MY HEALTH CHALLENGE / 09
first of all, thank you sooo much for all your sweet comments on last week’s body update post. you made me feel like a million bucks and gave me the push to keep going. it’s really encouraging to see a bunch of you following along on the #dlfgetfit challenge! above photo found on it here.
see what we’re up to this week…
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joanie: so i tried putting my feet up the wall for 20 minutes a day and i’ll be honest, it did not change my life but, it did feel very calming and you can definitely feel the shift in blood flow and circulation. my feet would get pretty tingly at the beginning but they say that’s good and that your body likes the inversion. my feet always get very swollen when i fly so i will be using this trick on my next trip to keep the fluids and blood flowing. i’ve also been actively working on my splits, the hip stretches are helping, i still have some work to do but i’m getting there! other then that my weekly workouts consisted of dance class on monday (which is the most fun) pilates wednesday and friday and cardio yoga on sunday!
bri: my workouts this past week: 1 day hiking, 3 days bar method, 1 day dance, and 1 day home workout with weights.
can i just repeat how much more fun working out is when your friends do it with you? this week i’ve begged my friends to join me in different workouts and it makes the class SO much more entertaining. i also find it challenges me (a little healthy competition never hurt anyone) because sometimes when i work out alone i just slack off. joanie and i love doing the dance class together, we always leave in the best mood!
it’s really awesome to watch your strength and flexibility change in just two months. when i started at bar method again my leg flexibility was pretty laughable, and now i notice that i can easily touch my toes and extend my legs much higher during certain exercises. it’s also crazy how much more flexible i am on the right side than the left. when i’m doing planks now i don’t feel like i’m going to die like i did in the beginning, but push-ups…that’s a different story. i’m thinking of trying this 30 day challenge to improve. i have such weak wrists!
i’ve also been getting into guided meditations before i go to sleep. they can be kinda cheesy, but i do notice myself feeling a lot better and not having racing thoughts that lead to bad dreams. this doesn’t really have to do with working out, but i have noticed that i sit around on my couch, desk and bed WAY too often looking at random stuff on my phone. what a social media time suck. i’ve been limiting myself right before bed and trying to listen to more calming things (yes, it’s still a phone app, but at least i’m not staring at my phone before bed, just listening to it) do you have any favorite meditation apps?
after a lot of thought and consideration (and tons of comments on this post on my facebook) i’ve decided to continue the exercise, meditation, and healthy diet route as a cure for my anxiety, and not take zoloft. at least for now. i don’t think i’m ready for the commitment to medication and would love to see if i can beat this thing naturally. i’m certainly not opposed to people that do take medicine, and i think it helps a lot of people, i’m just not ready for that quite yet. we will see though.
photo: here
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joanie: thank you all so much for your tips on green juices and smoothies, not sure why i hadn’t thought to freeze my greens, genius! i also made the most delicious pina colda type smoothie with light coconut milk, ice cubes, banana and frozen pineapple with cinnamon on top (do not skip the cinnamon)! it’s not an every day treat but something healthy for when you’re craving sweets. i’ve also been snacking on luna bars (nutz over chocolate is my favorite) in-between breakfast and lunch when i have an intense morning work out. they keep me from turning into starving grumpy joanie which has been known to happen and is not my best self.
bri: i am leaving for nicaragua TONIGHT! one of my best friends works at juice served here and always carries those beautiful glass bottles around. i decided to do their two-day soft cleanse before my trip. the cream party & the pipe cleaner are my faves. the green juice is not the greatest taste of all time, but it’s super good for you. the first day i didn’t get hungry till around 4pm and then pushed through it. 2 day cleanses are pretty easy for me and i notice myself feeling less puffy and more energized by the end of it. it also just keeps you in the mood to eat healthy! i would recommend it.
photo: here
joanie: i like to think of progress as three parts, mental, physical and emotional. it feels like every week i give myself a new attitude to work on and this week it’s to not take everything so seriously. i really want to focus on lightening up and not being such a worry wart about the small things life. it goes in phases for me, sometimes i feel carefree and ready to take on the world and sometimes i feel weighted down by everything life throws at me. i’ve been working on focusing my mind on the positive things in life and entering difficult situations from a place of gratitude. certainly a work in progress!
bri: although i don’t exactly have the beach bod i’m 100% happy with, i’m so much happier with my progress now. i’m down another pound this week and the juice cleanse has me feeling refreshed and lighter. i don’t like to restrict myself too much when i travel, so i’m just going to enjoy the next few days and hope it doesn’t set me back too much. i can swim those cocktails off hopefully! although 6 pounds doesn’t seem like a ton to lose in two months, i’m definitely gaining muscle at the same time and can feel my confidence coming back. it gives me the push i need to keep it up. i really feel like my overall lifestyle and attitude towards health and fitness is changing, and i like it.
height: 5’6
starting weight 2 months ago: 140
current weight: 134
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