A Little Healthy Competition

As a general rule, I tend to shy away from competition. I dislike comparing test scores, impromptu races to the end of the street and generally any event in which I might come in second place. (I was on a swim team for at least a full season before I could be convinced to attend a meet.) It isn't that I don't care to compete, it is that I care TOO MUCH.

When it becomes time to compete I am 100% in it to win it. Which is wonderful. And terrible. On one hand, I become focused, driven and excited. On the other hand I (embarrassingly) become a really bad sport weather I win or lose.

You see why I avoid showing off this glaring flaw in my character.

However, I have found an event that is going to bring me out of my self-imposed competition retirement. My office is having a Biggest Loser Competition. (No, it isn't a competition to see who is the biggest loser in the office ... so I'm going to stop you right there ... Channing.)

The contest will be to see who can lose the largest percentage body weight before September 1st. It will be a chance to move more, eat better and generally adopt healthier habits as an office. This is vital to my Exciting no?

And, we'll all be putting in a little money so there is a cash intensive for the winner as well.

And, I'm going to win.

I feel like this comes at a perfect time. I've been experimenting with healthy eating and different work outs all year, but never have I implemented diet and exercise together. The time is now. All I needed was a little push from my inner competitive monster.

All I have to say to my co-workers: You have been warned.

My Kindle: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Digital Reader.

My brother got me this for my birthday:

He's pretty cool right?

Truth be told I was the last of my immediate family to join the digital reader craze. Their readers look more like this:

I had resisted getting a digital reader for so long. I was worried that it might take away some of the fun of reading. (That's right I'm one of those nerds who reads for fun.) I was very happy to find that the Kindle may even (gasp) add to the fun of reading.

First, the physical. The Kindle is pretty small, only slightly larger than a small paperback book, and about as heavy as one.

The thing that convinced me that it might be equal to the task of replacing my paper books, was the screen. It shocked me how much the screen looks like a printed page. There is no glare. No harsh light. It doesn't feel at all like you are reading from a digital screen. (Considering the number of hours I log in front of a computer screen every day, I'm very sensitive to this fact.) Just beautiful, crisp, adjustable size, text.

Secondly, the interactive element of book use. There are features that allow you to highlight, bookmark and make annotations. One unexpected, but kind of cool, feature is that I can see passages that other Kindle users have highlighted. Perhaps the only thing better than good writing is seeing other people appreciate good writing.

My favorite feature may be the fact that I can lie on my side as I read and never have the upper pages cast a shadow on the page I'm trying to read. Does that make sense? Though I still am getting used to pressing a button instead of turning a page, I think this whole Kindle thing is pretty darn cool.

Thanks Channing. You may have created a monster.

~Claire Out.

Work It Out - Part One

It sees like it has been forever since I talked about trying something new. Sure, sure, I've kept up my monthly challenges, but I should strive for more.

So here it is. The Work It Out Challenge: Sponsored by Grandma and Papa Conger. (Thanks!)

I'm going to purchase three training sessions with a personal trainer. Together I hope we can come up with a personalized work out.

The Newness Broken Down:

--> I have never worked with a trainer before and I'm excited to have an expert to help me develop a personalized work out.

--> I've never followed a training plan before. The closest I've ever come was my reintroduction to swimming last winter.

Does anyone have any advice about how to pick a trainer? Or how to make the best use of my training sessions? Is it a fopaux to talk to a trainer about nutrition?

I'll keep you updated on my progress and any unexpected new experiences as the project continues.

~Claire Out.

Attitude Adjustment

This month I was stuck, yet again, for a (non-food related) overindulgence to curb.

Luckily life clued me in.

My stress free notebook system was no match for the numerous ever changing and complicated things that kept being added to my "To Do List" yesterday. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. All. Day. Long. Like, on-the-verge-of-crying-tears-of-rage kind of frustrated. It was a bad and stressful day and what did I want more than anything? (Even more than ice cream and a nap, and that's saying something) I wanted to complain.

What's the deal with that instinct? I found myself making phone calls, writing e-mails and even complaining to the room at large about my bad day. (Real mature right?)

Then I went to the premiere party for my job (late, as I had a pile of things to get done) and my mood lightened. Everyone was so nice. They asked how I was, introduced me to loved ones and generally made me grateful to be working with such great people on such a great show.

Then I got that creeping feeling of guilt. Everybody works really hard for the show. Everyone has there stressful days. However, the amazing people that I work with manage to handle these things without complaining. (Which, unsurprisingly makes them a delight to work with.)

So. I'm in. One month (starting today) of keeping my complaints to myself. No whining, no eye rolling and no pity parties allowed. (I think I just heard my boyfriend cheering?)

Hopefully I can train my mind to think more positively and barring that, at least I'll be more fun to be around.

~Claire Out.

P.S. In case you are worried this bottled up emotion is going to backfire, check out my new positive habit I'm adopting this month.

June So Soon?

It is a new month and then some. It is amazing how quickly time flies.

My month of no stress was quite a success. I wasn't exactly stress free, but I was much more organized, focused and was less easily frazzled. I would call that a big win.

My renewed commitment to gym attendance also went well. I managed to work out three times a week all month long. My first week I stuck with my go to, swimming. Then I received an early birthday gift from a co-worker to join her at Bikram Yoga for a month. Challenge accepted!

Some days are much tougher than others, but overall I feel much stronger, more flexible and more confident in my physical abilities. I've learned to appreciate having a class, instead of just working out solo. One of the teachers reminds us that we should change our bodies for the yoga, not adjust the yoga for our bodies, and I feel my stubborn body is starting to give way. Hurrah for new challenges.

Speaking of which, check out my new challenge to do away with whining this month.

As for my new good habit, this month I'd like to focus a bit more on my creative side. My goal is to write something every day. Either a short journal entry, a blog entry (wink wink), or work on any number of the creative writing projects I have sitting around half finished. No length requirements, no grand expectations, just setting aside some time every day to write.

Bring it on June!

~Claire Out.