30 Day Challenge Reboot

So if you actually read this on a regular basis, you may remember last September my friend Amanda and I decided to start a 30 day challenge together. Since we're separated by half a country, it was to be a way to keep in touch and to form a buddy system so we could both achieve goals that would lend to overall healthier living. But what started out as just the two of us kind of... grew. We created a facebook group and by the time the beginning of the month rolled around we had about 10 or so participants from among our friends and family!

Unfortunately last time around, two days before the end of the month some friends and I were involved in a car accident and I was unable to finish the challenge. I was super bummed about that for quite a while. And then due to one thing or another and other injuries, I haven't really been able to maintain a regular workout schedule since. At this point though I've recovered fairly well and am anxious to get going again!

For September, Amanda and I attempted 30 days of yoga. It was an amazing, strengthening and eye opening experience. I learned a lot about my limits, how to push them, AND how to do a headstand! This time my overall goal was just to be healthier and in better physical shape. I don't give a crap about the number on the scale. I'm not setting out to loose weight. It may happen, it may not. What I REALLY want is to get rid of this belly! Lol ;) Basically, the goal is to burn fat. And what's one of the fastest ways to burn fat??? RUNNING! I used to do cross country in high school but haven't really run seriously since. It would be a lie if I told you I liked running. I like what you get FROM running. And after you get over that initial OMG I'M GONNA DIE phase its not too bad overall. I plan on mixing it up with cross training so it won't be all running all the time. But so as to have something to actually shoot for...

I'M GONNA DO THIS!!!

Going "Couch to 5K" in one month might seem a bit drastic. And maybe it is but... I think I can do it! Correction: I'm going to do it! I've found a training schedule that happened to fit exactly what I wanted here. Basically it consists of running 3 days a week, cross training 2 days, and resting 2 days. You build up gradually instead of just jumping right in. I plan to combine this routine with biking and yoga for my cross training days. I might not finish the race with any great deal of speed... But by the end of May I will be in the shape to finish it!

My deployment countdown calendar will be doing double duty this month with the addition of the challenge. I've placed a sticky over each date with the day's activity written on it. So, in order to mark off the day for my countdown I will have to perform the listed task to remove the sticky! I've also got the training schedule posted below the month so I can cross off the workouts as I accomplish them. Now, the world isn't going to end if I don't follow this system... but its a visible method of self accountability. I'm a very visual person; I need calendars and countdowns and lists... Otherwise I go insane.

 

AND, I'm also going to ATTEMPT to turn this crazy beast into my running buddy.

This may be the most challenging part of the whole thing.

She's definitely a runner. She just tends to think I'm too slow and that it would just work better in general if she just pulled me along. Lol. Gotta love sled dogs...

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I shall leave you with this thought:

 (and only 21 days to create a habit!)

Tomorrow is Day 1.

LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!

-Lindsey

Hello, my name is...

Dear People of Blogland,

Hi my name is Lindsey, and I'm a slacker. I meant to post sooooo many times but life outside the internets always seemed to get in the way! lol 

So, UPDATE! We are now officially past the halfway point of our 30 day challenge! I am so proud of how well everyone is doing and it makes me positively giddy how wonderful and supportive you all are being of each other. I love it when events bring together wonderful people from all facets of my life to make the web of awesomeness even stronger!

As far as me personally, I'm feeling much stronger. I don't know that there's much visible difference but I definitely feel it. My posture is about a million times better and my back pain is receding wonderfully. My planks are much better than they've been in years which makes me super happy because that means my arms and core are coming along nicely. I'm still not able to do my headstand away from the support of the wall, but I can go up every time I try. Lesson learned though:dog must be outside when I do this. She decided one day that when I was inverted and helpless was a really good time to insert her cold wet nose directly between my poor exposed ribs. Needless to say... I fell. Lol.

(Loki, my silly puppymonster, thinks she is a cat... how innocent they both look...)

In other news, I'm finding the official launch of Sunnyshine Studios to be rather slow going. Hubby has been on TDY and I thought I could get SOOOOO much done without him home. Turns out the whole "making your own schedule" thing is harder than it sounds. Now that I'm home so much more it always seems like there are 5,000 other things that need to be done. Between that, all of the wonderful life events happening in my friendfamily, and class, I haven't gotten very far yet :(. I am, however, determined to have my first batch of merchandise up within the next couple days. Anyone out there own their own business and have any tips for a beginner???

Speaking of life events, we had to say a very sad goodbye today. One of my very good friends left this afternoon for a 365 deployment in Afghanistan. He will be in our thoughts all year long as we await his safe return. I never truly understood before I became a military spouse exactly how much is sacrificed for what we have. I suppose there is no way to really understand unless you live it. It has been an amazingly eye opening experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. It takes a very special kind of person do what they do with the dedication they posses. So to our dear friend, my husband, all of our friends and family that serve, and all service members worldwide, I'd just like to take a moment to thank you for all you do. You are wonderful. You are appreciated. And you are loved.

On that note, ladies and gents, its getting a bit late and I still haven't done my yoga yet today!!! I bid you adieu and leave you with this little bit of sunshine:

 

<3
Lindsey

It's easy once you know how it's done

Ok guys, this is gonna be a quick one. Just wanted to check in with a short update.

It is Day 3 of my 30 day yoga challenge... Day 1: Jazzed to start. Day 2: Amazing. Day 3: Didn't go quite as well. To explain, here is the culmination of day 2:

Sorry for the blurry pic. My husband's photography skillz are legendary. Anyhoo, if you read my first post about embarking on this crazy mission, my goal for this whole endeavor was to be able to do a headstand. The first day I was too scared to try it. Surely I wasn't ready yet. But day 2 I decided "hey, I might as well try it to see where I'm starting from." I figured I could at least work on the setup but before I knew it... My feet flew up over my head! It felt so natural! I couldn't believe I'd done it! I was so excited I couldn't even settle down into Shavasana after this. I ran out, grabbed my husband, handed him the camera and threw my feet up there again. Granted, it's no where near perfected. There is no way I could do it without the door's support at this point. But to say the least, I may have over done on day 2.

Hence, today I woke up feeling stiff an achy. Took it kinda easy today. Mostly just stretching really deeply to work out all the kinks. And while I'm feeling better in the omg-I'm-moving-like-a-robot department, I'm kinda a little bummed that I couldn't work it as hard today. But I guess that's just part of the whole process. Learning to listen to your body and knowing what you can do and what you need to do. And, Scarlett O'hara style- "Tomorrow is another day!" And day 3 brings us to 10% completion of the Challenge! Lol. Its all about baby steps and mini goals.

Looking forward though, my aunt sent me a video to check out and I have to say, this chick looks pretty kick butt. If you're looking for an intensive core strengthening yoga routine-check her out! I know I will be!

In other news, my husband promoted this weekend!!! Yay!!! So ridiculously proud of him and evrything he's accomplished in the past few years. So, between that and me finally being done with my last job, we have been celebrating this whole holiday weekend. And it has been glorious! This next week will be my first in the world of Self-employment and I'm so excited! I'll be putting the finishing touches on my newly redone office (pics to come!) and building up all my different locals on the social media scene! Hoping to have some merch up by the end of the week!

So stay tuned for more excitement and to everyone joining me on this 30 Days of Craziness: Keep rockin!!!

source 

Tootles!

Lindsey

I tried to do headstands for you...

Ok guys. Starting September 1st, I will be embarking on a 30 Day Yoga Challenge! That's yoga every day for 30 straight days! This is something I've been wanting to do for a while now so I've hooked up with my bestie, Amanda, over at Living for the Fun of It and we've decided to go for it! We've made the commitment together to make sure we keep at it and to encourage each other. And now I'm posting it here- making the commitment to all of you- to make doubly sure I don't wuss out!

Back in college, I was doing yoga on a regular basis. I was as fit and healthy as I'd ever been. I loved it! I loved the way it made me feel. The way it made me look physically. And the way it made me look at life. I have never been one with a lot of, shall we say, body confidence. Coordination? Not my strong suit. Through yoga's quiet, slow strength, I found the confidence to trust what my body could do. It is an amazing feeling to finally be able to move fully into a pose you've been working on for a while. I remember the absolute elation I felt when I finally felt the top of my head brush the floor in this pose:

 source (straddle forward bend, aka Prasarita Padottanasana)

I know it doesn't look like much-but you go ahead and try it! There's more to it than you'd think!

Another HUGE bonus to yoga workouts: less pain! I got in a car wreck several years ago and I've had back pain ever since. I also have flat feet... which leads to all sorts of joint problems from my ankles on up. But because of all the different ways you learn to move and stretch in yoga, you strengthen EVERY muscle you've got. And when you build up the muscles in the areas you're experiencing pain- you give your body some extra support. And voila! The pain all but disappears! At least in my experience. So that's what I'm shooting for!

I've also decided that if I'm to stick with it and really push myself, I'll have to have goals. So here we go:

1. I find the area I'm lacking most is upper body strength. So I'll be working on my arms and my core to strengthen and tone. Abs? I know they're in there somewhere...
2. Relax. One of the biggest parts of yoga is the exploration of the mind/body connection and the peace that can be found there. Its a GREAT stress reliever, and with this whole "I'm gonna start my own business" thing... Well, I figure that will be pretty helpful :)
3. I have always wanted to do a head stand. Always. Remember that whole thing about trusting my body... never got quite that far. So my biggest goal is to, by the end of the month, be able to do this:

source (headstand, aka Sirsasana)

Maybe, ya know, not in the soggy sand... but none the less. I don't care if in the end I'm still needing the wall for balance, I WILL kick my feet up and rock this pose!

SooooooooOOOOO YEAH! In approximately 2 days, the next phase of my adventure begins! I'll be done with my old job and ready to start my new life! Stay tuned! And remember:

source

Namaste Y'all

Lindsey :)