[Gemara D'Jessica]

Nerd Fitness just posted this interesting challenge. I don’t plan on joining the challenge - I’m a sore loser — but I do like the idea of the challenge, so I figure I’ll do the challenge on my own. The basic idea is two pick 3 diet and fitness goals and one life goal and for 6 weeks focus on those things. At the end of the 6 weeks see how far you’ve come (and continue on). 

Diet/Fitness goals:

[1] Eat a big breakfast, medium sized lunch and small dinner. I read this recently and it just makes sense to me. Breakfast is to fuel you and get your day started right. Lunch is for a pick-me-up midday and dinner is to just hold you over while you’re sleeping. (Obviously before and after working out I’ll be eating, but I wouldn’t consider those “meals”.)

[2] Yoga/stretching/meditation and light leg/core/hip exercises 6 mornings a week. (Can’t exercise on Shabbat, otherwise it’d be every day of the week.) This one I actually hesitate to add. I had gotten this idea a few weeks ago, when Kovi was waking up around 7/7:30 for the day. I had planned on waking up around 6:30 to do my mini work out. The past few days though, Kovi has been waking up around 6:15/6:30 for the day. I don’t know if I can get up before 6 and still be a fully functional human for the rest of the day. 

[3] Bike at least twice a week and run at least twice a week. Once the weather starts getting more reliable (ie not getting to 79, having a thunderstorm and the next day being foggy, dropping into the low 50s and raining) I’ll be biking 4 days a week and running 5 days a week - plus tennis one day a week - but until then, twice a week works. 

Life Goal: (Honestly, not completely certain of what this one is. Couldn’t find a real explanation on the site, but I’ll wing it…)

Get into bed no later than 10. Sleep is so important and if I’m going to be able to get up before Kovi does, then I need to get to sleep earlier. 

I’ll be starting this next week. I need to menu plan for the breakfasts, lunches and dinners and I need to give my father and sister fair warning of which day I’ll need them to watch the boys so Corey and I can go running. So yeah, starting May 6th (the day of Kovi’s birthday party!). 

I really need to get back into running. I was about two weeks into the Bridge to 10k program when I just stopped. I was actually getting into a pretty good groove. I started taking off my shoes midway through my run (ie during one of the short walking breaks) and it felt so much better. No knee pain at all… however I got a huge blister on one of my toes because of it. I have a Groupon for this running shoe place and I think I may buy a pair of Vibram Five Fingers with it. Get the benefit of running barefoot with a less likelihood of getting blisters. Some day soon Corey and I are going to do the Couch to 5k program together. I (obviously) have already done it, but  Corey and I wanted to do some sort of exercise together so once or twice a week we’ll have my father and/or another family member come over after the boys have gone down for the night so that we can go out running together. 

In mildly related news, cannot wait for this summer! So much running, hiking, tennis(?) and biking to be enjoyed!

I accomplished 4/5 things that I wanted to last week. My exercise is hardly where it needs to be. I ran once and walked a lot, but that was it. With it being so warm, I wanted to spend as much time outside with the boys as possible. I really need to hook up that bike trailer and buy a helmet for Kovi. Then it will be easy peasy to get my daily exercise in. Anyway, here’s this weeks list.

[1] Set up the bike trailer. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get Kovi a helmet this week since it’s not always so easy going places with the boys to try things on by myself. But at least it will be a start in the right direction.

[2] Exercise! More specifically, running three times a week again, push ups, core and hip strengthening exercises. 

[3] Clean the upstairs for Pesach. If the basement is any indication, the upstairs will go nice and smoothly. 

[4] Make tropical lemon cranberry coconut chia bars and healthy strawberry oat squares with homemade jam. Want to get rid of as much chametz as possible in the next couple of weeks. Figure these are some yummy, relatively healthy-ish snacks that the boys (and myself) might enjoy. 

[5] Start planting seeds indoors for the garden. With it being so warm lately, I was tempted to start the seeds outdoors, but this is Cleveland. It can be 72 in the morning and -10 by late afternoon. Not going to take the chance. I have a list of what to start when and I know there’s at least one of the seeds that needs to be planted indoors in March. I also bought Asher a little herb garden starter kit so I’ll have him start that with me. 

I don’t understand it, but every year I get sucked into the whole “new years resolutions” thing. Maybe it’s because so many of my online friends talk about it or maybe it’s because I really, really like making lists. What ever the reason is, here are my goals for 2012.

[1] Get to my goal weight. Well, get within 10lbs of my goal weight. As I’ve said for the past 2 years, I have no idea what my “normal” weight it. My long term goal weight is 135 and for my height that is reasonable. But just in case I’m meant to be on the heavier side of healthy for my height, I’ll be happy to get to 145. 

[2] Do a weekly photography blog and stick with it! Two years ago I started a Project365 (that’s 365 days of pictures) and made it to the middle of August then quit. This year I’ll be doing a 52 week project - that’s one photo a week. Definitely more doable. 

[3] Getting my thyroid under control without pills. I’ve been hearing more and more about nutrition as medicine. I need to read more about it and get in contact with a doctor who is comfortable with this idea and willing to guide me along before taking the plunge though. 

[4] Make mornings as stress free as possible. Firstly, PRAYING. My oh my, how I have fallen in this category. I went a full year with saying brachot and shema every single morning, but once Kovi was born that all went down the tube. [No, I am not blaming Kovi for my lack of davening. Just that the birth of Kovi coincides with the time I stopped praying daily.] I say Modeh Ani and Shema (at night) with Asher, but I want to start doing more [and teaching Asher more]. I think brachot and (day time) Shema are a good starting off point. And praying will definitely ease my stress level - always does (especially shema. The alone time behind my hand for those seconds that it takes me to say it are priceless.)I will also start going to sleep earlier so that I will hopefully feel more refreshed in the morning. I will put mine and the boys clothes out the night before so that that is one [well, three] less thing(s) to worry about. 

[5] I feel like I should have a 5th thing, but I just don’t. I’m sure someone will tell me what should be here. *** Immediately after posting this I realized what #5 will be: run a 5k! I’m currently on week 4 of Couch25k and I love it!