What scares you? Now, go do it!

"Do one thing a day that scares you."  I've seen this quote so many places.  It's a good one, because when we do something that scares us, we are venturing outside of our comfort zone.  More times than not we discover that the scary thing is actually the thing that will bring us the most positive results.  Case in point: the personal challenge I set for myself this week, to do a "double" on Friday morning, consisting of a 75 minute hot yoga class followed by a 60 minute hot pilates class.  May I mention that I haven't done pilates in probably 10 years?  And that after Isabelle's intense hot yoga class, I'm usually completely physically spent and ready to hang out in child's pose for the rest of the day?  Yeah.  So, I signed up, and I did it.  It helped that my friend Kate was there, always encouraging and inspiring, and just a fun person to be around.  Plus, she can totally rock a headstand.

So I donned my finest yoga garb, shlepped my awesome new mat to the studio, and set out upon my journey.  Turns out, the yoga class was the most challenging, sweaty, intense one I've done thus far.  I brought this measly little hand towel with me and it was toast by 20 minutes into class.  Beads of sweat kept running into my ears and eyes, and my mat was covered in pools of it.  The room felt like a rainforest today.  I worked harder than I've worked in a long time, and I executed a pose at the very end that I never dreamed I could do, and it felt so, so good.  SCORE.  I was so ready to go home and shower, and then I remembered that I was already signed in for Round 2: hot pilates.  Crap.  I took a bathroom break (no pun intended) and had a really hard time pulling my yoga pants back up around my waist because they were completely drenched in sweat - TMI? - as if I had been swimming in a pool.  Grossness.  Accomplishment.  Call it what you may, I was ready to call it a day but I forged ahead, back into the heated room.

Did I mention that I haven't done pilates in over 10 years?  Back when I did it, there was no such thing as a pilates ring.  This little doozie:

Turns out, that ring of fire (literally - it made my inner and outer thighs and abs feel as if they had been set ablaze) made all the difference in the workout.   A-ma-zing.  Might have to invest in one for my own personal use at home and at the gym.   Anyway, I had forgotten, until this morning, just how much I love pilates and more importantly, how much I RESPECT it.  Without using a single weight, only the weight of your own body, it sculpts your core, legs and glutes like no other workout I'm privy to.  I think I've fallen back in lust with it.  Lust, as in, I want it more.  Again.  Now.  Well, maybe not now, for I don't think my abs could take another gut wrenching second of it.  Because it was JUST THAT GOOD.

What I'm getting at here, folks, is the importance of venturing outside of your comfort zone.  My dear friend Mari is big on this, and I can see why.  It's when we push ourselves to do something outside of what we THINK are our limits, that we see the most results.  Case in point, when I got home from my double whammy today, as I was getting ready for a much needed shower I glanced in the mirror and saw more definition in my abs than I've seen all week.  A bit miraculous, really.  And I swear that my jeans felt just a tiny bit looser.  Could be the fact that I pushed myself through pain, hesitation and fear, and sweated buckets for 135 minutes today.  I ventured outside of my comfort zone and now, 8 hours later, I'm feeling quite comfortable.  Ecstatic, really.  So try it, you just might be surprised at how possible the seemingly impossible is.

Strong is the new skinny

Really, it is.  How many times have you wished to be skinny like so-and-so, only to discover that so-and-so's skinny arms can't lift a bag of groceries, or her skinny legs can't run up a hill?  Think about it, people.  Does looking like a toothpick that could be snapped in half really sound enticing?  Not to me.  I used to think so, but obviously I wasn't born with that DNA and now I'm honestly kinda glad.  I do wish that I didn't have to work so hard to keep weight off and stay fit, but it's worth the effort in the end.  After 36 years, it hit me tonight, like a ton of bricks, that I have my daddy's DNA.  My dad, my sister and I are all built exactly the same.  Short, with short limbs, and nothing long, lithe or skinny about us, but we can build muscle.  A lot of muscle, if we try, and we don't even have to try super hard.  I looked in the mirror tonight while I was lifting weights at the Y and saw something that impressed me: to my right was a pimply faced teenage boy, texting on his phone in between sets.  (No, that was NOT what impressed me.)  In front of me was me, lifting more weight than said teenage boy, muscles firing and and looking kinda awesome.  I was really proud of what I saw.  So proud, in fact, that I had someone snap a few pics.  Stupid and embarrassing, I know, but I'd rather be embarrassed while asking someone to snap a pic of something I'm actually proud of then having someone snap a pic of me in a not-so-proud moment.  Here you go.

The pics, taken on my cell phone, don't really do my back, arms and shoulders justice.  They help me every single day when it comes to picking up my 30-something pound son or holding the downward facing dog pose just a little longer.  They help me do push ups - the real ones, not on my knees, and they help my 4 foot 10 inch frame lift and carry things that normal sized people can do, no problem.  I may have been born with a disadvantage when it comes to height, but I was definitely born with an advantage when it comes to strength.

The other day I was reading a magazine and came across an article about how to dress for your body type.  Under the body type label "Athletic", it said something to the effect of "Downplay broad shoulders with X and minimize athletic legs with Y."  ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME?  Why would anyone want to minimize them??  I don't get it.  I have worked hard on my shoulders and my legs, and every part in between, and I would like to proudly display the parts of me that are toned and sculpted and beautiful, thank you very much.  Unbelievable.  Then again, the article proceeded to give highly informative (not) information on how to "enhance" every body type from twig to hourglass.  I wish I could find it and post it here, but I subscribe to 3 fitness magazines and 1 fashion magazine, so that might take awhile.

The bodybuilder/fitness model Jamie Eason posted this on her Facebook page today, and I think she says it best: 
"For the record, someone will ALWAYS say that you are too big, too thin, too lean, too fat, too whatever. In my opinion, they are too conceited to think that their opinion is going to change our behavior. A person with confidence won't be deterred! Keep after it!!"  

Her words are so true and motivating, and I urge you all to look past the standards of what society thinks you SHOULD look like (i.e., skinny), and discover what makes you feel good in your own skin.  Then, work like hell to make that happen.  If you treat your body right, it won't do you wrong.  I promise.

A night of music - just what the shrink ordered

I haven't watched a Grammy Award show from beginning to end in oh, probably 6 years, despite the fact that I used to watch them religiously.  Somehow, life and other priorities have gotten in the way, not to mention I'm not always the biggest fan of mainstream music these days.  But tonight, I had a hankering to watch it because I've also had a hankering to talk music with somebody this week.  Nothing in particular...just in need of one of those conversations that could go on and on until you realize it's 4am and you haven't slept because you've been discussing Doors lyrics all night long.  So, I was giddy to discover that tonight, while I watched the Grammys, I could have a seemingly live conversation about them and about music with many of my friends via Facebook.  I know, I know, I'm somewhat addicted, but hey - at times like this when you are just DYING to discuss your favorite topic in the entire world and you have a captive and engaged audience in the palm of your hand, literally, is it really such a bad thing?  I think it's pretty darn cool.

Music is the one thing that to me, is universal.  It's not so much the lyrics or the language in which a song is sung that's important, rather it's how that song makes you FEEL.  I'd be willing to bet that Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" would strike a chord with someone who couldn't even understand the lyrics, because of the fierce amount of passion behind it - do you agree?  I have always, for as long as I can remember, been passionate about music, almost to a fault.  It gets me past the past and helps me look to the future, and keeps me grounded in the present.  I always, ALWAYS have a song going through my head.  Even when I'm not entirely conscious of it, music is always there.  And there's nothing I love more than having a long, heartfelt conversation with somebody about it - it's cathartic and inspiring to me all at the same time. 

I used to dream of working with bands, be it as a publicist or a manager, or a rock journalist ala Cameron Crowe.  I don't think those dreams will ever come to fruition, but in the meantime I can be a lover and a student of the music.  Artists, bands, songwriters - please give me more, teach me more.  I need your talent to survive and stay sane and whole and grounded in this crazy world.  Sometimes that means that I need your music to escape.  So keep bringin' it.

This evening has been so fun for me, to connect with friends over music.  So the next time a song strikes your fancy or you're listening to your favorite band from way back and the memories come flooding in, email me, text me, or give me a call.  Let's talk about it.  Because music will forever be woven into the tapestry of my soul.

Neither cold, nor wind, nor snow, nor sleet will stop this lil' runner!

I had the most amazing morning.  I know, from the title of this post it sounds amazingly excruciating, but it wasn't.  When I registered for the Chattahoochee Challenge 10K several weeks ago, it was about 65 degrees.  This morning it hovered around 35.  Go figure.  My dear friend Stacey and I shlepped down to the river in our long pants, long sleeve shirts, jackets, hats and gloves, with these guys tucked warmly inside:

Needless to say, we did NOT look like "little hotties."  It was a function over fashion kinda morning.  When the race started, the air was nice and still and it really felt comfortable, until about 3 miles in, when it got windy.  I noticed a few little white flaky objects floating by, and it took me a second to realize those were flakes of SNOW.  Then, something hit me on the corner of my eye and stung, and I realized it was sleeting.  Seriously.  SLEETING!  Not to mention, we were running alongside the beautiful Chattahoochee River where the temp is generally a little cooler and the wind generally a little stronger.  The saving grace was that it was a BEAUTIFUL morning.  Think crisp, pure blue sky dotted with heavy white and gray snow clouds, the sun peeking through every now and then as if to wink at us and say "Sorry, not gonna warm you up today, suckers!" 

My run this morning was awesome.  I relied heavily on my new Garmin to check my pace and it helped immensely.  I kept a slower pace in the first half and ran hard in the second half - the magic of negative splits!  I am thrilled that I shaved 3 minutes off my previous best 10K time for a PR of 58:20.  YES.

I am even more thrilled, almost speechless, that I shaved ELEVEN MINUTES AND SEVENTEEN SECONDS off the time of my very first 10K that I ran in June 2010 - the exact same course.  In less than 2 years I have come a long, long way.  I remember the weeks leading up to that first 10K when I questioned myself about whether I could do it, cursed myself for signing up for it, and congratulated myself when I finished, just for finishing without walking.  Wow.  I have worked my butt off over the past two years and it shows! 

The point of this post is not to brag or boast, but to perhaps inspire just one of you who has been on the fence about trying something outside of your comfort zone.  Doesn't have to be running, it can be anything.  I truly believe that if you work hard enough at something, believe in your abilities, and tell those little voices inside your head that tell you you can't do it to shut the *%& up, you can do anything.  So try it, and see how it makes you feel.  I'm willing to bet you'll feel on top the world, like I do in this very moment. 

The importance of untethering

Where do you take your smartphone with you?  Do you take it with you on a run?  To the gym?  To the park with your kids?  How about into the bathroom?  The bedroom?  Do you keep it within earshot at a restaurant?  On the golf course?  At the pool?  I'm just curious, because recently two things happened that made me realize I need to untether.  I am WAY too attached to my phone, and my Kindle Fire, and my desktop computer, for that matter.  The one I'm typing on right now.  Actually, if I had a camera within arm's reach I'd take a picture of my desktop (the physical one, from Ikea) so you could see that as I'm typing on the keyboard, my Kindle and my Droid are both about a foot away from me.  S-A-D.  But also a reality of many people today.  I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here...am I right?

I knew I had become too attached to my phone, but a few days ago, my son made it painfully clear for me.  We were watching TV on the couch and my phone was on the coffee table.  We got up to go play trains at his train table, about 4 feet away, and when I sat down he brought my phone to me and said "Here you go, Mama."  I looked at him quizzically and said "Thank you, but I don't need my phone."  He just stared at me and again said, "Here you go," as if to say "I wouldn't want you to be too far away from your phone, Mama, because you have it with you 24/7 and you'd be lost without it."  Thanks, kid, for the reality check.  At that point, I actually took the darn phone, carried it into the kitchen and left it there.  Out of arm's or ear's reach.  I couldn't even see if the little green light was blinking to tell me I had an email or text, and that ignorance was bliss.  My son and I played trains for a good, solid hour that day, completely uninterrupted and completely happy.

I know I'm not the only one who is entirely too attached to her phone, because tonight in Zumba class I witnessed something rather appalling.  A girl in the class brought her phone with her and left it at the front of the room.  In between every song - and I'm not exaggerating - she ran up to the front to grab her phone, check it, and text somebody.  I kid you not.  Not only was this entirely distracting, it was frustrating to me because she was blocking my view of the instructor, who often previews the sequence for the upcoming song and I couldn't see a thing.  I'm really pretty easygoing when it comes to the whole phone thing because I know I'm guilty of obnoxious overuse as well, but this made me furious.  It was disrespectful to everyone in the class, especially the instructor!  And c'mon, what can be THAT important that you have to check it every 3 minutes?

This week I have made a conscious effort to spend less time interacting with my phone and more time engaging with real human beings.  Like my son.  It's amazing how when you just don't bring it with you, you can tune into your surroundings and the people you're with, and be PRESENT for them.  I urge you to do the same thing, because I'm willing to bet you may have a little attachment issue to your phone, too.  Put it down.  Leave it in the car.  Turn it off if you have to, and instead of looking (hoping, wishing, praying) for that little green light to blink, try looking into the eyes of the person you're with and really LISTEN to them.  It's amazing what you might hear. 

Touchy feely hippie yogi, at your service

I've always been a bit touchy-feely.  It goes back to Ms.Tyson's first grade class where we learned about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies.  I think one of those warm fuzzies she had made out of pom poms and little googly eyes grabbed hold of my soul, burrowed itself way down deep inside, built a nest, and still resides in there today.  I also think I have a little bit of hippie in me, though I'm not sure where that comes from because neither of my parents were into that, and they are slightly mortified whenever I summon my inner flower child.  Anyhow, when I stumbled upon yoga last summer I was hooked after my first vinyasa flow, led by the dear, beautiful, amazing Lisa Flynn at Dance Stop Studios.  Funny story, at the end of my first yoga session (which wasn't even a true class, mind you, rather a 30 minute demo,) I cried.  Like, big fat tears streaming down my face when I came out of savasana.  I wasn't sure what to think; on one hand I was mortified that everyone was staring at me and I couldn't make the tears stop, and on the other hand it felt so darn GOOD.  I felt like someone had taken a syphon and sucked all the stress and worries and negative energy out of my body.  I felt CLEAN.  So, I went back.  I continue to go.  I've tried a few types of classes (both beginner and intermediate) with Lisa and the incredible Kathy Carroll, and now I'm trying a hot yoga class at Be Yoga with the inspiring Isabelle Casey.

Even in the short few months I've been practicing, yoga has changed my life.  No, seriously, it has.  It has made me more patient with my son.  It has made me friends - who knew the yoga community was so tight-knit, warm and welcoming?  It has made me realize that my body can do things I never imagined it capable of doing, including entering a state of complete and total relaxation (hello, bliss!), and it has most DEFINITELY made me a better runner.  When I first heard the term "hip openers" I giggled like a 15 year old girl, but I've come to adore them.  Painful as pigeon pose may be, it's my go-to remedy for tight hips and glutes from running.  And it works, every time.

Pigeon Pose, courtesy of yogijen:

The physical benefits of yoga are astounding; each time I practice, I feel like I've taken a year off my life.  For real.  But the mental, spiritual, emotional, soulful, touchy-feely benefits outweigh any warm fuzzy I've ever felt.  No matter how many people are in the class, once I get into the mindset, it's just me and the mat.  For 75 minutes I focus so intently on my breathing and my body, and try my hardest to get OUT of my head.  At the end I truly feel like I've entered a state of nirvana.  After the class is over, I wrap that warm, fuzzy feeling around me like the softest, coziest sweater and try to wear it every day until I practice again.  Added bonus: the sweater feels a little baggy now, thanks to the body sculpting power of yoga, too!

My beloved instructor Lisa once gave everyone in her class a handout with a compilation of quotes (courtesy of Lululemon, sprinkled with thoughts from herself and her family) about yoga, and this is one of my favorites: "Yoga allows me to come back to myself.  No matter how I hit my mat, I leave a better version of me."  That's what it's all about, folks.

One silly little piece of rubber like the one I purchased today (thank you Kathy and Kate for your recos!) can be your gateway out of stress, fears, anxiety and insecurities and into peace, harmony, positivity and bliss.  I urge you to try it - it does a body (and soul) good.  Namaste!

Maybe it's just not that important to you

I came across this quote on Pinterest not long ago, and it struck me in such a way that I repinned it, of course, memorized it, and printed it out for the bulletin board next to my desk, which is also home to a few of my favorite race bibs and motivational quotes.  The words pop into my head anytime I am feeling unmotivated or strapped for time.  When I hear other people say things like "I don't have time to work out" or "I can't cook healthy because my kids are picky eaters", I now question, silently of course, whether or not working out or eating healthy is really important to them.  I do think that we make time for the things we want to make time for, and while sometimes it comes in the form of making sacrifices (i.e., waking up at 4am for a run before your day starts), sometimes it just comes down to scheduling.  I could talk myself out of running or working out for a gazillion reasons - good ones, to boot - but I don't, because living healthy and active is something that is of the utmost importance to me.  In fact, I'd place it right up there on my priority list after family and friends. 

Not having enough time is an excuse I hear all the time.  I was guilty of using it as an excuse too, for many, many years.  That very excuse caused me to gain 15 pounds, feel sluggish all the time and lose confidence in myself until I just couldn't take it anymore.  Then, I chose to make health and fitness a priority, therefore it became important to me, and there was no more room for excuses.  Easier said than done, right?

Check out Exhibit A, my calendar.  This is a handy dandy dry erase calendar I keep in our kitchen in an attempt to organize my little family's comings and goings.  Ignore the doctor's appointments and boring stuff, but check out the stuff in green and red.  You will see that Monday through Saturday, I have something in green (my color) that corresponds to exercise: on Mondays I do either an interval run (run hard for 3 minutes then walk for 2, repeat X number of times) or a hill workout (run hard up a 100 meter hill then jog back down, repeat X number of times); on Tuesdays and Thursdays I take a Zumba class; on Wednesdays I do a shorter training run (the numbers = miles); on Fridays I do yoga and on Saturdays I do my long run.  What you don't see on here is that I also do strength training 2 times per week, but the days vary so I haven't written them in.  I never miss them, though, because they are important!  If you look at our Saturdays this month, you'll see a few things in red (color code for things that the husband and I both do): we are running a 10K race, doing a 10K practice run and then running a 10K trail race at the beginning of March.  Phew!  I'm exhausted just looking at February!

Exhibit B - Here is another view that shows 2 equally important things below the calendar: my detailed half marathon training schedule for the race I'm running on March 18th, and the group exercise schedule at the Y.  It's nice to have these things in a central location where I can glance at them and check to make sure I'm on track with training, or check to see if there is another Zumba class at a more convenient time if something throws off my Tue and Thu night schedule.  It's all about simplifying and making it EASY to fit exercise into the family routine!

I'd like for you - yes, YOU - to think about the excuses you make to yourself for why you can't do the thing you'd like to do.  Is there a truly valid reason, or is it because that thing just really isn't important to you?