My trainer, Kathi Potts, was competing in the Vineman Ironman (in Sonoma) yesterday. She finished 9th in her division, 50-54. She went the whole 140+ miles in 14 hours. Simply AMAZING!
Since she was out of town (I workout with her Saturday mornings), I decided to swim yesterday for my workout. I used my parent's community pool and swam a mile. It felt great. I am definitely part mermaid and swimming is my strongest sport, always has been.
After my swim, I was chatting with 2 other people who were swimming laps. We introduced ourselves and I mentioned that my sister swims everyday at that pool. They said....Is your sister Joy? I said....Yes! They told me that were so proud of her and how much she had progressed with her swimming. My sis is on her own healthy journey and began a while ago, incorporating pool exercise as a way of reaching a healthier weight. Then she progressed to swimming laps. According to John and Judy (from the pool) she has reached 50 laps! Go sis go!!!
Joy had never mentioned her progress to me, but I am super proud of her! Most people can't or won't swim 50 laps, and now she does! Let's hear it for sister mermaids!
So go out and get your mermaid on, find a pool, jump in and enjoy a swim!
Desire to enjoy summer exercise. Dedication to keep lapping the pool. Discipline to go a full mile.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Whole Fam Damily
My brother and his family are visiting. It is amazing how grown up his 2 youngest are. They are 16 and 18 and spectacular young men.
I invited them to work out with my trainer on Saturday morning and was pleasantly surprised when they said they wanted to join me. It was a blast. I am so grateful that they are interested in health and fitness.
I feel good about being a positive influence in their lives. I can't believe they are so grown up!!!
Their older brother, who is 26, is expecting his first child in November. Yesterday, I said, for the first time, that I am going to have my first grand baby. It is so exciting to know that I will be a grand auntie. The continuation of generations simply heightens the need to focus on being healthy so that I will be able to enjoy the new grand nephew arriving in November.
What is happening in your life that motivates you to keep going, keep striving, keep making good choices to enhance your healthy journey?
Desire to meet my grand nephew. Dedication to love my nephews. Discipline to help teach my nephews by good example.
I invited them to work out with my trainer on Saturday morning and was pleasantly surprised when they said they wanted to join me. It was a blast. I am so grateful that they are interested in health and fitness.
I feel good about being a positive influence in their lives. I can't believe they are so grown up!!!
Their older brother, who is 26, is expecting his first child in November. Yesterday, I said, for the first time, that I am going to have my first grand baby. It is so exciting to know that I will be a grand auntie. The continuation of generations simply heightens the need to focus on being healthy so that I will be able to enjoy the new grand nephew arriving in November.
What is happening in your life that motivates you to keep going, keep striving, keep making good choices to enhance your healthy journey?
Desire to meet my grand nephew. Dedication to love my nephews. Discipline to help teach my nephews by good example.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Bull Taco Birthday
Today we are off to the oceanfront San Elijo campgrounds where there is a taco stand called Bull Taco. A friend of ours is celebrating her birthday by inviting people to gather there and then take advantage of the beach front location for water fun. I am looking forward to the celebration.
This will be a fun, interesting eclectic group of people including many from the yoga community, the healing arts community (this is our friend who is a reikke master) and a few corporate folks like Allen and I. It should be great to share and hear different perspectives together.
It makes me think of our collective healthy journeys. Each of us is interested in cultivating, capturing and sustaining health. Each of us goes about it in a different way. I think there is a need to suspend judgment and be open to lots of possibilities.
Is organic always better?
Are processed carbs always bad?
Is daily exercise always the best way?
Is vegetarian/flexitarian/vegan/gluten free/dairy free (etc) the only way to go?
Lift heavy weights with low reps?
Lift light weights with high reps?
What about low salt, fat free, corn syrup, trans fats, casein?
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
I think the best we can do is to strive to keep learning, be open to listen to different perspectives and select the path that is best for you.
Desire to be open to learning. Dedication to seeking out people who don't always agree. Discipline to suspend judgment and listen.
This will be a fun, interesting eclectic group of people including many from the yoga community, the healing arts community (this is our friend who is a reikke master) and a few corporate folks like Allen and I. It should be great to share and hear different perspectives together.
It makes me think of our collective healthy journeys. Each of us is interested in cultivating, capturing and sustaining health. Each of us goes about it in a different way. I think there is a need to suspend judgment and be open to lots of possibilities.
Is organic always better?
Are processed carbs always bad?
Is daily exercise always the best way?
Is vegetarian/flexitarian/vegan/gluten free/dairy free (etc) the only way to go?
Lift heavy weights with low reps?
Lift light weights with high reps?
What about low salt, fat free, corn syrup, trans fats, casein?
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
I think the best we can do is to strive to keep learning, be open to listen to different perspectives and select the path that is best for you.
Desire to be open to learning. Dedication to seeking out people who don't always agree. Discipline to suspend judgment and listen.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
National Donut Day.....Not So Much!
Some of you may know that on 4th of July, Allen and I celebrate by eating donuts. It is the only day of the year that we allow ourselves to have donuts. We have been doing this for years. We always look forward to it, Allen loves a plain crueler and a maple bar. I look forward to glazed donut holes and an apple fritter, where I pick off the crust on the outside and leave the doughy middle.
In some ways, last Thursday was not a great success. We arrived at our favorite little donut shop only to find they had sold out of glazed donut holes. So we raced to another nearby, albeit untested, donut shop to buy the glazed donut holes. They had them, but they were not true donut holes. Instead they were small pieces of dough that had been fried and glazed. They were larger than a "real" donut hole, so the dough to glaze ratio was off and they did not taste as good. Apparently, so many of the donuts that are being made at this time are not round with a hole in the middle. There are more bars, filled, twist and other designs. Hence the shortage of real donut holes.
I have to say that I enjoyed the bits off of the apple fritter, and I did enjoy half of a cinnamon roll. But what I really craved, the perfect glazed donut hole, alluded me this year.
We enjoyed our off-plan calories, went home and took a nap. When I woke up, I felt sick. I think it was all the sugar and fat my system was trying to process. We took a nice walk and that helped make me feel better.
The best part of this year's National Donut Day is that I am not motivated to want to do it again next year. I did not like feeling that icky. So, I guess it was a big success after all! Isn't it wonderful when we get a lesson from an unexpected source?!?! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July 2013 and enjoyed it in a way that honored you!
Desire to celebrate. Dedication to honoring our traditions. Discipline to listen to our body when it is teaching us a lesson.
In some ways, last Thursday was not a great success. We arrived at our favorite little donut shop only to find they had sold out of glazed donut holes. So we raced to another nearby, albeit untested, donut shop to buy the glazed donut holes. They had them, but they were not true donut holes. Instead they were small pieces of dough that had been fried and glazed. They were larger than a "real" donut hole, so the dough to glaze ratio was off and they did not taste as good. Apparently, so many of the donuts that are being made at this time are not round with a hole in the middle. There are more bars, filled, twist and other designs. Hence the shortage of real donut holes.
I have to say that I enjoyed the bits off of the apple fritter, and I did enjoy half of a cinnamon roll. But what I really craved, the perfect glazed donut hole, alluded me this year.
We enjoyed our off-plan calories, went home and took a nap. When I woke up, I felt sick. I think it was all the sugar and fat my system was trying to process. We took a nice walk and that helped make me feel better.
The best part of this year's National Donut Day is that I am not motivated to want to do it again next year. I did not like feeling that icky. So, I guess it was a big success after all! Isn't it wonderful when we get a lesson from an unexpected source?!?! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July 2013 and enjoyed it in a way that honored you!
Desire to celebrate. Dedication to honoring our traditions. Discipline to listen to our body when it is teaching us a lesson.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The Sacred Honu
I love the importance of the honu, or turtle, in the Hawaiian culture. Everywhere you go, you see honu symbols. The honu literally permeates all aspects of life on the islands. People seek out beaches and coves so they can see the honu swimming, and even swim with the honus. The image is used on every imaginable item you can think of. You will always remember the first time you saw a honu while swimming in the ocean. It is thrilling!!! The honu is simply loved, revered and protected throughout the Hawaiian islands!
Here in the U.S., we simply say turtle. Everyone has heard of the contest between the turtle and the rabbit. The rabbit is fast out of the gate but, in the end, the turtle wins the race. Slow and steady wins the race.
Some people think of the turtle as slow and plodding. Not me! I relate to the honu/turtle. I see my healthy journey as an ongoing journey, not a sprint to the finish line. I know so many people who sign up for a "weight loss" program. They drop a lot of weight, only to gain it all back. Heck, I am one of "those people", having done that very thing in the past. So what? Just keep going forward, remembering that slow and steady wins the race. Keep going, do not ever give up. Like the sacred honu, you are worth it!
Now, instead of sprinting, I am on a life journey. Sure there will be ups and downs, but in the end I really believe that slow and steady will make me a winner. A winner of a healthier body, a winner of a healthier outlook, a winner of a stronger spiritual self, a winner. That is why I relate to the sacred honu. I am like that turtle...deliberately taking the steps I need to take to move me forward in life. ...and in the end, if I am valued by others, then that is icing on the cake!
Desire to continue moving forward in life. Dedication to all that is sacred. Discipline to keep on swimming.
Here in the U.S., we simply say turtle. Everyone has heard of the contest between the turtle and the rabbit. The rabbit is fast out of the gate but, in the end, the turtle wins the race. Slow and steady wins the race.
Some people think of the turtle as slow and plodding. Not me! I relate to the honu/turtle. I see my healthy journey as an ongoing journey, not a sprint to the finish line. I know so many people who sign up for a "weight loss" program. They drop a lot of weight, only to gain it all back. Heck, I am one of "those people", having done that very thing in the past. So what? Just keep going forward, remembering that slow and steady wins the race. Keep going, do not ever give up. Like the sacred honu, you are worth it!
Now, instead of sprinting, I am on a life journey. Sure there will be ups and downs, but in the end I really believe that slow and steady will make me a winner. A winner of a healthier body, a winner of a healthier outlook, a winner of a stronger spiritual self, a winner. That is why I relate to the sacred honu. I am like that turtle...deliberately taking the steps I need to take to move me forward in life. ...and in the end, if I am valued by others, then that is icing on the cake!
Desire to continue moving forward in life. Dedication to all that is sacred. Discipline to keep on swimming.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Happy Summer Solstice!
It's hard to believe that the summer solstice has already come and gone. It means we already had the longest day of the year!
It is a great time of year to try to tap into the natural rhythms of the season. Since the days are longer and lighter, it certainly can do away with the "I don't have time to exercise" excuse! Since the weather is warmer, it can do away with the "it's too cold to go outside and exercise" excuse. Since the summer fruits and vegetables are abundant it eliminates the excuse of "there isn't anything healthy to eat".
I have rediscovered a wonderful farm in San Diego called Chino Farms. It is about 15 minutes from my house. It is all organic. I have been buying their Italian curly kale for my breakfast vege scramble. It is delicious with fresh squash and egg whites and avocado. I highly recommend it as a delicious breakfast to start your day.
So buy more fresh produce, get outside and exercise more and take advantage of more daylight to fit it all in!
Desire to enjoy summer. Dedication to make breakfast everyday. Discipline to exercise all summer long.
It is a great time of year to try to tap into the natural rhythms of the season. Since the days are longer and lighter, it certainly can do away with the "I don't have time to exercise" excuse! Since the weather is warmer, it can do away with the "it's too cold to go outside and exercise" excuse. Since the summer fruits and vegetables are abundant it eliminates the excuse of "there isn't anything healthy to eat".
I have rediscovered a wonderful farm in San Diego called Chino Farms. It is about 15 minutes from my house. It is all organic. I have been buying their Italian curly kale for my breakfast vege scramble. It is delicious with fresh squash and egg whites and avocado. I highly recommend it as a delicious breakfast to start your day.
So buy more fresh produce, get outside and exercise more and take advantage of more daylight to fit it all in!
Desire to enjoy summer. Dedication to make breakfast everyday. Discipline to exercise all summer long.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
How Are You Paying It Forward?
At the beginning of the year I was searching for somewhere to apply my volunteer efforts for 2013. I was fortunate to find the Veterans Association of North County (VANC) Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). Every month there is a different class that meets twice a week on Monday and Wednesday. I volunteer on Monday nights teaching classes and acting as a coach. We help service men and service woman transitioning from military service into the civilian world. It is really really satisfying to help these folks have a more successful journey, especially after they have served our country.
I participated in the attached video to help attract and recruit more coaches into the program. I thought you might enjoy seeing it. I hope it inspires you to find somewhere to volunteer and help others on their journey. Full disclosure......at the risk of exposing my vanity.....I think some of the shots of me are quite good and others are just awful.....either way I hope it brings a smile to your face!
My volunteer energy is an important part of my healthy journey. It provides perspective, it provides a strong sense of satisfaction and it keeps me grounded with the abundance in my life.
Desire to give back to those who have given us so much. Dedication to helping others. Discipline to keep it on my calendar.
I participated in the attached video to help attract and recruit more coaches into the program. I thought you might enjoy seeing it. I hope it inspires you to find somewhere to volunteer and help others on their journey. Full disclosure......at the risk of exposing my vanity.....I think some of the shots of me are quite good and others are just awful.....either way I hope it brings a smile to your face!
My volunteer energy is an important part of my healthy journey. It provides perspective, it provides a strong sense of satisfaction and it keeps me grounded with the abundance in my life.
Desire to give back to those who have given us so much. Dedication to helping others. Discipline to keep it on my calendar.
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