BeFit360

This is for all my similar Type A, overachieving, control-oriented, introverts with some OCD tendencies. I just got back from the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) - hiking 80+ miles around the largest peak in Western Europe, and this is what I learned . . .

1. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone!
You would think that the hiking would be the challenging part, but for me, the true challenge was going on an organized trip (no control) with complete strangers and spending 24/7 with them. It was absolutely incredible, and I would totally do it again! I highly recommend https://www.alpenwild.com/ for anyone interested in an amazing experience.

2. Let Go and Stop Being a Purist!
I'm the type of person that will ride .2 miles in a parking lot because my bike computer said 49.8 miles when I finished my ride. I don't know how many times I asked, "What's the mileage?" and my guides said, "What's it matter?!" And they were sooooo right! The actual TMB is around 105-110 miles - we skipped parts that were boring, took variant paths that were more scenic and less crowded, and thoroughly enjoyed the moment and the people we were with - the distance absolutely did not matter.

3. SLOW DOWN, enjoy the moment, and who you are with!
I am a Point A to Point B, destination kind of person. Which is the opposite of what this trip was - it's all about the journey. We hiked slowly, had relaxing picnics on the mountain (sometimes a cat nap), meals were three hours every single night with amazing people. So different from what I'm used to doing . . . I'm improving in this area, but still have a ways to go. ;-)

And a HUGE thank you to Vitality, Inc for allowing me to take this trip even though I just started at the organization!

Do hard things and challenge yourself, but learn to slow down, respect nature, go off the beaten path, and find common ground with every new person you meet . . . there is so much to learn and enjoy in this world! Do it while you can!

"Someday you will not be able to do this, today is not that day."

So many of you know that I turn 50 this year and I have decided to have 50 new experiences in my 50th year. This has been great and something I challenge you to do on a regular basis. Maybe one new thing a week/month? It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, it can be things as simple as trying a new restaurant/food (maybe something you don’t normally eat - I tried a Korean barbecue), take a fitness class that’s outside your comfort zone, go someplace you’ve never been, try a new activity. So far, I’ve gone line dancing, shot a gun, kayaked, played golf (really bad at it), and played pickel ball. You can also take something that you love to do, and just expand it like read a new book or go to a live show/concert at a new venue once a month. I love to hike, so I am trying to go on several different routes/locations this year. The possibilities are endless! It’s so easy to fall into a routine and never step outside your comfort zone. Join me on this journey and try something new today! Here’s a sampling of some of my experiences so far. And an even bigger bonus is that your friends and family get to have some experiences with you!

Wow! So the last time I posted was exactly one year ago today, posting about the exact same thing. For those of you that don't know, I went back to work full-time in January 2022, hence my lack of connection here. Hoping to get back into posting a little motivation this year. For my Tampa friends, if you want to take a class with me, I teach at EOS Ehrlich, Indoor Cycling Monday nights at 5:15pm and 6:15; Barre on Thursdays at 5:00pm and Indoor Cycling at 6:00pm. I will most likely be picking up a couple of classes at the Lutz EOS when it opens in a few months.

If you are looking for some motivation to get you moving throughout the year, check out Run the Edge. This is a challenge that I have done every year since 2018 - you just cover the year in mileage, ie: run/walk 2,022 miles in Year 2022. You can cover the miles however works best for you (running, walking, cycling, etc.); do it with a partner, team, or as an individual, just make sure it's a hard enough challenge to keep you moving and motivated throughout the year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Run The Edge Virtual Fitness Challenges – Run The Edge® A Trusted Brand In Fitness Fun. You'll love our virtual fitness and running challenges! Run, walk, bike, swim, exercise while making fit fun. From t-shirts to medals, we'll keep you moving and motivated!

If you are looking for something to keep you motivated throughout the year, try the Run the Year Challenge….2022 miles in the year 2022. I’ve done this for several years now….you don’t have to run…combine walking, biking, swimming, stair climbing, etc. You just need to cover the distance….about 39 miles a week. It’s just another way to keep yourself moving and motivated! If injury hits, you just transition to a different avenue to get your miles done. If you have higher goals and a larger run base, maybe you only count running miles….as long as it is challenging for YOU, that is all that matters. Pick your challenge and LET’S GO!

Run The Year 2022: Get It All Registration Run The Year is the original virtual running challenge. Run/Walk 2,022 Miles In 2022 by yourself or with a team. Get it all with our custom shirt, medal, and mileage tracker.

During a BRUTAL study at Harvard in the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water. On average they'd give up and sink after 15 minutes. But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes - and put them back in for a second round. In this second try - how long do you think they lasted? 🤔
Remember - they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago...
How long do you think?
Another 15 minutes?
10 minutes?
5 minutes?
No!
60 hours! 😳
That's not an error. 🤷🏼‍♀️
That's right! 60 hours of swimming.
The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.
I will leave you with this thought:
If hope can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could a belief in yourself and your abilities, do for you?
*Remember what you’re capable of. Remember why you’re here. Keep swimming.

Help your body do its job better!

Fake it til you make it! Just get moving!

You have to be willing to work your body hard enough that it needs to rebuild in order to increase strength. Always be sure to keep proper form; joint pain could be caused by poor form.

The Tour de France started on Saturday, June 26. The cyclists on the Tour will cover over 2200 miles in 21 days across the mountains in France during the month of July. My challenge to you is to complete 2200 MINUTES of physical activity in 30 days. That comes out to be approximately 70 minutes a day. No worries if you're going on vacation . . . you can start the 30 days whenever you want. This doesn't mean it has to be intense exercise. Walking, cleaning your house, mowing your yard all counts. JUST MOVE!!!! Let the riders on the Tour and the upcoming Olympics inspire you do do more!

Countertop push-ups & dips, along with squats are great exercises to do in a small space like a bathroom. Have a plan so you always get something in if only for 5-10 minutes right before you get in the shower.

Before you consume anything, ask yourself one question, "Is this a quality fuel source for my body?"

Attention Any Tampa Friends: Info meeting is this Thursday at 6:30pm.

Take control of what you can!

Be positive. Be patient. Be persistent. Surprise yourself by doing something you didn't think you could do. If you never push to the point you want to quit, you never get the opportunity to practice "not quitting", so keep moving forward one small step-at-a-time.

I know not everyone loves exercise. Others don't love going to work/school, laundry, dishes, paying bills, etc., but we do them because they are necessary. Exercise is also necessary. The saying "find a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life", the same is true with exercise. Find something you love!

Your goal is not perfection, but rather consistent improvement. Try to be a little better than you were yesterday. :-)

ABS ARE MADE IN THE KITCHEN! You can workout all you want, but if you are fueling your body incorrectly, you will never see results.

When eating out this weekend, don't feel the need to clean your plate, but rather box it up and have it for lunch tomorrow. :-)

Knowledge is power! Use the app FOODUCATE to learn what to avoid. https://www.fooducate.com/

Be sure your workouts are balanced! Include strength, cardio and flexibility.

The only way to accomplish a goal is one-step-at-a-time, you can't just jump to the finish line. In running, if you went from the couch to a marathon, you will for sure be injured and not want to do it again. However, if you pace yourself, take training slow and steady, you will have a positive result. This is true in everything. Try to do it all at once and you set yourself up for failure. Go step-by-step and the chances for success are much greater.

Focus on the small, incremental steps that lead to the result you want. Be proud of yourself and take joy in your accomplishments along the way. If you focus on change, the results will come!

Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone this week and try something that challenges you. Maybe even sign-up for an event that scares you a little and excites you a lot.