Call it a funk, call it a slump, call it February–call it what you will, but I’m just zapped. I’ve been working out a lot, so a ton of energy is expended on that. But overall, my head ain’t right. So if there’s an overwhelming number of videos and motivational sayings this month, well, all I can say is I’m working through the muck that is my brain. With that said, I found this. One of the signs held up speaks right to my heart, but I’ll let that remain a secret between me and the universe. I’m sure one (or more) of the signs will speak to you. Hope this is as much a feel-good video for you as it was for me…however brief it may last. 
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What happens when you add a dash of air drumming to pilates? You get Pound, the latest fitness trend to come out of LA Crunch Fitness. This seems to have only made it to a few places outside of Cali just yet, but if and when it does spread nationally, I think you’ll be hearing about it with the likes of Zumba and Pole Dancing.
So what is it? Let’s take a gander:
What do you think? Does it look like fun to you? Is having something different to try enough to get you up and moving? Or would you compare it to the equivalent of a fad diet. Weigh in!
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I’ve already said that portion control is one of the things I need to fix if I want to get my nutrition in check. I’ve seen some portion tips that follow using the palm of your hand for meat and your fist size for carbs. But honestly, I don’t know where I heard this or if it’s accurate. So when I saw the following cheat sheet on Pinterest (of course), I was intrigued and wanted to share.
Does this work for you? If not, tell me your tips!
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Welcome to February! You made it through January and hopefully you’re well on your way to a healthier you. And if you’re not, I hope this fun gem of run I just came across will inspire you to keep moving.
It’s called The Color Run. Maybe you’ve heard about it, but it’s a first for me. And I’m VERY interested. Here are the details (taken from The Color Run site because I’m too lazy to paraphrase):
What is the Color Run?
The Color Run is a one of a kind experience that is less about speed and more about enjoying a color crazy day with your friends and family. Our events, are all about people of all different speeds, ages, shapes, and sizes toeing the start line. Whether you are a casual morning mall walker or an Olympic athlete, the 3 miles of the Color Run course will be the most enjoyable real estate you’ve traveled in a VERY long time.
How does it work?
The Color Run pretty much has 2 SIMPLE rules. 1. White shirts (any mostly white T will work great) mandatory at the start line and 2. Color plastered EVERYTHING at the finish! Runner/walkers begin the 5k at the start line like a brand new pristine coloring book, they end looking like they fell into a Willy Wonka… tye died… vat of colored goodness.
What is the Color?
Each kilometer of the event is associated with a designated color. 1k is yellow, 2k is blue, 3k is green, 4k is pink, and the 5k finish is a “Color Extravaganza.” As the runners/walkers hit the KILOMETER COLOR ZONE, they will be blitzed by our volunteers, sponsors, and staff with COLOR. The color is a special “elf made” recipe of magical color dust. All products are 100% natural and safe. You can eat the stuff if you’d like (we have tried it and don’t suggest it, it is surprisingly high in calories and leaves a chalky aftertaste).
Still not convinced that this would be a good time? Let’s watch a little video to see if that helps:
What do you think? Are you game for adding a little splash of color to your workout? I am!
For any of my local friends and for readers in the Chicago area, I’m thinking about doing the June 2 Chicago Run. Let me know if you want to start a Diet and Ridicule team! We’ll see how many people we can rope in and go from there.
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I can’t believe that this is the last day of January…and thus, the last day of Tortoise Tips. Of course, the journey doesn’t end here; every day is a new beginning. And this video proves that failure can be the reason you succeed.
I can guarantee that if you never fail, you will never get anywhere. It seems like a backward way to think, but my jumping rope skills are a perfect example. If I hadn’t tripped over my feet countless times (and still do) while just trying to do one single spin, I wouldn’t have the drive and determination it takes to prove that I can do 400 spins at a time. Like the saying goes–that which does not kill you makes you stronger. Let failure be the reason you succeed.
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Really, this tip is not how it sounds. I’m not looking for you to buff up just so that you can single-handedly (is that even a word?) fight off burglars and douse roaring fires. No–though it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on your self-defense skills.
Today’s tip is sort of a continuation of Tuesday’s Make It Count video tip (#13). The difference is that this video is more of a shot out to all the ladies, and this video pretty much further proves that I’m a slave to all marketing–and not just what comes out of the Nike big house. When I watch this video, I find it powerful and motivating. It makes me want to go workout. Let’s see what it does for you:
Whadya think? “Protect this house” is obviously something that speaks directly to working on a team and having a home field, court, etc. It’s also for those individuals who compete solo. But for me, someone not on a team and not competing in general, I think of me as that house. Exercise is the protection I need to stay healthy and live my life right. Maybe that’s too deep of meaning for something that is meant to get me to spend money. But hey, infomercials even motivate me; what did you expect?
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Now that I’ve been doing CrossFit pretty regularly since October (barring time off for being sick and/or injured), I feel like fitness is something in my life that I have pretty well in check….for now, anyway.
But my diet…ugh, my diet. It’s not horrible, and it’s a helluva a lot better than it probably ever was, but I still don’t feel like it’s something that I’m completely used to or even consistent with. It’s also something that still confuses me on a pretty regular basis (mainly when I think about it too much). I’m trying, and that’s probably the part for which I should pat myself on the back, but I still wish it was better.
I came across this graphic on Pinterest (surprise, surprise) created by info from Alton Brown. I thought it was pretty interesting, and it satisfies a love I didn’t know until recently that I have–the love of easy-to-read/fun health-related graphics!
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Instead of a Tortoise Tip today, I wanted to use this post to remember my dad. A year ago today, he passed away from cancer. I shared our story here, so I won’t go into it again. Instead, I hope that this post helps you remember why you’re on the road to getting healthy. It’s not just about you, but about the loved ones around you, too. My dad led a pretty healthy life, but cancer was a sneaky bastard that crept up on him. Still, it always brings me joy to know that my dad lived every last drop of his life. It’s something I forget to do when I’m caught up in stress, drama, or just plain laziness. With that said, don’t waste a second of it. Life’s too short!
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