Move. Eat Healthy. Live Better.: February 2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Daily HIIT/Bodyrock.tv Catching Fire 30 Day Challenge: The Entire Challenge & My Results

Bodyrock/The Daily HIIT recently made a 30-day real-time challenge of 12 minute daily workouts. I volunteered to write about each day as a way to stay accountable. This long post is a summary of my results, a link to the entire challenge, and all of my articles related to the challenge. My articles detail the workout, but also any modifications I did. Since I did most of the workouts during my lunch break, I had to convert many exercises to bodyweight-only, or dumbbell-only. If you are a beginner or don't have the equipment they promote, check out my articles for substitution ideas. If you are looking for equipment, you can find it here.

We all have days that it seems impossible to do a legitimate workout. Let’s be honest: after my son was born, I had too many days like that. I got into the habit of sneaking in little bits of activity so that at the end of the day I felt like I did something good for myself.

I’m sure that title may not sit well with some people. Stick with me, I don’t intend to be offensive.

I work in radiation oncology. I have met countless patients in the midst of cancer treatment. While I no longer provide direct patient care, I still hear stories. I see their faces. I will always carry the lessons I have learned from the people I’ve been fortunate to treat. Working in a field where you are surrounded by people fighting for more time and/or less pain has completely changed me. The lens through which I view the world is permanently different. Issues that many people get angry over or fixate on seem trivial to me. Most arguments I see as a waste of time.

As I’m flying across the country, I am reading the airline’s magazine, Hemispheres. In the January 2014 edition, page 76 lists some off-the-beaten-path activities for the year. First up for January? No Pants Subway Ride in New York City.

What Defines You?

Too long ago, 16 year old me was showing off my awesome hunter-green satin and velvet prom dress with rhinestone spaghetti straps to my Grandma. I thought I looked DAMN GOOD. When I asked what she thought of my dress, she said something complimentary, followed by a line I have grown to love over time:

“We are all young and pretty once.”

Think about that for a moment. No matter what your age is, you will never be younger than you are now. You may favorably weather the storm of time, but time will not leave you physically unchanged (even if you have procedures to slow it’s effects).