Just. Do. It.

If anyone’s been keeping up...I’ve been feeling a little uninspired for a while. Luckily, one of my friends decided we should do a fitness challenge together. We decided we would work out for 24 days- every day in December until Christmas. I’m SO glad we decided to do this challenge for a couple of reasons- it’s always super helpful for me to have a concrete goal to work towards- I’m actually being held accountable for doing my workouts and I do NOT want to be a lame-o quitter, AND my challenger friend just moved back to England, so knowing we have something connecting us across the pond is making me a little less sad about not seeing him every day. When he was still living here, he was always such a steady source of positivity and fun. Whenever I was feeling a little lazy or down, he was always there to crack a joke or remind me that the difference between lazy and badass isn’t so big. Another friend and I were talking about him leaving and we decided that we’d just have to turn up our own positivity that much more to fill the gap!

Since I’ve been in a little bit of a lull lately, knowing I have a “reason” to work out is starting to get that fire under my butt burning again. I even stepped outside the box and make up my own circuit workout today! *gasp* This challenge has been particularly great because we get to choose our own workouts. We just have to do SOMETHING every day. Some days mean doing a 30 min online yoga class at home to relax before bed and some days mean balls to the wall HIIT at the gym...whatever I’m feeling that day. Normally, I fall into the trap of thinking I shouldn’t bother working out unless I can actually go to a class or dedicate at least an hour to my workout at the gym. Today’s circuit reminded me that you can break a sweat in 10 mins! Of course, longer would be great, but anything is better than nothing!!! 

I was in the best shape of my life a couple years ago, but that place seems to be getting further and further away...and seems less and less feasible to get back to. At that time, I was skating 3 hrs a day, working out at the gym for an hour or so 3-5 times a week and probably not eating as much as I should have been. I’ve been struggling with not wanting to stop myself from eating things (like bread and pasta) anymore, but finding the balance has been harder than I thought. I don’t feel the way I want in my body, and as I make my way back to a better place, I want to make sure I do it in a balanced, healthy way- both mentally and physically. 

These struggles have definitely played a part in my lull. Not feeling 100% about my body’s current state was making me want to stay on the couch instead of getting out there and actually doing something about it. (Uh, HELLO!? That’s not solving anything...) Since I burn the candle at both ends, I always struggle with napping during the day. I. Love. Naps. And they seem necessary since I have to be up early to coach out on the ice and I’m up late with salsa rehearsal. But, this last week of workouts has reminded me that I actually need to nap less than I think. Especially if I’m putting my time into working out and giving my body more energy. Side effects- I get to be happier with the way I look and feel! Moral of the story: when you feel like you want to shrink into a ball on your couch for longer than you should, DON’T. DO. IT. Force yourself to at least do a little something- 20-30 mins matters. And you’re certainly not going to feel any better in your body if you’re not doing anything about it. So, get out there and do it, peeps!!! I’m on my way to the gym right now. 💪🏼

A case of the ho-humS

I always feel a little complacent this time of year. I end up taking lots of naps and choose staying home over going out. I always struggle with what to do when I feel this way... I’m so used to being a go-getter and never slowing down for anything because I have so many things I want to be doing ALL THE TIME! But is that really sustainable? Is my body telling me to slow the F down? When I’m feeling like a ho-hum homebody, should I listen and go self care all the way? Or should I suck it up and go to the gym or that yoga class or the dinner party this Saturday because I know it will be good for me and I’ll end up having a good time? 

Usually when I’m having the blahs, I do try to listen to my body and snuggle up for as much home time as I can get, but I try to push myself to get out of the house, too. I recently signed up for Glo (www.glo.com)- an online yoga community with TONS of classes you can do at home. It’s $22 a month and you can choose from basically any length class you want. Perfect for times like these when you don’t feel like leaving the house, but feel like you should probably do something that doesn’t involve having your butt on the couch... I used to do a ton of yoga and I had a subscription to Glo years ago and then cancelled it when I started doing a bunch of Bikram classes. I haven’t really done yoga in years now, and lately I’ve been missing it a lot. The first couple Glo classes I’ve done have left me feeling really revitalized and I’m SO glad I’m making yoga part of my life again. It’s really helping to breathe some more energy into my body (and mind). It helps me to feel more grounded, too. 

After traveling so much, my day-to-day has been feeling a little repetitive, and I’m looking forward to having some time off for Thanksgiving. Since I’m an only child, I’ve always loved the togetherness that Thanksgiving brings, whether it’s your actual family or the family you choose for yourself. I’m hoping that the break and some home time with family will continue to restore my energy reserves and by the time the Christmas season rolls around (no, retail, the Christmas season doesn’t start until AFTER Thanksgiving), I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled go-getter programming. So, if you’re having a case of the homebody blues like I am, my best advice is balance. Listen to your body, because it probably is trying to tell you something. But don’t let yourself get sucked into the couch vortex too much. Make sure you peel yourself off to take a walk in as much nature as you can find, spend time with friends, or take a class that interests you. As much as you may feel like alone time is all you need, try to find at least one thing that breathes a little external life back into you, too. And most of all, just be aware. Take stock of how you’re feeling and think about why you may be feeling that way. Who knows, the real answer may surprise you and lead you somewhere better than you thought...

A post for my hero.

Eep! It’s been a while! I’ve been doing a bunch of traveling and trying to play catch up in between. Just got back from a wonderful trip to Mexico City with the salsa fam! We had a great performance and a blast exploring a new city together. Mexico gave me a little going away present 💩 💝, so I’ve been doing lots of laying on the couch and re-reading Harry Potter in between keeping up with adulting. Anyway! Now I’m back! And I want to tell you about one of my best friends. She’s in the hospital in another country with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in her lung...don’t worry, I had to google, too) and she needs some extra love today. She’s ok right now, but needs some more positive energy to help her through the last bit of healing to get her home, so I figured I’d tell another one of her stories here. This story is one of my favorites...

She’s my oldest friend. Technically, we’ve been friends since we were 6. I moved to VT from PA in a snowstorm right after Christmas and the neighbors just down our dirt road came over to invite us to their New Years’ party. My parents aren’t really the partying type (I don’t ever remember going to another New Years get together), but, for whatever reason, we went to this one. It was a small gathering- mostly adults. There was one little girl upstairs in the little loft of the log cabin, so I went up to play with her. She was making a latch hook pillow with a fish on it. I had never seen latch hook before, so she taught me, and we spent hours laughing and pillow making up in that little loft. It was another 6 years before our paths crossed again. I was in 6th grade, getting ready to visit a new school for 7th grade. A couple days before the visit, my dad asked if I remembered the girl with the latch hook pillow. I said OF COURSE! He told me she was slated to visit the new school the same day I was! He remembered her last name from talking with her dad at the party and put two and two together. Fast forward to both of us deciding to go to the new school and being best friends all the way through middle and high school. We had our ups and downs, but we were apparently slated to be best friends, and it was out of our control. We were stuck together. 

One day when I was in college, I got a call from her telling me she had been in a terrible car accident while studying abroad in Ecuador. She had broken her pelvis in 3 places and the doctors were scared she wouldn’t walk again. Now, mind you, this lady is one of the best athletes I’ve ever met, so her not walking again did not compute in my mind. Or hers. She took an air ambulance home and was on bed rest for a while, but, of course she did walk again. The doctors were very happy with her progress, but they told her she’d never run again. I spent that whole summer with her, walking and (ironically) salsa dancing. Doing anything to keep her body moving and working towards having full mobility again. It was so hard watching her struggle. She was always the stronger one. She always had a stronger body and mind than I did...it was so strange seeing her like this. And then one day, FINALLY, she ran. We were both crying. I was so proud of her and she was so, so happy. After watching her conquer the impossible, I knew she could do ANYTHING, and if she could do it, I could do it, too. Her willpower is so, so positive and strong, and it’s infectious. Now she works for Reebok corporate and teaches bomb ass fitness classes- inspiring adults and kids to be the best they can be. Because, if she can run when they said she would never walk again, we can do anything. And, because she’s always been good at defying the odds, I know she’ll be fine this time, too. According to her, and me, there’s no other option. This world isn’t done with her yet. So, remember. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. And, no matter what you’re struggling with...you’ll always come out stronger in the end. 💪🏼💜💫