Once upon a time, school fundraisers consisted of magazine drives and bake sales, and students were rewarded with ice cream and pizza parties.  At the same time, big charities were hosting walk-a-thons and swim-a-thons: events in which adults would find sponsors to financially back them while they exercised for a good cause.  Eventually kids became more involved through trike-a-thons and jump-rope-a-thons.

In recent months I’ve experienced the happy hybrid of these two approaches: schools and organizations using exercise as fundraisers and incentives all in one.  A nearby school, Our Lady of the Lake, raises funds with its annual student walk-a-thon and a weekly Zumba class which is packed to the gills with grown-ups and children alike.  The Singing Angels are preparing to host an evening of yoga, and an upcoming Zumbathon in Willoughby will benefit the Lake Humane Society, among other charities.

Since changing my motto from “Anything for a t-shirt” to “Anything for a good cause,” I’ve reaped the benefit of exercising with supporters of good causes (optimists!), and not worrying about a surplus of t-shirts.  I hope to see this health-through-fundraising trend continue!

GOAL CHECK:

My first goal of the contest: to lose 5% by April 26 so that I can continue in the contest.

As of today’s weigh-in, I’m down 3.56% and feeling pretty optimistic about reaching that first goal, though I’m not naïve enough to think it's a forgone conclusion.

 

Now if I could just learn to silence that horrid judgmental voice in my head, the which tells me that other people lost a greater percentage and therefore I should have too.  I’m learning to move forward despite that voice; I wonder if it’ll ever go away. 

 

In other news: I feel that I’ve benefitted from the required use of Vitabot, most especially because it’s taught me to (1.) not be afraid to count calories and (2.) record the calories of the fruits and vegetables I eat, not regarding them as freebies.  By focusing on nutrients, I’ve shifted some of my food choices and found it easier to eat the right number of calories, even if it takes a little more effort to get there.

 

Now to start Round Two.  Best wishes to all!

By last night, I was pretty much a basket case (this morning I’m still trying to get dried tears out of my eyes).  After a week of watching the number on the Wii scale move steadily, incrementally downward, Sunday morning it bounded back up again.  Can a Valentine’s brownie really have caused this?  I wouldn’t have thought so, but the scale knows what the scale knows.

I was at my wit’s end.  The food I eat and the beverages I drink are healthy and in healthy portions.  I get to the gym regularly and push myself hard when I’m there.   I won’t do anything unhealthy to force a loss; no forceful expulsions of food from my body, thanks.  So what’s left?  What can I do?

In my morning check of social media, today I came across the picture at the top of this blog.  I like it when things I need find their way to me.

Then I had an update from my activity monitor: it showed that I reached 99% of my goal this week.  At first that seems quite good, until I take into consideration that I had to lower my activity goal in order to make it reachable.

And the gears in my brain started working.  I figure I worked out 4 times last week, and I haven’t walked the dogs since before the ice started scaring me.

So, for this week I’m going to keep calm and carry on with healthy eating, but I’m going to focus on 4 strenuous workouts, 2 less strenuous ones, and a walk for each dog each day.  Just like with Zumba, I’m not allowed to be afraid of the elements.  If mail carriers can traverse ice and snow (THANK YOU, mail carriers!), so can I.  Why was I thinking that I need to walk as fast through snow and over ice as I do over clean pavement and treadmills?  Just the other day I took it nice and easy through the woods for a few miles, and I didn’t fall down.  Why has fear held me back?

Maybe this annoying, ridiculous incident with the scale has been a call for me to add a little more movement to my daily life.  Not gym exercise, just movement.

It's also a call to mind my goal, which is not related to anyone else's weigh-in this coming weekend.  My goal remains: To lose 5% by the April weigh-in.

Keep focused.

 

 

 

Yesterday I found myself thinking and saying, “I’m not allowed to fear it. I can like it or not like it, but I may not fear it any longer.”  And thus, after numerous invitations and endless encouragement from Kristen and Sharon, I attended my first ever Zumba class last night.

Before we go any further, let’s get it clear that my one and only reason for not trying Zumba before has been the whole me + dancing/wiggling bit.  ‘Nuff said.  But last night's Zumba came wrapped up in the form of a healthy fundraiser for a local school; a little person of my household has been begging to exercise with me; and the class was just a hop, skip, and jump from home.  What choice did I have?

Had it not been for the presence of some dear happy souls – people who know me and would know if I quit – my Belly Butterflies might have gotten the best of me.  But in the end, I wasn’t going to let my daughter down and I reminded myself “I can like it or not like it, but I may not fear it,” so I stayed.

Long story short: I liked it.  I liked it very much.

With a background in step class, I found it pretty easy to follow the instructor’s lead, and I liked that she didn’t try to speak over the music, but taught by wordless demonstration.  In the presence of girls and ladies of all ages and abilities, I was able to remind myself, ala the Desiderata, “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.”  I was able to minimize the negative mental self talk (though, believe you me, it put up a good fight), have fun, and get in a challenging work out.  My daughter liked it a whole bunch, too, so we signed up to keep on going.  J

Thank you, Kristen and Sharon, for staying on me about Zumba.  Thank you, Our Lady of the Lake PTO, for welcoming my daughter and me.  I am actually looking forward to these next few weeks of Zumba while I psych myself up for a bigger, and therefore a little scarier, Zumba fundraiser in April, in support of the Lake County Humane Society.

My motto used to be “Anything for a t-shirt.”  Now, if this Face My Fears trend continues, my motto might become “Any exercise for a good cause.”

It used to be that I would cry at the drop of a hat.  Nowadays though, more stoic or maybe just more cynical, I feel like that vulnerable part of me is gone. Or at least I had felt that way until yesterday evening, when Ms. Kessel did the miraculous.

Laura is that special type of person who is unafraid to be vulnerable and to do what needs to be done, regardless of fear.  Last night she stood up to Public Speaking and bid farewell to her Lighten Up family. 

Tearfully, and with precious authenticity, Laura expressed her belief in us and pleaded with us to never give up but to ask for help when we need it, when it feels like nothing is working. 

It’s been years since those words last settled into my consciousness.  Yesterday they flowed in, forcing my own tears out of their way.

“I believe in you.”

Believe in me?  How?  I’m the person who weighs more at the start of this Lighten Up than I did at the start of the last one.  I’m the person who still instinctively hangs my head around children of a certain age.  I’m the person who still can’t make a meatloaf which my family will eat.

That’s where Laura’s miracle comes in.  In the sharing of her gift yesterday evening, she reminded all of us – if we were open to hearing it – that we are worthy of being not just believed, but believed in.

Laura, your presence will be strongly missed.  Thank you for believing in our community and for creating opportunities for people to learn, share, and cultivate that belief.  Your moving boxes will undoubtedly be full, but please remember that wrapping all your breakables are love, heartfelt thanks, and wishes for a joyful, blessed journey.

 

After a week during which I couldn't exercise as much as I'd planned, I was pretty excited to get on the scale and see that by focusing solely on food, I had maintained my weight -- no gain!  That's a first for me and it means that I followed through on my commitment to eat well and to track my eating.

Starting the week afresh, after a mental & physical day off, is a joyful, healthy, and miraculous feeling.  Taking Sundays off is among the best things I've ever done for myself and now I feel ready for the challenges I've set for myself this week.

This is approximately what the palm of my hand looks like, following yesterday's rowing machine workout. 

As much as I am inspired by my Blister Of Honor, I'll wear gloves next time.

M-O-N...

D-A-Y...

MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY!

 

Whew!  Thank goodness Monday is here again.  Monday, especially after the mini vacation of non-tracking Sunday, holds all the promise of a brand new notebook or New Year's Day.  I’ve had my Sunday indulgence (I you, Toblerone!) and now I’m ready to get back to business.

 

I'm eager for the routine of work, school, and exercise; to planning and tracking my meals; and to knowing that I’m completing tasks which need to get done.  This morning I’ve already done some Wii Yoga (wheee!), which surprised me by clearing my mind to get some other tasks done.  It also helped me to shake off the little funk I woke up in.  J

 

I look forward to tweaking my exercise routine this week.  At my weekly weigh-in I was disappointed with the only slightly lower number, but instead of wallowing I turned it into "Okay.  My body got used to what it was doing; how am I going to challenge it this week?"  I updated my workout music and picked new exercises to do.

 

And I’m proud of myself for the work and progress I made last week, and even just this morning.  I used to think that when I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, my day was doomed.  This morning, I think, I just got all the crummy feelings out of the way early on, and am better for it. 

 

Yay, Monday!