The Great 2013 Reboot!

So, having watched “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead,” and hearing so many folks extoll the benefits of juicing (Joe Cross-style, not Lance Armstrong), I decided that I should give it a try.  After all, I recently acquired a very capable masticating juicer at a good price, and have been enjoying the fruits of fruits and veggies on occasion for some time now.

Somehow, I even talked my beloved hubby, the die-hard meat eater, into joining me on this little adventure!

So, given the fact that a doctor appointment today made it necessary for me to work from home, and given the fact that I will be stuffing my body into a swimsuit in less than two weeks, I ascertained that this past weekend was a perfect opportunity to give it a try.  We would shop Friday evening for the necessary produce, and start Saturday morning, consuming nothing but fresh fruit and veggie juices for three days.

Day 1 started with a relatively small, mostly fruit-based juice, and called for four more varied juices as the day went on.  I’m not sure if it was because we got started late (having slept in), or if our produce was significantly larger than that used for the menus, but, after the first juice, we found ourselves working on meals that ran from 30 to 40 ounces each – including the “snack” juices.  We managed to slug them down, until the last one of the day, which included beets, among other things…  Well, it appears that either me or my body have a SERIOUS aversion to beets – I was in the bathroom less than halfway through my first glass, as my stomach rejected the offering.

On Day 2, a second beet-enriched beverage produced the same results – along with an alarming shade of violent violet from my “other” end.  And today, it wasn’t even beets – I think my body simply rejected a pure veggie diet.  At this point, I made the executive decision that the experiment was an epic failure, and should cease immediately.  Upon finishing at the doctor appointment, I took my husband for a hamburger and fries.  I feel much better now!

I think that, going forward, I might go for some juice once a day or so, with ingredients of my own choosing – I do enjoy the products of my juicer (apple and pear juices are more like nectars than juices).  I just can’t be one that does it for days at a time.

My First Review And Giveaway!

I’ve been sort of half-assed looking at online personal training sites.  I’d been considering FitOrbit (and had even purchased a voucher with my Earndit points) and a handful of others, when I received an email newsletter from PureWow describing a new site called Bodbot.com, so I decided to check it out.

The site is well-designed – I have yet to experience slow load times, crashes, or other errors, and is visually attractive, as well, with a design that manages to be both Zen and sexy at the same time.  It is also blessedly advertisement-free (at least as of this writing).

The basic free membership gives you access to a full selection of workouts that are based on your input for a comprehensive list of fitness tests that are part of your initial profile setup.  In addition, you also will need to identify your training goal and whether you want to work out your entire body or focus on specific muscles.  You’ll be asked about your gender, age, height and current weight, and what equipment you have available (both at home and at the gym, if applicable).  Tell the “bot” how often you want to work out – what days and how much time you have available.  You can set preferences as to how hard you want to work, how hard you’ve trained in the past, and exercises you don’t like.  Finally, there are a series of questions that equate to your fitness test – these are used to determine the most appropriate workout routines for your current capabilities.  I’ve found that, by filling out all of this information as accurately and honestly as possible, I’m given workout routines that are challenging for me without being so difficult that I cannot complete them – something that I haven’t experienced previously, even when working with a live, in-person, certified trainer.

As you complete sets and reps of an exercise, you simply click “I did it!” on the site (or on the Android or iPhone apps, which are just as well-designed and Zen-sexy as the site), and the workout is added to your history and incorporated into the algorithm that gives you future workouts.  If you skip one, the site is nicely non-critical:



If you’re like me (immensely self-critical), you’ll find this of great benefit.  I find that it’s helping me to forgive myself for those missed workouts that are, for most of us, a fact of life.

Bodbot is refreshingly free of the social networking aspect that is becoming more and more prevalent in health, diet, and fitness sites these days – I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to send motivating messages to folks on yet another site.  However, each time you complete a workout, a motivational quote is posted to each user/member’s feed.  If you want to support a new member, or send motivation to someone who has not logged in for a while, you can do so by simply clicking a button.  There is a feature where you can search for other members, but it is simply used for challenging them to a selection of workout-related objectives.

There is also a paid, “Plus” membership available – this gets you additional fitness tests and analysis tools, and gives you access to new features before they are fully released – you will have input into what works on the site, and what doesn’t.  This Plus membership is available at $10 per month, but is not necessary to fully benefit from the tools available.

The founders of the site, Edward Laux, and Sergio Prado, have both brought their own personal fitness journeys to bear in the development of the site – from both ends of the spectrum.  Edward “grew up obese as a youth”, while Sergio was “massively underweight".  Both have realized impressive success in their fitness goals, and have decided to pay it forward by sharing their knowledge with others.  They are also extremely responsive – if you reply to a message from the site, you should expect to hear from one of them personally to answer your inquiry.

One thing that I’m not quite clear on is the reason behind the earning of points and achieving levels, although I’m sure that there is some plan in the works for this feature.  The company is, after all, a start-up that is currently financed primarily through Fundable.com.  In fact, there is a current promotion – for a $60 contribution, you can have a Plus membership for life.  Of course, I have to give the standard disclaimer – this is, once again, a startup, so there is no guarantee as to how long that “life” might last.  I’m pretty confident, though, that the program will be successful if the right folks get notification of it.

And, right now, I’ve got not one, but TWO of these lifetime memberships to give away – here are the deets:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of immersing oneself in any experience so deeply that one can fully share it with others just through words.

The New Psychedelic Experience

During the late ‘60s, a psychedelic experience typically involved mind-altering substances ingested by members of the free love generation that characterized the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.  Yesterday, I was part of a more modern (and less hazardous) psychedelic experience that took place somewhat south of the Haight, at Candlestick Park.

In just over a year, the Color Run has become one of the most popular “running” events in the country.  It’s actually more of a big fun party, encouraging free-spirited play and pure fun.  It has also been very successful in getting folks who wouldn’t otherwise consider participating in a 5K event to do just that.  It’s not timed, there is no pressure to perform – it’s all about smiles and having a good time with thousands of the closest friends you never met before.

This was my second year participating, and I look forward to being a part of future events!  I started off looking pretty tame:

After waiting in line for packet pickup, which took considerably longer than it did last year, due to a significant increase in attendance, I made my way to the starting line.  They were sending out groups of runners every 10 minutes or so, with crew members tossing out swag to those waiting to go.  Of course, the color started to appear in advance of the start:

         

Finally, the group that I was a part of was sent out to play!

         

When I reached the finish line, I looked somewhat different:

Yup, I have blue teeth.

I also decided to try a new shade and style of color in my hair.

The overall picture reveals me, happier and more relaxed than I’ve been since early this year.

I look just like Humpty Dumpty in his Easter finery, don’t I?  Time to get back to work on that spare tractor-sized inner tube!

It’s About Time, Right?

So it’s nearly three weeks into 2013, and I’m just now getting around to my first post of the year.  Hey, I never claimed to be speedy, right?  And those who have managed to stick with me know I’m not the most consistent blogger on the block…

Anyway, if you look up, you’ll see I’ve added some pages to the site.  First, a  bit more informative “About Me” page that will most likely change as I come up with more things to share about myself.  The second new page is dedicated to the first of a series of S.M.A.R.T goals I’ve been considering, and follows the methodology of goals that are specific, measureable, achievable, relevant, and timely.  It also includes a table for tracking my progress, which I’m going to do my best to keep up-to-date.

I’ll be adding more of these pages in the coming days, as I manage to document the rest of my goals for the year in this manner.  I think that this is going to go a long way towards helping me to make progress!

2012 Reflections–The Last One!

I just finished filling out my #gothedist worksheet for this year – I made my goal by a couple of tenths of a mile – my decision to start walking around the building on a regular basis while at work paid off!  Just ordered both of my “rewards” for the year…  I never cease to amaze myself!

I have to admit – this past year, I counted every bit of walking/running/hiking I did, whether it was intentional or coincidental.  This year, I’m changing that – I’m only counting intentional mileage.  So, if I get up and take a walk around the building while at work for the sake of having a walk, that counts – walking to another department to do my job does not.  I’m also increasing my mileage goal by five miles per week each quarter.  In Q1, I’m shooting for 15 miles per week, then 20 for Q2, and so on.

Wish me perseverance and motivation!

2012 Reflections #3–No Resolutions

This year, I’m not making any of the traditional resolutions.  I’m trying something different this year – I’m actually working through a S.M.A.R.T goals planning program – Specific – Measureable – Attainable – Realistic – Timely.  I plan to blog about my progress here, on a weekly basis – maybe I’ll start SMARTGoals Saturday, huh?

There are a number of things I would like to accomplish over the course of this coming year:

1)  Run 5K without stopping to walk.

2)  Lose 50 pounds.

3)  Remodel my workout room and office (which have simply been storage for the past five years!), and our downstairs bathroom.

4)  Update my professional certifications.

5)  Be a better blogger.

Over the coming days, I’ll be fleshing out the details of these goals, following the S.M.A.R.T. methodology – of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to get started on them before my plan is complete; I do have some ideas on how best to get started.

I’m planning to meet up with some friends tonight, to say farewell to 2012 with a labyrinth walk, and setting my intentions for 2013:

I will relinquish my fears – they no longer serve me.  Instead, I will face each moment with the courage I know lies within me.

I will relinquish blame – it no longer serves me.  I will practice forgiveness of myself and of others.

I will relinquish doubt – it no longer serves me.  I am strong and confident.

I will relinquish shame – it no longer serves me.  I accept myself as I am.

Let the past rest in peace – it cannot be changed.

Let the future take care of itself – what will be, will be.

Live in the moment, and find bliss.

I share these blessings with those who wish to accept them.  May 2013 be your best year.