Week 133 of REAL...

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

RIght up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. So my SEAL puppy reps (SEALp) consist of girls' pushups, crunches, and flutter kicks, a SEAL training basic. I started with doing one of each. 

Hip lifts

PT ~ Physical therapy using 2-lb and 1-lb weights, alternating days.

UB ~ Upper body exercises

I've worked up to 50 and then 10 more.

The 3rd: 2-mile walk. SEALp. PT.

The 4th: 2-mile walk. PT.

The 5th: Rest. 

The 6th: 1-mile walk. SEALp. PT. UB.

The 7th: PT.

The 8th: 3-mile walk, 1 of which was with a dog who sets a good pace. Coat not needed. :-) I only slept five hours the night before, so I eased up on the workout.

The 9th: PT.

The first picture was taken in February 2012. The second picture was taken in June 2012. Inspiration, at least to me:

Follow up on sleep...

I'm discovering something I never expected. More important than hours of sleep, for me, is how I sleep. I've moved over in the bed so I'm closer to the wall than edge I roll out of... probably a good thing I sleep alone... Actually, sleeping close to the wall, I have an oversized stuffed floppy dog and pillows behind me. I like having something at my back. Happy, my aromatherapy dog, is tucked under my cheek, so my nose is right there. My new Christmas Teddy Bear is the perfect size for holding. A pillow is too big, and nothing at all causes trouble with curling my arms in too much. I'm sleeping so much better now. I think... then again, I keep wondering if it isn't so much this or that as a whole bunch of little things.

New Year... new changes...

Yesterday, I shorted my 2-mile walk to 1 mile. I woke to an odd dream of some guy attempting to dissuade me from my walk. I had a bad feeling about it. I headed out and noted a man crossing the street to my side. I think he meant to catch the bus, which he missed by minutes. However, I wasn't willing to bet my life on it. I'd completed a half mile. I kept thinking of the dream. A mile was good. I completed all my other exercises. It's been a while since I've done that.

Exercise is a huge part of taking care of me. I hate when I tell myself to make it a priority. I know it's all word games. Eh-hem... yeah, I specialize in those. I'm allowing myself to simply be who I am. So how do I manage to exercise on a regular basis? I need a routine. I'm not awake enough first thing in the morning. Exercise gives my brain time to wake up. It works for me.

I'm doing better at eating as well. Much faster turn around after the holidays than I usually have. The gift to myself is to not eat eggs alone. Could that simple decision really be so significant? Or is it simply one of many small ones growing into something hugely amazing?

Carpe Diem... writing challenges...

It is the 6th of January. I have a novella I need to edit and return to my editor. I have a novel I need to finish rewriting and turn in to the same editor to check for errors like plot holes, continuity, etc. I'd thought I'd have some of this done a lot sooner. I've been writing full time for only two years. It seems like a long time to some people, but it isn't to me. I've been learning a lot about the craft and the business.

This year, one of the gifts to myself is to learn what schedule works for me to make the most of my writing time and ability. This month is sort of a crash course. Next month won't be much better, though I'll have a few projects behind me.

Laundry still needs to be done. :-) Some things never change.

Thank Goodness It's Sunday... #188...

~ Casting Crowns' Who Am I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcqria2wmg

~ Every day, the opportunity to begin again, and I know a little more than I did before.

~ Yesterday morning, the Catholic church not far from here played Noel on their chimes. Half a mile away and yes, I heard it, despite living in the city. It was lovely.

~ Good books ~ Diane Gaston's latest, A Marriage of Notoriety, was a birthday present, and I loved it!

~ Yummy food ~ I make a pizza using rolls. I was given raspberry jam for Christmas I'm hoarding, however there isn't much left.

My Heroes... David Rutherford...

For the New Year, David posted a link to You Tube, where I discovered all kinds of videos for Team Froglogic. I listen to his radio show when I'm able. I follow him on FB and Pinterest. He inspires me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFbVrlW8Ws

I don't pretend to be SEAL material or to fit into David's world in any way. Many of the things he talks about are beyond me, but if nothing else I've learned to adapt good things to fit me.

For the next few weeks, I'm going to post the links to David's missions.

Here's to a New Year learning to live the Team Life. Thanks David.

Unexpected irritation...

Walking in the mornings has been a real struggle. I do so well most of the time. What's been wrong lately?

I finally figured it out.

Being cold, I've been bundled up in my hoodie and a toasty winter coat. My shins hurt, and everything felt off.

Last week, it dawned on me I was leaning forward because my shoulders were hunched, in an effort to huddle within my coat. Can you imagine being a soldier carrying a 40-lb pack? God bless our troops. The moment I remove the coat, my shoulders square, my head lifts, my back straightens, and I feel better.

I haven't figured out how to work around this, but at least now I know what the problem is. And it isn't me being lazy.

Week 132 of REAL...

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

RIght up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. So my SEAL puppy reps (SEALp) consist of girls' pushups, crunches, and flutter kicks, a SEAL training basic. I started with doing one of each.

PT ~ Physical therapy using 2-lb and 1-lb weights, alternating days.

UB ~ Upper body exercises

I've worked up to 50 and then 10 more.

The 27th: 2-mile walk. SEALp. Headache put paid to anything more.

The 28th: 2-mile walk. PT.

The 29th: Rest. 

The 30th: 2-mile walk. SEALp. PT.

The 31st: I lifted groceries and did a bit of cooking that required stretching and lifting. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

January

The 1st: 1-mile walk. SEALp. Five hours sleep and a bit of an unhappy tummy demanded I take it easy. So I did.

The 2nd: PT.

The first picture was taken in February 2012. The second picture was taken in June 2012. Inspiration, at least to me:

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2014!

I celebrated New Year's Eve with chocolate cake and pizza and frozen grapes. And no snacking. Hmmm... imagine that.

My sleeping is settling into a new routine that I think will work better for me.

Sleep needs to be a priority.

Writing is another priority. I'm working on it.

It's going to be an adventurous year.