Tag Archives: goals

2014 Goals That Have Nothing to Do with Running

I made some non-goal goals for 2014, but since this is a mostly fitness blog, I wanted to talk a little bit more about some fitness goals I do have. My only running goal as of now is to have fun.

Since 2013 was The Year I Discovered Lifting Things Up and Putting Them Down Wasn’t Too Bad and Yoga is Cheap Therapy, I have my mind on some goals of that nature for this year.

1. Pull-Up

Last year in St. Croix, we were walking around a playground of sorts near the beach, and we found a pull-up bar. Ashley sidled right up to that baby, and busted out a few. I walked up, and…LOL. Did not bust out a few, for sure.

Do you see that? My coworker Miriam’s strength is so admirable. We have a pull-up bar in the corner at work (obviously), and she just walks over and busts a few out, the same way I fill up my water bottle. Like it ain’t no thing. 

By the end of the year, I would like to be able to do a pull-up or two. 

2. Headstand.


Tara Stiles Yoga Headstand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a yoga event with Tara Stiles last spring, she helped me into an assisted headstand…and it was awesome. I’ve also done a few against the wall at Prana, but I’d love to be able to do one without an assist by the end of the year. I plan on giving my best try at this in yoga classes, and asking instructors for an assist if they are offering one.

[Shape has a great guide to get you there, step-by-step.]

3. Handstand

How the eff did I do this when I did gymnastics all those years ago? Like…how? 

My buddy Anne busts out handstands all over the place…and they look cool. I’d like to be able to do a handstand, too.

[Whole Living has an awesome guide to get you there.]

That’s all. Let’s meet back here Dec. 31 and discuss this, okay?

Do you have any strength-related goals for this year?

My Summer Body Experiment

I’m going through a rough time right now.

I think it would be really easy to slack off on my devotion to healthy eating and fitness, but:

  • I’ve come too far.
  • This is a great opportunity for me to take even better care of my body.

While the nutrition guidelines I followed to lose weight seemed somewhat restrictive at the time (they’re basically Paleo), they worked and I felt amazing. Digestive issues were almost non-existent, and I had so much energy.

These days, I still try to keep these guidelines in mind, but in reality, my eating’s been more laissez-faire as of late. Really, I eat basically what I want and just try to balance unhealthy meals out with healthy meals and workouts.

Well, I feel bloated and my stomach has been upset a lot lately, so that’s not working.

I’ve decided to use this extra time to recommit to my health and experiment a little bit.

My summer health (and this includes mental health) goals:

  • pick and begin marathon training schedule by July 1. (Also considering training with a group. Does anyone know anything about non-fundraising marathon training groups?)
  • Get back to Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday or Sunday running schedule.
  • Mondays and Wednesdays will be strength. I’m not sure what this will look like yet, because I’m still figuring out my gym situation.
  • Add some ab work in (maybe a la Angela @ Oh She Glows Whittle My Middle) to both tone my abs and reduce lower back pain
  • Fridays (and really any other time I can fit it in, too) will be for yoga.
  • The weekend day I don’t run will be for a rest day.
  • Cut way back on wheat and dairy. (Caveat: once I finish the wheat products currently in my kitchen)
  • But experiment with re-adding salads (which sometimes bother my stomach) and Greek yogurt (which I miss like crazy and didn’t used to bother my stomach–so long as I didn’t eat it before running)
  • Take my vitamins.
  • Stick to a somewhat normal sleep schedule.
  • Make the best of this time I’m not working and try to enjoy at as much as I can. After all, it is summer.

That’s all. 😉 I’m bad at following up when I create “official” challenges for myself, so these are just things I’m going to keep in mind. I’ll check back in on July 1, August 1 and September 1, formally, though, and will likely be discussing the above goals throughout the summer.

Do you have any summer health goals?