Crazy Well

...a health blog

[crazywell-blog]

Back on the wagon?

So clearly I fell off the wagon in terms of updating the blog.

I did reach my 60 but then fell super sick for two weeks causing all chaos...well, I guess I naively thought by paying so much attention to diet, fitness, sleep, and hydration I might be immune to the flu...

That didn't work.

I'm still focused on maintaining a good lifestyle and habits for 2014. I have to rethink how to get back into blogging and being intentional about it, the last 4 weeks have been a sweet break in terms of to-do list relief.

But maybe the blog matters more than I'm acknowledging in terms of my potential success...this is in fact the one way I can hold myself accountable and look back on that...

[crazywell-blog]

Day 51: still going

With another run and another night of Dante's incredible salsa under my belt there's only one thing to say...

Whoa!!!

Seriously I'm feeling all the tiniest lower ab muscles like whoa.

I know I'm well on my way to turning my 30 days into 60 and from there I'll turn my 60 into 90. But shhhh! Let's not talk about that too much yet

[crazywell-blog]

Day 50: i must confess

On Day 19

I set a goal.

I thought I meant it.

A 6 week challenge, 5 runs per week = 30 runs

To date I have completed 7 runs.

That doesn't look like I meant it. 

Moving forward in this challenge, for however long I continue, I am going to:

Set SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REASONABLE, TIME-ORIENTED goals.

That's right...it's S.M.A.R.T. time.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 49: still on it

I'm still trying to figure what extension on this challenge will feel right.

I'll let it linger awhile longer, I know it will be at least until 60 days. When I think about that I'm realizing, "Hey that's rad- that will double my original goal". The best thing about it is that as time goes on, I feel more committed, even if I'm not always making the perfect choices. It's getting build into my radar- that higher level awareness.

So yesterday I fit in an über short run.

It was short.

It was slow.

But it wasn't planned, I just made it happen.

Feels like victory.

I'm not going to put any pressure on myself to ask for one of those everyday, but seeing how it really can fit into my day is essential moving forward, especially with spring starting to roll in.

Making work from home work for me. How do you make your work situation work for you?

[crazywell-blog]

Day 48: keep on

So for the 48th day of my 30 day challenge (upgraded to 50 day challenge)...

It's time to upgrade again.

What do you think?

Should this be a 70 day challenge? A 120 day challenge?

What would it take to take my good efforts and raise them up?

I've reached the level of fitness & dietary improvements I set out to accomplish in January. But what if maintaining isn't enough?

I think now I want more...

[crazywell-blog]

Day 47: feeling it

Tuesday's story = still sore from Saturday + Monday

Monday night we danced tango pretty intensely for 2.5 hours. Or maybe I just felt it more intensely since my calves were still whining from my super saturday encounter.

Maintaining an active lifestyle isn't easy. It isn't obvious. There is no recipe for success or method worth subscribing to.

I'm pretty happy to have put in the time, energy & effort for Tango while still sore. It loosened me up a bit and makes me feel like I'm building on the first effort...like it will have greater impact now. 

I'm going to go ahead and believe that without waiting for the data to roll in. Take that researchers.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 46: a few things

Thing #1

Last week on 4 occasions I actually got my but to the floor for some ab exercises and small movements to strengthen my core. I didn't give myself credit for it, but I should. That stuff is pretty key for my back pain (um, and my look okay?), it shouldn't go unappreciated in this process.

Thing #2

Seriously I had that intense day on Saturday and my calves are still like "WHOA", but as of Monday my back feels restored. So clutch. So happy.

Thing #3

There is such thing as hurts so good but it only comes as a result of really going for it and being ready to rest and recover appropriately. Keeping up the right caloric intake & protein ratio is essential to making any of the good stuff happen. Yes, EATING is key to producing the results you want.

So here's the conclusions I draw from this:

When I've worked hard I get to rest, take it easy, pain relief...all GUILT FREE. That's a sweet investment.

One hardcore day is enough to bring immediate back pain relief when pared with rest.

The more I work out = the more I get to eat = the more muscle development I get = the better I look = the better I feel = the less back pain I have to live with = the more rest I get.

The ultimate happy making feedback loop. Do you love it?

[crazywell-blog]

Day 45: and done...

For now.

So Saturday, I went kind of over the top.

I ran. I then walked the city with friends for hours. I then danced for many more. First at a burlesque themed party and then out for Salsa Saturdays like we do every Saturday night.

And Sunday? I'm a happy mess. Glad to be so tired and sore from using my body instead of in general. I like it.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 44: and YES

I made sure I got out for a run in the brilliant sunshine.

It's time to get things back on a higher level track. Mediocre/good enough is not enough right now.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 43: getting back

After 2 nights of careful sleep considerations, the shoulder pain has subsided for the most part.

Friday night latin night was on.

And I was ready for it.

So ready to be at a higher level of activity and kiss the pains of inactivity goodbye once more.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 42: ugh

Ugh. Growing pain in my shoulder crossing my neck and connecting to my chest.

I know it's from not living active enough.

I know I missed my favorite Thursday Salsa class because of this pain.

I'm going to think about that.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 41: intention versus action

So Wednesday.

Hello Wednesday.

Hello 4th day of "intending" to go running. Of "intending" to find relief for my back pain. Of "intending" to do better than the day before.

Maybe I didn't figure my schedule well enough. Maybe I'm not doing a good job of "getting on it" first thing in the morning. Maybe my energy is just somewhere else right now.

Hydration is weak. Nutrition is okay, and honestly my current day "okay" is leagues ahead of where I've been. To my credit in that one area...but I want so much more from this year.

I'm going to get it. I will figure it out.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 38: lazy

Somewhat discouraged from Saturday night's salsa flop, I haven't much to say for Sunday. I talked about running and didn't. I thought about going to tango and didn't.

I guess Sunday I just didn't feel like it.

Nutrition was fine, hydration, meh. Could be better. Try again later.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 40: hmmm

So without running for over a week or so...

I'm feeling the difference and it feels bad.

My back pain is starting to creep in with increasing strength, and I know that's me- that's my fault.

I need to get back on the running.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 39: back at it

Monday had more "on" qualities.

Good motivation, good work, danced tango with high energy for a couple hours. Good nutrition.

Good feeling at the end of the day.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 37: try again

So when I first composed the Day 37 post it magically disappeared after I hit "post". In my annoyance I stepped away from the task and here I am at it again...a week later.

In the meantime, I have taken notes to recap the days past en route to the 50 mark.

Sometime's instead of letting things give, just take a break.

So last Saturday my nutrition & hydration was good and I was planning on a couple hours of dancing salsa. When we got to the club, it was just a mess.

A mess of drunk people, elbows out, drinks spilling crowding the dancers out of the dance floor. "Um excuse me Drunk Mister, less body slams from the sidelines? Thank you." Of course he's too drunk, he no longer understands English- his second language. Dumb ass must be his first.

It left me feeling like my activity needs were unmet, but at least I put my effort forward. We cut our losses and called it a night. At least we got some sleep.

I'll try again.

[crazywell-blog]

Day 36: freedance friday

We went out dancing at the 8th Street Taproom with K.Legal spinning- super nice.

It's also super nice to step outside of the more formal dancing environments and just freely move your body in a crowd of sweet music aficionados.

With food on Friday I was on my game up until the 2am fry-scarfing to have enough energy to drive home...c'est la vie