change is the theme of 2008

I’m back from my Christmas vacation, and am ready for an interesting 2008. Things will be changing this year both professionally and personally, and I’m trying to be ready for it all. A friend of mine always chooses a theme for each year, and I think ‘change’ is a great theme.

In January, physical fitness is the priority. John and I plan to get serious about our health. We’ll be walking four mornings each week. I’m excited – I actually really enjoy walking/jogging. My problem is motivating myself to get out and do it. This time, it’s just going to be the first thing I do when I get up.

I’m also going to focus on growing and improving my business, which is scary and exciting at the same time. This will involve creating my own website, finding new clients and revenue sources, and keeping my work hours limited to during the day (not working until midnight).

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and that you are as ready as I am for this new year.

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pat’s run 2007

Well, Pat’s Run was simply amazing. We (me, John, family members) finished the race, and I even finished faster than I thought I would. I had planned on walking the course, but my enthusiasm took over once we got there, and I started the race jogging. I walked most of it, but it ended up that I jogged a mile or two. I’m really sore now as a result.

Anyway, I posted most of my thoughts on the matter here, if anyone cares to read it. If not, just know that it was a wonderful experience that I would do again in a second. In fact, I enjoyed myself so much that I went running yesterday, and plan to do more walking/running several times a week. I see a 5K in my not too distant future, as well. I’m inspired.

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ready for pat’s run

My parents and sister are in town so they could do Pat’s Run with us. There are seven of us on our team, and we are so excited! There is just something cool about thousands of ‘athletes’ getting together and running a race. I say ‘athletes’, because I don’t really consider people like me an athlete. I just feel privileged to be among people who actually are.

Anyway, the race shirts are AWESOME, even though they run ultra small, there is a buzz on campus because of the race, and we have to get up bright and early in the morning to make it here by 7am.

We actually did another walk through of the race yesterday. I’m a little sore today, so I guess I didn’t train like I should have. Tomorrow we shall see how I do! I’m getting very excited. I’ll try to take pictures so I can post a couple.

Happy Easter, everyone.

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sang as they walked

John and I went on a four-mile walk yesterday. It felt surprisingly good. And the best part is that we did it in about an hour, which is fast for us.

We were actually doing a practice walk for an event we signed up for: Pat’s Run. Proceeds from the race go to the Pat Tillman Foundation. I think it’s a worthy cause, and I’m happy I get to be a part of. Not to mention that Pat Tillman is my dad’s hero; I knew this run would mean a lot to him.

So next Saturday we (along with five other members of my family) will be walking 4.2 miles for Pat’s Run. I’m so excited. My original plan had been to run this, but it turned out that walking was the better choice this time. I do have a goal that a year from now I (and I hope John too) will be running a 5k or two.

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update on my goals

I announced last week that I had set a goal to exercise 5x a week, and I’m updating you on my progress. Last week I didn’t hit 5x. But I did do 3x, which is much better than I usually get. This week I plan to get the full five.

I just got back from my morning break; I walked around campus for 15 minutes. It’s an easy way to get my exercise in. Unfortunately, it’s starting to get hot around here; I’m going to have to find another simple way to exercise, because the heat is already killing me.

I also signed up for Joe’s Goals. I like it so far. I wouldn’t say it’s exceptionally motivating, but I do actually feel motivation if I know I get to check it off a list. So I think it’s good. At least I get to see the progress I’m making. I like it.

And if you’re wondering about the body fat percentage test I took…I’ll just say it was discouraging. My fat content hasn’t changed in the past two years, despite the effort I’ve put in to improve my health. I guess I’ll have to make some more changes. I have a feeling it’s the eating habits that are dragging me down.

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i’m gonna do it

Okay, I am publicly announcing that I set a goal to exercise 5 days a week for at least 15 minutes. I signed up for Leo’s March Challenge over at Zen Habits. Go sign up too–any goal you want to work on for the month of March.

They say if you tell people about a goal you’re more likely to achieve it (because of the negative publicity if you don’t). So I’m testing that theory out. The real challenge is setting aside 15 minutes and actually doing it. 15 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’d be surprised how often I DON’T exercise for any amount of minutes. I’m starting out slowly to get the habit. I’d like to work up to 30-60 minutes of exercise. But first things first.

And to kick it all off, I coincidentally signed up for a health screening today. By 10am I will know my height, my weight, and my body fat…oy. I’ll let you know how that goes…or not!

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our saturday hike

We hiked South Mountain yesterday. We brought a camera, but the battery died the second we got it out. 😦 South Mountain was gorgeous, and we saw quail, a cactus wren, a robin, a desert squirrel (that came right up to me when I called it), and a road runner. The hike was beautiful, but we underestimated it.

It looked like it would be a relatively flat hike, and roughly three miles. It turned out to be somewhat of a climb and was more like five miles. So we were out there for two hours. I’m pretty drained today. I think we’ll try South Mountain again, but maybe after we’re a little more conditioned for it.

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setting goals for my health

I wish I could find a doctor I had any faith in. I’ve been experiencing some vertigo/dizziness problems. I went to the doctor today because I am sick of this feeling.

She checked my ears for an inner ear problem and checked my eyes to see if it was a nervous system problem. I guess it wasn’t that, because her only advice was: “Rest your eyes every 15-20 minutes.”

Thanks. That’s $10 advice I could have dispensed to myself. My only other option is to go with the advice of my chiropractor, and drink a special detox beverage. She thinks my hormones are out of whack, and a good detox would clear things right up.

What do I think? I think I need to treat myself to a strict regimen of exercise 5x a week (no excuses!), and seek out a new counselor. The exercise because of all its healing properties, and the counselor because I need a sounding board and because I want to learn to think in new ways. Healthy ways.

I really think exercise is the key to many, many problems in life. Exercise is better than many (if not most) prescription drugs at curing ills. Why I’m not strict about doing it, I haven’t figured out. But that’s going to change. I’m going to treat exercise like a prescription. It takes longer than swallowing a pill, but I know for me it’s just as necessary.

So, along with my house-cleaning habits, I’m going to add exercise in.

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papago park

John and I hiked Papago Park this weekend. Isn’t it beautiful? I wanted to take pictures, but ended up not doing so. However, we are awfully proud of doing a 4-mile hike.

I only wish my eating habits were as proactive and healthy as my exercise is. Baby steps, I guess. We have a scale now, though, so I am trying to be more accountable so I can see the scale go down and not up…

Anyway, the hike was fun. We plan to do it again. The trail was poorly marked, but I guess that was part of the adventure — figuring out where to go next! I’d like to go hiking or walking 3x a week, but it’s hard to squeeze it in to our schedules…it’s our aim, though.

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picture interlude

John and I on our family’s annual Christmas eve hike.

John and I at Lake Mead during Christmas after feeding the fish and ducks.

Us on our hike in the White Tank Mountains last weekend.

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random thoughts today

I’m on a Bulgarian food roll — I made Pulneni Chushki (stuffed peppers) last night. So delicious, except I forgot the most important part — yogurt. 😦 But that’s ok, because they were still tasty, and somewhat healthy.

And we are officially partied out. We went to a party on Friday and two on Saturday. We were invited to yet another party on Saturday, and were very sad to have to miss it, because we love the people who invited us. But luckily, we get to see them tonight. And as for the parties, I’ve had enough eating hors d’ouvres and making chit-chat with people I barely know, to last me for a long, LONG time.

Have you jump roped recently? I know you did it in elementary school, but have you done it recently? I pulled out my jump rope on Saturday and jumped for three minutes. That was enough to completely wind me. But the crazy part? I woke up on Sunday with horribly sore calves. And they’re still sore today. Just from three minutes of jumping!!! I guess it’s a sport you work up to, but I don’t remember getting so sore when I did it as a kid.

I don’t know how we’re going to accomplish everything we have to do by Friday when we go to my parents’ house for Christmas. We’ve got present buying, wrapping, delivering, cleaning, laundry, packing, and all kinds of other things to get done. I’m to the point where I’m considering bringing presents and wrapping paper to work and wrapping presents on my lunch hour…

But I’m excited to get away! And I’m taking time off work, so I’ll be away from work for 10 whole days. Yes, 10 days. I’m overjoyed!!!

I’m thankful for so many things right now. Maybe I’ll have to do an entry of some of the things I’m thankful for. Good idea.

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It’s Friday! I haven’t been good about updating my…

It’s Friday! I haven’t been good about updating my blog lately. Maybe because I just don’t have a lot to say.

Recently I weighed myself and found out that I had gained two pounds. Fact: If I eat cookies and candy all day at work and don’t exercise when I get home, I’m going to gain weight. So…I decided to start up SparkPeople again (I sort of slacked on that) and watch what I eat. John has been good at keeping me motivated for the exercise. He keeps going on DDR after I would have stopped, so I get more exercise in, which is good.

AND, I got enough sleep last night, which is a first. Guess what? I don’t feel tired today! I feel wonderful. All I did was go to bed an hour earlier, and look what happens! I can’t believe the difference it made for me.

How boring am I? Talking about losing weight and sleeping. Sigh.

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