10 before 35 ...

I like to set goals. And I like to work hard to accomplish them. So with my next milestone birthday about a year and two weeks away...it should not be a surprise that I've been thinking about things I'd like to accomplish before then.

While I've been working hard on living in the moment and enjoying what is happening WHEN it is happening, turns out that anticipation is not such a bad thing for my spirit. This article I read in the New York Times discusses just one of many studies that show the anticipation of an event, such as a vacation, leads to an increase in happiness. No wonder I'm Polly Positive...I'm ALWAYS looking forward to SOMETHING!

So what do I want to get done before 35? It's a mix of things I've never done, always wanted to do, and some regrets that I didn't do them sooner. There's so much to say, I'm going to unveil new ones about once a day during the weeks between now and my birthday. So pull up a chair, friend, and enjoy my Top 10:

1. Finish a half marathon. I have been running on and off since 1999, but seriously since summer 2007. I finished my first 5k in spring 2008 (thank you Power in Motion!), my first 10k in 2009 ... and wanted to do this sooner (as well as a full by 35) but injuries forced my plans to change. I have registered for the Houston Half in January 2012 and am on week 4 of training.

2. Watch a Saints game in person. I'm getting this done Saturday! The Saints take on the Texans in preseason play here in Houston. I ultimately want to see them play in the Superdome ... but this will have to go on the before 40 list. Just too much going on with a possible move, and I'm hoping the Cougars will go bowling around the holidays! I am going to see the Cougars play in the 'Dome ... so I'm doing the two parts separate, I suppose. Have to leave something for the next list, right?

3. Finish "the Buddy book." In 2003, when I was working for the Lake Charles American Press (my brief fundraising hiatus), I covered a visit from the Sweet Potato Queen (her ownself), Jill Connor Browne. Her speech inspired me to start writing a book that very night on the lessons I was learning as a dog owner (Buddy, after all, is my first). I wrote four lessons and stopped. I wanted an even dozen, and had ideas for 11 total ... when a few months back, now 11-year-old Buddy inspired idea #12. I'd like to finish this before he turns 12, even if no one else reads it. I love to write, and just reading the chapters I've done will be such a great memento to have when he's gone.

4. Compile photo albums & scrapbooks. I have meticulously collected most newspaper articles I wrote for The Daily Cougar, the Houston Chronicle, and the Press...as well as photos dating back pretty much my whole almost-34 years. These have lived in boxes, or bags. It's time to get them into books to enjoy. Sooner rather than later, thanks to possible move.

5. Write our wills and include planned gifts. Yes, it may be morbid, but I've learned in my line of business, every adult should have a will. Don't you want a say in what happens to your possessions (and for those of you with kids, your people), if the unthinkable happened? Just because we are still fairly young, you just never know. It's the best way to make sure your wishes are met. This is a lengthy process and may not finish by that birthday, but we'll start making plans and of course, I want to be sure to include some favorite charities. As well as my desire for an Irish Wake and a Jazz Funeral ... now you all know I want to go out with a bang!

6. Zip line over land. I regret not doing this when in Kauai for my parents' 30th anniversary in 2007. I zip lined over water at Xel-Ha this summer and it was awesome. I want to get over my fear and do this.

7. Import all my CDs into iTunes. Not exciting, but I want to finally digitize all my music. It's 2011. I need to get with the program, especially now that I own an iPhone.

8. Climb an indoor rock wall ... or go skydiving. I am still undecided here. I've never climbed a wall, and this would be pretty easy to do at the UH Rec Center. But I passed up the chance to skydive in 1998 and now am regretting it. I was features editor at the Cougar ... and was offered to do it for an article. The week of, I chickened out ... Adam went in my place and I shot photos. At the time, I wasn't sorry, but now I am. So I'm leaning towards that. It would be fun to do as a group!

9. Fit back into the "Heart Gala dresses." I have two dresses I only wore once and haven't worn in 5-6 years. I definitely want to get into the black strapless one with red and white flowers I wore to the 2005 Lafayette Heart Gala ... would be a perfect outfit for the UH Alumni Awards Gala in April. Bonus would be to fit in the strapless teal one I wore to the 2006 Northwest Houston Heart Ball.

10. Help build a Habitat house. I have been a fan of Habitat for Humanity since I covered the Houston Superbuild as an intern for the Chron in summer 1998 (I even was called on by President Carter at the press conference to ask him a question!). I have always wanted to work on a house build. Therefore, I plan to organize a group to do so in spring 2012. Leadership Houston Class XXIX, I'm looking at you for help!

Stay tuned to see how much I actually achieve ... just the thought of all the possibilities has me super happy!! :)

Want to help our parks stay healthy? There's an app for that! Check out Htown Bingo!

I know I typically focus on personal health and fitness, but today I'd like to share some information about a way Houstonians can help our parks stay in great shape. It's a fun, game-like app and website called Htown Bingo!

Maybe you are fitness inclined like me, and spend a decent amount of time in your neighborhood park. Maybe you've noticed a light has burned out, there's a dangerous crack in the sidewalk, or maybe the jungle gym is broken. Or maybe nothing is out of repair...but you think "This park would rock if there was a bike rack, so that I could ride over here with my kiddos to play."

So all you have to do is play a little bingo to get the ball moving on any of these suggestions. Htown Bingo is part of a larger effort by SeeClickFix to encourage active citzenship in communities. It's been employed across the country, from bike riders in Tucson reporting unsafe road conditions, to residents in Richmond providing feedback for economic development and planning in their community (you can read about these and more stories here).

How to play? It's as easy as using Facebook or Twitter. You can download the bingo board here, and then Tweet a picture of one of the featured squares with #htownbingo. You can also download the SeeClickFix apps for iPhone, Blackberry or Android to play.

When you have five squares marked off in a row, Tweet "Bingo!" with #htownbingo or post to Htown Bingo's Facebook wall. New squares are revealed about every two weeks by a blogger or organization in Houston (psst...hints here!). The first 10 to get bingo get a prize!

So let's help our community get healthy and have fun playing at the same time! See you at the park.

Half down, half to go ...

I know it sounds cheesy, but it really does seem like only yesterday that I was setting goals for 2011...and we're already halfway through the year. As I did at the end of the first quarter, I thought it would be a good time to take stock of where I am, where I need to go, and what may need adjusting due to changing circumstances:

1. Running: I have run 3 of 8 races for the year. As you may recall, the goal of running 8 races was to ramp up for a spring 2012 half marathon. I'm happy to report that I registered for the Houston half in January. I am running as a "Hero" for Habitat for Humanity. Since I start training on July 23, and my long runs will be on Saturdays, I am not sure how many more races I will complete this year. But since I achieved the greater goal of committing to a half, I'm OK with that.
2. Staying active: As of June 30, I have exercised 5528 minutes this year. Of 26 weeks, I hit the 300 target 8 times (about 30%), and topped 200 minutes (last year's measure) 14 times (about 54%). So my suspicion about raising the bar higher to a 300 minute/week goal was correct in that I would hit more minutes overall. January and June were my best months with more than 1000 minutes...so I need to work to do a better job during the semesters to keep that up.
3. Eating: I have lost and kept off about 3 pounds since Thanksgiving. It's not a lot, and this is probably the area I could continue to improve most. There are still times I struggle to log everything in my Weight Watchers app. There are definitely times I don't make the best choices. And frankly, I enjoy a good social hour with friends. So I need to eat better more of the times to accommodate for these realities of life.
4. Professionally: I have preliminarily passed the CFRE. I should be getting the official certificate and confirmation of my Certified Fundraising Executive sometime this month. It will feel great to put the initials behind my name. This was a lot of studying (which impacts the next goal), and a very challenging exam. What a great way to celebrate a decade in my profession!
5. Personally: I have read 13 books this year (goal was 12). Three of these were for the CFRE exam, so my new goal should be at least 15 by December. I am reading #14 and actually may pick back up a running book started in 2009 and put aside as #15. I have worked to have a good blend of business, leadership, fitness and fun books in the mix. I have found a fantastic site, Goodreads, to track progress, share with friends and it even links to FB and has a phone app.

So what next? In addition to keeping on my 2011 path, I have my eye on a "bucket list" of items I'd like to complete before my milestone birthday next summer. More to come in another post.

So how's your year shaping up? What did you set out to do in January and where are you in the progress?

Crossing over to Fitness

This morning, I took my first CrossFit class. Had I done some serious research into what it involved before buying a Groupon for it, I might have talked myself out of it. Even though I run and have done several races, I've never considered myself very athletic (see recent guest spot blog on this).

But I can't pass up a good deal as a way to try something new ... I figured, it worked well for hot yoga so why not?

Our class is 3 mornings a week, but I had to miss Monday due to Buddy having a dental appointment. I wasn't the only person in the class of 5 that had to miss Monday, which made me feel less nervous. Our instructor, Krista, was super patient and encouraging. It's 3 gals and 2 guys in our class, and we are all at different fitness levels.

The first move we did after warming up was a "sumo dead kettlebell" or something like that...basically, I had to lift a kettlebell from the ground up to my shoulders in a clean jerk, while not rounding my back. I'm pretty sure that's the cause of sore quads about 14 hours later.

Then it was time for the WOD (Workout of the Day): a 250m run around the building, then shoulder presses for the remaining minutes, with 3 minutes rest in between. I did 13 the first time, 14 each of the next 2 sets, for 41 total. I was about in the middle of the pack on reps, but the lightest on weight (25 lbs). I'm sure that will change as the classes progress.

It was over before I knew it...a quick and dirty 45 minute workout. But it made me feel so strong! I was proud of myself for not punking out when it got tough, and can't wait to see what the next class brings, and how my muscles will look when the class is done in 3.5 weeks.

It never hurts to try something new...though my muscles will probably argue that one tomorrow.

Take it easy...

This weekend was my first weekend without plans nearly all month. Since returning from vacation, my days have been more action packed than I thought ... but then, June always is a little busier than one thinks and the real "lazy days" come to light in July, at least in my world.

Sitting at the end of the weekend, I am singing the praises of 48 unplanned hours. It was GLORIOUS. We slept in, worked out...I even read a book for fun. It was a much deserved and needed rest after a month of accomplishments, which culminated in my CFRE exam on Friday. I thought about going into to work to get organized for the week, but a quick peek at my calendar showed I'd have plenty of hours in the week to log paperwork...so I resisted.

Turns out, taking vacations, and even short breaks from our daily routine, is healthy too. Research proves this could be just as important as exercise and a healthy diet.

So since I did promise more Me/We time this summer, you can bet I'm pretty excited that of the 5 weekends in July, we only have one commitment, our nephew's 5th birthday party. We have no other plans, and I'm going to work really hard to keep it that way. I have a busy fall ahead, and if I don't cool it on Saturdays and Sundays now, I'll konk out in the middle. And that would totally ruin my half marathon training (which starts July 23).

So, when's the last time you took it easy?

What's healthy: Me and We time

Adam and I recently returned from our "summer" vacation...we spent 6 days back at the site of our honeymoon 10 years ago, El Dorado Royale in Puerto Morelos, Mexico (appx 30 mins south of Cancun). Though our anniversary is not until July, we have more flexible work schedules now and didn't want to mess with any threats of hurricanes.

It was absolute paradise. Not only did we have gorgeous scenery and great weather, but spending time together without the hustle and bustle of daily chores, work and other activities was such a treat. The three weeks prior to the trip were especially hectic...I am holding down two departments at work due to an unexpected vacancy, plus with trying to wrap everything up for the end of the Junior League year, get ready for the trip, study for my certification...let's just say I'm grateful Adam pitched in a lot at Casa Burns and did not complain.

I spent some time on the trip, and in the days since (I don't return to work until Wednesday) evaluating how I would handle the day to day moving forward to incorporate some aspects of the Me and We time I so enjoyed. Perhaps it was the salty air, or maybe it was after reading The Long Run about the NY fireman who recovered from a horrible bike accident to run marathons again...but something was nudging me to take a step back and think about how life is short and priorities have to be set and enforced by ME.

Typically, summer is an easier time, schedule-wise. Campus is quiet, and it tends to be our planning season for the next school year. Volunteer commitments still exist but are minimal compared to the school year due to family vacations. It made me realize if I could work so hard on all these other items, why not take this "bonus time" the next few months and work on Me/Us??

So I have recommitted myself to a fitness plan. In fact, I've already worked out 8 days straight. If I can keep it up at least through July, I'll have a new workout streak record. While on vacation, I worked out in the morning (first thing or right after breakfast) all days but two, and one of those I got an afternoon workout (the other was the day we flew in and travel took the good part of that). So as much as I hate getting up early, I'm committing to morning workouts. Already got the first one tackled today and the clothes out for tomorrow's gym trip.

I've also recommitted myself to healthier eating. Since Sunday, I've been tracking Weight Watchers points again. Right now, I'm trying to get used to writing what I bite again, but we did load up on fruit and veg on Sunday's grocery trip, and I'm doing a better job of having fruit and/or yogurt as a nighttime snack. I came back from vacation up about 4.5 pounds and have shed 1.5 in just 3 days by watching my food and exercising. (I KNEW some was bloat!)

Part of this is more meals at home...and that means cooked at home, not picked up on the way home. This is where some of that WE time comes in. With less nights out for commitments, we can plan a whole week's worth of meals together, take turns cooking them and enjoy them together. I've already cooked 3 times this week...possibly more than the rest of the month combined! And there's nothing like family time enjoying a meal together. (Not to mention...this will make leftovers for healthier lunches!)

I'm also going to cool it but not totally restrict alcohol and sweets as I had PLENTY on vacation. That was actually the point of my challenges...I wanted to go without before so I could enjoy on vacation. But it's time to get those indulgences back to what they should be...treats, not everyday menu items.

So instead of getting in shape FOR summer, I want to be in shape by the end of summer...which happens to be my next birthday. In the long run, the gift of health is the best one I can give to Me/Us. I have a good 13 weeks. Let's see what can happen! So who's with me?

How Sweet It Isn't

It's been 15 days since I've had sweets. I have passed up candy, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes and yes, my beloved orange rolls. I'm exactly halfway through my 30 day challenge.

I will admit, as I suspected, this is harder than giving up alcohol. Sweets are EVERYWHERE. For example, your co-workers don't keep a flask on their desk and invite you to take a swig. Just like the last challenge, the first week or so was spent noticing how often I had access to the offending items.

And much like the last challenge, I've noticed a little substituting. This time, it's more crackers and bread products to replace some of the desire for dessert. I am working to re-implement my fruit as desserts plan to help with this part.

But for the most part, this isn't that bad of a challenge. I know it's short term, and I think we can take on any challenge for a short period of time ... much like my current experience at work, where I am temporarily running both the development and marketing teams in the college due to a vacancy. Sure, it's been extra work when I already have a bit on my plate to catch up this month before summer hits. It's a little stressful. But it won't last.

I am a big believer in challenges making us stronger people. As long as you learn something from the process, it's not a total loss. It's like my injuries ... I end up becoming a stronger athlete through them. Or my allergies ... sure, I've lost some ground on the workout front due to illness and then treatment, but it's work it for the long-term gain. I will say the alcohol challenge has kept me focused to stay at a very healthy 1/day average in the two weeks since completion.

And speaking of exercise, April was my worst month to date this year. I took 10 days off and logged about half as many minutes as January (my best weight loss month of the year). I've decided I need to work on consecutive days again and upping my minutes as my responsibilities lessen over the course of the coming weeks. It's a matter of always observing and fine tuning oneself.

I'm liking these mini-challenges. I think they help build a greater awareness of balance in life. I think when I finish this one, I may take a short sabbatical from social media...maybe just for a week. Would be fun to see what life would be like disconnected, but that's probably as long as I can manage since my work and volunteer lives require some level of usage.

Looks like we made it...what's next?

I will admit, the last third of my 45-day abstinence from alcohol was a bit of a breeze. Finding substitute beverages, plus other ways to be social or unwind, were a bit old hat. Top it off with going through rush immunotherapy on day 37 (which means absolutely no drinking the days before and after either), and I think I only would've had about 5-6 drinks in these two weeks -- one with some awesome steaks Adam made on day 32, two on day 35 to relieve stress, and then one again on day 44 for the same...and maybe some wine at meeting on day 43 and a beer or 'rita with fish tacos after our Leadership class road rally on day 45.

Estimated drinks skipped: 32 for the 45 days. That's not even 3/4 of a drink per day, affirming the "but you don't have a problem" comments I got from some when learning of my self-imposed fast.

Sure, I am not addicted. But it doesn't meant there aren't negative effects on my health that I wanted to test. I estimate saving 3200-4800 calories over these past 6.5 weeks. That's a good 1-1.5 pounds I did not gain! Sure, I did not really lose weight...but I have maintained the 5 or so pounds I lost between semesters. Usually, I have a 3-5 pound gain each semester, take it off in between, add it back...so I believe I am out ahead.

Not to mention, it's helped my finances. I have probably saved a good $160-320 on not having those drinks out (estimated $5-10 per drink, knowing some would have been had at home for cheaper). And saving money means less stress, which is always healthy!

So what's the plan when I resume drinking later today? I want to be more conscious of what I drink and when...mostly for the calorie count. My goal is to only allow myself a drink if I've worked out 30 minutes minimum that day. That seems fair since it's a simple equation of calories in v. calories out. It may help me get back to my 300 minutes per week plan.

I've also decided it would be fun to challenge myself to give up other "sinful" items throughout the year, to reset myself. This has been a great experiment in learning my relationship with foods and drinks I enjoy perhaps too easily, so I'd like to extend it.

So what's next? No sweets for 30 days, starting today. No chocolate, no ice cream, no cookies or cupcakes, not even my beloved JL orange rolls. This, I think, will be harder than the alcohol. Sweets are everywhere. It's acceptable to walk around munching a cookie. It's not acceptable to walk everywhere with a drink. What I have going for me is we don't keep a lot of them in our house, so it will be mainly sticking to not buying any, and not having any at luncheons etc.

It will be fun to see what impact this one may have on my weight, as I know I enjoyed quite a few sweets during Lent in lieu of a drink. All the more reason to give this a try.

Rush Immunotherapy

For those of you that are faithful Facebook followers, you already know that spring 2011 has been an allergy season of epic proportions for me. I'm not the kind of person who is sick often...maybe, I miss about 2 days a year total. This March, I missed THREE days due to allergy issues. That's not normal. So when I went in for allergy testing, my allergist suggested I'd be a great candidate for shots. I'm allergic to most grasses, trees, dust, mold etc...just enough that therapy might provide some relief. I had the option of regular build up...which would take 6 months and start out with 3 sessions a week for 10 weeks. Or I could do rush immunotherapy, which involved a full day of intense treatment, and then I'd be at the monthly maintenance in about 1-2 months. Knowing my schedule (and the desire to feel relief faster), I opted for the rush treatment. To prepare, I had to take a series of meds the day before, the day of and the day after...this was to avoid any possible reaction to the introduction of so many allergens at once...it's like an intense vaccination process. I had to be sure to hydrate well the night before and morning of the treatment. And I had to wait until the IV was inserted to have my beloved morning caffeine. I have to say, the folks at Allergy & Asthma Associates were top notch. It really felt like a bit of a spa day the way they waited on me! I arrived with 3 bags in tow: blankets (as the room gets cold, and I had to wear shorts and t-shirt to make treatment easier), pillow, lunch and snacks, movies, laptop, magazines and study materials for my CFRE exam (which I'm taking in June, as long as my application is accepted). I had my own private room for the day, complete with recliner. We started by taking all my vitals, including several breathing tests. My favorite was the computer game where I had to blow down the 3 pigs' houses. Then insertion of a tiny IV, which lived in my left arm all day. I'm glad it wasn't my visions of hospital IVs that I'd have to carry down the hall on restroom trips! We then began the series of 11 shots. For each, I got a shot in each arm...with 20 minutes in between each series. Before every shot, my vitals were measured again. It was great to see my blood pressure readings so low for once!

• The first 4 shots were from silver vials, which were mostly saline. The nurse explained that as the vial colors changed, the concentration of allergens would become greater. My nose got slightly itchy after these but this disappeared quickly.


• The next 6 were from green vials. With every new set of vials, I got to verify that they were prescribed to me, which was nice. I felt pretty good after these but a little sleepy...but then, it was close to lunchtime. I felt less sleepy after eating.


• The next 6 from the blue vials made my ears pop a bit. Nothing major or uncomfortable, but doc and nurse wanted to know about any changes as they happened. They were great in constantly checking on me.


• The last 6 were from gold vials. The nurse warned me that these are the ones she'd watch my reactions the closest since they were the strongest. She said I shouldn't be freaked out that she'd be looking closely at my eyes, since that would be the first sign of a bad reaction. After the last set, I became a bit sleepy again. More snacks helped a little.

After finishing the shots, I then had to stay for 2 hours with vitals checked every 30 minutes. During the first hour, I got sleepier and warmer. I could feel my ears get toasty and they said they got a little red even, along with my face getting flush...but that this was completely normal. By the time Adam picked me up, I was still a little flush (enough that he could notice) but feeling good enough to grab a sandwich around the corner before heading home for the night.

About an hour after I got home, I was kind of miserable...I could tell I needed rest, and another Zyrtec as my sinuses felt irritated. The 2 hour nap really hit the spot...but then screwed up my sleep cycle a bit. Really, all my cycles were a bit off. I ate lightly during the day, so got hungry again around 11, then didn't go to bed until 2:30.

I don 't feel too badly today...just tired and a little lightheaded, but that may be more from my interrupted sleep. I am retaining water like crazy...up 5 pounds! But again, may be more likely to my late night meal and little sleep. I'm going to hydrate well today and rest up as much as I can and see how it goes.

Probably the worst part is BOY are my arms sore! Not sure when I will get a workout in, but accepted it may not be until early next week. Not even sure really how much I will leave the house the next few days (took today as a sick day too) but it's a small price to pay for the road to relief.

My next steps are returning in a week to get my next dose. I have 9 to go until I only have to go once a month for maintenance. My goal is to get there before Memorial Day.

The rush therapy is not for everyone, but it was not as bad an experience as I imagined it to be (of course, I pictured the worst).

One month down, two weeks to go

I have now made it a full month straight without drinking alcohol. As part of my experiment, I decided to keep a log of my observations and feelings throughout the process. The first 16 days can be found here.

As for Days 17-31, much of it was riddled with allergy attacks, which left me not even wanting to eat very much, let alone think about the drinks I might be missing. Here's some observations from these two weeks where I did have the opportunity to stick to my promise:

Day 17: I likely would have attended a wine tasting tonight, but made a conscious decision not to when making this pledge. Even if I would have enjoyed the food, no reason to put myself through that kind of torture! But it was a tough day at work and I was exhausted by my post-work haircut. I would have had a glass of wine but opted for coffee instead. Drinks skipped = 1.

Day 18: Couples' night out. We did pick a restaurant (Indian) where it was easier for me to skip wine (and for one of the others to skip chocolate, which she gave up), but I still would have liked to have a glass. Drinks skipped = 1.

Day 20: Two opportunities today: after work gathering with co-workers, and then Adam made spaghetti for dinner, which we usually enjoy with red wine. If I was drinking and had to pick, I would have probably picked dinner's beverage. Drinks skipped = 1.

Day 22: At the end of a 2-day allergy bout, I got a little jealous when Adam grabbed a beer before bed...until I remembered he bought me some ginger beers. It was delicious. Realized I just wanted a festive beverage.

Day 25: Went out for tapas with sis and bro-in-law. If I was drinking, I would have had mojitos there, and then Adam and I probably would have hit the piano bar in the complex for more entertainment (and drinks). Over the course of a long night, I estimate drinks skipped = 3.

Day 27: Volunteer meeting after work. My volunteer "boss" remembered my pledge and made a point to be sure I could have some sparkling water. I really appreciated that! It was festive enough that I didn't miss the wine. Skipped drink = 1.

Day 29: Now that I've made it past the four week mark, realize I don't miss alcohol so much, but do have moments where I miss it intensely. I guess we want what we can't have, right? At this point, I'm starting to think about what my stance will be when Lent is done. I've noticed I attend a lot of functions where it is very easy to allow myself a glass. Beginning to wonder if I should form a framework...maybe only have one if I've worked out that day, or limit just to weekends. I feel confident I can make it.

Day 30: After an intensely stressful afternoon, the confidence almost gets thrown out the window. Adam has restocked the house with beer and red wine. I almost give in, thinking 30 days is a significant achievement. But then Adam reminds me how good the beer with the crawfish he's promised me at the end will be, and I realize I can't give it. It won't be as special! I settle for sniffing the beer bottle.

Day 31: Leadership class day. A lot of my classmates want to know what differences I'm seeing...have I lost any weight etc? I really haven't, but I have noticed I didn't have the big mid-semester weight gain I usually have, so that's a victory. Skipped drink (at happy hour) = 1.

Skipped drink total these two weeks = 8, total = 27.

So two weeks to go. In there, I will have my allergy treatment and recovery, so plenty of time to think how I will return to normal life!

One quarter down...

It's hard to believe a fourth of the year is gone already. I thought it might be a good time to check in and see how I'm progressing on my 2011 plan:

1. Running: I've run 1 of 8 races promised this year. I'm signed up for another on 4/23. I had to back out of the Rodeo Run due to an injury flare up. Thanks to my allergy issues as of late, I've had plenty of time to rest and heal. I'd like to get in at least one more before the heat of summer, if possible.
2. Staying active: My workout streak peaked at 62 days, ending in mid-February due to mentioned injury flare. Not bad to work out 2 months straight! I have logged 3063 minutes the first 90 days, an average of 34 minutes a day, and that counts my 13 days off. That's a good pace...if I take off 13 days a quarter, that's 52 a year...allowing plenty of room for wiggle in the 300 on/65 off plan. Just like last year, January was my strongest month. The challenge will continue to see if I can pick it back up.
3. Eating/tracking: I will admit I've been hit or miss with tracking on Weight Watchers. I do at least log my activity there. I have still lost and kept off a good 5 pounds since Thanksgiving. If I can become more active again over the summer when my schedule eases, I may get to that under 150 goal after all this year (only 2.4 away).
4. Professionally: I took my CFRE course, applied for the exam an am now just waiting for them to approve my application so I can test in June. I plan to do a lot of studying later this month (flash card time!).
5. Personally: I'm almost done with book 6 for the year, so almost 3 ahead of schedule on my 1/month plan. 2 were fiction, 2 were leadership related and 2 were how-to styles. A decent blend, I'd say. I have some running books on the horizon that should be fun as I pick up my training, as well as some more fiction planned for summer vacation.

A good start to the year, I'd say. Further along on some goals than others, but hope to still make progress in all areas this year, even if I don't hit the goals perfectly.

It is about balance among the chaos after all, right? (Must remember this when I feel overwhelmed...I can do a lot but can't do it all perfectly!)

16 days down, 30 to go

When I made my Lenten pledge to give up alcohol, I decided it would be neat to keep a log of my thoughts and experiences during this experiment. As an adult, I've become much more interested in science and logic ... plus, I noticed many other blogs and articles online from folks who gave up drinking for a period and they were pretty interesting.

Since it would practically be a book if I waited until Easter, I decided to post in phases. So here's the first third:

Day 1-Had a tough day at work, and by 3 p.m. I was already questioning my pledge and resolve. The more I thought about it, I was really just tired. Though when I got home, I noticed a few bottles of wine in the fridge that will go bad by Easter as they are sweeter wines than Adam likes. Probably would have had one glass that night.

Day 2-I am already noticing a reduction in the redness (think rosacea) on my face. Does alcohol really affect me that severely? Met my buddy Felicia for happy hour and the employee at Chacho's looked at me like I was crazy when I didn't order a drink. I would have had a frozen Jack and Coke. Skipped drink count to date = 2.

Day 3-Leadership Houston class day, which always ends with happy hour. Enjoyed club soda with lime. It was fizzy and festive enough. My not drinking offered solidarity to another classmate who is pregnant and almost didn't come to happy hour since she couldn't drink. Also noticed I felt more engaged in conversations. Afterwards, made a better dinner choice of a salad...probably would have gotten a burger or something fried otherwise. Also learned that my friends are closely following my adventure and that it is making them think about their experiences with alcohol. Skipped drinks to date = 4.

Day 4-Went to Easter Seals crawfish boil with Adam. Actually had 2 charity event options that day, but Tequila Throwdown would have just been too much to bear. This was the first time I truly missed a drink as a beer would have been nice to quench the saltiness of the crawfish. This is the day Adam first points out that I am likely substituting sweets for alcohol. It was a nice night, weather wise, and thought about wine on the patio, which I also missed. Skipped drinks total = 6.

Day 5-Put in almost a full day at the office, even though it was Sunday. As I walked to my car, realized I'd normally reward myself with wine for working so hard. I found this interesting as I've heard of people using food as a reward. Instead, I put Crystal Light tea in a wine glass, which was delicious. Skipped total = 7.

Day 6-Home sick with allergies and a dentist appointment. Did not feel like eating much, so it was easy not to crave anything with dinner. I even skipped brownies afterwards!

Day 7-Did not even think about drinks today, but did have to start turning down offers of drinks at the rodeo for the coming weekend.

Day 8-Pottery night with the girls. The bottle of wine on the table wasn't even a temptation as I was too zoned in on my painting. Remarked at the irony there was a glass or two left in it at the end of the night.

Day 9-St. Patty's Day, but this was not a problem as we hadn't been out since '08 (though this was the day I attended rodeo in '10). However, when I got home, I would have loved to have a drink and nap...instead, have a cupcake (green velvet and my first sweets since Sunday) and a gym trip. What a great swap!

Day 10-Rodeo round 1. Big props to my buddy Jose, who showed solidarity and also did not drink...if we would have drank, we'd have likely split a bottle of wine. It was VERY interesting to observe others' behavior sober! Feeling very alert even after a busy week. Skipped drink count = 9.

Day 11-Rodeo round 2, the full day. Apparently, I missed out on something called milk punch (offered twice), as well as mimosas and other drinks. Determined that I skipped 5 drink options over the course of the 12 hours. Susan and I splurged instead on fried sweets (I had a snickers) and funnel cake. Skipped total = 14.

Day 12-Despite eating like a pig Friday and Saturday, gained no weight! Felt a bit tired but recovered quicker than if I'd been hungover. Might have had a glass of wine on the the patio this evening...had a hard time unwinding today. Skipped total = 15.

Day 13-Off work today. I'm down 1.4 pounds from last week! Loaded up on water and iced tea, then noticed craving a glass of wine in the evening just for a different flavor. Had some lime LaCroix instead which knocked out bubbly and sweet at once. Skipped total = 16.

Day 14-Long stressful day making up from being off the day before (hello 70 emails!). Would have had wine when I got home but went for a walk instead. Skipped total = 17.

Day 15-This was the hardest day yet. Was in meetings nearly all day. This led to scarfing 3 orange rolls at my dinner meeting! First time in two weeks I felt regret at my pledge. Would have had wine when I got home. Skipped total = 18.

Day 16-Skipped champagne at tonight's meeting. And after consuming a very large cupcake after lunch, decide it's time to give sweets the boot...at least during the week. I am likely undoing the benefits of skipping alcohol calories and eating more sweets than I usually do. Find it interesting that when you take one vice away, another can creep in. Vow to try not to have sweets for at least a week and see how I feel. Skipped total = 19.

So what have I learned so far?

1. If you add up 19 drinks for at least 100 calories each, I've lost at least half a pound just by not drinking. And the other pound I lost is probably from better food choices (save the sweets) and more consistent exercising.
2. I find it easy to crave an adult beverage when stressed or tired. I've started substituting exercise in more.
3. I attend a lot of meetings and social functions where alcohol is present. Therefore, even if I reduce my consumption once Lent is done (versus resuming normal levels), I will still need to work at holding back.
4. I'm probably noticing the drinks I've "skipped" because I am thinking about it more. I probably don't crave drinks this often usually...maybe it's withdrawals?

It will be interesting to see what the next two weeks bring. Rodeo was a big challenge, but I'm proud I stuck to my guns.

71 shots

No, I didn't fall off the wagon. That's how many times my arms got poked last week when I visited the allergist. Though I've lived in Houston before, my seasonal allergies became unbearable last year. I lost most of April to the sniffles, sneezes and congestion. I had some challenges this fall but not as many.

So when I woke up on Feb. 28 miserable with hay fever, I decided enough was enough. I called my doctor and got a referral to Houston Allergy & Asthma Associates. My appointment was last week.

It was a pretty efficient experience. I was taken back to the exam room within 5-10 minutes of arriving. I had my vitals taken and had to do a quick breathing test. I scored 400 when 480 is ideal, so this day, I was not too badly affected.

The doctor followed pretty quickly after the nurse. He was willing to bet I was allergic to trees and grasses, and wanted to test me on everything (but food) to be sure. For the testing to be effective, you're supposed to be off antihistamines for five days. I took one Sunday morning, and this was Thursday afternoon, so I was borderline.

A quick first poke with the histamine (positive marker) showed I was reacting, and we could proceed. Before the poke, I was given 56 lovely lines up and down my forearms. Each line was a poke, and each poke, a tree, grass, mold, dust or other pollen. For the ones I had no reaction to, a second group of 15 more pokes were done on my right bicep.

The best news? I'm not allergic to pets (though I insisted if I was, I was still keeping Buddy!!). The bad news, I'm allergic to just about every tree, grass, weed, dust and mold ... except oak. The doctor said he would have lost money on that bet.

Since I am fairly healthy, he said I am an excellent candidate for immunotherapy. In the meantime, Zyrtec and Nasonex are my friends. This article which discusses the 100th anniversary of immunotherapy sums up why I'm willing to explore this option: sure, I can take meds for the rest of my life, and deal with losing days every year to illness. But if there's a chance that I could prevent the allergies from getting worse, avoiding possible asthma and possibly enjoy remission of my allergies, I think it's worth a try.

This will be a long-term commitment for me. I had to agree to stick with it for three to five years. I will begin at some point in the next month. I plan to start out with a rush treatment and take a day off work to get me to the monthly maintenance in one or two months versus six. It's more manageable on my schedule to take one sick day versus several hours a week for weeks on end, and may even save me some money doing it in one visit thanks to co-pays.

So a year ago, if you would have told me I'd be seeing my regular internist, plus an endocrinologist and an allergist twice a year, I would have laughed. But our bodies are like a car or house...you have to do maintenance to keep them running well. And I can't trade up for a new one if this one wears out so I'll do it.

I'm just thankful I have great insurance that makes this affordable. That could be a whole blog entry onto itself.

Off the sauce ... for now

After discussion of what I should give up for Lent generated 73 comments on my Facebook status the other night (possibly my most prolific post yet), I decided it was only fair to let everyone know what I picked and how I got there.

I have given up alcohol for Lent. No booze until April 24. I know, shocking! While I'm not really someone that goes overboard, I do enjoy a good glass of wine or a mixed drink, and with my work and social schedule of late, it's been more nights a week on than off. One has to think that may have a cumulative effect.

So as Mardi Gras approached, and my schedule began easing (the only night planned out this week being Fat Tuesday itself), I started thinking again on how I could continue to focus on my quest for health and well-being. I realized though raised as a Catholic, I have not given up anything for Lent in many years. I think my last true Lenten observance was 6 years ago, when I read The Purpose Driven Life each day.

So what to give up? Giving up something for Lent is supposed to be a true sacrifice, not something easy that you won't miss. And then it hit me.

Alcohol. THAT would be a challenge.

So I started testing it out and telling those closest to me on Monday. They were a bit surprised, and I think intrigued too. I started outlining the many reasons/benefits that were piling up in my brain:

• I bet it will help with my weight loss. It will help me cut back on empty calories. Maybe this is why it's been so hard to lose.
• It might help me sleep better.
• It will help with my 10k training.
• It will save me money.
• It will help keep me from eating the wrong stuff, which I tend to do once I've had a drink or two.
• It's a convenient time of year to try it. Many people give up something this time of year. Less peer pressure!
• And finally, I'm just curious to see if I CAN. If I could work out for 62 days straight, surely I can do this for 46?

Yes, I admit, it wasn't religious reasons, but health reasons (and just plain spite) that pushed me over. Because I briefly debated giving up sweets instead. Sure, those are empty calories too. So why not sweets? Because I don't have them often enough to be a true sacrifice. And if presented with a plate of cookies or a glass of wine, I can have one cookie and stop. I can't just have one sip of wine. It would feel weird and wasteful.

In making my choice, I carefully thought through my schedule for this month (the halfway point). There's pretty much an event or two a week that involve alcohol. But I plan to enjoy the activities without it. I'll probably even paint a better piece of pottery next week!

This got me thinking that it might be too easy for me as an adult to reach for a tasty beverage in a social situation, without thinking if I really want/need it. There's nothing wrong with having them, and I don't want anyone to think I'm judging since I'm often in that camp. But I've decided to treat this as a little experiment ... what if I just focus on interactions with friends and colleagues at these events, rather than the beverages? How will the experience be different? As long as I'm enjoying myself and the company, I'm predicting the activities will still be fun. Maybe this will also help me be more selective of how to spend my free time and help ease the overflowing plate.

Because after all, it's all about the relationships in our life. And I'm just taking a small break from mine with alcohol to focus on the one I have with my health. It will be interesting to see what the end result will be.

Back to basics

After nearly a week of suffering allergy-inflicted sinus irritation, and nearly a month since I strained my foot, I was anxious to get back to some activity as soon as I felt able. I will say, I'm proud that I found ways around my injury to stay active (mostly through some light walking), but I really missed a great, calorie burning, sweat inducing workout.

I started slow Friday night with stationary cycle and most of my weights routine (I'm still a little slow to put all the leg weights back in due to the strain). It felt good, good enough to want to take a Zumba class Saturday. It was great but it kicked my butt! It was almost like hot yoga! (Which by the way, I think I'll go back to on Sunday, and just omit any moves that hurt my foot too much.)

Random passing thoughts tend to roam my brain during these workouts, and one was the realization that next week, I'm only out on the town one night. So besides working the basketball game today and going in tomorrow to do paperwork, I have a lighter schedule again. The rest of the month is not too bad...maybe 2 nights a week out, and a few things scattered on the weekends.

This got me thinking it's time to take advantage of this lull and get back to basics. I need to re-implement what worked so well in late December and January:

• Eating more fruits & veggies. Remember my nothing but fruit & veg after dinner rule? That went by the wayside fast with the schedule. And also, I need to stop eating dessert at all these catered functions I'm attending. Sure, it may be tasty, but is it worth the sweat later? Between that and the yummy cheesecake I made, it's no wonder I'm a little bloated this week. Dessert should be like what eating out was when I was growing up: for special occasions and to be savored.
• Getting serious workouts in. Walking will go back to the last resort workout. It would be nice if I didn't take any more days off this month. The 6 for the year is not bad, but I want to save up "off" days for later in the year when I'll be busier again. I plan to get back to yoga, elliptical, weights and eventually, running (right now, I can stand about 5 minutes a week broken up into intervals). I have 7 weeks until the next race.
• Focusing on a good night's sleep. I've been slacking in this department too. The recent allergy bout reminded me I'm best on 8 hours a night. I will work to manage my time better to make this a priority.

And that's just the health and fitness goals. With more free time this month, I need to tend to items at Casa Burns again (especially the taxes!).

Sometimes, the ebb and flow of life amazes me. I must remind myself that we all have a certain amount of control over it, and for the rest, just go with it and enjoy the ride.

You deserve a break...

I will admit, it's been a tough few weeks for me. February brought a flurry of activity at work and in my volunteering, and I was feeling the toll.

After 62 days, I took a day off from working out. It came at the end of one of my busiest weeks, and I was in the middle of the CFRE review course. My foot was seizing up a bit from sitting in conference for 2 days straight. Since I was in pain, I decided it was not worth making it worse.

Days 2 and 3 for the year came the next week, more from exhaustion than anything. Days 4 and 5 (yesterday and today) came from an early attack of spring allergies. When your head feels like it's going to pop off, a walk outside is the last thing you want to do.

Despite the 4 days off in February, I still managed 869 minutes of activity, 2260 for the year so far. That's about 37 hours! My average is still about 38 minutes a day, so that dropped about 6.5 minutes

On the weight loss front, needless to say that's been a challenge too. I've had several patches this month where I was busy and decided not to watch what I ate. Combine that with being sick and not wanting to eat (and not judging myself for what I did when I did), it all evened out. I bloated back up to 154 for a while but that was water retention. I'm back to 150.8 as of today.

So what does all this prove? It's OK to be human. It's OK to take a break. Sometimes, your body forces you to (as it's done for me the last 2 days). Other than not running a race this month due to healing, I'm not that far off my plan for the year.

So why am I so hard on myself?

Dr. Oz tweeted a great article from the New York Times citing research that shows we should show ourselves more compassion. Basically, it states that we aren't perfect, and instead of being hard on ourselves for it, we should show ourselves sympathy like we would someone else in the situation.

So I'm going to focus on the positives. That 5 days off for the year is still less than where I was this time last year. And I'll be back to my activity level soon enough. The break is actually making me appreciate what I had. I miss yoga. If I feel up to it, I may go this weekend and just avoid any poses that hurt or strain. And yes, my schedule was crazy last month. But March should be better (after Saturday) and hey, I took the review course, so I'm one step closer to my goal of becoming a CFRE this year.

After all, life is a journey, and sometimes, the detours are worth it.

Rules are there for a reason

I broke some rules, and now I'm learning my lesson. Suffice it to say, I plain overdid it this weekend without realizing it, and now have some lovely arch pain to prove it.

So what did I ignore?

Rule 1: New shoes need to be broken in. I have to admit, I was so excited about my new Vibrams (like a kid on Christmas), I went nuts and went for a long run in them the first try out. Never mind the great advice the staff gave me upon buying my first pair to go easy on them until my feet were used to them. I owned a pair already...what's to get used to? Um, A LOT. See, this pair has different soles, and a different covering. I first paid with some blisters (not unusual for a run), but then I made my muscles weak by pushing myself so hard. So when I went to treat my blisters that night, and pointed my toe a little TOO far to the side, I strained it.

Rule 2: Don't increase your mileage too quickly. Sure, I know the 10% a week rule. And I've been doing about 3.1 miles a week the past few for my longest run. But did I do the math right when I set my GPS? No. I thought my three 1 mile intervals, plus walking between, wouldn't add that much. I ended up doing about 3.8 miles. OOPS. That's 20% more, actually, more than 20% more. Which is why my muscles fatigued.

Rule 3: Always ice an injury as soon as possible. So, when I felt the twinge in my arch, did I do anything? No. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Should have iced it immediately.

Rule 4: Don't rush into activity too quickly after injury. When I woke up Sunday morning, I didn't feel any pain in my foot. I assumed everything was fine. I should have listened to the voice in my head that didn't feel like going to yoga. It was some wicked foreshadowing. Because all the toe pointing in yoga is what really messed up the foot, I think. Which is a great reminder...being stubborn and rushing back too quickly sets you back more in the long run.

Rule 5: Be patient. So here I am today. I have already decided (in consultation with my massage therapist, also a runner), I'm off running at least a week. In fact, I may not run again until the Rodeo 10k in about 20 days if I feel I need to hold off. And I'm okay with that. I've run 10ks before without training. I'd rather take this break than have to take one several months long like last year. I'm wearing my arch inserts in low heel shoes. I'm wearing the Strassberg sock at night to release pressure. The good news is that this little strain feels like nothing compared to the plantar faciitis pain I've felt in the past.

Rule 6: All is not lost. I can still cross train, so that's lots of walks, cycling and arm weights. I'm not letting this get in the way. Everything happens for a reason. To be honest, my next few weekends are quite packed, and I wasn't sure how I'd get those long runs in anyway. This relieves me of the guilt of not doing them in the name of recovery. And I can focus on getting baby biceps back.

Rule 7: Don't stop learning. Not only am I putting my lessons into place from treating the PF last year to mitigate this pain, I'm learning what else I should do as I ease back in to avoid this happening again. As long as we keep learning, that's what matters most.

It's all about keeping the bigger picture and greater goal in perspective.

Fabulous 50

Today was a record setting goal for me. I have worked out for 50 days straight, besting my last streak of 49 in early 2009. I am pleased that I set my mind to a goal that centered around my health and fitness, and in spite of several curveballs in the past 7 weeks (including the ice issues these past few days), I didn't give up.

So how did I do it? A few things I noticed that were key:

1. I made a plan in advance. I spent time reviewing my schedule for the week on a regular basis, making a mental note when the best time that day would be to exercise, and even deciding what kind of activity I'd like to do that day.
2. I allowed for flexibility. When something popped up at work, or I just didn't feel 100%, I told myself I could change my plan as long as I did SOMETHING.
3. I discovered new fall back exercise plans for when I needed to pull contingencies out of my hat. I have long had walks up and down my block as the ultimate back up. If I do it twice, that's about 20-25 minutes of movement. I have now added going to the gym and riding the recumbent bike for 20-30 minutes in (while catching up on news and social media). For days I'm really crunched, I'm getting a few things done at once while not neglecting activity. There were a few days I even took a book and read and pedaled!
4. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone. Over the holiday break, I discovered a love for hot yoga classes at YogaOne Houston. I love how I feel during and after the class ... very refreshed and accomplished. It also forces me to get a big chunk of my 300 minutes/week out of the way with the 90 minute class. But the only time I can guarantee I can make it a priority? 8 a.m. Sunday. Those of you that know me well know I'm a night owl, not an early bird. And it's a free class, which means getting there by 7:45 or there's hardly room for your mat. But I've done it for 3 weeks now (I snuck one later class in there when I went with Adam). As much as I love sleeping in, I know the greater goal is worth it in the long run.
5. I fought the "don't wannas." There were days I didn't want to do anything. Some days, I could find the internal motivation. Some days, it took a push from Adam that I could do it and keep going. I have to say, having a support system is key. If it wasn't for him being understanding and being cool with my nightly trips to the gym, or encouraging me when I didn't feel motivated, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. I am also grateful for my network of friends and family who posted a comment or "like" online. Seeing all that feedback also was encouraging!

So what's next for me in my fitness adventures? Here's a few milestones I have my eye on:

1. I'm running my next 10k in three weeks, the Rodeo Run. This will be my third 10k. I'd like to run several at this distance this year, and work up to a 10 miler and maybe, a half marathon in 2012.
2. I will continue on my quest to achieve the 100 Day Challenge. If I can make 100 days straight, I can keep tacking 50 more days on. It will be fun to see how many days I can go if all I have to do is about 20 minutes of movement. 100 days will take me to almost the end of March.
3. I plan to run on the beach in Mexico this summer when we go for our second honeymoon. My new Vibrams from Sun & Ski Sports will be a big part of this quest. If I can run on concrete with little or no pain in these, I should fare better on sand barefoot than I did when I tried it in summer 2008, when it made my knees ache.
4. I will keep on the Weight Watchers PointsPlus plan. I've already lost almost 6 pounds since starting it around Thanksgiving. I have not settled on an ultimate goal beyond getting under 150. I'm only 1.4 away! Part of this plan is a continued focus on maximizing fruit and veggie intake.

One of the best remarks I got recently was congratulating me on my progress on this lifestyle change. I think this truly sums up why I'm doing this. Sure, I want to lose weight and look awesome for my vacation. But this extends far beyond the next few months. I want to live as long and full a life as I can. And to achieve greatness, it takes hard work, and lots of it. I want to be the person at a 5k in my 70s that's still out there. But to do that, I have to start now. I have to make it a priority.

The best part is, I don't have to wait until I'm in my 70s to enjoy the results.

Shape shifting

Hello friends, my name is Lisa and I'm a shape shifter. No, not one of those creatures that turns into an animal like on True Blood. But I've made it past 40 days straight of exercise, and I'm noticing a difference in my shape.

It first started when I noticed my quads were starting to re-form from the bottom up. I looked down one day, and my saddlebags at the top of my thighs were definitely sticking out in a new way, a good way ... they were a bit smaller as the outline of my thigh is getting straighter! Couple this with my backside firming up as well (and causing more shaping from the top of the thigh), and I'm hopeful this is the year that my thighs will stop sticking out farther than my hips.

I tried on my dress for Charity Ball a few days ago. It's a beautiful red dress that's mostly backless. I have a nice big line of definition down my back! But what you can't see in this dress is that my abs are starting to whittle also. This, with the thigh/hip slimming, might be why my pants are starting to get loose. In fact, I wore a long slim skirt last week I hadn't worn in a good 6 months...I had some slimming garments to assist, but I still used to feel like a sausage in the ensemble, and I didn't on Thursday.

And the bump in my bicep is slowly creeping back in as well. I notice this most when I strap on my arm band for a run.

I have to stay, this is very encouraging to me. It's been a long 44 days. There's been days where I didn't want to do any activity AT ALL. But I did it. And I've lost 4.2 pounds in 2 months. It's not a fast loss, but the changing shape of my body tells me it's a healthy loss, and I'm gaining some cool muscles in the process.

I can't wait to see what shape I'll be in by our anniversary this summer. It would rock if I looked BETTER than I did 10 years ago :)

Respect yourself

In yoga this weekend, our instructor encouraged us to be more forgiving of ourselves. This has been on my mind ever since. Like most people, I am very hard on myself. As much as I've tried hard to become more easygoing the past few years, I still cling to bits of perfectionism. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Take weight loss, for example. I have lost about 4 pounds since Thanksgiving. Instead of being thrilled that I've almost lost a bag of flour's weight, some days I feel like I could be doing better. Then I remember that I went through the ENTIRE holiday season without gaining weight, plus had plenty of days in there when I ate a lot of "bad" foods, and the ugly perfectionist monster is silenced.

What I'm working to focus on instead are the high points. I've been exercising for 39 days straight. I've lost a few inches off my measurements, and I'm starting to physically see muscle changes, especially in my abs and thighs (my least favorite parts). My clothes are getting looser again. I've made my 300 minutes of exercise a week for 3 weeks in a row. I'm eating more fruits and vegetables. Heck, there's a lot to celebrate!

Which brings me back to the point that while we all may work hard to show respect and courtesy to others, we often put ourselves at the bottom of the list and we shouldn't. I try so hard to be positive outwardly, that sometimes the negativity nags and I take it out on me. I shouldn't.

I also started thinking about another dimension of self-respect on my run tonight. We owe it to ourselves to treat our bodies the best we can. It's an ultimate respect. When we sit on the couch instead of working out, or eat junky foods instead of nourishing ones, it's like saying we don't care about ourselves. We're worth it, right? We want to live long lives, spend them with family and friends...heck, even give Jack Lalanne's lifespan a whirl...why not?? But if we don't put ourselves towards the top of the care list, we might not be well enough or live long enough to do all that.

So I'm rededicating myself to my goals and plan. Wednesday is day 40. I've been through my own personal Lent of sorts and am ready for the next level. I'm going to make my best effort to switch to morning workouts in recognition of the fact that I have an extremely busy February, and I don't want to lose the momentum I've gained. It's going to take a lot of willpower, but I owe it to me.

What will you do this week to show yourself a little respect?

Perseverance and Privilege

This week, it's taken some serious perseverance to stick to my workout plan. It was super cold in the evenings. Not wanting to leave the house, I became reacquainted with my old friend Wii Fit. Last night, I didn't want to be active after a very full day at leadership class and happy hour after. But I rode the bike because I knew I should counteract the sitting all day. And today was one of my tougher runs in the past few weeks, but I knew I should stick it out so I would enjoy the race next week.

I've noticed a theme of perseverance in my reading lately. I just finished a set of books about what our grandparents knew and did for themselves that we don't or take for granted. One chapter talked about how to persevere. Then, there's the article floating around Facebook about how Chinese mothers push their children to success. It states that we don't truly enjoy an activity until we are good at it, and its the parent's responsibility to make sure the hours of practice happen to get there. And on my to-read list is Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, which points out how all great successes take about 10,000 hours of practice to get there (e.g. The Beatles).

This really got me thinking how easily we give up when something gets tough. If we let one small distraction, mistake or failure distract us, how do we get to the success we wish to achieve? We can't. We need to recognize we are human, stuff happens, and move on. Sure, every meal I eat won't be perfect. There will be days I don't have a great workout, or maybe don't even get one in at all. But I'll be ready to jump back on the horse and get after it again, because I want to reach my greater goal of being the healthiest I can be.

I encourage you to do the same, because we have the privilege to take control of our lives, and make choices for ourselves. Yesterday in leadership class, we studied diversity. There were a few parts that really made me realize how fortunate each of us is. We did one activity where you had to "lose" a sense. Some people wore blindfolds over their eyes or mouth, not able to see or hear. I had earplugs, so I wasn't supposed to be able to hear. What was interesting as we walked from one building to another, the "blind" people all noticed a plane flew overhead, that none of the others heard.

Later in the day, we heard from a Holocaust survivor. To hear the things he experienced as a 13-year-old boy were beyond imagine. But he is thankful every day for his privilege to live his life.

So as I was struggling through my run, I thought about how many people aren't able to even get out and run. It reminded me that I am privileged to be able to make time for exercise, to get out and do it, and even to experience the pain and soreness that comes with it. And that's what pushed me through that last tough mile.

So when you have a tough day, in health or otherwise, just remember that someone else may wish with all their heart they could be where you are, doing what you are able to do. And that might help you persevere.

Focus and be present

I have been thinking a lot this new year about my revitalized efforts to get healthy. One theme that keeps running through my head is that of focus.

During my holiday break, I took up hot yoga. I've done yoga before and missed it, and the heat adds an extra bit of challenge I love. What I'd forgotten and let slip in my life is the reminder in yoga practice that it is important to maintain focus, be present and concentrate on the moment at hand. Like most of us, I'm a crazy multitasker. Adam often picks on me that he should toss my phone across the room sometimes so I quit trying to do three things at once (this while he watches TV and has a laptop in his lap...but I digress).

So over the break, I began to try and just focus on one activity or task at a time, and fully take in the moments. I avoided wearing a watch as I ran errands. I loved the sense of calm that more fully engaging myself brought. I worked hard to let thoughts that crept in pass like clouds in the sky (as one of our yogis encouraged), acknowledging them but not being distracted.

During and since that time, I began applying this to other workouts besides yoga. I started noticing how my abs work while on the elliptical. I noticed how if I swing my arms just so while I run, my leg strides are easier to maintain. Sure, I still exercise with my headphones on, but I started paying more attention to how my muscles were moving and it was cool (guess I won't entirely become a uni-tasker!) So I decided to apply this concept too towards planning my eating and exercise.

For eating, I do the best I can for that meal or snack. A great example was a work dinner out tonight. It was a meeting I'd been to before, so I knew the buffet would be steak, mashed potatoes, some vegetable, and salad. I decided I'd probably not finish my steak as they are usually so big (estimate 8 oz., that's a lot for little me!), have a tiny taste of potatoes, and concentrate on getting a lot of greens in. What worked out better was I was at the end of the line, so had to start eating while they got more steak, and filled up on vegetables and salad enough that I ate about 5 of 8 oz. of steak and was full. Success!

For exercise, I have a general overview of what I want to accomplish for my 300 minutes a week: at least one run, one day of yoga and one or two days of elliptical with weight lifting after. The rest, I look at my schedule, and try to fill with classes if possible to break up boredom. My fall backs (great on a day like today when the meeting went long) are block walks, the recumbent bike, or the Wii Fit. I wanted to bike tonight, but getting home later meant I stairstepped like crazy on the Wii. I was still puffing so I know it was worth it.

What I think is leading to some success at this point for me is visualizing my day and week (hey if it works for athletes, I'll take it!), determining a framework, but also having a Plan B in mind in case of emergency. I'm also taking it a moment at a time.

After all, if we aren't living in the moment, won't it just pass us by and we'll wonder where it went?

My 2011 plan

Happy 2011 y'all! I like the promise of a new year. It's as if with the turn of the calendar, the slate is wiped clean, and anything is possible. I've spent the past few days thinking what I'd like to see the new year bring.

Like last year, instead of setting resolutions, I'll outline a plan that to guide my days. It seemed to work really well last year, so here goes:

1. Running: I'm already starting out more positively without the pain of last winter. I'd like to work towards a half-marathon before I turn 35. Right now, I'm thinking of the Mardi Gras half in NO in Feb. 2012. To get there, I want to train and race more regularly. My goal: 8 races this year. I already have my eye on them: Rockets 5k in Jan., Rodeo 10k in Feb. (with the Bayou Classic in March as a backup if needed), Memorial Park 4 mi in Apr., either the Astros 5k or the Contraband Days 5 miler (in Lake Charles) in May, possibly a July 4 and Labor Day race, the 10-miler in Oct. I wanted to do last year, and the traditional Turkey Trot in Nov. I'd like to do most of these in barefoot shoes but will see how that treats me.
2. Staying active: My physician says I should aim for 45 minutes a day to keep the hereditary high blood pressure at bay. I'm fine now, but it will creep up as I get older. Staying active and will help with my thyroid issues too (just realizing now I didn't mention either of these in the 2010 review, and they were big game changers for me!). My goal: 300 minutes/week. I know I didn't hit the 200 weekly every week last year, but I think setting my goal high encouraged me to aim higher some days than I would have. Plus, I'd like to take a hot yoga class most weeks this year, so that will be almost a third of the weekly total if I'm successful. As I start training, long runs will eat a lot of that time too. It should be easy to get the minutes, as long as I commit to making them a priority! I'd also like to lift weights at least once a week as well.
3. Eating: I plan to continue tracking through the new Weight Watchers program most days. I recognize it is OK and healthy to take a day off now and then for special occasions (Christmas etc) where it's just not practical to weigh everything out. I am proud that this holiday season, I really worked well on portion control. It's more important to have tastes of everything and not stuff myself! I also want to eat more fruits and veggies, which the plan promotes. My goal: Achieve a healthy weight (under 150) through eating better, watching portions and staying active. I haven't settled on an exact weight number, knowing that the more fit I become, some of that will result in muscle gain. But under 150 is a healthy BMI for my height. And I'm only a few pounds over that now, so that should be achievable! It would also be nice to get closer to my 10-years-ago weight in time for our anniversary this summer!
4. Professionally: I will take the CFRE this year. My goal: to take the CFRE review course in Feb. and apply for the exam by the last deadline of Aug. 26 to test in fall. I will hit 10 years total of fundraising in Oct. (7 consecutive in Apr.), so it's time to add this to my resume. I may need to spread it out to the end of the year though ... the course and exam are both several hundred $$ each. (See previous note about anniversary: we are planning a second honeymoon and are saving for it!)
5. Personally: I want to read more often. I read a few books this year and really enjoyed it, but I've lost this discipline. My goal: to read a book a month (12 total) this year, and make it a mix of fiction and non-fiction. That will keep me from just reading 12 business or self-improvement books!

So this is my plan, and I'd like to stick to most of it again. What's your game plan for 2011?