Keeping Promises

Today is the end of Day 5 of my personal 30-Day Challenge and it’s been a pretty good five days.  I have remembered to take my fish oil, Vitamin D, and half calcium tab every day, even if it is with a grimace.   Although it still isn’t enough, I’ve had more water to drink each day.  My best success, surprisingly, has been at sleeping!  I’ve been in bed at 9pm each night (except tonight as I write this) and the bedroom TV has uttered neither sound nor picture.  I’ve worked my way up to sleeping a full eight hours each night, but think I could feel more rested when I wake up!  I’m looking forward to that.  Nutrition has been easy, as long as I cook ahead and take my lunch to school.  As always when I’m minding my Ps and Qs strictly, I’ve been a little hungry at times, but satisfy it with a few almonds or bite of almond butter. 

Exercise is still a problem, especially with the days getting shorter (and hotter!)  I’ve gone on a couple of short bike rides, but mostly I run out of time and then don’t want to wind myself up just before bed.  I usually don’t get home until almost 6:30 and by the time I fix dinner and eat I’m just about ready for bed!  In trying to keep my promise to myself, I have at least managed to get down on the floor for a little scapula- and core work.  It’s definitely lightweight stuff, but it’s a start. 

This morning, though, I remembered Exercise TV and did a 10-minute workout.  Then, another and another...and by the way, that buns-and-thighs workout wasn’t exactly easy!!

So it was a good day, even if I did sit at the computer grading schoolwork for five hours today!  I had some hearty belly laughs earlier and am happy to be keeping promises to myself!   

My 30-Day Challenge: Pulling It All Together

Because my trainer has so many teacher clients, she has in the past offered a ‘Fall Challenge’ or as she started out calling it, Fall Lean Out (which I preferred) in September to help us get back on track after the summer.  However, there are changes afoot.  NorCal Strength and Conditioning, where I work out, has traditionally scheduled a Paleo Challenge after the holidays, but this year has changed the plan.  I found myself counting on these ‘opportunities’ to get myself refocused on this lifestyle that has been my lifeline for the past couple of years.

It has been an exceptionally stressful time.  I spent the entire summer moving my classroom—instead of walking, riding my bike, tending my garden, planning for my new classes and refreshing my outlook—and to make matters worse (way worse!) my little group of devoted Paleo followers has suddenly gone from four to two.  I’m pretty good about the Paleo nutrition...except for too many dark chocolate chips and occasional (occasionally more than occasional) wine.  What I have found difficult—and different from the previous summer—is getting enough water, quality sleep, and exercise outside of my workouts.

After a brief bout of disappointment with the changes I didn’t ask for and didn’t want (waah!) it occurred to me, why wait for an ‘official’ challenge?  I can issue my own personal challenge with all the pieces that are challenging for me, especially, enough water, quality sleep, and exercise outside of my workouts!

So, here I am, going public with my own 30-Day Challenge!  I am trying to happily, successfully, and with gusto, pull it all together:  Paleo nutrition, remembering to drink enough water, getting quality sleep (and that means no TV in the bedroom) and some regular exercise outside of my workouts, despite my busy schedule, and despite my disappointments, worries, time constraints, and all of the components of life that cause stress (because I really do believe all that cortisol stuff)!

Tomorrow is Day 1.  I have loaded up my pill-minder with fish oil, Vitamin D, and a half, icky tablet of calcium.   Even though I forget (and sometimes stare at it with willful disobedience) I will swallow them, one by boring one.  I will drink more water, maybe not enough, but more than I have been drinking...even if it means racing to the restroom while high school kids are streaming into the classroom, waiting for the bell to ring so they can get a pass to the restroom!  I will either walk to work, ride my bike, or use the On Demand exercise channel faithfully each day that I don’t go to the gym.  I will forgo wine and dark chocolate chips until my birthday... and then--the biggest challenge of all--look FORWARD to the day my challenge ‘ends’ with a promise to live and learn and not to snap back with a vengeance, like a rubber band infused with a boomerang’s resolve to revert to old habits.

My Challenge will be yet another step toward living in this lifestyle that has given me the chance to feel great!  I am bolstered by the entertaining (and persuasive) TedTalk that anyone can do anything for 30 days (or see the link under Inspirations).  Are you with me?