On the Run: fitness made simple

I wasn’t chosen for a scholarship offered by my medical school for which I thought I was a good fit (okay, I wasn’t even one of the 3 finalists…). Get this: the group was looking for a med student who loves running and would keep in contact through blogging (…and who lives out the virtues of the physician the award was named after…yes, this part is more vague and maybe doesn’t have Geraldine written all over it…). I was let down for a while remember all those 10+ mile runs when I was motivated by knowing that there are people at my school who support my running and think it’s an important part of life. All those thoughts and daydreams burst away and I was left like a blob on the couch. Then I wanted to get out of this hole as fast as I could: thought about the weaknesses of my application, and started looking for more opportunities. I’m trying again.

Didn’t eat that healthy today? Skimped on a workout? The disappointment only subsides if you DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Get up, go out, and change one aspect of your day for the better. This is why I love eating healthy and maintaining and active lifestyle: it’s a challenge everyday. And there’s a purpose to everyday.

http://www.runlikeadiva.com/ Half Marathon Series

I stumbled upon the Run Like a Diva half marathon race today in San Francisco and the whole time people were confused if I was part of the race or not. Since I was separated from the pack, people looked at me pondering if I was the first…or just the last runner lol! One of the photographers was going crazy when I ran by because he thought I was the leader HA yeah right not at my long-run slow pace and not-so-hardcore looking running clothes. Volunteers asked me if I was a “diva” and I was like…Noo.. Looks like a fun race though!

Don’t plan on quitting anytime soon!

Don’t worry so much about a setback or a crappy outcome! I tell myself, “Hey well, you win some, you lose some.” Just get yourself out there, apply for a lot of positions, find out more information, and do your best!

I got bad news from my favorite med school and was a little shaken and discouraged…I was thissss close to skipping working-out. But exercise is the BEST thing (next to talking to your mom) when you’re frustrated or upset. Despite it being late in the day and about to get dark in less than an hour, I decided “The hell with it, I’ll just get it out of my system.” So I did hill repeats to feel alive and energized again! Sprinting hills »> punching a pillow/crying/complaining.

And what do you know?

After I was done, I received an email telling me I got into the other school I LOVED! The very same school that was my screen-saver 4 years ago lol (yes I’m crazy, but I thought you already knew that?)

I just wanted to share with you how exercise helps me cope with life and not just physical appearances =)

I saw the left-hand-side of this slide today while I was tumblring around and I thought, “Geez you don’t have to skinny to feel these ways!” Any nice, helpful, honest, person should be proud of themselves. Sure, we would feel a bit more awesome if we had the body of our dreams, but our looks are just a small fraction of our identity.

-Geraldine 

Peter Bregman, author of popular time-management book “18 Minutes Find Your Focus,” suggests to “Identify five broad areas of focus that add value to your life. That way, when your focus on one task starts to slip, you’ve got four other valuable and productive areas waiting to take its place.” People find that this technique helps them from distracting activities which add little or no change to our lives.

Bregman’s steps:

• Identify 5 broad goals you want to work on throughout the year.
• Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day to plan your activities which will advance your goals. 
• Take 1 minute out of ever working hour to re-focus yourself on your task. 
• Spend 5 minutes at the end of each day reflecting on your day’s work and think about tomorrow. 
• Make a daily schedule with 6 columns: one for each goal, and one for all the other random things you are interested in 

Book: http://www.amazon.com/18-Minutes-Master-Distraction-Things/dp/0446583413

Bregman Blog Post: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903703604576588661267929514.html

I love how I can roll out of bed, put on my running shoes and clothes, do some forward bends and neck rolls, and be out the door exercising! No commute to the gym, no fuss, no special equipment, and no extra showers. (I love Bikram hot yoga, but man do I hate showering twice in a day!) 

I wish I was a super-human like my Chemistry professor who thrives on only 4-5 hours of sleep a night and surfs, practices yoga, and runs regularly…But, I’m not and I need 7 hours to function, and 8 hours to be super energetic for the day. After a good night’s sleep, I wake up feeling so different; can’t wait to work-out, can’t wait to practice mindful eating, and totally excited to see everyone at work! I want to feel this great everyday. 

Sleep until you feel stoked and wide-eyed to wake-up! For most people it’s 7-8 hours, but some people tend to like less sleep. 

Benefits

• Easiest way to lose weight! 
• Controls appetite and cravings
• Reduces stress 
• Improves skin 
• Reduces baggy eyes (duh) 

My Goal: 8 hours of sleep (10:15pm-6:15am)

Good night everyone! =)

Something I have to remember. You are unique, physically and mentally. We all have things we are good at, personality quirks, and flaws. Some people may take longer to get to their goals, but they will learn different lessons along the way. Try not to  compare yourself so much to your classmates, friends, competitors (or other people on tumblr) because their success has no impact on what you can achieve. 

So relax, be happy, give thanks. 

Spending time outdoors is a great way to spend quality time with your family. Taking a hike with cousins you never see allows you to catch up and bond, while hanging out with mom for an afternoon is a great way to help her relieve some stress and to make memories. Take advantage of the fall weather while you can before winter sets in! This was a beautiful October afternoon hiking in Boulder, Colorado. Oh and while you are traveling, dedicate your leisure time to an outdoors adventure!

Personal note: Hiking, especially downhill, is challenging for me because I’m short =/ It’s stressful going downhill since I’m always watching where I’m stepping. Sometimes, I have to sit down to descend from rocks. 

Personal goal: One of my goals starting January 2012 when I move back home is go on a walk with my mom at least 3 times a week, and to bike with my dad one weekends. They don’t have anyone to exercise with so they never feel motivated to go out themselves.

“Fitness, the word oftentimes gets interchanged with “weight loss.” Many people use the phrase “getting fit” to mask the fact that they mostly just want to look “better”. Isn’t fitness more than just how you look? If I had the perfect body without trying, would I still work-out? Would you? After thinking about this for a while, I reminded myself that improving your fitness means improving your life. 

• Fitness is FUN!: Tennis, hiking, swimming are all enjoyable activities. 
• It’s about involvement: Joining an exercise class is a great way to make friends who care about living a healthy lifestyle. For me, I love my Saturday morning running group. 
• Fitness teaches technique: By mastering poses, I’m learning how to focus and produce quality work. Satisfaction comes in holding proper form and feeling the right muscles work. 
• Nutrition: Fitness is about feeling and treating your body good from the inside out. It’s about making healthier decisions and teaching others to do so as well. We’re going to raise healthy kids someday! 
• Energy: Exercise for an hour, and feel great all day! 
• Strength: To feel capable, to be able to depend on yourself, to challenge your body and realize your potential. 
• Self-Confidence: This is the main one. Fitness is about doing something good for your body and being proud of it. It’s about walking through a crowd standing tall knowing that you are not only capable, but hard-working, and initiative-taking. I think that most of working-out/fitness is about gaining self-esteem. 

What are your reasons for working so hard? 

For many of you, its the start of a new school year. However, you don’t have to wait for a milestone to start making changes to our life. Even if you don’t wake up the next day a pound lighter, with a 6-pack, or strong enough to run a marathon, the fact that you want to change for the better is already an improvement. Aim high and do your best! Maybe these tips are nothing new, but I just want to show how you can set broad goals and break them down into manageable bites. 

Remember…fitness isn’t all about your weight and muscles. Its about handling stress, coping with change, and finding happiness. 

1. Identify your habits that need a makeover
2. Brainstorm 5 ways to improve 
3. Pick one habit from each category to work on each day
4. Congratulate yourself for doing so! 

May the fitness be with you,

Geri