Lets Make the Most of the Night

I don't know about you but my brain seems to run in a hundred different directions at a time. It's kinda like a magic eight ball being constantly and violently shaken with hundreds of answers, questions, criticisms, and concerns flying past the little opening at the top. Their are a couple of different remedies for an overstimulated mind, however the consumption of massive quantities of alcohol might be killing brain cells instead of relieving them. So like most people I keep myself overly busy in an attempt to direct the endless flow of thoughts from  consuming my grasp on reality. One of these activities is a Monday evening fitness club to encourage others to enjoy nature through exercise and maintain that firm butt God gave me. Occasionally my comrades in prolonged leg torture are busy with ridiculous things like jobs, family, studying; which leaves our mountain trail alone for me to conquer alone.

If you have been following along (I know its hard not to focus on that tight butt I mentioned earlier ;) then you may have connected the dots on why running by myself with no mental distractions (I don't like running with headphones) might be a potentially intimidating problem. A whole hour to just let my mind roam? why don't you just drop a crack addict into a coca field and see what happens.

But there I was, jogging down the trail, and somewhere between realizing I should have peed before starting, and that Kesha song stuck in my head (I was in traffic and it was on like every damn station, don't judge me!) there was..... silence. Sweet, sweet silence. A beautiful twilight zone where even the dirtiest Kesha hook couldn't invade my zone. In dragon ball Z terms, I think I went super sayain. I realized that while I am a people person and love being involved in as much as possible, a little silence to myself is equally important for sanity. A friend once said, "a little silence is better than sex". I always thought he just wasn't doing it right, but I think the truth behind that statement became a bit more clear that night. So, yes Kesha lets make the most of the night and enjoy time of silence and meditation.

Also, so everyone else can get this stuck in their head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmV2zPXMzdI

What to do When Your Sick

It is now officially fall, even here in Georgia. I love fall it is probably my favorite season, but it also brings the terrible 'Fall Cold' everyone around you seems to have and chooses to sneeze on you. I currently have it, most of my friends either had it or are going to get it, and I'm sure my mother will get it conveniently when I'm home for Thanksgiving. (that turkey doesn't cook itself ma!)

The real challenge is how to maintain your healthy lifestyle when all you want to do is lay around and re-watch the entirety of Freaks and Geeks? Well depending on the longevity of your illness their are a few different solutions to your pumpkin flavored illness.

1. Get plenty of rest! This probably sounds redundant but give yourself a day off for goodness sakes. Skip a class, call in to work, say no to water boarding that new terrorist your boss just brought back from Syria. I know personally I tend to be a work-aholic who rarely says no to a good time. This works for me most of the time but the body needs time to recover and taking a day off to get plenty of sleep and a lil you time might be just what you need.

2. When it comes to working out unless you're totally bed ridden you don't have to stop. The body can handle a lot more than you realize, and exercise does help in detoxing and staying healthy. The trick here is to cut back on your normal workout. Don't worry about not reaching your 'usual' goals when you workout. Your 'usual' goals are just not attainable in the current state your body is in. Know that your body will thank you and recover quickly if you don't over-exert it during your recovery period. Save that for the following week when your at 100%.

3. Maintain healthy eating habits, possibly reduce caloric intake. If you are not already doing so try to eat a healthy and fully balanced diet. I know it is hard, I'm a poor college student who would love nothing more than eating pork belly and ramen noodles most nights. Do not fall into the trap that eating healthy is expensive. Don't try to eat like a movie star, they usually just pay a nutritionist to wake them up at 3am to eat a plate of plain chicken anyway. Fuck that. I want to eat at normal times, and with some flavor baby! When your sick your body needs fuel just like any other time so don't forget to fill it with good choices. However if your trying to lose weight and injured or on the sick side a reduction in what your eating may help maintain body and shouldn't screw up your metabolic rate too much. Besides most people have a reduced appetite when they are sick.

4. Don't be afraid of going to the doctor. I know health insurance is expensive and many young people do not have it but sometimes the best way to get over an illness is to nut up and visit the old white jacket. If you are a student most colleges offer free nurse visits with little cost. Also the rumored free or discount clinics do exist if you are willing to wait in line. If you are really that sick, be an adult and go to the doctor so you can get your life back on track.

Good luck to all with fall illness, I hope your pumpkin carving, cool morning jogging, and flannel wearing are not too interrupted!

Anniversary

Hooorray! It is finally October! I love October for the weather as well as the fall activities which seem endless. October holds a special significance to me because it was one year ago in October when I first started running. It was a rainy day, much like the weather we have been having recently. It was raining so much that I wore a raincoat on my first run! Yesterday I went running in the rain shirtless because of my new appreciation for rainy weather. That day one year ago I could have let the rain turn me away and say 'tomorrow' but something inside pushed me out into the balmy forecast and forced me to run that now pitiful 1/4 mile. I ran 7 miles in the rain last night.

I bring this up as inspiration, not just for bragging rights (I'm the humblest person here! no one is more humble than me!). My story is not unique, their are plenty of inspirational stories of people overcoming tremendous odds to lose weight and be healthy. Really all I am bringing to the table is an average Joe perspective that it can be done. People, including myself, are always seeking for the miracle exercise or activity which will make them look like Brad Pitt or Gisele Bundchen (I don't know ladies, is that a good example?). Well that secret exercise is hard work! It is hard losing weight, it is hard forcing yourself to get out and be active everyday, but the goal is lifestyle change not 3 month change.

While thinking about this anniversary running last night, I was reminded of the Biblical idea that your body is a temple. While you may view that principle differently according to your own beliefs, I really enjoy that concept that my body is a temple. Don't get me wrong not all temples are built the same or look alike, but every temple needs a caretaker who respects the grounds and keeps it clean and functioning. If your temple is in ruins who is going to want to go there? This does not have to mean living in a commune, giving up red meat, and never going out for a drink, it just means that we cannot neglect our bodies need for movement, and clean energy.

Whatever state your body maybe in you need to accept yourself and be secure in your own skin. If you do not like your temple at all then the problem lies deeper than just sweeping the floor. However if you are at a place where you are ready to clean house and make some changes for a better life than be encouraged sisters and brothers, go forth and move!