Quote I’m pondering…

“I found power in accepting the truth of who I am. It may not be a truth that others can accept, but I cannot live any other way. How would it be to live a lie every minute of your life?”

Alrighty guys, my last several blogs have been pretty serious topics! Let’s lighten it up a bit this week…geezo!

Today we talk exercise! Something I am super passionate about and quite frankly it is one of the only things that keeps me sane in this crazy thing we call life. However, my journey with exercise and fitness has led me to a place that some may or may not agree with or understand. Kind of the story of my life and a big reason why I am starting my movement of WILD Women (Women Interpreting Life Differently). But that’s for another day.

Back to exercise. For those of you that may not know my story. Here is 35 years in a short paragraph. I have always been an avid outdoors enthusiast. Raised in the mountains of Colorado, I fished and hiked and camped and hunted and skied and mountain biked and did all the things. I hiked 10 miles on my own for the first time when I was just 3 years old. Then I did all the sports, cuz, well that’s what you do in a town of 3,000 people. Then I started running and lifting weights (yes, I did bicep curls standing on one leg on the BOSU ball, don’t be jealous) and then I did this thing called CrossFit for a while. Now I do all of it. I trail run because it’s my passion. I hike because it fills my soul. I mountain bike because I love the challenge. I snow ski and water ski and play soccer because they’re fun. I do yoga on occasion because I want to want to do it. Oh, and I lift weights and do CrossFit still a few times a week because I know it’s good for me and it’s fun again now that my life doesn’t revolve around it.

So, why my story in a nutshell? Well, because my point is that fitness is an all-encompassing journey. If you are always doing the same thing, chances are you’re bored, or your body is bored. You have or you will hit that dreaded “plateau”. If you stay between 4 walls and only hit the gym 2-3 days a week or if you only head out for long runs or if you just go to yoga class, chances are you’re not doing your body and your mind justice. I know people talk about sport specific training and how important that is, well yes it is… but…how many of us are actually training for sport specific outcomes? If you always do the same thing, your body and mind are not challenged. Ever heard the term “cross-training”? That’s not “cross fitting”… cross-training! Changing the stimulus so your body can get stronger and fitter.

I’m sorry if you thought you were coming into a blog about tips and tricks with the right way to exercise or the perfect exercise program to get you the body and fitness level you’ve always wanted. Newsflash y’all… there isn’t one! The best exercise program is really the one that you do and that one that makes you happy…and the one that challenges you. Then you have to make sure you’re not just doing that. You have to realize there isn’t a quick fix to getting strong, increasing your stamina or improving your fitness overall. It takes work, it takes consistency and it takes variety.

So, get out there this week and try something new. Maybe go try OrangeTheory or hit up a local pilates class or if you want to jump on that BOSU and do bicep curls… knock your socks off! As most of you who read this are gym goers… I know it sounds crazy… but try leaving the gym for a few days or weeks and get your shoes dirty on a trail.

Exercise, just like life, is your own journey and you have to do what works for you, what your body needs and for crying out loud, mix it up a bit!

Exercise of the Week

Okay all you people that sit at a computer, hold babies, work with your hands, spend a lot of time traveling (car or plane) or just in general have a tight chest and shoulders… so pretty much everyone.  DO THIS!

Recipe of the Week

Homemade Bone Broth

I make a batch of bone broth every week. I drink it like tea and use it in soups/stews. Bone broth is insanely good for us and everyone should be making their own and consuming it regularly. It’s loaded with collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline. It is good for our immune health, helps to heal the gut lining, and reduces inflammation.

Ingredients:

• Organic Raw Grass-Fed Beef Bones
• 2 large carrots cut in 3-4 chunks
• 3 large celery stalks cut in 3-4 chunks
• 1 small yellow onion quartered
• 1 Tbsp dried parsely
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp sea salt

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover with filtered water.
3. Cook on high for 24 hours.
4. Drain, let cool and put in fridge or use right away.
5. Note: It should be gelatinous

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