WLC WRAP-UP

Eight weeks ago I launched this blog with a post about the Whole Life Challenge, the journey from the Realm of Indoor Recess to the faraway Kingdom of Get the Hell Up Lazybones, and the many reasons for checking in at the gym. It's been an awesome eight weeks. This project was invigorating and enlightening, probably in ways not anticipated or planned by the Whole Life Challenge organizers. Another Whole Life Challenge is scheduled for fall 2013, and I'm considering taking it on. And I'm looking forward to tackling some new challenges between now and then... more on that later.

From the Whole Life Challenge some major lessons emerged, and I had fun blogging what I learned. The major takeaways in the WLC categories (and some of my own):

FOOD: 

I love cheese and missed it like a kid misses a lost favorite toy.

I didn't miss sugar itself, but I did miss sweet things. Happy to have healthy alternatives like agave nectar. 

And most important food lesson (this I knew, but it was reinforced in my grocery shopping explorations): Big Business Food is evil beyond belief and scary-ass shit makes it's way into everything. Our food supply causes so many horrifying problems. Think about it... how many of your classmates had life-threatening nut allergies when you were a kid? (I'm addressing my age-peers here). I remember one. ONE. We now have nut-free schools everywhere. What changed? Boogie-man companies like Monsanto, for one. Think about it.

FITNESS/STRETCHING:

Daily stretching is necessary. I experience fewer post-running aches and pains, I don't notice my aging bones as much as I used to. Ten minutes a day, easy peasy, you can do it while reading or catching up on episodes of Game of Thrones.

Daily exercise is a tougher thing, and although I had fewer "skip days" while on challenge and am definitely stronger now than at the beginning of the challenge, there's something to be said for the occasional straight-to-pajamas-after-work day. 

LIFESTYLE: 

The lifestyle challenges were divided for me - two that I've concluded, as much as I wanted to be generous about this, were just idiotic, and two that were seriously valuable. Drinking stupid amounts of water every day to drive home the point that we should hydrate more was poorly designed and held little potential for lasting impact. Two weeks of bloated discomfort did nothing for me. Water World was followed by the challenge to sleep for seven hours a night - again, point taken that we should sleep more, but one of the benefits of more sleep is supposed to be less stress. Instead, I was stressed out for two weeks over getting enough sleep to be able to log the points. The mindfulness challenge, however was so deeply important for me. Being present, completely present, remains an ongoing challenge but one I happily embrace and will keep working on. Too much of this amazing life goes unnoticed. Meditation also continues to hold interest for me and I've been reading up, with help from some of my favorite author/bloggers. Maybe I'll get there someday.

And finally kindness... my cousin Eric phrased it well: he said "The kindness challenge was the best. It felt so good to walk around looking for a chance to be kind. This seems like something worth continuing forever!" YES! This is the best takeaway. Kindness above all else, in all things, only for the reward of knowing you've done a good thing. I agree with Eric, this was the happiest challenge, I loved it.

LOGGING THE POINTS: If nobody was watching, would you still...? 

For most of us, probably not as successfully, if at all. Accountability is a huge incentive to stick with the process of making big changes. AND it's fun to team up with someone. Support and conversation make it easier. Again pointing to my cousin Eric as an example - I know he forgot to officially log points here and there, but because he was on a team with Rick and me, he kept at it, checked in now and then, honestly owned both successes and bumps in the road, is game for the next WLC in the fall, and noted that he had fun "hanging out" with us. The feeling is mutual, good sir. The virtual hangout extended to our FB group, where we found recipes, clean food shopping tips, ever-present support and lots of humor. 

RICK:

Rick was the first in our household to participate in the WLC, and his insistence that it was a good thing was the reason I even considered trying it this time around - despite the fact that he made me want to kick him in his bony shins every time he said "compliant." He was less of a compliancy-fanatic this time around, having already proven to himself that this challenge was something he could do, and he was the best teammate, my favorite teammate, in this and all things.

OVERALL: 

In the process of making any major change or even a minor adjustment in our lives, we all fall down and get back up, but in doing so we can redefine our course. I learned in my high school years that everyone has a unique true north, and even that is not set in stone. Adjust your compass so that when you stray, you can come back to a healthier, happier path. Learn from each bump in the road... they are part of the adventure. 

THE QUEEN'S BLOG:

I considered putting the blog to bed. It was originally launched to document the WLC journey and that journey is complete. BUT - as the title states - this is the story of a Once Sedentary Girl, and that's not an 8-week story. Over the course of this challenge I've enjoyed the discipline of writing, the exchange of ideas in my own head and with my friends and family, and I have miles to go. So the blog lives on, as new challenges crop up every day in the life of the Former Queen of Indoor Recess. 

NEXT UP:

Like an idiot, I let Rick convince me to do this race. It's on my Google calendar as "Zoo Race, You Idiot." I like running, but that's a lot of running in one day for me. I'll be the slowest runner at the zoo, unless they let a tortoise or a sloth run with me. But no whining, I will enjoy the zoo time. The Once and Not-Future Queen is all about FACING NEW CHALLENGES WITH CHEER! (and the promise of cocktails afterwards).

Shortly thereafter my entire household will once again participate in the Race for the Place. I'm hoping to improve my 5k time, but as always this is dependent on available training time and that day's pollen count. Fingers crossed. Will keep you posted.

Long term challenge/goal: I'd like to achieve a headstand in yoga within the coming year. That may seem like a lot of time to allow myself, given I've been practicing yoga for a couple of years now, but there is a HUGE ball of scared-as-hell that swallows me when I think about head stands. Not sure why. I go upside down and panic. Advice welcome. Valium also welcome. Maybe someday this photo will be me. Shut up, everyone needs a dream.