Mountain Highs and Valley Lows

So I'm into my third week and this is the first time I'm feeling less than super-psyched. My first valley. It really sucks coming down from the mountain high, but I am determined to navigate this valley to get back up there!

 
I don't hate anything I am doing, it's just the first moment where I feel like I am so far away from any real change and tangible results. And I choose to recognise that is true, but I am so much closer to those results than I was three weeks ago, and if I falter I won't reach them at all.

So to help me get through this I find myself analysing where I am with my goals so far and where I am not. Perhaps a few ways to help me would be shifting some focus or changing things up.

I have been running and doing strength training on alternate days, with one or two days a week off.

Maybe I will do short update posts with my Quest levels, just to have it for posterity. Well maybe not quite that far ahead, but at least for my own reference :)

I feel it might be time to level up on my strength training. I will take time this week to check out the more advanced workout on NerdFitness.

Also since I haven't been studying much my Temptation-bundling with that hasn't been happening. Although the socialising and exercising bundle is going strong. So focusing on my study schedule this week to get going by next week will also help.

I also think a bit more focus on shifting daily eating habits to healthier options is another thing I can focus on. I usually only buy rye and wholewheat bread but to cut down on consumption of grains I have found a recipe for coconut bread to have as a replacement option. Thanks Coconut Mama for the recipe. Also doing things like planting more vegetables and herbs in our backyard, which I am already using. Roasting pumpkin seeds (yum) and focussing on buying more viable "paleo" snacks for those moments when you're hungry and need something to keep you from making a terrible choice like burgers and fries.. I do, of necessity, have a cheat day and that has worked well for me. So there is no guilt when I really do feel overwhelming urge to indulge, and I'm back on track by next day without setbacks.

So overall just sticking to little changes daily, trying to schedule as much exercise as I can daily and implementing stiking-to-it-iveness. Yes I know its not a word but I got a badge with that (or similar) name from Khan Academy and like the sound of it :) 

A shout out to my now-over-300 Twitter followers, it really helps me connecting with people. And to you reading this blog. I might not know you, but writing this for you keeps me focussed too.

Then lastly, and probably most importantly, I will keep up the focus on the amazing work The A21 Campaign does. And remember how this might be a long term project, but when I get to do the Comrades to raise awareness for them.. What a great mountain high that will be! A smaller and attainable sooner high will be taking part in the Walk For Freedom.

There wasn't one in my area last year and there doesn't seem to be one this year either, so I have decided to host one and this has me flying out of the valley already :) By the time I get my application done I bet I'll be soaring over the mountain tops! You can support this amazing stand by joining a walk or if there isn't one near you, do what I am doing and make it happen!

I'm loving it

So am I pumped after finishing my first strength training exercise session today? Day 4 of my Nerd Fitness programme and having a blast!

Yesterday I chose my character: a monk :) This was an easy choice since I am doing Krav Maga, which strictly speaking isn't Martial Arts, but it is contact combat so it's essentially the same physically. 

I completed another 20 minute "Run" yesterday, although according to my programme it's still speed walking and not running yet. 

Then I just have to mention that I have been meeting lots of amazing people on my twitter account (@mywalkinhershoe). So I want to take a moment to say a sincere thank you to everyone supporting me and our cause to stand against the injustice of human trafficking. 

To all the individuals who make up The A21 Campaign and all the other organisations involved with this worthy cause: Thank you and we will not stop until every last human being is free!

Changing Daily Routines

So how to get fit from scratch? Not sure what to do or where to start so Googled it :)

I found a running routine for beginners, which I believe will be a good start. I don't want injuries but I want to see some sort of measurable results.

I started my first 20 minute "Running" session yesterday.

I also found this site called Nerd Fitness which I believe might help me. I am a real nerd and I just had to smile and will enjoy it all more when I get Quests, a cool Character and advice with lines like: "YOUR FIRST QUEST: Find time to go for another 10 minute walk today, and repeat the process tomorrow. You did it yesterday, why not make it two days in a row? If hobbits can walk to Mordor, you can walk for a few minutes around the block, right?"

There was more advice about slowly changing diet habits, so over the weekend I have now made my first meal of the day a bowl of oats. I now want to start drinking a glass of water before drinking or eating anything else, to increase my water intake.

I have danced my whole life,  modern, choreography, worship, ballroom, latins.. Just about everything. So I will be refreshing some of my dancing skills for extra exercise: core, strength, cardio, etc.

Then last but certainly not least, last year I started doing some basic self-defense training with a friend but he has now moved away. Sadly there isn't anyone in our area that offers Krav Maga classes, but we'll just continue using a DVD set I received, called Ultimate Krav Maga. I will train with my son using a punching bag, the DVDs as instructions and the basic skills we have learned so far.


I like to have tangible goals with steps to achieve them, so this is the outline of my plan. I will run every other day and alternate days I will do dancing and Krav Maga, with one day a week off.

I'm super excited and have also set up a twitter account for My Walk In Her Shoes experience. You can follow @mywalkinhershoe for updates of my blog and tweets about raising awareness for the 27 Million Slaves in the world today.

In the beginning...

So I have had the idea for this blog and this project for a while. I have thought about it and dreamed about it and deliberated and finally I feel ready to start. Not because everything magically fell into place, but because it didn't. I realised that I will need to "just do it" :) Yes that was a Nike reference, for no other reason than it's punny.. I will have lots of those and just so you know: I am not even sorry.

So Here Is The Plan:
 
  1)  To get fit

  2)  Run the Comrades 

  3) Keep a blog diary of the whole process to help raise 
       awareness, and hopefully, funds for the A21 Campaign.

Why Fitness?

I am completely unfit and really need to fix that. There are a variety of contributing factors to this state and I will probably mention some as time passes, but it's past time! I need to lose weight, build muscle and general fitness, all of it.I also desperately want to help make a difference for some people who really need it. I am naturally drawn to the A21 campaign, being a woman and a Christian.

Why The A21 Campaign?

Click on the above link for more information but shortly A21 is a non-profit organization who believes that together, we can end human trafficking. So under their list of "21 Ways To Help" two stood out for me: 11 is "Show Your Stuff" which suggests writing a blog to help raise awareness of human trafficking and 18 is "Walk In Her Shoes" which suggests using some sport activity to raise funds or awareness as well. Also where I got the name for the blog. There are others that I will also be incorporating into my life but this blog and my goal is linked to these two.

Why the Comrades?

The Comrades Marathon is the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon run over a distance of approximately 90 km | 56.1 miles between the capital of the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, and the coastal city of Durban. Running this marathon is on my Bucket List, so I will be ticking that off along with another goal of contributing to a worthy cause. After a year or so of gaining general fitness, I will start a programme specifically to get Comrades ready. I will also start looking for sponsors to donate, for every km I run, towards the Campaign and just to raise general awareness through the publicity through the media.

So welcome and I hope and pray you become inspired to find your own "Walk In Her Shoes" experience.