Last night I attended Happy Hour with a Colorado RC. As we were talking about our lives, we inevitably came to the topic of health and fitness. Namely, how much we feel we are currently failing ourselves in this arena.
I don't know about you, but I feel this issue comes up time and time again with women. We consistently beat ourselves up over our bodies and diet. We judge the other women we know on their lifestyle choices.
I have struggled to find a reliable routine since moving to Colorado. This is a big deal for me because being fit, active and "outdoorsy" was a major part of my decision to move here. Now I feel I'm not living up to my goals and it's disappointing.
Here's one thing they don't tell you about living in the mountains. Your life becomes about extremes. As I noted to my RC friend, as we dined on guacamole, banana cream pie and Malbec (yeah, we both felt a little nauseous after that combo too), it's as if everything you do here is either VERY healthy or VERY UNhealthy. If you're not outside, it seems all social activities revolve around food and drink a-plenty. What is that about?!
In Omaha, I had a routine. I consistently walked 6+ miles roundtrip to/from work. I consistently went to Bikram yoga, I was on my feet at work all day, hiked often and biked to the Old Market. I have lived here NINE months and have yet to find a routine that works for me here. It's driving me nuts.
There are a lot of reasons I feel this way. I recognize that the choices made are mine, and mine alone. I can't blame anyone but myself for eating that ridiculous concoction of happy hour food and drink last night. It is me that chooses to read or nap or watch a movie over something more active.
This RC and I are not alone. We've all felt it. She and I are working on a plan to keep each other accountable (that's what RCs do, after all) in being active and making better choices. I hope it works. Guess what, we're starting a little weekly women's hike out here...sound familiar?
I'll keep you posted on how things go. I just thought it was a concern we all struggle with at one point or another. And I'm curious to know how you've pulled yourselves out of fitness funks in the past. What's worked? What hasn't? This is an important and REAL issue...so add your comments...so we can learn and be encouraged from one another.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Announcement Announcement ANNOUNCEMENT
The chance to reconnect...
The opportunity to hone your outdoor skills...
The excuse to getaway with the girls...
The announcement you've been waiting for....
THE FALL 2010 REAL CHICKS ADVENTURE GETAWAY WEEKEND!!
OCTOBER 8-11, 2010
WINTER PARK, COLORADO
Details are still being ironed out but here's what the menu's shaping up to include:
High Ropes Course
Leave No Trace Training
2 (!!) Waterfall Hikes
Camping under the stars
Mountain Biking
Zipline
Teambuilding
Skill-building Clinics
Campfires and Cocoa
Horseback Riding
Moose-hunting (with our eyes people!)
Bracco
And of course...margaritas!
More to follow but mark your calendars, save your pennies, tell all of the Real Chicks you know.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Carla's Open Love Letter to the Real Chicks
Dear Real Chicks:
I love you. In fact, I might be obsessed with you. No, that’s not exactly right. It is more like I am addicted to you. I can’t go a week without seeing you. I find myself constantly planning and scheming ways to spend time with you. I’m completely stumped as to how I functioned before I met you. But why? Who are you people? How did you become so important to me so fast? Why are you so important to me? Here are a few reasons:
1). You take me on adventures. Sometimes these adventures are just down the street and other times they are a bit farther. Sometimes they are just to Starbucks or the gym. But I know you are always game and you make every trip fun.
2). You make me laugh. Hard. Until my stomach hurts and my sangria shoots out my nose. You have the best senses of humor, all the good kinds: sarcastic, raunchy, goofy, slapstick, deadpan, subversive, juvenile, etc. If laughter is the best medicine, I insist upon seeing you daily and laughing with you as my daily vitamin.
3). You teach me new things and remind me of things I tend to forget. You teach me how to roll a kayak, snowshoe, cross country ski, and climb mountains. You remind me to laugh at myself, fight inertia, dream big, be my true self, share, push the limits. Most importantly, you remind me to TRY and you teach me to be fearless doing it.
4). You never judge. Let’s face it: our gender has issues with judging. We can be so harsh to each other and ourselves but I have never once experienced judgmental attitudes with the Chicks. The Real Chicks tell me I look FAST in my new ski pants, not FAT. We share our most horrific embarrassing moments with each other and love each other more with each story. I can tell you my secret hopes (Kilimanjaro for my 40th birthday?) and you make me realize that I can do them. And then you come along for the adventure. I love you for that.
5). You support me. When I’m feeling weak and defeated, you encourage me. When I fall down, you fall down with me (literally and figuratively) and we get up together. You replace that rotten little voice in my head that says I can’t and you tell me I can. You've become my biggest fans, my dearest friends, and my strongest allies. You're my most challenging teachers and my most endearing students. You're my ultimate teammates and my toughest competitors. You are my people and I’m so happy I found you.
Thank you, Chicks. Thank you for everything. I truly love you (even the ones I haven’t met yet).
Carla
I love you. In fact, I might be obsessed with you. No, that’s not exactly right. It is more like I am addicted to you. I can’t go a week without seeing you. I find myself constantly planning and scheming ways to spend time with you. I’m completely stumped as to how I functioned before I met you. But why? Who are you people? How did you become so important to me so fast? Why are you so important to me? Here are a few reasons:
1). You take me on adventures. Sometimes these adventures are just down the street and other times they are a bit farther. Sometimes they are just to Starbucks or the gym. But I know you are always game and you make every trip fun.
2). You make me laugh. Hard. Until my stomach hurts and my sangria shoots out my nose. You have the best senses of humor, all the good kinds: sarcastic, raunchy, goofy, slapstick, deadpan, subversive, juvenile, etc. If laughter is the best medicine, I insist upon seeing you daily and laughing with you as my daily vitamin.
3). You teach me new things and remind me of things I tend to forget. You teach me how to roll a kayak, snowshoe, cross country ski, and climb mountains. You remind me to laugh at myself, fight inertia, dream big, be my true self, share, push the limits. Most importantly, you remind me to TRY and you teach me to be fearless doing it.
4). You never judge. Let’s face it: our gender has issues with judging. We can be so harsh to each other and ourselves but I have never once experienced judgmental attitudes with the Chicks. The Real Chicks tell me I look FAST in my new ski pants, not FAT. We share our most horrific embarrassing moments with each other and love each other more with each story. I can tell you my secret hopes (Kilimanjaro for my 40th birthday?) and you make me realize that I can do them. And then you come along for the adventure. I love you for that.
5). You support me. When I’m feeling weak and defeated, you encourage me. When I fall down, you fall down with me (literally and figuratively) and we get up together. You replace that rotten little voice in my head that says I can’t and you tell me I can. You've become my biggest fans, my dearest friends, and my strongest allies. You're my most challenging teachers and my most endearing students. You're my ultimate teammates and my toughest competitors. You are my people and I’m so happy I found you.
Carla
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