning and go for a jog and/or practice my yoga.  The idea frightens me but it’s also exciting.  Of course part of the challenge will be the waking up part.  But I feel that since I will soon officially be an adult, (30 does mean I’ll be an adult, won’t it?), that it’s high time I start thinking like one, or at least acting like one, I don’t think I’ll ever not think like a 15 year old.

So here’s to the morning and all the more hours I’ll be enjoying each day.  I hope I can do it.  I think I can!

Bright and early, with a friend along for the ride, we drove up to Mountain High Ski Resort for a full day of winter sporting.  What a great time!  I’m not gonna lie, it was cold on the lift, and the clouds were low so it was sometimes hard to see.  But we were greeted by sun and higher temperatures each time we reached the bottom and warmed up enough to jump right back on the lift and do it again.  I’d say we got in a good 20+ runs!

This is probably my sixth season on the slopes.  That does not, however, mean that I am an expert snowboarding.  Quite the contrary.  Three trips each winter meant it was a good year.  Many were not good years.  But since living in So. Cal, with a longer season and less lines at the lifts, I’ve been able to fine tune my boarding skills and each time I get a little better.  Last season I had a few discouraging moments, mostly driven by fear.  Some nasty falls made me wonder why I ever took up the sport.  But I tarried on and I was now ready to advance.  I put my fears in my back pocket with my SPF lip balm and took on the jumps! (the beginner ones of course).  It was so much fun.  I landed maybe half of them, but got some good air and found a new side of snowboarding that I can’t wait to exercise this winter season!

Yesterday, I overcame a hurdle that was daunting me.  I often felt frustrated on the mountain, watching The All-Star take courageous leaps off snow banks while I sat in the snow nearby taking pictures.  This time I was the one with the guts and he stood by with the camera.  It felt good.  Real good.  I challenged myself and overcame the doubt that I could actually do it.  Sure I fell a few times, but it didn’t hurt too much, and I got right back up and tried the next jump.  I’m proud of myself and I’m ready to take on more challenges next time.

Today I’m sore, so is the All-Star.  The first time out is always the hardest to recover from.  Some of those muscles are just not used to getting worked in that way.  But I can’t complain.  I got a great workout, learned a new skill, and gained confidence in myself that I can succeed if I just give it a try.  Not something we’ve never heard before, right?  But it’s always nice to experience it firsthand.  Being in the business of helping others, I’ve always got a good cliche up my sleeve.  Having a story behind the lesson is helpful, especially for the one telling it.

What life lessons are you living out today??