My Competition: A Day in the Life Sunday

"There's nothing like a little healthy competition," someone says. Outwardly, everyone in hearing range casts a knowing grin and nods their head in agreement. Yet, how many of you stop in your tracks and want to run the other way at any hint of a competition?

I don't run away from competition but I am not the first to routinely throw my hat in the ring. I know myself well enough to know when I am playing it too safe and get the urge to shake things up a bit. There are times, however, when the ever-present voice echoing "CAN'T"  does get in my way.

When I let it.

That voice has been a life-long companion of mine and I've learned how to silence it. At the top of the list of ways is to surround myself with right people. I was commenting to the husband the other night that I have the perfect friends for me right now - fearless, strong, and accepting.

I've been doing CrossFit for almost nine months now. Have you tried working out with young(er) and/or very strong athletes and not feel a tinch of dismay at your own age and/or physical condition? How'd that go for you?

Welcome to my world. I have to remember to keep my "mirror" handy and appreciate  my gains each week.

This week, I actually had a big gain. I did a kipping pull up.  Mine is more of a muscle up than a smooth glide like the instructor in this video but I got my chin above the bar and set myself up for a second one. It's a combination of mind and muscle and it's been a long time coming.

And you know what? I like the view.

By: Lisa Rosendahl

Cupcakes and Health: A Day in the Life Sunday

There are many reasons to exercise regularly and eat healthy. I get that. What I don't get is why we continue to chase the next new "perfect" diet or fitness plan only to be  surprised and disenchanted when the too-good-to-be-true results are not realized.

Stop chasing. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health and fitness. What works for one, won't work for another and what works for you today, may not work for you tomorrow.

The only perfect plan is the one you will follow.

Today, the plan I am following includes a paleo-ish way of eating (I completed an 8 week Paleo challenge last month) and CrossFit. I've had amazing results in strength and flexibility and am feeling better overall with less cravings, more energy, and stable  blood sugar levels. But the rigidity of the LuRong plan is too much of a long term commitment for me.

I stayed 100% true to the plan until I attended a wedding. I made good choices throughout the night: red wine and not white, shrimp and not eggrolls, sweet potatoes and not mashed. Then the desert came. Not eating the desert was less choice and more deprivation (see cupcake above).

I ate the cupcake.

And nothing bad happened.

I jumped back on the bandwagon and finished the challenge - strong. So, while I wait for my finisher's t-shirt, I'll continue to push my self and my strength, pay attention to the foods I eat and settle into the right balance of Paleo/clean/fun foods and exercise for me.

It's taken me a while to get to where I am, now. Will I be in the same place, doing the same next year at this time? I don't know. The one thing I do know is that whatever my perfect plan is, it will always include a cupcake.