A blog about living, playing, running one day at a time
If you’re struggling you aren’t alone. Progress over perfection. Do what needs done and what needs done probably is really not that much! Do what you need to do for you and give yourself grace. It’s tough getting back to working out after being sick. …
One of the easiest, cheapest, simplest daily habits you can do is….hydrating!!! I recommend starting the day off with a large glass of water or lemon water. I used to buy lemons, cut them in half, squeeze the juice – what a pain! Fortunately I …
When’s the last time you tried something new?
Something you might even suck at?!
If you’re anything like me I bet it’s been a while.
What is it with this idea that we gravitate to doing things that we are good at and avoid those we aren’t.
Even if there might be something we want to do, something that might be fun, or bring us joy?!
Sadly most of the time, myself included(!), we choose things that highlight our strengths and avoid things that might show our weaknesses.
Last week I was listening to the Choose Strong podcast by ultrarunner Sally McRae (link here) and she spoke of this idea. She had never run the Leadville 100 because she knew she would struggle due to it being at altitude and she has issues breathing due to an incident shortly after her birth.
However, she did choose to do that race as part of her Choose Strong project. She knew it would be difficult. She knew she would struggle. In the past she chose races to do well as being a professional ultrarunner that is her job and of course she wants to place well in the events she does. So in the past she had never done the Leadville 100 as she knew she’d have a hard time doing well.
As part of her project she did the event and finished. But she did struggle. However, it was interesting that she shared that it’s when we do things that are difficult, that when we struggle, those are the things that help us to learn about ourselves and grow.
I think that’s so true!
Similarly, a book I’m reading touting the benefits of meditation (link here) says that many people don’t do it because they think they suck at it – especially us high achievers- so they don’t meditate!
Again, so true!
It is hard to choose to do things that we aren’t good at or we know we won’t succeed at right away. But that is what leads to a life of growth.
When I first got into triathlons, I loved the last leg – running – as it was my strength. However, the first leg – swimming – was a big challenge for me. I knew how to “swim” but not in any way that was remotely fast or efficient. It took working at it a lot to improve to where I at least was comfortable and could swim the distance of races to end up completing an Ironman (a 2.4 mile swim), nearly 5 years after I first begun the sport.
I know I’ve been that way in choosing – whatever it is – work or races – things I’ll do well at vs things that maybe I just want to do it.
But I’m letting go of that need to be good at something right away and realizing that in the learning, the doing, is the growing. I think that’s why the idea of creating a business including speaking is appealing to me. I’m definitely feeling scared but I feel drawn to it. I know that by pushing myself I will only grow and help others.
Similarly with racing, I do have dreams of longer races – maybe even a 100 miler myself! It’s scary to think about. The longest I’ve done thus far is a 50k (31 miles). It will be some time before I’m close to consider signing up. The idea of failing, of DNFing (not finishing) an event is scary but as Ruth Soukup said “If your goal doesn’t scare you it’s not big enough.”
I also think it’s with those kinds of goals that we grow the most. And it’s also not just in the goal but in the process, the journey, to achieving that goal that we learn about ourselves.
Rather than worrying about showing our weaknesses or perhaps even failing, let’s remember this when thinking about and choosing our goals, “A goal should scare you a little & excite you a lot.” – Joe Vitale
“The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now.” -Unknown Quit waiting for the right or perfect conditions to get started! It can be so easy to put things off. We say we will wait till we lose more weight to …
In one of my recent blog posts here, I was discussing my realizations about self-worth and self-love. I’d like to expound on this even more with further recent thoughts. Driving home from work I was thinking about working out, races and self-worth. I believe I …
Said no one ever….but yes I recently did!
TLDR: After being at a 5 day conference I came home the same weight. See tips below!
Early July I was at The Dental Festival in Nashville. I was gone for 5 days. As you may know by now from reading here I am also on a bit of a health journey.
So what do we do when we are working towards our health goals and have a trip?!
I used to panic, fret, and worry!
Not anymore!
I was so proud to return from this 5 day conference and I had not gained any weight!
Here’s what I did:
I still got in a couple of workouts. I made it a goal to get in at least 1 workout over the 5 days. Getting in a second was a bonus! The hotel had a nice fitness center and my workouts are online from my coach. They can be done anywhere!
I left super early Wednesday so getting up even earlier was just a no-go. So when I saw Wednesday’s conference schedule that things ended around 4pm with a free evening, I was going to take advantage and get a workout in right after. Friday I just got up early to get a workout in at 6am before things started at 8.
For me, it has shifted from “oh I need to workout to burn calories” to “working out makes me feel good.” So getting in my workouts is a priority in that it makes me feel great not just physically, but mentally as well!
Uber vs walking to our dinner spots? Walking all the way! Anytime between sessions, I’d try to get a little bit of walking in as well. During our free evening Wednesday I walked to the Whole Foods about a mile away to pick up some things for breakfast. Basically, take any opportunity to get some movement in!
I’ve found focusing on protein is huge for this process. I do track macros per my coach/nutritionist and protein is a biggie. Protein helps with building muscle and also helps us to be satisfied.
Taking some time to plan is huge. Planning when you might be able to get a workout or walk in and planning a little with nutrition. The meeting provided us lunch every day. I knew I’d most likely be going out with other attendees for dinner. That left breakfast.
As mentioned in #2, I did see there was a Whole Foods not too far away. The room had a small fridge and I asked to get a microwave. (***Tip – call ahead and ask and also ask at check-in. The hotel was super accommodating!)
So I ventured to the store and picked up some things, much of which was focused on higher protein (see #3). At first I thought it was nuts what I spent there but the reality is it was much less than buying breakfasts at the hotel for several days, and fit into my nutrition better too!
I focused on drinking my water. It can be easy at these meetings and being on the go to not drink much water, but I carried a water bottle around with me and there were water jugs all over to easily refill. It was a pain at times getting to the bathroom but I did still get my 100+ ounces in!
I did not drink very much. If you’ve been to Nashville, you know there are a gazillion bars. Add a conference to that and wow….things could’ve gotten out of control easily. Not that there’s anything wrong with enjoying adult beverages, but with health and fitness goals it’s important to be mindful
We went out to a cool place for dinner one night that had a unique drink that sounded intriguing to me so I did enjoy that Thursday evening. Then, I only drank on the Sunday Funday outing and kept it to a minimum as well and was sure to enjoy what I did have.
As you have read, it might take a little work and extra-planning, but staying on track with your health goals is possible while traveling, as well as enjoying yourself! Happy travels!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about self-worth, self- love, self-care, people-pleasing and the like. I’ve also been realizing a lot of things about myself and life. Maybe it’s that mid-life thing they talk about… LOL. But seriously, I’ve been doing some work and getting …
This morning I was trying to stuff all my containers into my lunch bag. I had my lunch all packed, but then realized I had another to add. I tried putting it on top of the container that was in there. No go. Tried sideways. …
So last week was a most amazing week attending The Dental Festival in Nashville. It was amazing because it was an event that felt like a bubble, a blip in time, where a bunch of positive, inspiring people came together and I got to spend time with them in-person.
That included my career coach, Laura, who ended up winning the Dentistry’s Got Talent this year! Learn more about what she does here.
Ok, so let me back up a minute.
The Dental Festival is unlike any other dental conference or event I’ve been to. You purchase one ticket that included something like 18+ different conferences that you could pick and choose what you went to each day. Click here to learn more.
Many of these conferences were around more non-clinical type of stuff, like mental health, a speaking contest (Dentistry’s Got Talent), Side-Gig Summit. And there was also some clinical stuff like airway and clear aligners too.
The really neat thing to me is most of the people involved with speaking and putting on the different conferences are (or were) in clinical dentistry and have another business, side gig, etc going on too! I just think that’s so awesome as we are more than just dentists! See one of my previous blogs here on that!
Also, that’s what I aspire to! I want to be writing, speaking, and perhaps even do some coaching of my own! And who knows what else!
After attending The Dental Festival last week I feel that’s totally possible!
I feel like I’m running TO something!
Do I see the clear path or what exactly it is yet? No. But I have some steps to start the way! And, I met some talented people who I already know will help me in that endeavor.
As you may know I like to run…people often ask “what are you running from?” Or say, “I would only run if being chased.”
Well when I run, I feel like I am running TO something…not from anything! I feel like I am running TO me; like I am running to my best self, who I truly am. Link here to a FaceBook live where I also talked about this idea.
Attending this conference has also made me feel that way…I am moving towards something.
And, now that I am back home, it’d be easy to just fall back into the usual day-to-day routine and slowly those feelings and excitement would wane and nothing would change.
But, you know that’s not me! No way!
I’ve been going through my notes, following-up with those I connected with, making a list of to-dos, keeping my creativity going and allowing ideas to come.
We must make the most of these events not just during but after also! I believe it is possible and I’m not going to let those feelings die so easily.
I will keep running TO something…not from anything. I hope you do the same too!
What are you running TO?! I’d love to hear!
Last Saturday I ran the Power for Purple 5k. I wanted to test my current fitness as I have been running consistently since the last 5k I ran end of April which I wrote about here. At that time in April I hadn’t been running …