It's Friday

Everyone needs a little Friday pick me up, so here it is. Warning, make sure your volume isn't up super loud, because this gets LOUD.

So did you watch it? These girls are awesome and their parents are really funny for recording them AND posting it to the internet. Is this the new version of naked baby pictures? It just might be.

My challenge this week has been trying to walk 10,000 steps everyday. Why, you may ask. Well, my normal workout routine was getting stagnant and I wanted to change it up. So, I pulled out my trusty pedometer and went to work. Yes, this is the same pedometer that helped me win a spin bike.

Funny thing about this is, I thought it would be relatively easy, but it was NOT. Just ask the hubby, I wandered around the living room doing jumping jacks, walking, lunges, just to get to 10,000 steps last night. Thankfully my husband knew I was already in the deep end when he married me, so he just loves me through my craziness.

Let me start over at the beginning of the week, I put on my pedometer and headed to work, about half way through the morning I look down and see 600 steps. Wait, what? I thought, that's not right, this pedometer is broken. But then I started thinking back through the morning and you know what, the pedometer wasn't broken, I was. In less than 4 hours I realized I was deceiving myself. For someone who works and manages a fitness center, I was fooling myself into thinking I was more active than I am.

That thought alone was very sobering and after day 1 I decided to make a commitment to stick this out for a few weeks. So, day 2  I made it to 8,000 steps, yup still missed my goal AGAIN. Then I was discouraged, not about the challenge but about me, me of all people, was missing this mark. And if I, someone who has freedom to get a workout in during the day, someone who is surrounded by fitness, someone who is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, how our others accomplishing this goal? Honestly, it's not easy, but it is necessary. Our lifestyles have become so sedentary, sit in a car, sit at our desk, sit in-front of the TV. So if you would like, join this challenge with me. If anything just wear a pedometer one day and see how far you walk, I am sure you will be surprised. You do not need a fancy workout band to show you that your body isn't getting enough movement during the day. Go to your local Wal-Mart or Academy, a basic pedometer will run you about $3.00. YES, that is all. Fun note, if you have an iPhone 5 you can download a pedometer app! Crazy, huh?

With a check back in to my challenge, I hit the goal Wednesday and Thursday. So, we will see how this Friday-Sunday play out. Wish me luck! If you decide to jump on this bandwagon, good luck and good walking!

Even if you decide not to participate, take some time for you and for your body. In my yoga training a few weeks ago, the instructor turned on this song and told us to just dance/move for the whole song. Funny thing is, I did not want to do it. First, it was early, I was tired and sore, but after I did it I was a happier, more relaxed Kristin. So go ahead and try it now, who cares if people stare. :)

love love love y'all,
K

P.S. Some extra (fun, ha)  reading about getting in 10,000 steps a day!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2010/02/22/study-10000-steps-day-is-good-for/
http://www.shapeup.org/resources/10ksteps.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7992948/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/grab-pedometer-go/#.UyxSM_ldXK0

Struggle Town

It's only week two of this endeavor and I am already struggling with a topic to write about. Plus I look at these other blogs and they post once a day if not more, people, I do not have time for that. Another question, how do they have time for that? 

So as I take this journey trying to figure out how this blog should look, what I should write about, I just ask for your patience. So right now what I would like to do is share a video that I think everyone could benefit from. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/nightline-fix-abc-news/long-journey-becoming-10-percent-happier-143145889.html?vp=1

I completely agree that everyone should take time "hang out with yourself". Whether it is your quiet time, yoga, meditation, etc. In this world of cell phones, email, instagram, twitter, TV, ipads, your mind never stops. It is now easier in this day and age to distract and busy yourself, then actually take time to sit and be still. Crazy huh? Before I saw this video I had committed to taking 5 minutes a day to have "down" time. My only rules are -no electronics, -no other people, and -NO to do lists. You know what I mean, you sit down to do you quite time or relax and then 10 minutes later all you did was use that time to make lists of what you should be, should have or forgot to do. 

These 5 minutes should be your rejuvenation time and if I am completely honest it's not easy. But the key thing, it is worth it. I think about it like working out. Why you may ask? Well because we all know working out is good for us, yet we whine, moan and find every excuse not to do it. But 90%n (probably more but I am giving us all a little grace) of the time, what happens after you do it.... Yup, you know I am right, you feel better. Well I promise you, same goes for your "hang out with yourself" time. I have found that after that time, I am a happier, more balanced, more joyful individual. So, I challenge you to try it for one week. If it doesn't work for you then you have wasted what, 35 minutes? So half of a Real Housewives show. :) I think you can spare it. Who knows it could change your whole day or maybe even life. 

love love love y'all, 

K

Working on a comeback

I am not entirely sure if anyone evens reads this anymore. But I am working on a comeback. I am going to try and post once a week until May. Realistic goals people. I know I have been neglecting this blog for a while. At first I thought this blog would be for friends, family, etc. But then I changed the URL and thought I want this to go WORLDWIDE. Then I let doubt creep in, "What if no one likes it?", "Well what if your writing stinks?" What if, what if what it. So I let all that fear and doubt paralyze me. So here it is full honesty. I have no idea how this blog should work. No idea if it should be out there for everyone to read, or left in my own little life with family and friends.

But I am committing that I will at least try. Because if anything, this is a journal of my life and one day I want to be able to look back and remember it all. Every trial, tribulation, and joyous moment. So I will try and set all fear aside and really speak what is on my heart. I cannot promise that it will be grammatically correct, it will probably ramble, and be a huge run-on sentence, but it will be me. That is what I am promising you, that it will be Kristin.

So bullet point updates from the last post

• I got a title change/raise to Assistant Director of Facilities, so now a bit wider of a scope instead of just fitness center
• We spent the week after signing day in Orlando with the rents and it was FABULOUS
• Kelley and Shaun got engaged!!!!!!
• I took sowing lessons
• I got certified in yoga (I still have 8 hours of community service to complete)
• I constantly wonder if I should go back to school
• J and I are Colin and Alexandra's Godparents, and this Sunday is their baptism
• We had more snow days this year than I can care to count, one being this last Monday, in MARCH!
• I got accepted to present at Region IV and NIRSA
• Ambre is engaged and I am in her wedding in October
• We have almost been married for two years, WHAT??
• I just started leading a 6th grade girls bible study
• I do not know how I am 26, some days I feel like I just graduated, other days I think "is it time to retire yet?" :)
• J and I gave the rents an AWESOME gift for their 30th anniversary
• The guest room at the rents got a make-over, right Mom? :)

Right at this moment that is all I can think of. Thank you for letting me be me and ramble and talk and share.