Learning New Habits

First of all:  Thanks to all my friends who are willing to read about this journey and be my encouragement/support system.  Your willingness to jump in and help is humbling.


So, as part of this fitness journey, I'm trying to learn new habits.
1.  Get rest (8 hours is the goal but 6 hours of sleep is usually the reality); resist hitting the snooze button and just get up
2.  Eating well (by eating well, I mean Paleo and I'm supplementing this with homemade vegetable/fruit juice...more veggies than fruit)
3.  Exercising (regular gym workouts with intensity and Crossfit on the weekends)
4.  Meditating (not easy since my brain tangential thoughts...hard to quiet all that riotous noise in my head).

I happened to read a blog that I like to follow called Zen Habits (#ZenHabits).
Today's posting talked about http://zenhabits.net/bank/ was creating compound habits (e.g., like compound investments.  Making small changes over time to lead to habits.  For example, to start waking up earlier, don't do it in a big chunk, start waking up earlier 5 minutes at a time and before you know it, you are waking up two hours earlier and not feeling the huge impact of the change).

EATING WELL
I think I'm changing gradually with the exception of food.
In a book that I read called, IT STARTS WITH FOOD, six pack abs are made in the kitchen (what you eat)...So, I'm trying their Whole 30 program and eating Paleo for 30 days.

Today is day 2 of my Paleo journey.
I had pot roast for breakfast (a homemade crockpot concoction that I made on Sunday and will eat off of most of this week), a pre-made Paleo lunch by PowerSupply (they deliver pre-made Paleo meals to Crossfit Gyms in the DC region (I go to #CrossfitManassas), and I'll have pot roast for dinner.  For snacks, I had two 16 oz vegetable juices that I made with my juicer at home last night. 
Biggest thing that I have noticed, I'm not having the crazy, grumbling stomach cravings that I usually do when I'm eating candy and other sweets during the day.


EXERCISING
Today's small add, I did assisted pull ups (112# assist).  For the tough mudder, I'm pretty sure I need to be able to schlep myself over things...I need to start improving that upper body strength now.  I'd like to be able to do 5 pull ups by April.  Do you think that's doable?


REST
Last night, was only 6 hours.
Will try better for tonight


MEDITATION
Will endeavour to meditate tonight as part of my bed time ritual. 
I'll commit to 3 minutes per night (a small change).

Wish me luck!

Today, I heard to a sermon.  It hit on the topic of self-discipline.  I know it's an area I could serve to work on - especially in the area of eating healthfully and exercise.    So, I decided that I want to go on a streak!  Not the kind of streak that involves running around in my birthday suit.  But a streak of self-discipline when it comes to eating and exercise.  What do I hope to gain?  Better health...better quality of life...which means I can better serve...God, my family, myself, and my career in the Navy.  A little self-love through self-discipline to be able to be a better servant.  OK!


Here's some background on how I came to these thoughts - 


Running:  So, I'm surfing on Facebook today and see an article posted by a friend by Runners World magazine called "RW Summer Running Streak 2012" (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-269-14350-0,00.html).  The article talks about running at least one mile....every day...between Memorial Day and Fourth of July.  That's 38 days of consecutive running.  Hmmmm...that was a sign to me and fell in line the self-discipline sermon so... I said to myself, "I can commit to that".  And so I am.


Eating:  Also, during the sermon, the minister gave testimony to his own angst with overeating.  The ill effects he suffers/has suffered as a result of too much food; too much wrong food.  So, I've been nibbling around the edges of eating more healthful.  And at times I'm hugely successful and at other times I'm epically inadequate.  So, today...I commit to eating in a Paleo way.  I had a coach when I lived in Memphis name Paul Eich.  He was committed to Crossfit (http://www.crossfit.com/) and eating Paleo (http://robbwolf.com/).  He was quite fit and gave testimony to his own results (as shown through improved blood work/diagnostics) and increased strength/stamina/speed....even as he ages.  LOL!  Because we are all supposed to slow down as we age...right?  Not so.  


So...I'm going to get on a streak!  


And, I thought I'd blog about it too.


Why?
Because...1 Thessalonians 5:11 says:
"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."


And I definitely could use some encouragement from you...my friends.

During this streak, my training for the USMC Marathon begins (first week of June).  
The Marathon is on 28 Oct 2012.  So I need my streak to turn into a positive habit to ensure I'm truly prepared for this challenge.  This will be my 2nd Marathon ever!  The first one was in 1995, California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA.  I finished in 5:34:52.  (http://www.runcim.org/page/show/259941-female-results).  I power walked it with my good friend, Kathleen Kastner.  We finished it together.  So...since I walked it 17 years ago...and this time, I'm going to run...I want to be able to finish and finish faster than I did 17 years ago. 

Thanks for your support.  (Use your Bartles and James voice here).

I leave you with this verse.

Hebrews 12:11 - 

¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.