Let the Change Begin.

“Be good to yourself. If you don't take care of your body, where will you live? ”
―    Kobi Yamada

This quote has really made me think over the last few months. I never used to be into health or fitness, I ate soooo much junk. Four or five years ago I had THE worst eating habits. No exaggeration. Even two years ago was bad. Things that I eat now, I would have never dreamed of touching then. But why not? Why was I so against taking care of my body? Didn't I want to have a long healthy life? I think I just didn't want to miss out on all the "good" food, but in reality, none of it was good. It was just shortening my life span and making me lazy and fat. I could no longer run up the stairs without being short of breath.

So I guess that's where I'll start. This month I'm going to start with my fitness level. I will do a fitness test on the first day of the month, then again on the last to check my progress.

I've never considered myself as a gym-goer, but I am going to motivate myself by getting a membership so not only can I go to the gym, but also drop in classes such as Zumba. If I like the gym, I will continue going throughout the summer until fencing starts back up again.

Goals for this month are:

- More flexibility
- Go to the gym at least three times a week
- Do some sort of exercise everyday (even if just a walk)
- Make better choices (take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.)

I'm getting nervous to start. I'm excited to change some of my ways, but also worried that I won't be consistent. Maybe if I get a workout buddy?

- Chantal

MY Happiness Project.

A few months back I found myself at the library using their computers and on the way out this display caught my eye "Freedom to Read Week" with a bunch of books wrapped in brown paper with handwritten descriptions on the front. Me, having always been a fan of reading, chose two, only because I was reading wheat belly and a couple other books at the time. The one with the description caught my eye right away. While the one with the sun made me think it would either be great or really cheesy. So I grabbed it anyway. I've got to tell you that bus ride home was the longest seven minutes of my life. I quickly ran up the stairs into my bed room and shut the door to the world, ready to embark on a journey. The first book quickly lost my interest as soon as I saw the title. A little discouraged, I opened the second. As soon as I looked at it I knew that it was right up my alley. I was hooked instantly.

So I started reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Its taking me FOREVER to read, not because I don't like it or anything, but because I'm soooo busy working. I seem to think I have time for this stuff. Ha. ANYWAY. Long story short, I'm starting my own happiness project. The second I'm done the book, its game time. For those of you who haven't read it yet, its basically a plan to change one aspect of your life a month. So the first month is "boost energy." Then it has a short list of how she will accomplish it and at the end of the month she evaluates her progress. When you hit the second month, you add "remember love" on top of "boost energy". So at the end of the year you are left with twelve areas you have made improvement in.

I want to keep some of the same concepts while adding in a few of my own. Hopefully it'll be up and in effect by June, if not July at absolute latest.

-Chantal