Recovery Time: STAT

I've found myself in need of some R&R BAD!! not the whiskey silly... or perhaps maybe.

I went on vacation to Arizona...um i'm in obsession LOVE with that state right now. But I'm also sick with some gross virus. Basically I need recovery from my vacay and rest for my sickness.

Vacation Fitness 101 (the tips I followed somewhat but not well enough)

1. PACK SNACKS. You will be in an airport/car and therefore tempted by gas station food or airport kiosks. It's actually quite ridiculous. I scanned a lot of food for weight watchers points in a local gas station. UMM TERRIBLE. Most things were 6-10 points. even peanuts. 
          --It's important to pack snacks that are high in protein and fiber. These will fill you up without you having to eat a crap-ton of them. Like almonds. That's a super generic answer, but it's tried and true! They give you energy and stop your immediate hunger.

2.Schedule time to workout and stick to it!! I found myself drawn away from my workout into TV shows, margaritas, and general family time. Of course family time is crucial and at the top of my list, but the time i spent watching TV couldve been used wiser. PLAN PLAN PLAN.

3. DONT GO CRAY. Just because you're on vacation does NOT mean it's okay to eat 10 pizzas, 50 margs, and an entire bag of chips. #vacation #sorrynotsorry does not apply.

4. Hydrate. Plain and simple.

5. Get some actual rest on your vacation. You never want to return from a vacay needing another vacay. Yes, you want to pack as much fun into your time as possible, but it's also important to spend some downtime relaxing and appreciating the view. 

Do What Makes You Happy

"Do what makes you happy"-- i believe i saw this somewhere on Instagram somewhere, but it resonated with me.

Yoga makes me happy. Sweating makes me happy. Drinking wine makes me happy. My cat makes me happy.

As i watched my Insanity class at UCA last week I thought about that. These people showed up on a rainy Tuesday to be pushed to their physical limits. Somewhere they made the decision to do something for themselves, be insane!

I decided to start my FB page, facebook.com/dashfit to push myself. It's scary putting yourself out there, but you know what else makes me happy?

inspiring.

The Next Chapter

I look at my life and see things in two varying ways:

1. How completely ordinary it is: wake up, feed cat, get dressed, play with cat, go to work, come home for lunch, fight my food away from cat, go back to work.....

2. How completely extraordinary it is: I get to spend my days INSPIRING! Maybe i don't always inspire myself...but others! my students laugh at my overzealous book-talks, poke fun at my examples of grammar-in-action, and i try to get my students to let off some steam and enjoy themselves! i teach. i teach english and group exercise.

So strange this combination.

I agree.

I'm starting this blog to chart my way through teaching these diverse groups of people: school-aged children, college students, and adults. What are their dreams, goals, desires? How do these change the way i see myself? I'm not sure. but i want to find out.


I started a group on facebook a few months ago called, "Sarah's Success Partners". Mostly it's me posting what i find motivating for fitness and nutrition. I get a few comments here and there, but mostly it's not what i'd call, "super active". 

But then one of the members told me how much she enjoys checking my daily thoughts on protein shakes and squats. she looks at them everyday, rarely hits "like", and never comments. But it impacts her day. whaaa. i'm thrown here.

As i set off for my new PR of 9 group exercise classes a week (old record is 8) and start a new school year with my kiddy kats (that's children not cats, sorry for the confusion) i look forward to letting myself explore more really what is happening in my life as i ponder it over my nightly glass (or 2) of wine. 

cheers!