The first charity I have chosen for Go Or Give is the The Make It Safe Project. This organization was started by a 14 year old girl named Amelia Roskin-Frazee. Now, the fact that I'm a lesbian bookworm makes this months choice seem like an easy pick, but it goes beyond that.
I heard about The Make It Safe Project from a link on twitter and subsequently found these two news stories here and here (you can find more press and interviews here). It came on a day when I was seriously questioning whether there was any humanity and compassion for one another left in the world. Really I was having a crisis of hope. Then, out of nowhere comes this story about a young woman who was full of hope. Hope that people can change; that LGBT people won't always be treated as less than; that LGBT teens would stop killing themselves if they could just feel a little less alone. I also think founder Amelia Roskin-Frazee and I share the belief that books can change you.
I can pin point major turning points in my life around literature and I can only hope my donation to this more than deserving cause will get a book into the hands of an LGBT teen struggling somewhere and be the turning point in their lives.
I will also be donating some book along with the cold hard cash. My shelves runneth over.
If you need to request books for your school, or would like to donate, do so here.
As far as the GO part of Go Or Give - today was a challenge. I had a packed day, as I was getting sworn in and am now officially an attorney at law (just waiting for that stinking bar number)! I did finally reach my 10,000 steps around 9:30pm, which is less than ideal, but I'll take it.
Have my gym clothes all laid out for the morning, so that is progress too. As Dory would say, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Go Or Give
I started my fitness journey nearly 4 years ago, January 15th, 2008. I was a high school athlete, but to be honest, aside from the skill related to my sports I knew nothing about nutrition or gym training. In 2008 I was working for a public university and had the opportunity to go to a free health evaluation where my cholesterol was tested and I was weighed, etc. I didn't really see myself as unfit, despite my recent purchase of size 18 work pants. I weighed 195lbs all through high school, even while playing tennis in 100+ degree heat. I maintained my sub 200lb weight all through college. But, then I found myself in a sedentary job in the middle of winter where I used the cold as an excuse to take the bus the 1 mile to work rather than walking it. My wake-up call came that day when I weighed in at 208lbs. Passing the 200lb mark was the wake-up call I needed.
I ended up joining a gym I love, and desperately miss to this day. I was a faithful 7am bootcamper every day for nearly 8 months until I started law school in a new city (the one I still reside in). My transition to law school and a new city went smoothly, but over the last 3 or so years my fitness journey was severely derailed.
I took a trip to New York to celebrate graduation and taking the bar. On that trip I decided to dust off my pedometer and bring it along to see how many steps/miles we were logging in the city. Since my return, I have continued to use it, and it has become painfully obvious that I once again find myself in a sedentary job. I love my job as an attorney, law school debt and all, but I primarily sit in front of a computer or in front of clients. Over a two week test period I logged less than 2000 steps on average during my work day. Wow.
Part of my failed fitness journey has been my (mis)fortune to have discovered my dream gym on the first go around. I have looked far and wide and have not been able to duplicate my experience. I am convinced that the style of training, intensity, camaraderie, and general badassery only exists in one place: Albany, CA.
So, since I wont be moving back there any time soon, I decided to make a list of the things I loved about my old gym where I was successful in losing 36 pounds in 8 months:
- Focus on lifting weights/practical applications of strength training
- Variety
- Consistency
- Friendship/Sense of Community
Other things that kept me on track:
- It was expensive (missing on day of bootcamp was like $30)
- I knew people would be asking me the next morning where I was the day before
- I logged all my food on fitday on my computer throughout the day
- I checked mizfit's blog every morning for inspiration and wisdom
Some of the things I know to be true are that fitness is hard work, it can be fun, but often it is not something I am looking forward to. I have failed to do it "on my own" many times. I need to make it a routine. I have not found that fitness buddy that might make a difference for me and keep me accountable. I let people around me enable me. I need a penalty of some sort for not sticking to my goals. At my old gym that came in the form of a monetary penalty as well as friends not letting me off the hook for skipping.
Out of all of this self analysis, I think I have come up with a plan that will work for me.
I am going to call my program Go Or Give (aka #GoOrGive). Essentially, I need to go workout, and if I don't my penalty will be in the form of a $5 donation to a charity. I chose $5 because it is an amount that will add up, but it also won't bankrupt me, and it is about the cost of a latte these days, so I will have to skip the latte if I skip my workout (which will probably be beneficial anyway). I will donate at the end of each month. I want to donate at least $20 to each chosen charity, so if I have been on track and have not reached $20 by the end of the month, I will donate the $20 regardless. I will feature my charity of choice at the beginning of each month (taking suggestions via twitter and email), and will link to them on the side of my blog through the month. The nice thing about this is that people can modify this to work for themselves, you can easily chose to put your penalty $ in your savings account rather than donate to charity if that is what you chose. You can chose $1 or $10 per penalty, whatever you think will work for you.
The Goals:
1. Complete a 30+ minute work 5 out of 7 days (gym, yoga, cycling, etc.)
2. Walk 10,000 steps a day regardless of it being a heavy workout day or not
There are a few other things I want to try to work on as well, but these are over time. I know I cannot fix everything at once.
1. Drink at least 64oz. of water a day and only 1 cup of coffee
2. Make one protein smoothie a day
3. Get back into Kettlebell workouts
4. Do one unassisted pull-up (big ups for Bartendaz)
4. Try running again
As far as how I will keep connected, and keep it fun, my partner recently bought me and UP Band by Jawbone which will allow me to track tons of stuff on my iPhone including my sleep, my steps, food, and other goals. I can also connect with other UP Band owners, which including my friend, mom and boss. I am committed to reconnecting in a serious way with the blog world and drawing support and inspiration from the fitness community. I will also be tracking my progress on twitter via #GoOrGive.
Go Or Give Launches tomorrow: Dec. 1, 2011!
I ended up joining a gym I love, and desperately miss to this day. I was a faithful 7am bootcamper every day for nearly 8 months until I started law school in a new city (the one I still reside in). My transition to law school and a new city went smoothly, but over the last 3 or so years my fitness journey was severely derailed.
I took a trip to New York to celebrate graduation and taking the bar. On that trip I decided to dust off my pedometer and bring it along to see how many steps/miles we were logging in the city. Since my return, I have continued to use it, and it has become painfully obvious that I once again find myself in a sedentary job. I love my job as an attorney, law school debt and all, but I primarily sit in front of a computer or in front of clients. Over a two week test period I logged less than 2000 steps on average during my work day. Wow.
Part of my failed fitness journey has been my (mis)fortune to have discovered my dream gym on the first go around. I have looked far and wide and have not been able to duplicate my experience. I am convinced that the style of training, intensity, camaraderie, and general badassery only exists in one place: Albany, CA.
So, since I wont be moving back there any time soon, I decided to make a list of the things I loved about my old gym where I was successful in losing 36 pounds in 8 months:
- Focus on lifting weights/practical applications of strength training
- Variety
- Consistency
- Friendship/Sense of Community
Other things that kept me on track:
- It was expensive (missing on day of bootcamp was like $30)
- I knew people would be asking me the next morning where I was the day before
- I logged all my food on fitday on my computer throughout the day
- I checked mizfit's blog every morning for inspiration and wisdom
Some of the things I know to be true are that fitness is hard work, it can be fun, but often it is not something I am looking forward to. I have failed to do it "on my own" many times. I need to make it a routine. I have not found that fitness buddy that might make a difference for me and keep me accountable. I let people around me enable me. I need a penalty of some sort for not sticking to my goals. At my old gym that came in the form of a monetary penalty as well as friends not letting me off the hook for skipping.
Out of all of this self analysis, I think I have come up with a plan that will work for me.
I am going to call my program Go Or Give (aka #GoOrGive). Essentially, I need to go workout, and if I don't my penalty will be in the form of a $5 donation to a charity. I chose $5 because it is an amount that will add up, but it also won't bankrupt me, and it is about the cost of a latte these days, so I will have to skip the latte if I skip my workout (which will probably be beneficial anyway). I will donate at the end of each month. I want to donate at least $20 to each chosen charity, so if I have been on track and have not reached $20 by the end of the month, I will donate the $20 regardless. I will feature my charity of choice at the beginning of each month (taking suggestions via twitter and email), and will link to them on the side of my blog through the month. The nice thing about this is that people can modify this to work for themselves, you can easily chose to put your penalty $ in your savings account rather than donate to charity if that is what you chose. You can chose $1 or $10 per penalty, whatever you think will work for you.
The Goals:
1. Complete a 30+ minute work 5 out of 7 days (gym, yoga, cycling, etc.)
2. Walk 10,000 steps a day regardless of it being a heavy workout day or not
There are a few other things I want to try to work on as well, but these are over time. I know I cannot fix everything at once.
1. Drink at least 64oz. of water a day and only 1 cup of coffee
2. Make one protein smoothie a day
3. Get back into Kettlebell workouts
4. Do one unassisted pull-up (big ups for Bartendaz)
4. Try running again
As far as how I will keep connected, and keep it fun, my partner recently bought me and UP Band by Jawbone which will allow me to track tons of stuff on my iPhone including my sleep, my steps, food, and other goals. I can also connect with other UP Band owners, which including my friend, mom and boss. I am committed to reconnecting in a serious way with the blog world and drawing support and inspiration from the fitness community. I will also be tracking my progress on twitter via #GoOrGive.
Go Or Give Launches tomorrow: Dec. 1, 2011!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Broadway Yay
While I wanted to wax poetic about how amazing Other Desert Cities is, I do not have the time to do it justice. Instead, I will link you a photo of my signed playbill and you can imagine what a fangirl moment it was for me to meet Rachel Griffiths, Stockard Channing, and Judith Light. Now of course I could go on about these women all night long, but that is an ode better suited for my other blog (see right sidebar if interested).
Here is a link to a great review if you are so inclined. If you can't get to New York to see this play, you can buy the script on amazon. There are also rumors it has been optioned for a film. That would be delicious. The end of Brothers and Sisters may have been the best thing to happen to Rachel Griffiths. I think this role may even top her long stint as Brenda on Six Feet Under!
Here is a link to a great review if you are so inclined. If you can't get to New York to see this play, you can buy the script on amazon. There are also rumors it has been optioned for a film. That would be delicious. The end of Brothers and Sisters may have been the best thing to happen to Rachel Griffiths. I think this role may even top her long stint as Brenda on Six Feet Under!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Inspirational MizFit
I really just wanted to link to one of my heroes both in fitness and in life. The Miz is always full of positive energy. One of the many keys to her success: Consistency!
Read one of her best blog posts to date about mainting weight loss, i.e. balance. Also, one for the ages about setting goals. Her goal post was an awakening for me because setting fitness goals is WAY DIFFERENT from how I set and have been successful with my own life/career goals.
Plus you can follow her on twitter @mizfitonline and on facebook :)
Oh, and did I mention she is a Fila model?
Much Love :)
Read one of her best blog posts to date about mainting weight loss, i.e. balance. Also, one for the ages about setting goals. Her goal post was an awakening for me because setting fitness goals is WAY DIFFERENT from how I set and have been successful with my own life/career goals.
Plus you can follow her on twitter @mizfitonline and on facebook :)
Oh, and did I mention she is a Fila model?
Much Love :)
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