the afterparty

28.10.10

the afterparty...



"are you going to exercise tomorrow?"

"well...what do you guys think? do you think i should stop?"

"no!"



thank you to all my dear friends and family who were able to come out and share some MOVEment stories last night as i celebrated my 100th day. it truly meant the world to me!



reflection:

i started this project for three reasons:
to share my fitness journey, to dispel several common myths about fitness, and to hopefully inspire others to take control of their own fitness and health goals.

the myths i wanted to dispel were:

myth 1: exercise is boring.
truth 1: i did not find my time exercising to be boring at all. the activities i used for my MOVEment included walking, group yoga classes, hiking, trail running, hot yoga, group fitness classes at BDHQ, crossfit, running, outdoor bootcamp with my friends, and weight lifting (and maybe some others...). i also found the exercise session changed drastically depending on who else was there with me. it could go from a solo run to a hike with my family or trying a new class with a girlfriend. i really relied on the support from my family and friends to make my MOVEment interesting everyday.

myth 2: i don't have time for exercise.
truth 2: if exercise is a priority in your life, you will make time for it. i did struggle with this concept but it definitely rings true. during my challenge i attended three weddings, took a month long family vacation, attended school, and started a new job. some days were more difficult than others but there is time for exercise if it becomes a priority! we all lead busy lives but discovering what is meaningful in your life and making it a priority is absolutely essential to being successful and happy.

myth 3: exercising for too many days in a row will hurt you.
truth 3: variety is the key!! i had to vary the intensity of my MOVEment from gentle to moderate to hard depending on how my body (and mind) were feeling that day. some days i was ready for something extreme and other days...a simple walk did just fine. but the goal of MOVement was simply that: MOVE.

i believe this challenge was a complete success. what i find most meaningful, however, is not that i completed 100 days of MOVEment, but that other people joined me! i am so grateful and amazed at the support i have around me. i know i can choose a goal and have the people i care about (and maybe even complete strangers!) support and believe in me and what ever cause i choose to take on.

does this mean MOVEment is over?
NO! absolutely not! it can't be. there are still people starting this challenge everyday and we need to be there to support them just as they have supported us. i will continue to post information, photos, questions, and advice on the community facebook site and i encourage you to do the same. this site will also remain active. after all, there are countless more challenges out there!

the next challenge that i will be focusing on and training for is the gunner shaw 2010 trail race. this race is 10km through the trails of thetis lake and claims to be a real fall classic, complete with giant mud puddles, hills, and fallen trees. i will be updating you on my training schedule, the gear i will use, and my physical and mental challenges as i go through the race experience.

until then...
What moves you?

27.10.10: DAY 100

DAY 100

i began my day with a jog to the water, two of my most favorite things (jogging and water, that is). i was feeling strong, powerful, and inspired. this is the last day of my challenge. but what should i make of that?

as i was sitting at the water i reflected on how excited i was to get out and run today because today felt like a very special day to me. it was my day 100 after all! and then i realized that in reality this day was no different than any other day. i had chosen today to be special at random. it could have been another day. and i realized today, the present moment, is all we really have. there is no more yesterday and no such thing as tomorrow yet. we only have today. and if i could make today special just by choosing it to be, than i could do this with any other day as well. and if i could be excited about exercising today, than i could be excited about it any other day too!

as i completed my run and looked out over the ocean, my most prominent feeling was that of being ALIVE. simply ALIVE. my body has allowed me to appreciate the beauty that is all around me, not just in this fall morning, but around me every single day. i did not feel concern for the projects i had to accomplish, the exams, the clients at work, or the dishes in my sink. i only felt grateful to be alive. and i held onto this peace and gratitude and took it with me into the rest of my day.

now if i could do this today, i could do it everyday.

i think we should all take the time to find out what brings us true joy and true peace and commit to incorporating it (whatever it is) into our lives. we owe it to ourselves and the community around us.

for me, it is MOVEment. adding MOVEment into my life everyday brings me so much more than just physical benefits. i think (i hope) anyone who has committed to this challenge will discover this for themselves...i don't have to tell you.

so moving forward....

reflection?

new goals?

another direction?

we shall see....

26.10.10: day 99 knowing your limits

26.01.10: day 99



knowing your limits is absolutely necessary.....and extremely humbling.



this morning i participated in a workout that was more intense than i was used to. and two thirds of the way in...i started to feel dizzy. now, i know my limits, but to admit to them is very difficult. i knew i had two choices: to sit out for the remainder of the workout (with my head below my heart) until i felt better or i could continue, and likely faint. this second option was obviously not the option to go with (plus it might have really freaked out my coach!). so, ever so humbled, i sat out and watched while the rest of the group pushed on.



knowing your limits is relevant is ever exercise, in every scenario because knowing when your body has had enough or when it it time to rest is crucial to optimal performance. this doesn't mean you can use your own linits as an excuse however. knowing your limits gives you a place to start challenging yourself and a place to start pushing those limits. and pushing your limits or your comfort zone can only lead to two options: you suceed or your try again next time. this was my 'try again next time'. i feel frustrated, yes, but i know it takes courage to try something new and challenge your limits. i see that courage all the time when i hear of people trying an exercise for the very first time, entering competitions, or simply striving to make their life better in any way they can.



at the risk of sounding too philosophical, there is no such thing as failure. we challenge, we learn, and we try again next time. thats all there is to it. those are our options.

days 91-97 the end is so close

24.10.10: day 97
walking

the end is so close.
i can't believe how far this journey has taken me. my last two weeks have been very gentle in terms of MOVEment, however, an i can't say that i am proud of that. sometimes i feel like my activity comes and goes in cycles, like an unintentional periodization program. the last two weeks have definitely been a resting and recovery phase. i don't know exactly why, but for some reason my body needed to take it easy. i encourage you to listen to your body as well and during this long journey, if you need that rest, take a few gentle movement days. walking, yoga, or easy cycling can be rehabilitation for the body, mind, and spirit.

i am trying to come to terms with how to end this adventure.
should i celebrate?
will it the adventure ever truly end?
what are my next challenges?

23.10.10: day 96
yoga
walking

22.10.10: day 95
walking

21.10.10: day 94
yoga at home again. my form and endurance are improving.

20.10.10: day 93
walking

19.10.10: day 92
walking

18.10.10: day 91
cardio day
walked / ran 10km (a little more walking than running today. i was a bit sore from my crossfit yesterday).

days 81-90

17.10.10: day 90
crossfit seminar today!! it was like a crossfit 101 class, teaching us all the basic moves to ensure safe technique during the classes.
it was very interesting and actually very challenging.
The class went over the following exercises:
1. Back Squat
2. Front Squat
3. Overhead Squat
4. Shoulder Press
5. Push Press
6. Push Jerk
7. Deadlift / Sumo Deadlift High Pull
8. Clean

Wall ball
Kettlebell swings
Kipping pull ups

again i discovered how i struggle at learning new concepts. not because i am not able to do them but because i really enjoy being good at something and when i am not so good at it...my ego gets in the way. this was a great learning experience with amazing coaching and support. i really want to thank the coaches there for their patience and direction.

and i was assured that improvements will come....

16.10.10: day 89
walked and yoga.

15. 10.10: day 88
walked.
feeling uninspired.

14.10.10: day 87
walked

13.10.10: day 86
yoga at home
very gentle movement (and somewhat comical).
i went through several rounds of sun and moon salutations and practiced several hatha yoga postures.

12.10.10: day 85
walking

11.10.10: day 84
another hike up horth hill
walking / some jogging
1 hr total
involved members of my family which turns this time into family time instead of simply exercise time.

10.10.10: day 83
35 min, horth hill hike
fast pace

09.10.10: day 82
walking

08.10.10: day 81
walking

day 72-80

07.10.10: day 80

crossfit zone this morning.
it was a technique class so i learned some components of olympic lifting. it was really interesting because i have never done that type of lifting before. it was a small class resulting in an exceptional learning environment with one on one instruction. the class ended with some 'wall balls' and elastic supported pull ups!
i can't wait until i can do some un-supported pull ups!

06.10.10: day 79

walking. lazy day. minimal exercise...just enough to count ;)

05.10.10: day 78

run 5km around thetis lake with SB and CI. stunning views of the water and forest. the trail felt soft under my feet. i forgot how much i adore running among the trees.

04.10.10: day 77

walk and stretch. recover from running.

03.10.10: day 76

today was another truly inspiring day. i participated in world walk day and joined millions of others around the world who walked to support active healthy lifestyles. this year was canada's first time participating in the event and i hope it becomes a yearly activity.

more information can be found at:

http://sportforallcanada.com/

http://www.piseworld.com/

afterwards i went running to clear my head. i ran my usual 10km route along the waterfront. my time was 1:09. not too slow but not too fast either. mmm, need to speed things up just a little. i did feel strong though!


02.10.10: day 75

boot camp in the morning with some wonderful women. some old friends and some new :)
i lead a playground workout and a jog including stairs and lunges. i found the stairs really difficult! my lack of power is really frustrating me. but the morning was so perfect and i couldn't have asked for better people to share it with.

afterwards i watched the crossfit zone games! i almost lost my voice cheering on some incredible athletes. i was so impressed how these individuals pushed themselves and challenged themselves.

and i couldn't help but wonder, do i have it in me to compete?

01.10.10: day 74

simple jog.

30.09.10: day 73

1 hour of hot moksha flow yoga.
wonderfully sweaty.

29.09.10: day 72

walking.
still low energy.