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Skiing, Showshoeing and Yoga, Oh my! January 25, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Exercise, Food, Motivation, New Year.
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Increased exercise is the second part of my New Year’s Resolution 2011. As an attempt to increase this, my hubby and I went skiing and snowshoeing on Sunday. Eldora ski resort is the closest to us in Boulder… a mere 30 minute drive through some of the most incredible canyon roads I have been through. Now, I am not much of a downhill skier. Much more of a cross-country sort myself, but Chris loves to ski and I have promised to learn. The first time I tried skiing was at Eldora four years ago. Since then, I have gone one other time in Syracuse, NY where the hill suited me just fine.  I remembered shooping down the hill and having lots of fun!

For some reason on Sunday though, the panic side of my brain decided to register. Despite heading down some harmless runs with names like, “Bunny Fair” and “Ho Hum” my eyes told my brain that the hills were too steep, and that I was going to crash in a nasty heap on the side of the mountain. Luckily, I made it down in one piece, not one fall the whole day!

The conditions weren’t the nicest. Very windy and cold, but at least the sun came out in the afternoon! When we could brave the slopes no longer, we headed to the chalet for some hot food. I’m not sure about chicken soup, but clam chowder is definitely good for the soul. Something about the warm, salty goodness is reviving. I felt fit as a fiddle and ready to go!

For the second part of our day, we decided to snowshoe. It was my first time trying out snowshoeing, and I loved it! The forest was calm, I kept my heart rate up without overheating, and it seemed like we were the only people around! Definitely something I would like to try again.

Today, I decided to keep up my exercise routine and chose to do some Hatha Yoga. One of my friends from AmeriCorps turned me onto yogadownload.com which has been a great resource for the past few months. I’m too cheap to get a membership, so I do the 20 minute free classes. It is so nice to be able to have an instructor in the comfort of my own home soothingly telling me the next position to slide into. A definite must after a long Monday!

A New Beginning January 24, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Goals, Motivation, Moving, New Year, Weight Watchers.
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2011 has just started… resolutions have been in the works for the last few weeks, gym memberships are up, vegetable and fruit sales are increased, and people are desperately clinging to what they promised to themselves.

My resolution this year was to join Weight Watchers.  Done and done.  It’s a first step at least! Much more tangible and attainable than the other resolutions of “I’m going to lose weight this year” that I have attempted in the past. I have now been a member since January 3rd, 2011. I’m 7 and a bit pounds lighter and much more motivated to lose weight that I have been in a while.

I have decided to start this blog as a method of cataloging my experiences, and as a way to make sure I stay on track. Making sure that pitfalls that come up don’t derail my efforts, and being able to relish in my successes will hopefully keep me inspired to continue on my journey.

So enough of why I have started a blog, here’s a bit about me:

1. I graduated from Dickinson College in 2008 with a degree in Classical Art and Archaeology. Those four years have been some of the most memorable in my life (all 25 years of it).

That’s me on the right with my amazing friend, Satomi, at our rainy graduation.

2. Upon graduating, I married the most wonderful man in the world, Chris. We have been happily married since August 1, 2008.

3. I moved to Syracuse, NY where Chris was finishing his MBA at Syracuse University. It was there that my weight problems began. I worked for Target, didn’t know many people, and didn’t get into a routine of exercise right away.

I swear he’s in there!

4. In 2009 I was accepted as an AmeriCorps member in Baltimore, MD. I taught 1st grade in a Catholic School in East Baltimore. It was an incredibly stressful and rewarding year. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I’m on the far left with the whole Baltimore AmeriCorps group.

5. At the end of 2010, the school I was working at, St. Katharine’s, was closed down. I made the decision to transfer to Boulder, CO for a second year of AmeriCorps service with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County. Chris’ family is from Colorado, so it’s nice to be close to them!

In Colorado with Chris and my brother, Tim.

That brings us to today… hopefully with the help of Weight Watchers and this blog, I’ll get below my college weight! Onwards to a Healthy Heath!