"Doing Life" in Charlotte!

Some of my friends know that I've been following blogger extraordinaire, Ben Davis, for well over a year now.  If you don't know of Ben, I highly recommend you remedy that RIGHT THIS INSTANT and visit him at bendoeslife.tumblr.com AND watch the video of his 120 Pound Journey.  Great stuff.

Ben, his father, John "Pa" Davis, and brother Jed, founded the Do Life Movement.  What is Do Life?  Well, I'm going to let their website tell you:  "Do Life is the idea that life doesn't have to be ordinary or inconsequential.  The idea that, through running, racing and doing these things together, we can find and spread happiness."

I love these men.  I love what they are trying to do and I love their openness, honesty and humor.  They are my daily dose of inspiration, and without even knowing, they each helped me get to where I am today.  They kept me going when I didn't think I could and pushed me further when I thought I had done enough.  And they make me laugh.  A LOT!

Anyway, the Do Life crew (minus Jed, whom I'm REALLY sorry I couldn't meet) made their way to Charlotte yesterday, the last stop of the first leg of the 2nd Official Unofficial Do Life 5K Tour.  It's a time for all of us to come together, run/walk a 5K and celebrate what we've accomplished and what we will accomplish.  As Ben says, everyone has a story.  I say, inspiration is all around us if you just take a second to listen and witness it.

I have this familiar, this comfort zone where I don't venture more than 2 exits away from my little town.  And I really don't do well with meeting new people (stranger danger!!).  But Ben and Pa were going to be in Charlotte.  What was I going to do?  I couldn't miss meeting my heroes!  So, I had to put on my big girl panties and deal with leaving my 2 exit radius AND meet Ben and Pa and more strangers....  So, with sweaty palms and all, I did what any self-respecting weeny baby would do.  I made Jyl go with me, and we met up with our friend Graham!

We met Ben and Pa, I did talk (say a few words) to a couple of other people; we ran and then we headed to Bruegger's Bagels for a snack and some more chat.  I do regret that I couldn't bring myself to talk to Ben and Pa more; to thank them for what they did for me and ask them more meaningful questions than "what has been your favorite cities to visit" (For Dirty Dancing fans out there, you can equate this to: "I carried a watermelon").  I regret not getting to know the fellow Do-Lifers in the area.  BUT, to look on the bright side, I was able to venture from my town without too much difficulty, did shake the hands of some amazing men, had a fun morning with two great friends and the best damn cup of coffee I've had in a while!  Maybe next time I might even be able to talk to people?

Here are some photos of the best Sunday morning EVER!

Jyl and Graham...they're happy I made them come!

The Three Amigos!

Jyl, Ben Davis and Yours Truly

Jyl and I, action shot.
Yes, I took this while running and I didn't even hurt myself.
BUT, Jyl may have stepped in goose poop.

Me and John "Pa" Davis.  I LOVE THIS MAN!
And I hope he didn't mind that I called him Pa....

I cannot tell you enough just HOW HAPPY this
cup of coffee made me.....
not to mention the sea salt bagel with smoked salmon....
(starting to drool from the memory of the absolute deliciousness of it all)

The Challenge: Week 2

So, last week I posted my results for Week 1 of the Do Life Challenge, and printed off the challenge for this past week.  It was chock full of awesome assignments about paying it forward, something that I am ALL about.  LOVE doing stuff for other people!  I was so psyched!  And then......WHAMMO.

We've had a bit of a family emergency this past week. I would rather not divulge into details, I'm sure you understand.  I will say we are all okay and hopefully on the road to brighter days and I hope you will keep sending us positive thoughts our way :-)
So, I was not able to really participate in week 2's challenge or continue my "4 things".   I can revisit a standing challenge and take a look at where I am on my 5 goals for the month:

Pushups: got it up from 15 to 20 in one set.

Goals:

Lose 5 pounds -
          January 9 - 128.8
          January 2 - 135.4

Keep daily food logs and include estimated caloric intake -
          4 days out of 7 ain't bad ;-)

Clean my house -
          I DESTROYED THE ECOSYSTEM MY SHOWER!!!!!

Organize my closets -
          see goal above....need to seek therapy before I enter the closets...

Walk my dogs at least once a week with my hubby -
          My poor Dum Dums.  I'm such a bad mom.......But we have been having quality movie time....

So that concludes my update for Week 2.  Thankfully, Week 3 starts and I have a clean slate.  I didn't do too bad on my goals though...I mean, really.  In all honesty, that shower can theoretically be the equivalent of like completing 20 challenges.....

Forgiveness

If it's one thing I've learned, is that we are way to hard on ourselves, and our punishments are sometimes way too severe.  Let me ask, does the punishment always fit the "crime"?  And does the punishment really make anything better?

I've found, if anything, it just makes it worse.  It's the dreaded downward spiral and it's so hard to dig out of.  So, please take my advice and just don't go down there.  Did you eat too many M&Ms?  You know you shouldn't have.  But it's done.  Accept that you did and do better tomorrow. But for heaven's sake don't beat yourself up over it.  Did you only run 2 miles when you should have run 4?  You know what?  It's okay!  Don't try to do more tomorrow to make up for it.  Accept it, just don't skimp out on the next run.

When I was younger, I parted ways with my closest friend.  She was a sister to me.  Why did we?  I have no idea.  I can't even remember.  But for about five years I held a grudge.  I held a grudge for something I couldn't even really remember.  It's like that family feud that lasts for centuries and continues even though no one remembers what started it in the first place.  I don't know if it was age, time or what, but I found forgiveness for her, but I still couldn't forgive myself.  I couldn't forgive myself for letting a relationship so special and rare dissolve into thin air.  I wanted to fix it, but I just couldn't reach out.  So for a few more years, I dug myself further down the hole.   Thankfully, she was there to help me back out.

By holding yourself in contempt, you're only hurting yourself and holding yourself back.  Don't let yourself go so far over that you can't be brought back.  Forgive yourself because you, my friend, are the only one who can.

And when you can forgive yourself, you can start to love yourself.
And that is when all the magic happens.

 

The Challenge: Week 1

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??

Little Lung's Return

That title sounds like it could be a movie.  I can see it now, the role of Hope "Little Lung" Childress to be played by Mila Kunis....

Anyway.  Instead of a really nifty name like "Dances with Wolves" or "Runs with Horses" or "Speaks in Quotation Marks", I have been given the name "Little Lung."  Maybe it's not as endearing as some, but it is valiant just the same and I absolutely adore my new name!  The last two or three months of 2011 for me have been filled with mucus and two lungs that might as well have been underwater.  I have since made a 99.9% recovery and have resumed my workouts and eating somewhat better, just like I told you I would.  Here was my pledge list and an update in progress:

• food logs will resume (Well, kinda)
• workouts will resume (CHECK!!!)
• lots of water will be drunk  (CHECK!!!!....where's the bathroom?)
• meals will be cooked at home (CHECK!!!!....Food for Thought posts forthcoming!)
• no junk food will enter the threshold  (um....sure?)
• I will forego the Christmas cookie bake-a-thon  (no bake-a-thon, but I did do one batch, and yes, I ate most of them.  crikey.)
• I will remain honest about my progress (See bullet points above)
• I will hold myself accountable (Do Life Movement forums, a whole bunch of AWESOMENESS!!!)
• I will succeed.  (Still in process, but I'm sayin'.....OH HELL YEAH I AM!)

Being it's the holiday season, accountability is going to be KEY to get us all through with only limited collateral damage.  Have a cookie.  Have two, but for heaven's sake don't pull a Hope and eat the whole gosh darn plate!

And with this post, I lead us, and SeriouslyHope, into the holiday season.  I am going to say Merry Christmas, because it is the best way I know how to wish everyone the best of wishes, whatever holiday you celebrate, and a very happy, healthy and active 2012.  It's going to be a great year folks.  I can feel it.

Okay Ma!  It's time to put the coffee on, get out my Vixen mug, put the little piece of chocolate on my pillow that's on the blow up mattress.....
'CAUSE Momma, IMMA COMIN' HOME!!!!