Move it Monday: The big 4-0.
Davina
13 Comments
this is the year.
Later this year...September 13th to be exact...I will turn 40. It doesn't seem possible that I've lived 40 full years. It's surreal and at the same time I hardly feel old enough to count myself among the grown up people I thought of as old and wise and 40. Back when I was 16 I thought I would probably not turn 40. The end of the world would come or some crazy something would happen...and yet...here I am on the brink of something wonderful.
I hope I learn even more great bits of goodness in my upcoming decade than I have this past decade and I hope the little bits of wisdom I've acquired will help me to have more compassion, sensitivity, ability to say "I'm sorry", and live with more graciousness over the next years of my life. I hope I become sweeter to others and more comfortable in my own skin and so much more.
I love where I've been and I'm so excited about what's ahead of me.
And...since it's Move it Monday...I'd like to be my healthiest, most fit self by the time I'm forty. I've got 20 pounds to say hasta la vista to...and 3 months...and it's time to get serious. I've had about a year where I've not been super focused. I haven't kept my full 25 pounds off but I haven't gained them all back either (I had originally wanted to lose 35 pounds). I've tried to keep up with Move it Monday and now it's time to do more than keep up with it...it's time to live it again.
So...I'm going to get up in the morning at 7am and go walking before the sun gets blazing hot and before the green leaves rise up to meet that ball of fire in suffocating humidity. I'm also going to hit those free weights...they are what I like the least. (anyone have some good ideas about muscle strengthening other than free weights? I know they're the best for building strong bones, etc...is there anything that measures up that's more fun? I like yoga but does yoga do the same thing?)
And eating less...I'm going to start doing that. As I've said here about a million times...it's all about eating less than you burn. Time to get back to eating on smaller plates and looking for ways in my everyday life to burn calories.
So what is your motivation this summer? What are you doing to get fit?
Weekly Challenge: Even though it's hot (at least it is here...a blazing 95 degrees with too much humidity) find a cool time of the day to workout outdoors or find a way to workout indoors that makes you feel great.
best. LIFE.
Reader Comments (13)
My motivation this summer is training for a century bicycle ride - 100 miles around Utah Lake. I feel so much better when I get a ride in sometime during the day. I also recently found some videos online of the Tracy Anderson Method. It is the workout that Gwenyth Paltrow did to get in shape for IronMan 2 and so far, it looks like my kinda thing, no gym necessary for many of the workouts and it targets problem areas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW8NGRSY4RA&feature=player_embedded
The older I get the more I realize how young 40 really is, congrats on your b-day this year!
Davina! I would not have guessed you're almost 40 after your TV interview! I remember thinking to myself: "Wow, she's younger than I thought" ... but 40? No way!
Yoga is really great to strengthen muscles! I think it's a LOT about the teacher (or video). Some focus on stretching. Which is nice and all. Others make me burn. For. Days. I'd go with Yoga ... it also focuses on deep breathing, which is good for brain cells and body, right?
Emily, good luck with your century ride! I did one of those when I was in high school ... it was awesome. But I took too long to finish and they picked me up. Boogers.
My motivation? Hmm. Well, I've been really bad at setting limits. Which has resulted in me getting up EARLY ... so I'm trying to be productive during that time. Tomorrow, it will be a walk. :)
Davina, congratulations on nearing your big 4-0! It is liberating!
I wanted to encourage you by sharing that since I started Move It Monday with you a year and half ago, I have lost 21 pounds at last weigh in!!!!! This is from removing wheat, dairy and sugar from my diet. As panicky as I felt at the thought of doing that, once you are on the other side it is pretty liberating! I watch other people struggle with whether to eat this or that and feel lucky that I don't have to make those decisions anymore. I just tell people, "no thanks, I'm wheat free". It is WAY better than being on a diet and as your choices are less, it is easier to choose healthier foods.
I am taking yoga as one of my Life Goals to build "Health through Fitness and a STRONG BACK". It is helping. I am seeing progress and my core is seeing some shape other than loose. :) Definitely weight-bearing excercise (and good for the brain!)
My reason for sharing is this ALL STARTED WITH MOVE IT MONDAY!!! See what you have done for me??? I hope I can bounce back that motivation, love and support to you!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Ooh! Hi Karen!
My motivation is knowing my workout is moving me towards one of my five life goals. It is not a luxury, it is a neccesity for my health and my job. AND I love my yoga instructor! Emily is so right!
Emily! That's awesome. What a fun goal to work toward. I love biking...maybe I should do that on alternating mornings.
Karen, thank you! you've totally made my night! Maybe I need to find a different yoga video that works my muscles more.
Laura, you are so great. Thank you so much for your great news about Move it Monday. I'm so excited and so happy that MIM has been so helpful to you. Yay! I'm so impressed that you've lost so much weight. I want to do that over the next few months....it is necessary to my health. I totally agree...
The big 40 - exciting! I found at 40 I really started focusing so much more on health - it wasn't about my size but simply eating healthier and excercising regularly. We are preparing for a bike ride from SLC to Vegas so we are moving a lot on the bike to get ready for this endeavor. Also, I am continuing to work hard on increasing my vegetable and fruits especially and protein. Carbs are SO yummy.
Davina, you are more beautiful, wonderful, and amazing than you have ever been! More so than when you gave me the gift of being my wife 15 years ago and more so for giving so much of yourself in carrying and raising our four sweet kids. You are an inspiration to me, to our family and to so many others. Thanks for sharing so many of your almost 40 years with me. Here's to 40 million more with you...Mike
Laura ... I SO agree with you about changing food/lifestyle. I've never dieted. Ever. But in the last 6 months with no sugar/yeast, I feel like I'm a much healthier eater ... I eat more fiber and my body loves me more. It's not about the "diet mentality" of "I won't eat what I want" ... but a health mentality of "I need to eat what's best/most kind for my body" ....
Davina, let me dig around the internet and see if i can find something ... sounds like your yoga is mostly stretching ... which is great! But it can also be a killer workout, too.
Oh, I also wanted to say because I said yesterday I would walk today ... well, I DID! Being accountable is really something I need!
Yes, Karen love the mindset analogy, that's how I feel too!
Hey Ladies!
I walked today, too...and did some free weights. I really need to check out some strengthening yoga...although with summer here I'm not sure when it would be calm enough to do it. Maybe I'll have to get my kids on board and move some couches so there's room for everyone. :)
4-0! I love it! I also have a milestone birthday this year...5-0! Talk about motivation! HA! MIM has really helped me in the last few months--kept me moving, kept me motivated, THANKS! I appreciate your information, your efforts and especially your candor. The last two months have been super busy, but because MIM is here and quietly reminding me to MOVE IT, I am still walking everyday and watching what I eat--just need to watch it a little better!
Thanks, Davina!
Yay Lee Ann! I'm so glad to hear that MIM has been so helpful to you! I love it. And congrats to you on turning 50 this year. What did you learn in your 40s? I'd love to hear. :)