Saturday, January 10, 2004
Today's Exercise in Training:
This morning I did 15 minutes of Yoga.
Yoga is often misunderstood because it combines elements of exercise and meditation. It requires total concentration and awareness of your body and mind, and how they interact. It also stretches tired and achy muscles, leaving you feeling invigorated and relaxed.
I've been trying, but not very hard, to make Yoga practice a regular part of my routine. I find all kinds of excuses not to do it, but the excuses I'm using are the reasons I really should make it a part of my routine.
I feel great today, even though my plans have had to change due to a household situation, because I did something that will bring me closer to my training goals.
Maybe this will be the motivation I need to make Yoga practice a part of my regular routine. I certainly hope so!
This morning I did 15 minutes of Yoga.
Yoga is often misunderstood because it combines elements of exercise and meditation. It requires total concentration and awareness of your body and mind, and how they interact. It also stretches tired and achy muscles, leaving you feeling invigorated and relaxed.
I've been trying, but not very hard, to make Yoga practice a regular part of my routine. I find all kinds of excuses not to do it, but the excuses I'm using are the reasons I really should make it a part of my routine.
I feel great today, even though my plans have had to change due to a household situation, because I did something that will bring me closer to my training goals.
Maybe this will be the motivation I need to make Yoga practice a part of my regular routine. I certainly hope so!
Friday, January 09, 2004
Coming Soon:
Yesterday, I had my first of many conversations with my "walk-buddy" who will help me figure out how to fundraise my $1800, schedule training sessions and participate in all the fun that a get-ready walk or get-started session can be.
We had a wonderful conversation and I look forward to chatting with her again soon. =)
EDIT: I just added the link to My Avon Walk. You can visit the site to get more information about the cause AND, here's the really SWEET part, donate to my fundraising goal.
It looks like I'm off to a running start this week.
Stay tuned!
Yesterday, I had my first of many conversations with my "walk-buddy" who will help me figure out how to fundraise my $1800, schedule training sessions and participate in all the fun that a get-ready walk or get-started session can be.
We had a wonderful conversation and I look forward to chatting with her again soon. =)
EDIT: I just added the link to My Avon Walk. You can visit the site to get more information about the cause AND, here's the really SWEET part, donate to my fundraising goal.
It looks like I'm off to a running start this week.
Stay tuned!
Thursday, January 08, 2004
This Week's Goals
#1 - Buy a pedometer. For those of you who don't know what a 'pedometer' is, it's a training tool, usually worn clipped to a belt or waistband, that helps you gauge how far you've gone on foot. They usually cost anywhere from $10 to $30, depending on what features they also include. For example, some pedometers also include a calorie counter, heart rate monitor or even an FM radio! Some are digital, while others are analog. . . there are lots of options. I've seen a few I liked in the sporting goods store at the big mall, so I plan to go up there on Saturday.
#2 - Establish a regular gym routine. During the most stressful period of my working life, when I needed to go the most, I ended up decreasing my gym-time. This was a killer for both my mental and physical health. This week, I have gotten to the gym twice and feel better than I have since September. I don't think it will be a problem to keep going on my current schedule, but I want to keep it on my goal list so it's always in my mind.
I also want to take advantage of their treadmill for after-work walking workouts while it's still too dark to train outside.
#3 - Invest in more gym clothes. As my training needs increase, so will my gym-time. Right now I only have 1 set of gym clothes. This is completely unacceptable, especially in cold weather. Even with wicking fabrics, sweat will still make you freeze.
#4 - Start training! On Saturday afternoon, I plan to take a walk around the park. That involves getting to the park, which is several blocks away, and then walking the jogging trail, which runs around the perimeter. It's a great walk and I feel healthy enough to make it with energy to spare.
In the meantime, I'm waiting for my startup kit to arrive from the Avon Walk before I start my full fundraising push. Stay tuned for more information on how to contribute to my fundraising goal of $1800.
#1 - Buy a pedometer. For those of you who don't know what a 'pedometer' is, it's a training tool, usually worn clipped to a belt or waistband, that helps you gauge how far you've gone on foot. They usually cost anywhere from $10 to $30, depending on what features they also include. For example, some pedometers also include a calorie counter, heart rate monitor or even an FM radio! Some are digital, while others are analog. . . there are lots of options. I've seen a few I liked in the sporting goods store at the big mall, so I plan to go up there on Saturday.
#2 - Establish a regular gym routine. During the most stressful period of my working life, when I needed to go the most, I ended up decreasing my gym-time. This was a killer for both my mental and physical health. This week, I have gotten to the gym twice and feel better than I have since September. I don't think it will be a problem to keep going on my current schedule, but I want to keep it on my goal list so it's always in my mind.
I also want to take advantage of their treadmill for after-work walking workouts while it's still too dark to train outside.
#3 - Invest in more gym clothes. As my training needs increase, so will my gym-time. Right now I only have 1 set of gym clothes. This is completely unacceptable, especially in cold weather. Even with wicking fabrics, sweat will still make you freeze.
#4 - Start training! On Saturday afternoon, I plan to take a walk around the park. That involves getting to the park, which is several blocks away, and then walking the jogging trail, which runs around the perimeter. It's a great walk and I feel healthy enough to make it with energy to spare.
In the meantime, I'm waiting for my startup kit to arrive from the Avon Walk before I start my full fundraising push. Stay tuned for more information on how to contribute to my fundraising goal of $1800.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Today's Food For Thought:
Recognizing How Your Mind Shapes Your Experience
My current screen saver at work is a quote from our first First Lady, Martha Washington and it melds perfectly with the overall tone of this article. The quote is:
"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."
I think that's why prayer and other forms of spiritual outreach are so important to a person's overall health and well-being. Especially in the face of drastic changes, like surgeries, disease or death, it helps to change your outlook. I've changed my outlook today. Have you?
Recognizing How Your Mind Shapes Your Experience
My current screen saver at work is a quote from our first First Lady, Martha Washington and it melds perfectly with the overall tone of this article. The quote is:
"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."
I think that's why prayer and other forms of spiritual outreach are so important to a person's overall health and well-being. Especially in the face of drastic changes, like surgeries, disease or death, it helps to change your outlook. I've changed my outlook today. Have you?
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Double Mastectomy
I found out this morning the my step-mom is scheduled to have her double mastectomy in a few weeks.
If you pray, please think of her and send out some good vibes. For those of you who are Catholic, she has a special devotion to St. Therese of the Little Flower, so if there's a special novena or something to say, to ask for her intercession, that would be really nice, too.
St. Therese believed that doing the simplest things in life joyfully, and with your entire heart, is what would lead you closer to Paradise, taking an active role in her own Salvation and demonstrating that it was possible for women and children to do Good Works, even if they were small. Perhaps her most famous quote is this:
“My mission--to make God loved--will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”
Do Good Works today and every day, no matter how small. =)
I found out this morning the my step-mom is scheduled to have her double mastectomy in a few weeks.
If you pray, please think of her and send out some good vibes. For those of you who are Catholic, she has a special devotion to St. Therese of the Little Flower, so if there's a special novena or something to say, to ask for her intercession, that would be really nice, too.
St. Therese believed that doing the simplest things in life joyfully, and with your entire heart, is what would lead you closer to Paradise, taking an active role in her own Salvation and demonstrating that it was possible for women and children to do Good Works, even if they were small. Perhaps her most famous quote is this:
“My mission--to make God loved--will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”
Do Good Works today and every day, no matter how small. =)
Monday, January 05, 2004
Quickly Updated . . .
I've tinkered with the style template to make it more cause-appropriate. . . hence all the shades of pink.
Are you wearing your pink ribbon?
I've tinkered with the style template to make it more cause-appropriate. . . hence all the shades of pink.
Are you wearing your pink ribbon?
Welcome!
This is a new blog to catalogue my personal crusade to fitness, volunteerism and challenges.
This morning, I mailed my registration form and $55 fee to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
I am training to walk a marathon and a half (that's 39.3 miles) over the weekend of October 2nd & 3rd 2004, as a participant in the 2004 New York City Walk for Breast Cancer. It won't be easy, but if my stepmom can face chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy over the next year, because she's been recently rediagnosed with breast cancer, I think I can handle pushing the limits of my perseverance, endurance and physical fitness.
I will do this. I started it today.
Now with Comments!
This is a new blog to catalogue my personal crusade to fitness, volunteerism and challenges.
This morning, I mailed my registration form and $55 fee to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
I am training to walk a marathon and a half (that's 39.3 miles) over the weekend of October 2nd & 3rd 2004, as a participant in the 2004 New York City Walk for Breast Cancer. It won't be easy, but if my stepmom can face chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy over the next year, because she's been recently rediagnosed with breast cancer, I think I can handle pushing the limits of my perseverance, endurance and physical fitness.
I will do this. I started it today.
Now with Comments!
