On December 31, I signed up for a
challenge with the folks over at
Do Live Movement. If you're not following Ben, Pa, Jed and crew, you need too. Fantastic community they've got going on, it would be a shame if y'all weren't a part of it! Maybe you should become a member....!
We just completed the first week of the 12 week challenge. By the way, there is no deadline to participate in the challenge, so if you'd like to join there is still time.
This week was about goals, how to assess them and how to actually achieve them. Keeping them small and obtainable is the key. It's okay to think big. In fact, you better! But to get there, set little goals. It's all baby steps. I'm going to quote something from the movie,
The Patriot. You may ask, "how in the heck can she quote something from a very commercial movie about the Revolutionary War and make it applicable?" Watch me....
"Aim small, miss small."
People don't expect small changes to mean anything, but when you add them all up, holy cow! You'll be surprised how much you were able to change and accomplish!
There were a few tasks for this week's challenge.
1)
Come up with 5 goals that can be attained in one month, and assess where you are right now. Here are mine, and the assessment follows
- Lose 5 pounds - I weighed in on Monday at 135.4 (on a really miserable scale that weighs less than what I am, but we'll use these numbers because it's the only scale I have.)
note: this is the first time I have ever publicly said my weight. Might be time to do a before/after reflection....
- Keep daily food logs and include estimated caloric intake - I'm wishy washy on the food logs, sometimes I keep them, sometimes I let it go; and I have never kept track of calories. I'm hoping in doing so will help me with goal #1.
- Clean my house - I have a new ecosystem evolving in my shower.......
- Organize my closets - This may seem like cleaning the house, but everything that you don't have a place for when cleaning your house, goes into the closets. I have a lot of stuff in my closets....and it makes me feel unorganized and anxious!
- Walk my dogs at least once a week with my hubby - I have a big yard, so I normally don't walk my dogs because I think they can just run around and get exercise. But they prefer to lay on the back patio. My Dum Dums need to Do Life too! And it gives me and the hubby more time together instead of watching tv or being on our computers!
2)
How many push ups can you do in 1 set? Only 15
3)
Add 30 minutes to your workouts with increased intensity. If I do any more intervals to running workouts, I might stroke out. So, I've added at least 30 minutes of swimming at least two times a week and have signed up for a yoga class starting next week, because my lack of flexibility is becoming a hindrance to my running and swimming goals.
4)
Identify your biggest excuse.
Come up with a way to eliminate that excuse. This is a good one. I work full time and I go to college part time at night. I say that I don't have time to do homework, something is always keeping me from it and at times it does. But I don't put it first, either. I don't make it a priority. I'm a procrastinator too. So, a way to eliminate that excuse is for me to own up and stop putting the blame on others, don't let others deter me from my success, to quit procrastinating and make my education a priority.
5)
Each night, write down 4 things you did well today
This may have been the hardest part of this week's challenge
Monday - finished a hellish hill workout, planned my meals for the week, went grocery shopping, enjoyed my last day of holiday vacation.
Tuesday - got to work on time, enjoyed time with a good friend over a healthy dinner I made, decent 3 mile run with some hill work, made my to-do lists
Wednesday - got out of bed!, I limited Facebook time, took my 1st swim lesson in a LONG time, completed the majority of my 1st strength/core workout scheduled for my half marathon training
Thursday - good 4 mile run, gave good advice, made amends with an old friend, did dishes even though all I wanted to do was go to bed!
Friday - went to the pool even though I REALLY didn't want to, ate well, reached out to help someone in their journey to better health and put myself out there in the meantime, made some people laugh with this blog.
Saturday - made a healthy(ish) lasagna and it was my first homemade lasagna EVER and it actually came out good and didn't stick to the pan!, helped a runner new to the group get through our long run, registered for the Boilermaker Road Race 15K, didn't raise my voice and kept calm when others did not even though I really wanted to go a little nuts too.
Reflection:
The hardest part about this week's challenge, for me, was the 4 Things. I really had a hard time coming up with some. So, I don't know if I need to do more stuff or be easier on myself. Regardless, I think this will be an exercise I will continue.
I've had a great week training for my first half marathon (The Flying Pirate, Nags Head NC in April), and I think I'm more proud of that than anything right now.
I'm REALLY excited about running the Boilermaker (Utica NY) in July with my sister-in-law and nephew. 14,000 runners in the 15K and 4,000 in the 5K. It's going to be insane! Registration is open if you're interested. It sells out, so don't take to long to decide.
http://www.boilermaker.com/ Party at my brother's afterwards, even if he doesn't know it ;-)
The school semester starts tomorrow. So, here I pledge, I will dedicate at least 1 hour each non-class evening and 2 lunch hours per week to schoolwork. I will not let the tv or people deter me from finishing what is needed to complete my studies on the weekend. I need to make this commitment so I don't have a stroke trying to get caught up at the end of the semester!
And there you have it folks. Do Life Challenge Week 1 complete. Long post, I know. I hope you made it all the way through it. Tomorrow starts Week 2. You in??
