New Year Resolutions, Cont'd

At the Jewish New Year, I set a few goals for myself. These centered mostly around cultivating a positive attitude and bringing peace to my life and my family. For me, it is definitely important to re-visit these resolutions and so that I can re-align my focus to continue to strive in that direction. Lately, my patience has been sorely tested .... which is the time when it is most important to maintain a level head and clear vision. I am not always (rarely) successful, but reminding myself of my goals always helps to keep me on track.

I thought with the impending calendar new year upon us, I would also set out some fitness-related goals. The cold winter weather has had a negative impact on my motivation, but in past couple of days I have felt re-invigorated. Setting some new challenges will help keep me energized and active.

What I hope to accomplish in 2010:

• Continue a weekly running routine, averaging no less than 30 miles a week.
• Run at least seven 5K races in the summertime, with the goal time being 21:30.
• Continue a daily home yoga practice.
• Develop my hamstring flexibility.
• Introduce some Second Series Ashtanga poses in my yoga practice.

What are your resolutions for 2010?

Today's workout:
75 min. run (8.52 mi)
15 min. resistance training
75 min. primary series yoga

Time Wounds All Heels

Our feet have such a burden, carrying us through this life. The average moderately active person takes about 7500 steps a day. This means that an average person, with an average stride, who lives to be 80 years old, will have walked about 108,131 miles.

The American Academy of Podiatric Sciences explains the complexity of our amazing feet that support us for all of these steps:

Nowhere is the miracle of the foot more clear than watching the human body in motion. The combination of 26 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments, and a network of tendons, nerves, and blood vessels all work together to establish the graceful synergy involved in running. The balance, support, and propulsion of a jogger's body all depend on the foot.

For a runner or avid exerciser, the force and stress placed on the feet is even more intense than the average moderately active person. You may be more likely to suffer an injury or experience foot pain. Personally, I have noticed that since I have started running, I have felt new sensations in my feet that I did not experience before with lower impact exercise.

In order to keep your feet healthy and lessen the pain, make sure to choose appropriate footwear. One of my goals this winter break is to visit the local running store and get proper running shoes. Also, you can help your feet by doing stretches that isolate the muscles in your feet and toes.

Be aware of your feet as you are running or exercising and make sure to take care of them, because they are working hard for you!

Today's workout:

30 min. run (4.0 mi)

30 min. resistance training

60 min. personal yoga training

60 min. yoga @ home (still to come!)

Light One Candle

I haven't been blogging lately ... as it is for many people, it is a busy time in the Zippy household. There are lots of Chanukah parties and family visiting and school activities. The kids love it and it is all lots of fun.

This year, every year, we celebrate freedom and the right to worship as we choose. We celebrate the right to be ourselves and the right to live according to the dictates of our religion and our conscience. We celebrate the right to live in peace with others who make different choices. We celebrate our ability to light our Chanukah menorah on a street filled with Christmas lights. We remember with gratitude those who fought and gave their lives for those freedoms, in ancient and modern times.

Chag Samaech and Happy Holidays to all!

Today's workout:

50 min. run (5.64 mi)

40 min. ballet body class

45 min. yoga

Keep Zippin' Along

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
John Quincy Adams
(1825-1829); 6th Us President

Today's workout:

45 min. run (5.91 mi)

25 min. resistance training

75 min. primary series yoga

Saved by Julia

Tonight my husband and I watched Julie & Julia, the movie about the Julie Powell, a blogger, who undertook the self-imposed challenge to cook all 524 of Julia Child's recipes from her acclaimed cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year's time.

What I found interesting was the Julie Powell character's continuous claim that Julia Child "saved" her, that these acts of cooking and writing "pulled her out of the sea". While this description may be melodramatic, it does point to the need that many of us have to distinguish ourselves in someway and find something to define ourselves by. For Julie, she was able to escape the drudgery of her office job and her feelings of failure as a writer by tackling complicated culinary feats. Not only did she find cooking creative, relaxing and refreshing, it was a way for her to carve a new identity and create meaning in her life.

I think each of us needs something to hold on to, that we feel sets us apart and gives us a sense of who we are. Those of us who spend our lives taking care of others - our children, our parents, our students, our clients - may seek a deeper connection with our own selves. I personally strive to challenge myself with developing my physical fitness, but each of us set our own goals and find our own path. Once we do, it makes life a little bit easier.

Today's workout:
30 min. run (4.0 mi)
25 min. weight lifting
60 min. personal yoga training
60 min. yoga @ home

A Big Day for my Big Girl

So sad! My middle child celebrated her fourth birthday this weekend, but unfortunately, our memory card on our camera malfunctioned and almost none of the photos that I took were able to be uploaded onto the computer. So frustrating ... oddly enough, the same thing happened when my son was born. Why doesn't the camera break during inconsequential events?!

Anyway, we were able to get a few shots from her day.

G&D were very excited about the day of birthday parties (three parties in total that day!!!!). G wasn't quite convinced about her birthday though:
Mommy: "Happy Birthday!!"
G: "Am I 4?"
Mommy: "Yes!!"
G: "No, I'm not. I'm looking in the mirror and I'm still little!"


R knows his age -- one!!

Finally, at the gym during the party. She had a great time. The kids got to play all kinds of games to start off - balls and hoops and scooters and tunnels.

Note G's shirt -- I appliqued & embroidered the clown myself! I realized at the last minute that she didn't have anything special to wear for her birthday, so I made the shirt to match the clown theme of the party.

Parachute games are always a big hit.
Mackee the clown was awesome. He totally respected G's desire to not have any attention drawn to her and all the kids were enthralled with his act. G's favorite part was when he pulled out the live bunny rabbit at the end of his show! While the kids were eating pizza and ice cream (clown cones, of course!), he made balloon animals for everybody.

She had a really fun day.

Today's workout:
73 min. run (8.29 mi)
75 min. primary series yoga

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Honestly, as the weather gets increasingly worse, I truly feel like hibernating. I just want to eat and eat and eat, and then cuddle up under a cozy blanket and go to sleep ... and wake up to sunshine, reggae music, and waves. I suppose that's not happening though.

My motivation right now is very low - I usually experience this kind of feeling throughout the colder months. I really have to push myself to carry on with daily activities, let alone having the extra gumption to exercise faithfully.

Here are a few things that help me continue to maintain my exercise routine even when I don't necessarily feel like doing it:

• Set aside time every day specifically for exercise. For me, I go right after I drop the older kids off at school. I always practice yoga right after I put my daughters to bed.
• Recognize my malaise, acknowledge it, and then exercise anyway.
• Set specific goals. For example, today I will run six miles. This week, I will work on improving hamstring flexibility.
• Search through fitness magazines, books and websites for new ideas to add interest to my normal routine.
• Use a personal trainer or coach to provide external motivation.
• Exercise with a friend.

This winter, find your own inspiration to keep up your physical fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle!

Today's workout:
50 min. run w/ hill sprints (6.03 mi)
60 min. yoga